Dallas, one of the nation’s largest moviegoing markets and home to numerous film festivals over the years, is getting some serious muscle for the launch of AFI Dallas International Film Festival.
Ross Perot Jr. and Todd Wagner, co-owner (with fellow Texan Mark Cuban) of, among other things, HDNet, 2929 Entertainment and Landmark Theatres, are expected to join fest founder Liener Temerlin and artistic director Michael Cain today in announcing the inaugural event March 22 to April 1.
Organizers are betting that AFI’s imprimatur will help put Dallas on the map as a major film festival destination, and Target, a primary supporter of AFI Fest Los Angeles, is on board for the Texas shindig along with founding sponsor Victory Park and Victory Plaza, a downtown hub with enormous outdoor video screens that will serve as headquarters and host several events.