Dallas, TX (April 21, 2010) – Dallas-area executive and philanthropist Arthur Benjamin’s non-profit organization, the Gail L. and Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation, served as presenting sponsor at the first “Dallas Film Society Honors” awards event on April 16, 2010. The honors reception and ceremony was the first-ever held in the four-year history of the Dallas International Film Festival.

Dallas Film Society Executive Director Tanya Foster said, “The Dallas Film Society Honors event was created to provide an exciting and glamorous evening honoring our filmmakers to match the presentation and reverence shown them and their films throughout the festival. We are very fortunate that the Gail L. and Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation joined the DFS family and provided us with the means to put on the kind of show that this film festival and frankly, Dallas are known for.”

The evening’s honorees included Mexican author, screenwriter, director and producer Guillermo Arriaga; Academy Award nominated screenwriter and director Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile); director and screenwriter John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side); Mexican cinematic idol Pedro Infante (posthumously); and celebrated cinematographer Wally Pfister (Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight).

Spanning 11 days and 10 nights, the 2010 Dallas International Film Festival, held April 8 through April 18, showcased a total of 160 films from 25 countries. One of the largest film festivals in the Southwest, the renowned annual event is a presentation of the Dallas Film Society, an organization whose mission is to celebrate films and their impact on society.

According to Benjamin, “The Dallas Film Society is an incredible organization that works tirelessly year-round to educate the public on the impact of film in today’s society and to recognize and honor those in the industry for their creative contributions and achievements. It was an honor and privilege to be a part of the first-ever ‘Dallas Film Society Honors’ awards event, especially given the honor bestowed on John Lee Hancock, director of The Blind Side, which was very on-target with the educational focus of The Gail L. and Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation. We look forward to our continued future partnership with the Dallas Film Society and the incredible work they do on behalf of the film industry and filmmakers everywhere.”

The Gail L. and Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation is a 501(c)3, tax-exempt organization created to assist the building and growth of other foundations through leadership, management, marketing, and public relations. Established by Dallas-area business leader and philanthropist Arthur E. Benjamin, the Foundation’s core focus is to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and animals, support young adults through educational efforts, and aid women in breast cancer recovery.

The Dallas Film Society celebrates films and their impact on society.  A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, The Dallas Film Society recognizes and honors filmmakers for their achievements in enhancing the creative community, provides educational programs to students to develop better understanding of the role of film in today’s world, and promotes the City of Dallas and its commitment to the art of filmmaking. The annual DALLAS International Film Festival held April 8 -18, 2010, is a presentation of The Dallas Film Society. In addition to producing one of the largest festivals in the Southwest, The Society produces numerous year round events, screening series and partnership programs with arts organizations around the city. For more information, visit www.dallasfilm.org.