Successful participation in a film festival requires endurance, determination, and luck. The Taos Talking Picture Festival 2002 was no exception. Choosing what to see from a schedule of 180 events in four days proved quite challenging. The Festival, which included 17 world and U.S. premieres, presented 46 programs of new films and videos, numerous tributes, and special programs.

Fortunately, I had a B-12 shot before going to Taos and was willing to do without my usual 10 hours of sleep for three nights, so my husband and I managed to see 16 films (including shorts and documentaries), two media panels, and the Festival Awards Ceremony. We also took in three social events, met Susan Sarandon, Tony Shalhoub, Joey Lauren Adams, Haskell Wexler, Bruno Barreto, Amy Irving, Barry Tubb, Brooke Adams, Julia Roberts, Lynne Adams, and had a formal interview with John Sayles and Maggie Renzi.

As with all such festivals, it’s the movies that matter. In my opinion Made-Up, a comedy directed by Tony Shalhoub and written by his sister-in-law Lynne Adams, emerged as the most enjoyable film at the Festival. Brooke Adams (Shalhoub’s wife) stars as a middle-aged mother who agrees to a makeover by her daughter, a wannabe cosmetologist. Shot in a mockumentary style similar to Best in Show, this comic gem showcases issues relating to aging, family, and beauty. "Isn’t it wild?" Shalhoub asked me after the premiere. I had to agree. It’s also hilarious.

Susan Sarandon’s daughter, Eva Amurri, plays the glowing daughter in Made-Up, which is probably why Sarandon, recipient of the Festival’s Maverick Award (presented to her by Julia Roberts!), attended the film’s first showing in Taos. I visited with Sarandon a few minutes after the film --- a minor miracle considering the number of admirers surrounding her.

Sarandon brought a work-in-progress surprise film to the Festival. Now called Moonlight Mile (after going through a couple of other titles), this upcoming drama holds great promise. Dustin Hoffman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ellen Pompeo, and Sarandon deliver award-caliber performances.

Although disappointed because William Hurt didn’t appear in person, I applaud his quirky work in the Festival’s opening night film, Rare Birds. Playing a restaurant owner who’s faced with a failing business, Hurt has never been better. He’s funny, poignant, and downright loveable as a man with a poetic soul who also happens to be a schmo.

One of the Festival’s highly touted films, Briar Patch, left me cold. Starring Dominique Swain as a victim of physical abuse who searches for her "true love," the movie drowns in swampy violence. A poor sound set-up, making it difficult to understand the southern accents, didn’t help.

I never thought I’d see a G-rated movie at a film festival, but Grand Champion proved me wrong. The versatile Joey Lauren Adams portrays a single mom in one of the most wholesome films I’ve seen since those old Andy Hardy flicks. I couldn’t help thinking what a different role this was for Adams compared to her Chasing Amy breakthrough performance (as a lesbian who falls for a straight guy).

She’s totally convincing in both parts. Grand Champion follows the adventures of a youngster who tries to prevent his prize steer from becoming barbecue meat. "We made this movie for the ten-year old in all of us," director Barry Tubb explained.

Although Joey Lauren Adams wasn’t doing interviews, I had the opportunity to talk with her before one of the Grand Champion screenings. She seemed very excited about her next project. She’ll be directing Lovin’ Up a Storm, which she also wrote and plans to star in. Billy Bob Thornton is serving as executive producer.

John Sayles and Maggie Renzi won this year’s Storyteller Award for their adventurous exploration of various film genres in movies like Matewan, The Secret of Roan Inish, Brother from Another Planet, Lone Star, and Limbo. In a spirited interview, they explained how teamwork is the secret of their successful partnership. (See "Master Storytellers," another ReelTalk feature article.) 

Because it wasn’t possible to see everything, we missed Zookeeper, starring Sam Neill as a civil servant who stays on duty while his city is under siege. That film’s director, Ralph Ziman, won the coveted Taos Land Grant Award. We also failed to catch Cineaste Award winner Bruno Barreto’s Carried Away (with Dennis Hopper and Amy Irving).

But our luck held out in the short film category. We enjoyed The Tower of Babble, a film about monkeys who prove the infinite possibilities of language, and weren’t surprised when the George Melies Award went to Jeff Wadlow for directing this strange, but fascinating, little movie.

Celebrating the art of filmmaking for four days under the sunny skies of a picturesque New Mexico town --- what more could a movie lover ask for?

(And, oh yes, my Confessions of a Movie Addict sold out at the Moby Dickens Festival book display!)

For additional information about the Taos Talking Picture Festival 2002, go to http://www.ttpix.org.