"I have a Silver Medallion now, but does that mean someone else out there has a gold one – something better than mine?" quipped director Paul Schrader, one of three honorees at the 29th Annual Telluride Film Festival held this past Labor Day weekend. Schrader joined movie legend Peter O’Toole and documentary filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker to form the Festival’s trio of Silver Medallion recipients for 2002, each honored for outstanding contributions to the world of film. Unlike many film festivals, Telluride doesn't present awards for movies screened at this otherwise prestigious event. No wonder Schrader’s comment motivated me to help fill that gap by establishing some of my own.

A drum roll please. Here are the winners of my first Telluride REEL GOLD CITATIONS:

Best Film: Tie -- Frida, a visually stunning depiction of the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, portrayed with fiery brilliance by Salma Hayek. 

Honorable Mention: Rabbit-Proof Fence, a powerful film about three Aboriginal girls in Australia who become victims of a misguided government program; Spirited Away, another dazzling animated feature from the creator of Princess Mononoke; Talk to Her, an almost hypnotic look at masculine obsession and erotic ardor.

Best Documentary: Lost in La Mancha, a fascinating chronicle of the disasters behind Terry Gilliam’s failed attempt to film his version of Don Quixote.

Honorable Mention: Bowling for Columbine, Michael Moore’s bitingly satiric anti-gun documentary.

Best Actor: Alfred Molina as Diego Rivera in Frida.

Honorable Mention: Javier Camara as the obsessed nurse in Talk to Her.

Best Actress: Valeria Golino as the beautiful manic-depressive mother in Respiro.

Honorable Mention: Samantha Morton as a Scottish shopgirl dealing with her boyfriend’s suicide in Morvern Callar.

Best Director: Julie Taymor for Frida.

Honorable Mention: Phillip Noyce for Rabbit-Proof Fence.

I don't believe a REEL GOLD CITATION would do justice to the Festival’s screening of Singin’ in the Rain -- which was followed by a joyous "Q and A" with witty co-screenwriter Betty Comden interviewed enthusiastically by Elvis Mitchell of the New York Times. That deserves PLATINUM!  Because a majority of the Festival’s 30-plus films dealt with dark themes and depressing characters, viewing this 50-year-old classic musical again was a welcome relief from all that angst. And how wonderful to see it with an audience cheering and applauding after every musical number!

To me, the biggest disappointment in this year’s program was Auto Focus, a movie about Bob Crane’s (Hogan’s Heroes) sexual addiction. Although Greg Kinnear delivers an impressive performance as Crane, the movie includes so many graphic sex scenes, it looks more like a stag film than a serious motion picture. Spider, starring a mumbling Ralph Fiennes, is almost as bad. Painfully slow, Snail would be a better title for this dreadful flick.

As always, much of the fun at Telluride came from meeting and visiting with stars, directors, other show biz personnel, and fellow movie lovers. When I asked Peter O’Toole to perform his energetic "Varsity Drag" number (from The Ruling Class), he replied, "Oh dear. I think I’ve forgotten it by now." Terry Gilliam gave me a big hug when I told him how sad I was about his Don Quixote troubles. And I finally met the famous UK Critic, Ian Waldron-Mantgani, in person. He looks a bit like Joaquin Phoenix, but he's taller, much better looking -- and speaks with a charming Liverpool accent. I also talked with several new filmmakers including Lou Pepe (Lost in La Mancha) Dan Castle (The Visitor), Stephanie Morgenstern (Remembrance), and Andrew Mudge (The Perfect Gooseys). Their fine work makes me hopeful about the future of moviedom.

NOTE to all REEL GOLD CITATION recipients: the awards are in the mail.