Music Icons Earth Wind And Fire Lead Stellar List To Be Honored At 15th Annual Temecula Valley In

Aug. 28, 2009 - PRLog -- The Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival (TVIFF) is proud to announce music icons Earth Wind & Fire, Film Composer John Debney, High School Musical’s Lucas Grabeel, Rising Music Artist Steve Rushton, Record Producer Narada Michael Walden , local patrons of the arts Dan and Beverly Stephenson and the maverick Slamdance organization  as  the 15th  Annual Temecula Valley International Film and Music Festival’s Lifetime and Career Achievement Award recipients.  Presented by Pechanga Resort & Casino, The Awards Gala is the Festival’s Closing Black Tie affair, with Adam Gaynor, former Member of Matchbox 20, slated to host.

“We are proud to honor these tremendously accomplished individuals and institution.  Their collective body of work and achievements are amazing.  From the iconic to the distinguished to the maverick young talent---we have them all this year!" states Festival Director, Jo Moulton.

The Daniel L. Stephenson Humanitarian Award for Lifetime Achievement in Music and extraordinary impact on American Culture through the Performing Arts will be presented to the legendary band Earth, Wind & Fire. This amazing band is simply one of the most important, innovative, and celebrated contemporary Pop / R&B music forces of the 20th century.  The band has had a remarkable career spanning over four decades with accolades, awards and record-breaking achievements, including 8 Grammy awards, 23 Grammy award nominations, 50 gold and platinum albums, over 90 million albums sold worldwide earning them a place on the list of best selling music artists of all time.  

The youngest recipient to ever receive the Pechanga Maverick Star Award will be High School Musical’s Lucas Grabeel, for Outstanding Career Achievement in Film & Music. At 24, Lucas has worn many hats as an actor, singer, director, producer and executive producer. The festival will screen two short films (Chuckle Boy, Real Son) and two music videos that Grabeel has either produced, directed, acted or sang in. Grabeel is expected to attend the entire festival from Opening Night to performing at the Saturday MusicFest and receiving his award at the Closing Night Awards Gala.

The Founder’s Award for Outstanding Career Achievement in Film Composer will be presented to Academy Award nominated composer John Debney.  His credits include musical scores for Bruce Almighty, the Passion of Christ; Spy Kids, Spy Kids 2, The Princess Diaries, Sin City, Raising Helen and Chicken Little.  

On tap to receive the prestigious Terry Gilmore Award of Excellence for Outstanding Career Achievement in Music as Record Producer is multi Grammy winner, Narada Michael Walden.  Artists as diverse as Aretha Franklin, Wynonna Judd, Stevie Wonder- these and literally scores of others have sought out Walden to create some of the biggest hits of their careers. Walden was an integral part of introducing such superstars as Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey to millions of fans worldwide, by creating the breakthrough hits that first brought these divas in to the spotlight.

As the pre-eminent film festival whose mantra, ‘by filmmakers, for filmmakers’ resounds at every level of its organization and plays a part in all its undertakings, SLAMDANCE will be honored with the Distinguished Institution Award.  Commenting on the award, TVIFF Film Program Director Steve Montal said, "Slamdance's commitment to independent filmmaking and its remarkable achievements are a tribute to the thousands of directors, producers, screenwriters and artists whose careers and craft have been shaped by a festival whose sole mission is to nurture and showcase the next generation of independent filmmakers."

Local patrons of the arts, Daniel and Beverly Stephenson will be honored with the Mayor’s Visionary Award for their lifetime patronage of the arts and culture in Temecula Valley.  They have been supporters of the festival since its inception and have contributed greatly to its growth and success.

The TVIFF Rising Star Award honor goes to Hollywood Record’s emerging Music artist, Steve Rushton.  In 2009, Steve Rushton songs have appeared in three #1 box office hit movies, a feat never before achieved by a solo music artist. With a cameo in Hannah Montana: The Movie, two songs on that film’s soundtrack and a Radio Disney hit of his own, his single Emergency from Race to Witch Mountain and his latest release, Ready to Rock from the film G-Force. Steve Rushton is breezing along on a career fast track.    

The 15th Annual Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival, sponsored by the City of Temecula, is scheduled from Sept. 9-13, 2009, will screen more than 150 films and showcase 20 music artists from all across America and around the globe, is presented by Cinema Entertainment Alliance, a non-profit arts and education organization dedicated to celebrating world cinema and music. Tickets will be available to the general public August 30, 2009.

For more event details, log on to www.tviff.com or call 951 699 5514.