Editor

Robert Redford will be honored in San Francisco tomorrow night as part of the San Francisco International Film Festival. Redford will be receiving the Peter J. Owens award, named for the longtime San Francisco benefactor of arts and charitable organizations Peter J. Owens (1936-91), this award honors an actor whose work exemplifies brilliance, independence and integrity.

The San Francisco Film Society notes about Redford...

Such intention of purpose and unwavering quality are rare enough in careers a quarter as long or as illustrious. In Robert Redford-a onetime matinee idol of uncommon and indeed, for at least one long-ago movie mogul, unexpected depth and mettle-these features define several decades of vital work. It is with great pleasure that we award the 2009 Peter J. Owens Award to the incomparable Robert Redford.

Read the full description of the award ceremony, to be given at San Francisco's illustrious Castro Theatre, here.



And Friday night the film society will honor the great Francis ford Coppola, who will be receiving the Founder's Directing Award. The award is given each year to one of the masters of world cinema, in memory of Irving M. Levin.

In a variation on the Festival's standard interview format, Coppola will be joined onstage by Carroll Ballard, George Lucas, Walter Murch and Matthew Robbins. In a moderated discussion with director James Gray, the group of old friends and collaborators will discuss all manner of subjects, cinematic and otherwise. Film clips, including the new 'Tetro' trailer, and extended audience Q&A will conclude the first part of the evening.

Elisabeth Bartlett