Tributee Connie Francis

Friday, November 10----FLIFF UNCORKED! a South Florida Awards Celebration will be presented by The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival to honor and pay tribute to celebrity guests attending the 21st annual Festival.. The event, one of South Florida's most glamourous affairs, takes place on Saturday evening, November 11, at the Regency Ballroom of The Hollywood Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida.

Richard Rapport, an entertainment attorney who has hosted and produced of several television series, will co-host the evening with Emmy Award winning reporter for local CBS affiliate WPTV, Shannon Cake. Bruce Mallen, Director of The DeSantis Center for Motion Picture Industry Studies, and Gregory von Hausch, President and CEO of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, will present awards to those who have made a difference in the film industry and others who they believe are about to.

Celebrity guests and honorees include:

Connie Francis
The actress/singer who appeared in the quintessential Fort Lauderdale "spring break" film WHERE THE BOYS ARE.

Joe Pantoliano
Award-winning actor who has appeared in such celebrated films as RISKY BUSINESS and THE FUGITIVE, and had a recurring role in the last season of the HBO hit series THE SOPRANOS. Pantoliano is also in town to promote his starring role in the Festival film CANVAS, which screens on Sunday, November 12 at 2:30pm at the Parker Playhouse.

Mel Stuart
The legendary director of the original WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and IF IT'S TUESDAY, THIS MUST BE BELGIUM and several television documentaries presented as free screenings during the Festival.

George Gallo
The writer of such Hollywood mega-hits as MIDNIGHT RUN and THE WHOLE TEN YARDS, Gallo is the writer/director of the Festival Closing Night Film LOCAL COLOR, an autobiographical piece that chronicles the story of a young art student who encounters a legendary veteran painter. The film screens on Sunday, November 12, 5:00pm at the Parker Playhouse.

Trevor Morgan
A young actor who made his debut in such Hollywood blockbusters as JURASSIC PARK III and THE PATRIOT, has his most challenging role yet as the ambitious young art student in the Festival Closing Night Film LOCAL COLOR, which screens on Sunday, November 12, 5:00pm at the Parker Playhouse.

Ernie Hudson
The respected actor who has made impressions in such television series as OZ and DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES and such films as GHOSTBUSTERS and the MISS CONGENIALITY franchise, also stars in the Festival film HALFWAY DECENT which screens on Friday, November 10 at 8:45pm at the Cinema Paradiso.

Michelle Phillips
The singer/actress/activist, one of the original members of the 1960s pop group THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS, is in town to promote her narration of the documentary film AND THE SEA TOOK US, a wrenching account of relief efforts following the Christmas 2004 Asian tsunami. The film screens on Sunday, November 12 at 3:15pm at the Cinema Paradiso.

Shiva Rose
The Indian-born beauty stars as a Moslem woman who falls for a Jewish television journalist in the political comedy DAVID & LAYLA, which screens on Friday, November 10 at 6:45pm and Saturday, November 11 at 7:30pm at the Cinema Paradiso. Rose will be accompanied by her husband, television/movie actor Dylan McDermott.

Will Shriner
Award-winning director of television hits FRASIER and EVERYBOY LOVES RAYMOND.

Will Edwards
Television producer and Grammy and Emmy Award winning producer and performer

John Bradley
Chair of the Florida Bar Entertainment Law Section, based in Fort Lauderdale

Markie Cohen
Beauty queen pageant winner, former Mrs. Georgia

Darryl Cohen
Atlanta entertainment attorney and CNN/Fox legal commentator

Elizabeth Angulo
VP, Business Affairs for Miami-based Plural Entertainment (producers of MS. QUINCE, nominated for four regional Emmy Awards)

Sandy Mandelbeger
Online Festival Dailies Editor