American Film Renaissance
Encyclopedia
American Film Renaissance (AFR) is a non-profit film institute best known for its conservative film festivals, held annually in a different location.
and received extensive press coverage. Aside from Dallas, AFR also has hosted festivals in Hollywood, California, Traverse City, Michigan
and Washington, D.C.
At its festivals, AFR has screened feature films such as The World's Fastest Indian
starring Anthony Hopkins
and documentaries such as The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania
produced by Patricia Heaton
. Films at AFR film festivals have been screened at several well-known venues such as the Grauman's Chinese Theatre
in Los Angeles and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. Celebrities who have appeared at AFR events include Heaton, Gary Sinise
, Robert Davi
, and Tony Shalhoub
.
In 2007, AFR expanded into documentary film production and in 2008, AFR expanded into filmmaker training programs.
Mission
AFR's mission is to celebrate "timeless American values by producing, showcasing and distributing films that promote freedom (including free speech, free enterprise, and freedom of worship), rugged individualism, and triumph of the human spirit". AFR was founded by small business owner Jim Hubbard and his attorney wife Ellen Hubbard. The first AFR festival premiered in September, 2004 in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
and received extensive press coverage. Aside from Dallas, AFR also has hosted festivals in Hollywood, California, Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was 14,674 at the 2010 census, with 143,372 in the Traverse...
and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
At its festivals, AFR has screened feature films such as The World's Fastest Indian
The World's Fastest Indian
The World's Fastest Indian is a 2005 New Zealand biographical film based on the Invercargill, New Zealand speed bike racer Burt Munro and his highly modified Indian Scout motorcycle...
starring Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, KBE , best known as Anthony Hopkins, is a Welsh actor of film, stage and television...
and documentaries such as The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania
The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania
The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania is a 2005 documentary film directed by David Hunt and Jody Eldred about the fiftieth annual "Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Queen" beauty pageant in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania. The film is produced by Hunt's wife Patricia Heaton, and prominently features...
produced by Patricia Heaton
Patricia Heaton
Patricia Helen Heaton is an American actress, comedienne, producer and model, best known for portraying Debra Barone on the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond from 1996 to 2005, for which she won two Emmy Awards....
. Films at AFR film festivals have been screened at several well-known venues such as the Grauman's Chinese Theatre
Grauman's Chinese Theatre
Grauman's Chinese Theatre is a movie theater at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. It is on the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame.The Chinese Theatre was commissioned following the success of the nearby Grauman's Egyptian Theatre which opened in 1922...
in Los Angeles and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. Celebrities who have appeared at AFR events include Heaton, Gary Sinise
Gary Sinise
Gary Alan Sinise is an American actor, film director and musician. During his career, Sinise has won various awards including an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Academy Award. In 1992, Sinise directed, and played the role of George Milton in the successful film adaptation of...
, Robert Davi
Robert Davi
Robert John Davi is an American actor and singer. He has played such roles as Vietnam veteran and Special Agent Johnson in Die Hard, the villainous Jake Fratelli in The Goonies, and Al Torres in Showgirls...
, and Tony Shalhoub
Tony Shalhoub
Anthony Marcus "Tony" Shalhoub is an American actor of Lebanese descent. His television work includes the roles of Antonio Scarpacci on Wings and sleuth Adrian Monk on the TV series Monk. He has won three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for his work in Monk...
.
In 2007, AFR expanded into documentary film production and in 2008, AFR expanded into filmmaker training programs.