The recently concluded CineVegas Film Festival 2004 announced the Jury Award, which went to Andrew Wagner’s The Talent Given Us. Larry Golin’s Cross Bronx was awarded the Audience Award and John Harkrider’s Mitchellville received the jury’s Honorable Mention.

Dennis Hopper, Chairman of the CineVegas Advisory Board The CineVegas Film Festival came to a close on June 19, 2004 culminating with tributes and award presentations to Jack Nicholson and Holly Hunter. Dennis Hopper, Chairman of the CineVegas Advisory Board presented the Marquee Award to Jack Nicholson followed by a screening of his 1971 film Drive, He Said, which Nicholson wrote, directed and produced. Hopper also presented the Half Life Award to Holly Hunter with s special screening of The Piano. All tributes and screenings took place at the Brenden Theatres, Palms Casino Resort.

The Talent Given Us is the story of Judy and Allen who fill in the small moments in their common place marriage as best they can. Suddenly realizing Judy must embark on a quest to repair family relations with their son in California, Judy takes Allen on a cross-country trip to see Andrew and work things out. After they rope in their two unmarried daughters, the family is forced to come together for better or worse, The film written, directed and produced by Andrew Wagner, stars Judy Wagner, Allen Wagner, Emily Wagner, Maggie Wagner, Judy Dixon and Billy Wirth.

Trevor Groth, Director of Programming announced the audience favorite which went to Cross Bronx . The film puts a contemporary urban twist on the classic coming of age story by following four lifelong friends who move from Westchester to an inner city Bronx neighborhood, where they make a hilarious, romantic, and sometimes dangerous transition into adulthood. Written and directed by Larry Golin, the film stars Max Greenfield, Badge Dale, Jerry Ferrara, Nashawn Kearse, Dania Ramirez and Barry Primus.

John Harkrider’s Mitchellville was awarded with the jury’s Honorable Mention Award. Mitchellville is the story of Gabriel Williamson, a 32 year old Wall Street lawyer with a secret past that he hides behind a mythical personal history. The film is written and directed by John Harkrider who also stars along with Herb Lovelle, Michael Voyer, Anna Lodej Pergola, Wendell Pierce and Keith Davis.

One of the highlights of the festival was the closing night gala at Skin Pool Lounge in the Palms Casino Resort hosted by Movieline’s Hollywood Life, Celebrities who attended included Dennis Hopper, Dean Stockwell, Bruce Conner, Julian Schnabel, Holly Hinter, Val Kilmer, Taye Diggs, John Leguizamo, Michael Rosenbaum, Robert Duvall, Juliette Lewis and more.

For more information about CineVegas visit www.cinevegas.com.