After 20 years the popular drama Dallas is returning to television, so members of the HFPA paid a visit to Texas to talk to the cast of the new series and to visit the famous Southfork ranch.    The original series, which ran for 365 episodes from 1978 to 1991, was seen in 96 countries and dubbed into 55 languages.

The new Dallas, which will begin airing in the U.S in  June, features several of the original cast, including Larry Hagman as J.R.,  Patrick Duffy as Bobby and Linda Gray as Sue Ellen, as well as a new generation of Ewings, portrayed by Josh Henderson as J.R.’s son John Ross and Jesse Metcalfe as Bobby’s son Christopher, with Jordana Brewster and Julie Gonzalo as their girlfriends.

Larry Hagman, now 81, says of the new Ewings: “If you think J.R. was bad, wait until you see these guys in action. It’s an eye-opener. You’ve got to really pay attention to this show because things happen so quickly and people get stabbed in the back so fast by their loved ones. I keep reading the scripts and saying, ‘My God, how far are they going to go with this?

“Well, they’re going to go a long way.”

Picture: Theo Kingma

The HFPA is proud to be an annual supporter of the Sundance Institute and their ongoing artistic development programs which nurtures emerging independent-minded filmmakers, many of whom go on to participate in the annual Sundance Film Festival.

“Every year the Sundance Film Festival brings to light exciting new directions and fresh voices in independent film, and this year is no different,” said festival director John Cooper at the awards ceremony. “While these awards further distinguish those that have had the most impact on audiences and our jury, the level of talent showcased across the board at the Festival was really impressive, and all are to be congratulated and thanked for sharing their work with us.”

This year’s awards include:

Grand Jury Prize, U.S. Documentary: THE HOUSE I LIVE IN.

Grand Jury Prize, U.S. Dramatic: BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD.

Audience Award,  U.S. Documentary: THE INVISIBLE WAR / U.S.A.

Audience Award, U.S. Dramatic: THE SURROGATE / U.S.A.

World Cinema Jury Prize, Documentary: THE LAW IN THESE PARTS/ Israel.

World Cinema Jury Prize, Dramatic: VIOLETA WENT TO HEAVEN/ Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Spain.

World Cinema Audience Award, Documentary: SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN/ Sweden, United Kingdom.

World Cinema Audience Award, Dramatic: VALLEY OF SAINTS / India, U.S.A.

The Best of NEXT <=> Audience Award: SLEEPWALK WITH ME / U.S.A.

Directing Award, Dramatic:
MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

Directing Award, Documentary:
THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES.

World Cinema Directing Award, Dramatic: TEDDY BEAR.

World Cinema Directing Award, Documentary:
5 BROKEN CAMERAS.

Waldo Scott Screenwriting Award:
SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED.

World Cinema Screenwriting Award:
YOUNG & WILD.

Special Jury Prize, producing: SMASHED.

Special Jusy Prize, ensemble cast: THE SURROGATE.

Earlier in the festival, the Mahindra Global Filmmaking Awards were presented in recognition of emerging independent filmmakers from around the world and the projects they are developing:  Etienne Kallos/ VRYSTAAT (FREE STATE) from South Africa; Ariel Kleiman/ PARTISAN, from Australia; Dominga Sotomayor/ LATE TO DIE YOUNG, from Chile; and Shonali Bose/ MARGARITA, WITH A STRAW, from India.