Oscar-Winning Filmmaker To Speak at SWT

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS — Academy Award-winning director/writer/producer Robert Benton, widely known for such films as Places in the Heart, Kramer vs. Kramer, Nobody’s Fool and Bonnie and Clyde will be a guest speaker at Southwest Texas State University’s Southwestern Writers Collection on Friday, Oct. 12, at 10:30 a.m.

Benton’s visit to SWT coincides with a special exhibit of Places of the Heart: The Cinematic Landscapes of Robert Benton. The exhibit, assembled by Wittliff Gallery assistant curator Carla Ellard, highlights the Benton archives.

Benton, a native of Waxahachie, donated his extensive motion picture archive to the Southwestern Writers Collection, where they are available for researchers. Benton’s archives include original manuscripts, treatments, outlines and screenplays, along with movie-set photographs, original storyboards and posters.

A special screening of Places in the Heart will be held Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Paramount Theatre in Austin. Contact the Austin Film Festival for ticket information at 1-800-310-FEST.

Benton is being honored jointly by the AFF and the Southwestern Writers Collection. Connie Todd, curator of the Southwestern Writers Collection, will introduce Benton. Coffee and cookies will be served. The forum is free and open to the general public. Please call (512) 245-2313 or visit the website at www.library.txstate.edu/swwc for more information.