Two-time Oscar-winner Dianne Wiest will receive the Piper-Heidsieck Tribute to Independent Vision at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival, scheduled Jan. 18-28.
Wiest, who won her Oscars as best supporting actress for disparate performances in a pair of Woody Allen movies, "Hannah and Her Sisters" and "Bullets Over Broadway," will be the subject of a question-and-answer session laced with film clips and an award ceremony. Previous Piper-Heidsieck Tributes have honored John Turturro, Denzel Washington, Gena Rowlands and Nicolas Cage.Also scheduled for a special tribute is the late pioneer filmmaker William Wellman (1896-1975), whose classic films include the first Academy Award-winner for best picture, "Wings" (1927, featuring a young Gary Cooper); the gangster epic "Public Enemy" (1931, making a star of James Cagney); the first version of "A Star Is Born" (1937, Fredric March, Janet Gaynor); the screwball yarn "Nothing Sacred" (1937, Carole Lombard, Frederic March); the first sound adaptation of "Beau Geste" (1939, Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Robert Preston, Susan Hayward); the superb anti-vigilante Western "The Ox-Bow Incident" (1943, Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews, Anthony Quinn); and the granddaddy of all disaster flicks, "The High and the Mighty" (1954, John Wayne, Claire Trevor and former Utahn Laraine Day).
With its emphasis on American independent films, the festival's highlight will again be the documentary and dramatic competitions, as well as premieres and special events celebrating low-budget cinematic ingenuity.
Potential festivalgoers locally will be happy to know that in addition to regular ticket packages, which range from the $125 "Daytimer Package" to the high-end, 10-day "Fast Pass," for $2,500, there are also "Locals Packages" available only to Utah residents (who must present a valid driver's license or state I.D. card).
The "Film Lovers" package is $150 and includes 12 regular screenings, two premieres and two panel discussions. The "Party Enthusiast" package is $250 for two Opening Night Gala tickets, two admissions to the closing night awards banquet, two premiere screenings and 10 regular screenings.
To order, or for further information, phone 322-1700.