This signature event began in the Festival’s first year, when Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg took the stage at Guild Hall for a frank and lively discussion of their craft. In the years since, the Festival has attracted several legends of cinema to share insights about their lives and their work in an informal setting. In 2008, Jacqueline Bisset and Frances McDormand each took the stage for animated reflections on their respective careers. The previous year, Vanessa Redgrave sat down for a discussion moderated by Alec Baldwin while director Sidney Lumet appeared the following day to talk with The New Yorker’s Adam Green. Additional past participants have included Robert Altman, Ellen Burstyn, Gena Rowlands, Quincy Jones, Anjelica Huston, Kevin Bacon & Kyra Sedgwick, Harvey Keitel, and Julian Schnabel.

This year the Festival is proud to announce the following participants in this year’s series:

A Conversation with… Alan Alda
Alan Alda’s career is unmatched in the entertainment world. Renowned and beloved for his award-winning role as Hawkeye Pierce in “M*A*S*H,” one of the most popular television series of all time, Alda has gone on to cultivate a remarkably diverse and compelling resumé as an actor, director and screenwriter. Alda made his first directorial efforts on the set of “M*A*S*H,” writing 19 and directing 32 episodes of the show over the course of its 11-year run. He wrote and starred in THE SEDUCTION OF JOE TYNAN (1979) opposite Barbara Harris, Meryl Streep and Melvyn Douglas, followed by THE FOUR SEASONS (1981), which he also wrote, directed and starred in alongside Carol Burnett. Alda soon became a Woody Allen regular, and appeared in classics such as CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS (1989), MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY (1993) and EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU (1996). Alda continues his incredible career to this day, and has recently appeared to the great delight of his fans in films such as THE AVIATOR and FLASH OF GENIUS, as well as popular television shows such as “E.R.”, “The West Wing” and “30 Rock.”

A Conversation with… Marty Bregman and Alec Baldwin
One of the screen’s true impresarios, Martin Bregman involves himself in every aspect of his films, from the development of the original concept through the various phases of casting, filming, editing and post-production to the marketing and distribution. In 1973, Bregman launched his career as a movie producer with the acclaimed hit Serpico, followed by Dog Day Afternoon, both starring Al Pacino and directed by Sidney Lumet. Dog Day Afternoon received six Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar. Bregman’s string of hits continued with such films as The Seduction Of Joe Tynan and The Four Seasons, Scarface , and Carlito’s Way. Join us on Saturday, October 10th for a special screening of Carlito’s Way, followed by an intimate conversation with Bregman and Alec Baldwin.

A Conversation with… Sharon Stone
Sharon Stone is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress and humanitarian. Her diverse body of memorable work has established her as a versatile presence in the world of Hollywood, independent film, and television. While perhaps best known for standout performance in 1992’s top-grossing BASIC INSTINCT, Stone has received critical acclaim for her work in Albert Brooks’ THE MUSE, Jim Jarmusch’s BROKEN FLOWERS, Sidney Lumet’s GLORIA, and Martin Scorcese’s CASINO (for which she received an Academy Award-nomination and a Golden Globe for Best Actress). The Hamptons is enormously proud to welcome this American film icon as a mentor to our up-and-coming Breakthrough Performers and recipient of this year’s Achievement in Acting Award. We look forward to her participation in our annual “Conversation With” discussion series, and hope you will join us in saluting her diverse career and myriad achievements.

A Conversation with… Steve Buscemi
One of the most highly respected actors of his generation, Steve Buscemi’s incredible talent continues to be admired and put to work by the world’s top directors, including Quentin Tarantino, Joel and Ethan Coen, Tim Burton and Jim Jarmusch. Buscemi’s longtime collaboration with the Coen brothers began in 1990 with MILLER’S CROSSING. Since then he has worked with the brothers on films that have gone on to great public and critical success, including BARTON FINK, THE HUDSUCKER PROXY, FARGO and THE BIG LEBOWSKI. His role as Mr. Pink in Quentin Tarantino’s 1991 debut RESERVOIR DOGS was also paramount in the public’s introduction to Buscemi, as was his work on large studio films such as ARMAGEDDON, BIG FISH and CON AIR. Buscemi has done notable work for television, appearing as Tony Blundetto on “The Sopranos” as well as directing four episodes of the series. He has also directed episodes of “Nurse Jackie” and “30 Rock,” among other shows. Buscemi also has a highly regarded career as a director of independent films. His feature directing debut, TREES LOUNGE (1996), remains a cult classic. He also directed ANIMAL FACTORY (2000), LONESOME JIM (2005) and INTERVIEW (2007), which he adapted from a Theodor Holman screenplay and starred in opposite Sienna Miller.