HIFF announced today that the popular Festival conversations held at Rowdy Hall (the series formerly known as the Rowdy Talks) has been renamed the Winick Talks at Rowdy Hall, in honor of the late film director and producer Gary Winick.
Gary Winick, who was a longtime fan and supporter of the Hamptons International Film Festival—he considered the Hamptons his second home—won the HIFF Audience Award in 1999 for his drama The Tic Code, starring Gregory Hines, Polly Draper, and Chris Marquette. As a director, Winick’s other films included Tadpole, 13 Going on 30, and Letters to Juliet; his producing credits include Tape and Chelsea Walls. He passed away in 2011.
The Gary Winick Memorial Fund, which was established to help young filmmakers hone their craft and further the art of cinema, will support the Winick Talks at Rowdy Hall. The fund previously created scholarships at the American Film Institute and Tufts University, both schools Winick attended.
The Winick Talks at Rowdy Hall will take place three mornings in a row (October 9-11) at the East Hampton restaurant, featuring guest artists in moderated conversation, with audience participation. Topics and speakers will be announced soon. The events are free, and the public is invited to attend; coffee and light breakfast will be served.