Dallas Film Society

When Dallas-based filmmaker and producer and American Film Institute (AFI) graduate Michael Cain teamed up with longtime advertiser and AFI board of trustees member Liener Temerlin to create the Dallas Film Society, it was tough to see just how influential the group would become. Part of the group’s mission is to celebrate films, honor filmmakers, and promote the city of Dallas’ commitment to filmmaking. But the two were also determined to bring the AFI International Film Festival to Dallas.

In its first three years, what is now known as the Dallas International Film Festival has drawn in more than 110,000 attendees and some 650 feature and short films—not to mention a few celebrities. The DFS also maintains a commitment to education by offering panels, discussions, and student screenings at the film festival, as well as an annual series of master classes available to high school and college students in North Texas.