Actor/director Lou Diamond Phillips, who first gained attention with his roles in LA BAMBA, STAND AND DELIVER, and YOUNG GUNS, will accept the DIFF Dallas Star Award as part of the 2026 Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF).
Phillips will be honored at a luncheon hosted by Virgin Hotels Dallas on Friday, April 24. He will discuss his latest film, KEEP QUIET – which will have its North American Premiere at DIFF before its theatrical release by Lionsgate in April – onstage with NBC 5 Today anchor Deborah Ferguson.
Artistic Director James Faust says that the Festival and Phillips have a long and close relationship, which makes this award special as part of the 20th edition celebration. Michael Cain – who was the co-founder, along with the late Liener Temerlin, of Dallas Film Society, Inc. in 2006 and the original Festival in 2007 – will present the award to Phillips.
Community leaders Tanya Foster and Lynn McBee, both of whom held previous leadership roles with the Festival’s parent organization, Dallas Film Society, Inc., are co-chairs for the 20th Anniversary Dallas International Film Festival. Foster, who served as the Executive Director, and McBee, who served as the Board Chair, will preside over the 20th anniversary events, including the DIFF Dallas Star Award Luncheon.
“We are delighted that Lou Diamond Phillips will be joining us to accept the DIFF Dallas Star Award and to share his latest film,” said DIFF Dallas CEO Beth Wilbins. “Adding his name to the list of previous recipients of the Star Award has special meaning to everyone who has known him over the years through DIFF.”
Former recipients of the Star Award include: Lauren Bacall, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Brad Bird, L.M. Kit Carson (posthumous), Blythe Danner, Frank Darabont, Marvin Hamlisch, John Lee Hancock, Helen Hunt, Glen Keane, Ed Lachman, John Landis, Laura Linney, David Lynch, Bill Paxton (posthumous), Gregory Peck (posthumous), Wally Pfister, Eric Pleskow, Sidney Pollack, Bernie Pollack, Sarah Polley, Mickey Rooney, Gabourey Sidibe, Charlize Theron, Jack Valenti, and Todd Wagner.
Sponsorship information for the DIFF Dallas Star Award Luncheon Honoring Lou Diamond Phillips, scheduled on Friday, April 24, 2026, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. is available at https://diffdallas.org/diff-dallas-star-award-luncheon
The eight-day Dallas International Film Festival, the only Oscar® Qualifying Festival in North Texas, is set for Thursday, April 23 – Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Currently, Phillips appears on the popular HBO series THE CHAIR COMPANY. He will next be seen in STRANGER THINGS: TALES FROM ’85 on Netflix. Recent television credits include PRODIGAL SON, LONGMIRE, QUANTUM LEAP, GOLIATH, YOU’RE THE WORST, BLUE BLOODS, and BROOKLYN NINE-NINE. He received Emmy nominations for his roles in CONVERSATIONS IN LA and CROSSROADS OF HISTORY.
Phillips also stars in DC’s JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, GET FAST, WEREWOLVES, EASTER SUNDAY, THE 33, CREATED EQUAL, and the Sundance film FILLY BROWN.
The Dallas International Film Festival is a global adventure featuring more than 120 film screenings, panels, Q&As with filmmakers and actors, nightly Red Carpets, live screenplay table reads, awards, and other events and activations where filmmakers, screenwriters, film industry leaders, celebrities, sponsors, and audiences come together to experience and discuss film. Films are curated from submissions received by filmmakers from 100+ countries worldwide, across Texas, and the United States, and include narrative features, documentaries, and short films of all genres from studios and independent filmmakers. Festival information is available at https://diffdallas.org/diff.
The Dallas International Film Festival is one of only 59 film festivals in the United States and only 181 film festivals worldwide to earn the designation of Oscar® Qualifying Festival by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Oscar® Qualifying short film awards at the Dallas International Film Festival are: Grand Jury Prize – Best Animated Short Film; Grand Jury Prize – Best Documentary Short Film; and Grand Jury Prize – Best Narrative Short Film.
Films that win qualified awards may be qualified to enter the 99th Academy Awards®, provided that the films meet all the requirements set forth in the official rules for that season. See https://www.oscars.org/oscars/rules-eligibility for details.
