San Luis Obispo Film Festival to Honor Jay Duplass, Screen Over 100 Films (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Jenelle Riley Deputy Awards and Features Editor Multi-hyphenate filmmaker Jay Duplass has been named as the recipient of this year’s Spotlight Award at the 31st Annual San Luis Obispo International Film Festival (SLOIFF.) Duplass will attend the event with a screening of his new film, “The Baltimorons,” followed by a Q&A on Sunday, April 27.

The festival runs this year from April 24-29 in San Luis Obispo, the coastal community located midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.Duplass is well-known on the independent film circuit for his work and his collaborations with brother Mark Duplass on such films as “The Puffy Chair” and “Cyrus” and for creating such TV shows as “Togetherness” and “Room 104.” In recent years, Duplass has also carved out an impressive acting career with roles on the Emmy-award winning series “Transparent” and “Industry” and films like “Outside In” and “Beatriz at Dinner.” Skye McLennan, executive director of SLOIFF, says, “Personally, I have been a huge fan of the Duplass Brothers’ work, and they have been a significant inspiration for many independent filmmakers and film festivals.” Mark Duplass serves as writer-director on “The Baltimorons,” which marks his first feature as director since 2012.

The film focuses on a mismatched couple, played by Liz Larsen and Olivia Luccardi, at Christmastime. It premiered at this year’s SXSW Film Festival to a warm review from Variety critic Stephen Saito, who called it “something to celebrate.” McLennan calls the film “a beautifully crafted piece that serves as a reminder that, no matter the budget, if you have a good story to tell, that is what shines through.