Griffin Dunne to receive award in Poland as he defends indie film

Griffin Dunne, the director of 'Practical Magic' and actor in 'After Hours,' is preparing to travel to Poland to receive the Indie Star Award at the TAURON American Film Festival. He will be honored at the festival, which takes place in the country where he first worked in 1980. Dunne views the award as a recognition of a career that has seen a recent resurgence in public interest.

The renewed attention toward his filmography has grown steadily over the last decade. Dunne notes that conversations about 'Practical Magic' began to pick up steam roughly ten years ago, particularly during Halloween seasons. He recalls seeing social media memes featuring the film's famous cocktail and hearing from friends whose daughters were excited to learn he directed the Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman starrer. This year, that momentum led to the announcement of a sequel.

Dunne compares this late appreciation to his experience with 'An American Werewolf in London.' He says both films were not as popular during their initial releases as they have become in subsequent years. He describes himself as the 'king of lapsed love' and expresses hope that audiences will rediscover two other projects: 'Addicted to Love' and 'Lisa Picard Is Famous.' He notes that 'Lisa Picard Is Famous' was released around the time of the September 11 attacks, a period when audiences were less inclined to watch a comedy about out-of-work actors.

His trip to Poland also serves as a return to a place of personal and professional significance. In 1980, Dunne traveled there to shoot 'The Wall.' His three-week schedule extended to three months due to the country's martial law. During that time, he met Rosanna Arquette and Dianne Wiest, both of whom he later cast in 'Practical Magic.' He also formed a lifelong friendship with Tom Conti. Dunne remembers the chaos of the period, including crew members being arrested and military personnel standing in for them.

Dunne believes the independent film landscape has shifted dramatically since those early days. He recalls a time when finding investors for original stories was relatively straightforward. Today, securing a distributor is difficult, and that deal does not guarantee a wide theatrical release. He worries that major corporate mergers are limiting the variety of stories told, potentially silencing filmmakers who want to create work that reflects the current moment.

He specifically fears that a lack of diversity in ownership will lead to a hesitation to tell stories that might offend certain political regions. He points to recent hostility toward Hollywood elites as a sign that creators may feel pressured to keep their opinions private. Despite these concerns, Dunne cites the strong audience response to the documentary 'You Can See Everything' as a sign of optimism. He believes cinema needs to attract a younger demographic, similar to how people now line up for trendy food spots.

Dunne also continues to explore themes of family in his recent work. He released 'The Friday Afternoon Club,' a memoir detailing the murder of his sister Dominique Dunne. He also directed a documentary about his aunt, the author Joan Didion. He says he was proud that the film introduced Didion to a new generation of readers. He remains interested in how life stories are condensed and presented to the public, a fascination he has held since his father's death.

He plans to collect the Indie Star Award at the upcoming festival in Poland. The event will mark a return to a country that shaped his early career and his personal network. Dunne intends to use the platform to discuss the challenges facing independent filmmakers and the need for original storytelling in a crowded market.