Music and Movies Merge as Harry Dean Stantonfest Returns to Lexington

A Tribute to Kentucky’s Own Film Star

In celebration of Harry Dean Stanton’s storied life in film, the annual Harry Dean Stantonfest has made its return to Lexington, the native city of this beloved actor. The festival, organized by the Lexington Film League, honours the Kentucky-raised actor who graced the silver screen in more than 200 films during his illustrious career. Stanton was born and raised in Estill County and was a proud alumnus of the University of Kentucky.

This year, the festival presents a vibrant and diverse collection of events, with a special emphasis on Stanton’s first love – music. The event’s founder, Lucy Jones, shared her enthusiasm for this year’s programming, “We have a tremendous lineup this year and a theme.
Because Harry’s first love was music, we are honoring that; all of our films and guests have some sort of musical tie in, whether it’s a movie about a musician or just really soundtrack-heavy.”

Remembering Harry Dean Stanton

Stanton, who passed away at the age of 91 in 2017, was known for his humility, despite being a celebrated actor with a cult following. In 2014, Jones managed to convince a somewhat-reluctant Stanton to attend his own tribute festival. The actor was reportedly touched by the gesture, with one cousin revealing that Stanton had said, “Hey, do you know what they’re doing for me in Kentucky? They’re making me immortal.”

Indeed, the festival has been an ongoing celebration of Stanton’s life and work since its inception in 2011, essentially making the actor an immortal figure in his home state.

Festival Highlights

Most of the events at this year’s Harry Dean Stantonfest are free for attendees, furthering the mission of accessibility and inclusivity. One such event to look forward to includes a screening of “Paris, Texas” – arguably Stanton’s most renowned role and a film where his character’s journey is emotionally amplified by the haunting slide guitar score of Ry Cooder.

More notably, the film screening is set to occur near a location where Stanton’s ashes are buried, lending an emotional depth to the proceedings. The film’s powerful blend of image, story and sound, penetrate to the heart of Stanton’s arts-sensitive persona, and the event is expected to be a touching tribute to the late actor.

The music-heavy theme of this year’s festival is not only considered a fitting tribute to the Kentucky actor’s passion for music but also a potent representation of how film and music can intertwine to create exceptionally emotive and powerful storytelling.

The dynamic lineup, featuring a range of films and musical performances, reaffirms the enduring legacy of Harry Dean Stanton – an actor whose humble demeanor concealed a massive talent and who continues to be celebrated by film-lovers and admirers across the globe, particularly in his beloved Kentucky.