POLLYWOOD | MATT DILLON HONORED

But seeing him receive the Ray-Ban Visionary Award was just part of the Sundance experience...

BY KIMBALL STROUD

I've been to Sundance before, but my I experience at this year's festival was on a different level than my last. That time, I attended a few events and screenings, but spent a lot of time on the slopes. This year I didn't even clip on a lift ticket—it was event after event from film screenings, award ceremonies and intimate dinners, to party hopping with eBay founder Jeff Skoll (one of the nicest guys I've ever met).

One of the highlights of my week had to be seeing Matt Dillon receive the 2006 Ray-Ban Visionary Award at the Stein Ericsen Lodge-where two roaring fireplaces provided an intimate ambiance. The award honors the effort and dedication of individuals whose work showcases vision, imagination and originality; all of which Matt has exemplified throughout his stellar career. The evening, presented by The Creative Coalition, featured a montage of Matt's career, from his hilarious turn in "There's Something About Mary" to his portrayal of a conflicted cop in "Crash." Lili Taylor, who worked with him on the upcoming film "Factotum," presented Matt with the award. As a testament to his work, Hollywood luminaries such as Dennis Hopper, Gus Van Sant, Chazz Palminteri and Keanu Reeves were also in attendance.

Later, I was treated to a private dinner with Matt, who was one of the most gracious and genuinely nice people I've ever met—and he picked up the tab! All through dinner, people like Ashley Judd were coming up to congratulate but he was totally unaffected by it. Near the end of the meal, I commented on his flawless skin, asking him if maybe it was makeup he had on from the presentation. Matt assured me it wasn't and filled me in on his secret: he's never used soap on his face.

On a different note, one of the most emotional experiences I had at Sundance was listening to the "Who's Rockin' the Jailhouse? Behind Bars, In Front of the Cameras" panel. Moderated by Lawrence O'Donnell, Jr., an MSNBC political analyst, the discussion explored the public's appetite for prison stories and the entertainment industry's ability to shed light on incarceration. The panel featured a prison warden, among others, and it was moving to hear their personal stories, and get a realistic take on what happens in prisons. It was particularly poignant because instead of listening to talking heads chattering about something on the news, I was able to hear it firsthand from those who experience our prison system on a daily basis.

The dichotomy of the two, Matt's award dinner and the prison panel, coupled with so many other interesting conversations, discussions and, of course, films, made staying off the slopes this year the absolute right choice. Anyway, Tahoe stays open until the end of March..