Matt Stone and Trey Parker aren't making a joke this time; they really are receiving the "Maverick Filmmakers" award for Persistence of Vision on the opening night of the Santa Monica Film Festival, February 13, 2003. The night's festivities will kick off with a tribute to Stone and Parker, followed by an after party at Union restaurant at 9:30 pm in their honor. The Maverick Filmmakers award was created to celebrate individuals who are driven to make films their own way with their own voice and vision and is intended to honor artists who have made a unique contribution to the independent arts.

Stone and Parker garnered worldwide attention from television and cinema audiences alike as the creators of the animated phenomenon South Park.  In 1999 the South Park franchise proved its staying power with the feature film release of the Oscar-nominated "South Park:  Bigger, Longer and Uncut" The duo's film career also includes "BASEketball," "Cannibal the Musical" and "Orgazmo."

Festival president, Michael Cain said that the decision to give Stone and Parker the award this year was an easy one. "The Maverick Filmmakers award was created to honor those who have made a unique contribution to the arts and Matt Stone and Trey Parker have done just that with their comedy. The duo always have spoken their minds on controversial issues and made us laugh with their thought provoking and cutting edge films, TV series and musicals. The Santa Monica Film Festival is fortunate enough to have a group of friends and supporters who realize the exceptional talent that Matt Stone and Trey Parker have and we believe that equal recognition should be given to filmmakers of all genres."

The Santa Monica Film Festival (February 13 – 16th, 2003)

[ source: SMFF ]