More than 80 films representing the visions of primarily independent maverick filmmakers from across the Americas were the backbone of this year's Puerto Vallarta Film Festival November 7 - 12, the action centered around the new Cinemark complex in Plaza Caracol. Casting greats Marion Dougherty (responsible for three of the "Lethal Weapon" movies, "Braveheart," and "Batman Returns" among many others) and Juliette Taylor ("Taxi Driver," "People I Know," "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion" and more) attended, as did prolific film veteran Roger Corman, honored with the John Huston Maverick Award for his bold direction in hundreds of movies. The festival owes much to the legacy left by long-time Vallarta resident Huston, his 1964 "The Night of the Iguana" placing us front and center on the tourist map. A special award was presented to his son, Danny (pictured here with singer/actress María Conchita Alonso), in recognition of his efforts on behalf of this event, his latest film "The Constant Gardener" screened at the festival and very well received. Out-of-town guests were treated to a fabulous overview of Vallarta's appealing lifestyle, attending lunches, dinners, parties and after parties in both Jalisco, where Puerto Vallarta is, and Nayarit, the state that shares the Bay of Banderas with us.