I'm in Dallas for the second AFI Dallas Film Festival, and having a great time so far. The fest has worked through some of those first-year kinks and things seem to be sailing along smoothly, though I know there's probably lots of finagling going on behind the scenes that makes whatever glitches do come up invisible to most of us here. Shuttle service for passholders this year is making it much easier to navigate the fest quickly and efficiently between venues. The festival lounge is great this year -- the space is nicely decorated, there are always yummy snacks on hand, the drinks flow all night long, and Guitar Hero battles happen nightly.

I kicked things off here on Tuesday moderating a panel on women filmmakers for a private event held for a group of high-powered corporate women. Filmmakers SJ Main (Luck of the Draw) and Robin Bliley (Circus Rosaire) made my job super easy; both had many insights to share about being independent filmmakers and women working in the business, and the women (and their husbands) in attendance had many thought-provoking questions that kept the tone conversational and interesting.

Last night I hit a screening of Vadim Perelman's new film, The Life Before Her Eyes, starring Uma Thurman, Evan Rachel Wood and Eva Amurri. I absolutely loved House of Sand and Fog, Perelman's first film, which came out in 2003, and I've been waiting five years to see what he'd do next. I'll have a full review up shortly, but for now, suffice it to say that his second film didn't disappoint.

While it's not the most accessible film for a mainstream audience that likes being spoonfed it's movies in easy-to-digest bites, The Life Before Her Eyes is visually stunning and poetic, with an inticate story woven together in lovely layers. It's the kind of film that leaves you full and satisfied, and I could (and will) watch it again to mull over the many bits of imagery that give the story life. I interviewed Perelman and Amurri today, and will have more for you on that later as well, as well as a write-up on the upcoming family film Nim's Island, starring Abigail Breslin and Jodie Foster, which I saw with my daughter tonight. Big day tomorrow as well, including a screening of What Just Happened, with an intro and Q&A with Robert DeNiro, so stay tuned for more.