San Diego Film Festival Night of the Stars Tribute Red Carpet
We are on the red carpet for the San Diego International Film Festivals‘ Night of the Stars Tribute
at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla!
24th Annual Film Festival
Conrad Presby’s
This was an unforgettable evening celebrating this year’s honorees with a Pre-Reception, Awards Show, and Afterparty featuring Almost Famous Entertainment.
Tonya Mantooth CEO & Artistic Director of the Festival.
We chat with the stars who attended the festival and to the honorees receiving their awards!
It was an honor to talk with some of our favorite actors and actresses on this big night!
Honorees:
Mark Hamill
The Gregory Peck Award: FOR Cinematic Excellence
Mark Hamill is a BAFTA and Emmy-winning actor best known for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker in the original STAR WARS movies and reprised his role in both the sequels as well as the second season of “The Mandalorian” and season one of “The Book of Boba Fett.”
On the small screen, Hamill appeared in Netflix’s “Sandman” as well as “Dark Crystal,” F/X’s “What We Do In the Shadows,” and Mike Flanagan’s “House of Usher” for Netflix.
He will be seen soon in Paramount’s upcoming THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS.
Marlee Matlin: The Visionary Impact Award:
Marlee Matlin made history with her film debut in Children of a Lesser God, earning the Academy Award for Best Actress at age 21—the youngest ever and one of only a few to win for a debut role. She also received a Golden Globe for the performance. In 2022, she and her castmates from CODA won the SAG Award for Best Ensemble; the film went on to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. She was previously nominated for an Oscar in 2021 as Executive Producer of the short film Feeling Through.
Matlin has earned four Emmy nominations for standout television roles in The West Wing, Seinfeld, The L Word, and Switched at Birth. In 2023, she became the first Deaf director in the Directors Guild of America for FOX’s Accused, and in 2024, she won her first Emmy for hosting PBS’s Media Access Awards.
In 2025, her life and advocacy were chronicled in the PBS American Masters documentary Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, which premiered at Sundance.
A bestselling author, advocate, and Tony-nominated Broadway actress, Matlin has a First Look production deal with AppleTV, and is currently serving her second term as a Governor of the Academy. In 2025, she accepted a special Oscar honoring pioneers of closed captioning.
John Magaro: The Virtuoso Award:
John Magaro has cultivated a rich and versatile career across film, television, and theatre. Most recently, he starred as jazz legend Keith Jarrett in KÖLN 75, which premiered at the 2025 Berlinale. He also led Cole Webley’s OMAHA, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The film follows a father taking his children on a cross-country road trip after their home is foreclosed.
Magaro also co-starred in Tim Fehlbaum’s SEPTEMBER 5, a historical thriller about the 1972 Munich massacre, which earned a Golden Globe nomination. On television, he appears in the Paramount+ espionage series THE AGENCY, produced by George Clooney and starring Michael Fassbender.
Upcoming, he’ll be seen in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s THE BRIDE!, and he recently wrapped THE MASTERMIND, his third collaboration with Kelly Reichardt. Magaro earned acclaim for his role in PAST LIVES, a 2023 Oscar-nominated drama, and produced/starred in LAROY, TEXAS.
Other recent credits include BIG GEORGE FOREMAN and DAY OF THE FIGHT. He gained recognition in Reichardt’s FIRST COW and starred in THE BIG SHORT, OVERLORD, and THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK.
On stage, he’s appeared on Broadway and off-Broadway, solidifying his reputation as a dynamic and dedicated performer.
Joe Manganiello: The Spotlight Award
Joe Manganiello is an actor, director, producer, writer, and host with a BFA in acting from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama. He rose to fame as Alcide on HBO’s True Blood and starred in major franchises including Magic Mike, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, Rampage, Sabotage, Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, and as Deathstroke in Justice League.
Currently, Manganiello stars in the Emmy-nominated Netflix film Nonnas, alongside Vince Vaughn, based on the true story of an Italian restaurant run by grandmothers. He also joins Season 2 of Netflix’s One Piece as fan-favorite villain Crocodile, with the series recently renewed for a third season. He hosts and executive produces NBC’s primetime hit Deal or No Deal Island, now streaming its second season on Peacock.
Additional acting credits include The Kill Room with Uma Thurman and Samuel L. Jackson, Love, Death & Robots, Mythic Quest, Shoplifters of the World, and Archenemy, the latter two produced by his company, 3:59.
Off-screen, Manganiello serves on the boards of UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the Children of Armenia Fund. He’s also an advisory board member for Liquid Death and Colossal Biosciences, reflecting his diverse interests beyond entertainment.
We talk to Actress and Producer Michelle Romano and Actor & Producer Andrew Keegan on the Red Carpet at the Night of the Stars Tribute!
They are in town to promote a new dramatic series, they are producing and directing called “Chatam” now filming on Cape Cod. While many details of the project still remain under wraps, the series showcases Michelle’s dedication to regional storytelling and her commitment to developing bold, character-driven narratives.
We also get the story on how they started working together on this project!
Michelle Romano is an award-winning actress, producer, CEO of Roman Media Productions, and philanthropist whose work bridges powerful storytelling with a passion for impact.
She has produced and starred in a wide range of independent films and television projects, earning recognition at film festivals across the country. Her work highlights her versatility as both a dynamic performer and a creative force behind the camera.
Andrew Keegan made his film debut as Zack Dell in the 90’s Disney teen classic film Camp Nowhere. As the “bad boy” he was able to bring a level of charisma and depth to his character that won him the hearts of an adoring audience in one of the more memorable films of the early 90’s era.
That stand out performance led to him landing guest roles on such beloved ‘90s TV series as Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Full House, Step by Step, and Boy Meets World, Moesha and eventually, a recurring role on the breakout hit Party of Five.
He went on to play Wilson West, Jessica Biel’s love interest, on 7th Heaven, the longest-running hit series in the history of the WB network, where he appeared in 24 episodes over the course of 4 seasons.
In addition to his work as an actor, Andrew has also begun leveraging his talents and relationships as a producer, with projects in various stages of development–including Chatam.
Valentina Marianetti – DJ Valentina – DJ to the Stars DJ Valentina is a Celebrity DJ and an Event producer!
We talk with her about setting the tone for opening night at the Festival and what projects we can look forward to seeing that she is working on.
We love her vibe and everything about her!
Valentina, a traveling wedding & event DJ based in Rhode Island. Across the globe, she crafts extraordinary experiences through the transformative power of music.
Follow her for more!
ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The San Diego International Film Festival is more than just a film festival – it’s a cultural experience including world premieres, never before seen studio releases and the best in independent filmmaking. From international cinema that inspires global dialogue, to local stories that reflect the heart of our community, the Festival brings together the best cinematic storytelling, creativity, celebrations and human connections.
As the region’s premier film event and one of the leading stops on the independent festival circuit, the Festival champions diverse voices, bold perspectives, films that spark empathy and conversation. It’s world class cinema blended with the energy and beauty of San Diego.
