Closing Party and Awards Featuring Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes

Hosted by Connie Chiarelli and Jayce Vendetti.

 

Join us for the grand finale of San Diego Film Week at the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) at the San Diego Museum of Art on November 18th from 5:30-10 PM.

It’s a night of cinematic celebration, featuring a reception with food and beverages, the 2023 San Diego Film Week Awards Celebration followed by a special screening of the locally filmed “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.” The movie will be followed by a Q&A hosted by Beth Accomando. This event unites the local film community and industry by offering a chance to connect with fellow film enthusiasts and industry professionals.  

Join us to commemorate the past, celebrate the present, and embrace the future of storytelling through film as we close San Diego Film Week 2023 with a bang.

Co-presented by Popcorn Reef and Hollywood Talent Associates.

 

Event Info:

Date: Saturday, November 18th

Venue: Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art

1649 El Prado

Time: 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm

 

Schedule:

5:30: PM Reception

7:00 PM: Award Presentation

7:30 PM: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Screening

9:00 PM-9:30 PM: Q&A with Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Cast and Crew

Moderator:  Beth Accomando:  Film Critic and Podcaster

Steve Peace: Producer of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

Costa Dillon: Writer, Creator of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

 

 

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Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is a 1978 American parody film produced by J. Stephen Peace and John DeBello, and directed by John DeBello based upon an original idea by Costa Dillon. The screenplay was written by Dillon, Peace, and DeBello. The film spoofs B movies and was made on a budget of less than US$ 100,000. The story involves tomatoes becoming sentient by unknown means and revolting against humanity.

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Q&A Panelists:

Constantine Dillon

Constantine (Costa) Dillon is a retired National Park Service ranger and park superintendent who worked in more than a dozen parks in his 35-year career including as Superintendent of Indiana Dunes National Park, Fire Island National Seashore, and the Horace Albright Training Center. He is the recipient of the Department of the Interior’s Meritorious Service Award, the National Parks Conservation Association’s Stephen Mather Award, and the Urban League’s Diversity Achievement Award.

Mr. Dillon has a B.S. from the University of California, Davis, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado. Costa has been an adjunct faculty member of the University of New Hampshire and Indiana University where he is an Honorary Fellow of the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands.. He currently teaches at San Diego State University and California State University, San Marcos.

Mr. Dillon is the creator and principal writer of the feature film Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, as well as four other feature motion pictures. He has also produced several videos for the National Park Service.

 

 

Steve Peace

From 1982 through 2003, Senator Peace served in the California State Capitol as a member of the State Assembly, a State Senator and as the State’s Director of Finance. In 2010, as Co-chair of the California Independent Voter Project, Mr. Peace wrote the Constitutional Amendment subsequently passed by voters to require California to abolish its semi-closed partisan primary system in favor of open nonpartisan primary elections.

As a legislator, Senator Peace was known as the person the Legislature turned to on particularly difficult and complex issues. He was credited with presiding over forums described as “bipartisan”, “exhaustive” and “open to a full airing of views.” He authored a number of high-profile pieces of legislation including the creation of California’s Infrastructure Bank and the nation’s first Office of Privacy Protection.

Mr. Peace also served as Chairman of the Board Authentify, Inc., the Chicago based firm which pioneered dual authentication security for online financial transactions until it was sold to a consortium of American banks.

In 1977, Mr. Peace co-wrote and produced the parody cult classic Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. Mr. Peace was also the Executive Producer of Fox Children’s Network’s Attack of the Killer Tomatoes animated television series.

 

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Meet the Moderator, Beth Accomando

Beth Accomando is the KPBS arts and culture reporter and host of Cinema Junkie Podcast. She is also one of the volunteer programmers for Film Geeks SD, and helps create unique film events at Digital Gym Cinema, Comic-Con Museum, and Cinema Under the Stars.

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Meet your Hosts:

Connie Chiarelli

Actor, writer, producer Connie Chiarelli moved to the west coast after casting multiple films in Pittsburgh. Connie currently teaches at the LA Acting Studio of SD.

 

Jayce Vendetti

Jayce Venditti is known for The Hat: Viral Spots (2014), Last Chance (2020) and Last Chance (2022).

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In this program

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