By Kat Kramer

Kat Kramer and Mike Rydell.

Acclaimed director Mark Rydell will receive the Legendary Filmmaker Award at the Bel-Air International Film Festival, scheduled for Oct. 14-19 at the UCLA James Bridges Theater. The award will be presented on Oct. 14 by actress Katharine “Kat” Kramer, who nominated Rydell.

“I chose him because he is a master filmmaker,” Kramer said. “He is an actor’s director because he is a wonderful actor himself. He is sensitive to actors and aware of their needs, which enables him to get the very best performances from them. I am honored to present him.”

Rydell has directed eight actors to Academy Award nominations, two of whom, Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda, won for On Golden Pond. Kramer, who is the daughter of legendary filmmaker Stanley Kramer, is Hepburn’s goddaughter and the West Coast representative of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center. Rydell joined the organization’s board of directors at Kramer’s invitation.

For more information about the Bel-Air Film Festival, visit www.belairfilmfestival.com.