Celeste Holm, Margaret O'Brien, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jesse L. Martin-with such stars studding the Red Carpet Awards Ceremony, a climactic finish to the third annual SunDeis Film Festival was all but expected Sunday night.Thirteen awards were presented to 30 nominated films. Prof. Anita Hill (Heller) kicked off the evening, linking SunDeis to Brandeis' perennial connection to creative individuals. "It is fitting to honor legends and celebrate filmmakers who are likely to be legends in the future," she said.

Next, a video montage featuring clips from Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz and Red River helped to set a cinematic mood.

Upon winning Best Documentary for his "Still on Her Keel: The Legacy of Chester Polling," which follows three divers exploring a New England shipwreck, Boston University student Aaron Fauls kept repeating, "This rules!"

The winner for Best Actress in a Drama, Kerreanna Di Mauro of Arnon Shorr's '05 film "Joan of Arc Works at the Gap," was so nervous she could barely speak, but managed to offer heartfelt thanks to all involved with the project.

Kai Jae Wang '03, whose "Premeditation" won for Best Picture, credited Brandeis with inspiring his work, citing as the film's inspiration a story a professor told in an Introduction to Psychology class.

When O'Brien, the star of Meet Me in St. Louis, for which she received an Outstanding Child Actress Oscar, presented Paul Battaglia with the Best Actor in a Drama award for Emerson College's "Death of a Clown," he reacted with an emotional speech, saying, "The only thing I've won before this was my wife's heart, but this will be a close second."

O'Brien also received a SunDeis Lifetime Achievement Award. She encouraged young artists to follow their dreams and pursue careers in the arts. Of her award, she said, "I will cherish this forever."

Holm, also an Oscar-winner, said she felt humbled by her own award, saying, "I can't tell you how much this means to me."

At the climax of the event, Martin (of Rent and Law & Order fame) delivered the Entertainer of the Year Award to Merkerson. Merkerson is a veteran actress currently starring in Law & Order, and was also a regular on Pee Wee's Playhouse. The repartee between the two stars was enjoyable, and Merkerson told an amusing story of how she had originally thought, when she received her invitation, that SunDeis was at Barnard. Only later did she realize that she had committed herself to going to Boston, despite having to be back in New York City for work the next day.

Merkerson complimented SunDeis organizer Scott Feinberg '08 on how well the festival was run, exclaiming, "Y'all know how to treat people," in reference to the large white limo waiting outside Shapiro.

It was easy to be swept up by the night's fervor, and the smiles on student filmmakers' and veteran actors' faces alike made it more than worth its while.

Editor's note: Deputy Editor Jon Fischer and Associate Editor Benjamin Freed were preliminary round judges for SunDeis.