Orlando, FL -- Hollywood and Temecula has joined together to roll out a red carpet for hundreds of gifted artists and filmmakers and not to mention the thousands of fans. The 15th annual Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival arrived on September 9th, 2009 to Temecula California for an opening night that started off in style. A parade of polished vintage cars delivered filmmaker and directors, actors and musicians to the heart of Tower Plaza.

During the five-day event, over 100 films from around the world were screened for festival goers at the Movie Experience Theaters at Tower Plaza Center in Temecula. Festival audiences were also treated to MusicFest, a musical celebration that showcased artists from around the world. Hundreds of gifted artists in film and music have arrived and they love what they see. “I love it here it’s beautiful,” said Barra Grant, director of the festival’s opening film, Love Hurts. “I think that (Temecula) is exactly the kind of community to enjoy a film like Love Hurts. It’s generational and has something for everyone. (It will) reverberate with families here and across the country.”

Temecula Mayor Mary Ann Edwards who shares the excitement of festival participants, sums up the general sentiment of the evening: “The Temecula Film Festival has grown and grown and turned into something fabulous.” The Mayor introduced Richard Lloyd and Vadim Enikeev both of Diversified Global Holdings to the festival for the opening of “Love Hurts” and thanked them for being the main sponsors of this year’s festival.

Joining Diversified Global Holdings in the celebration to support this opening night event includes guests Camryn Manheim- Love Hurts, The Ghost Whisperer, Scary Movie 3; Adam Gaynor- formerly Matchbox 20; Lucas Grabeel- High School Musical 1-2-3, Milk; Johnny Pacar- Love Hurts, Make it or Break it, Flight 29 Down; Barra Grant- Love Hurts Writer/Director, Life of the Party, Living Single; Brian Reilly-Producer, Love Hurts, The Santa Claus 1-2-3, Joe Somebody; Coffey- Country Music Star; Disney’s Steve Rushton-G-Force soundtrack.

The festival concluded on Sunday night with a star studded guest list. Veteran band members of Earth, Wind & Fire were honored during a black tie gala at Pechanga Resort & Casino for their lifetime musical achievements. This black tie event brought film and music celebrities, as well as local luminaries, to the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula to honor outstanding achievers in the entertainment industry. Adam Gaynor hosted the gala; former guitarist for Matchbox Twenty set the stage for Earth, Wind & Fire who received a “Lifetime Achievement in Music and Extraordinary Impact to Music Culture through the Performing Arts.” “We are exceedingly honored and humbled to receive this award,” said band-member Ralph Johnson. Other honorees at the gala included young performer Lucas Gabreel, best known for his work in “High School Musical” and “Milk.” He received “The Pechanga Maverick Star Award for Outstanding Career Achievement in Film and Music.” Steve Rushton, who received “The Rising Star Award,” rocked the gala audience by performing his latest new song, “Ready to Rock.”

Temecula Mayor Maryann Edwards was on hand at the gala to make a presentation honoring Festival Sponsors Richard Lloyd and Vadim Enikeev both of Diversified Global Holdings. Edwards said, thanks to their contributions, the festival has “a solid reputation in the entertainment industry.” While the list of honorees was extensive, the most anticipated presentation of the evening was the Audience Choice Awards. The awards were given to the most popular films screened during the festival. Films were rated by festival goers on a scale of one to 10–10 being the best.