Take Note
A Panel on Music for Film
April 30th | 3 pm - 4:30 pm
Join us for Take Note, an exclusive conversation discussing the powerful intersection of music & film. Presented by Virgin Hotels Dallas and DIFF | Dallas International Film Festival, this panel discussion with Abraham Alexander, Anna Lascurain & Clint Bentley will dive into the creative process of writing and integrating original songs for the screen. From translating emotion into melody to collaborating with filmmakers, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how music helps shape unforgettable cinematic moments.
Whether you're seasoned filmmaker or aspiring songwriter, this is your chance to hear the stories behind the songs - and the films they help bring to life.
THE DETAILS:
Wednesday, April 30 from 3-4:30 PM | Check in begins at 2:30 PM
Event located on the 4th floor of Virgin Hotels Dallas | 1445 Turtle Creek Blvd
Space is limited, RSVP is required for entry
Limited valet parking available onsite
PANELISTS
When Abraham Alexander unspools his extraordinary life story, it becomes clear that he should always trust his instincts. Each time he has, something unknowable but amazing has happened for him.
Born in Greece, where he spent the early part of his life with the Acropolis as his playground, Abraham was transplanted to Texas in the early 2000s at 11 years old to escape the ever present racial tension of his birthplace. Adopted in Texas after losing his mother in a car accident with a drunk driver, Abraham became a sports nut who excelled on the pitch and had first set his sights on a career in soccer. A torn ACL sidelined those ambitions but opened the door to a new path. A friend handed him a guitar during this downtime, and, without warning, his soul was unlocked.
Songs he did not know that he had in him poured out. A series of increasingly incredible chance meetings — including a life-changing encounter with Leon Bridges — led him to nurture this newfound musical voraciousness. Those roads have converged on his debut album Sea/Sons, out now on Dualtone Records.
Co-produced by Alexander with the help of several folks including Matt Pence and Brad Cook, the album is a lush, seductive affair that showcases the singer-songwriter’s beguiling voice— one which offers both honey and grit— and supple acoustic guitar work. The 11 tracks on Sea/Sons display a cool assuredness even as the songs themselves play with themes of loss, redemption, longing, anguish, and joy informed by a complex life of love and pain. There is a refreshing genre fluidity at play as elements of folk, pop, rock, R&B, gospel, and even electronic music meld and tangle. Ineffable backing vocals, sparse but rich arrangements, and a sense of emotional purpose draw the musical threads together into a cohesive whole that is simultaneously warm and cool.
Most recently, Alexander’s collaboration with Adrian Quesada, the song “Like A Bird” from the A24 film Sing Sing, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song.
Anna Garcia Lascurain currently holds the position of Senior Producer and Music Supervisor at Squeak E. Clean Studios, where she blends her deep musical expertise with a keen eye for creative collaboration. With a music career spanning over 15 years, Garcia Lascurain has become a trusted figure in the world of music production, audio post, and licensing for film, television, advertising, and beyond.
During her time at Squeak E. Clean, Garcia Lascurain has produced and music supervised a wide array of high-profile campaigns, including Apple’s “Someday,” starring Pedro Pascal and directed by Spike Jonze, Slack’s “The Big Meeting,” Verizon’s 2024 Super Bowl spot featuring J. Balvin, and Instacart’s “Kazoo Show,” among many others. Prior to joining Squeak E. Clean, Garcia Lascurain held roles as Producer and Music Supervisor at Search Party New York and Director of Licensing at Sub Pop Records. Her film credits include The Vow, Friends with Kids, Grey Gardens, and The University of Sing Sing.
In addition to her production work, Garcia Lascurain remains committed to mentoring the next generation of music professionals, fostering an environment where creativity and innovation can thrive.
Clint Bentley is an Academy Award- nominated filmmaker.
His feature directorial debut, JOCKEY, premiered In Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival where it won a Special Jury Prize for Best Actor for Clifton Collins Jr and was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. Co-written and produced with his longtime creative partner, Greg Kwedar, it went on to play TIFF, AFI and over 30 festivals around the world. In addition to winning the Audience Award at AFI Film Festival, it was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards and was chosen as a Top 10 Independent Film of 2021 by The National Board of Review. 2017’s TRANSPECOS, which Bentley co-wrote and produced, won the Audience Award at the 2016 SXSW Film Festival and he was chosen as one of 25 Screenwriters to Watch in 2017 (with co-writer Greg Kwedar) by MovieMaker Magazine.
Bentley wrote and produced SING SING, which premiered at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival and won the 2024 SXSW Festival Audience Award. Acquired and theatrically released by A24, the critical darling garnered three Academy Award nominations (including Best Adapted Screenplay), three BAFTA nominations, and five Critics Choice Award nominations, including Best Picture. It was also nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Feature and was named one of the AFI and National Board of Review Top 10 Films of the Year. The film won the National Board of Review Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and the Gotham Awards for Best Lead Performance and Best Supporting Performance.
Most recently, he directed his second feature, TRAIN DREAMS, based on the book by Denis Johnson. Starring Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, William H Macy and Kerry Condon, it debuted to rave reviews at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and was picked up by NETFLIX for an expected fall 2025 release.
Bentley and his producing partner Greg Kwedar recently launched a production company called ETHOS to develop their original work and to champion artists under the innovative and equitable financing model they pioneered.
About Virgin Hotels Dallas:
Virgin Hotels Dallas is the second property from Virgin Hotels - the lifestyle hospitality brand that combines heartfelt service, straightforward value and a seamless, personalized hotel experience with the track record of innovation and smart disruption that Sir Richard Branson's global Virgin Group has pioneered for 50 years. The property intermixes a passion for food and beverage with music and culture that fuses with the local landscape, providing an inclusive environment for travelers and locals alike. Located in the Dallas Design District on 1445 Turtle Creek Blvd, the hotel features 268 Chambers (rooms) and two Penthouse Suites. Dining and drinking outlets include Commons Club, the brand’s flagship restaurant and bar, Funny Library Coffee Shop and The Pool Club. Reservations accepted and can be made directly on the hotel’s website, www.virginhotels.com/dallas or by calling 469.359.7003.
About DIFF | Dallas International Film Festival:
DIFF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and culture organization established as Dallas Film Society, Inc. in 2006. Through year-round screenings, film series, educational programs, community partnerships, and film festivals, DIFF builds community and raises awareness of the world’s most approachable and inclusive art form.
Named by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as an Oscar® Qualifying Festival, The Dallas International Film Festival is the signature presentation of the organization. Through curation of the broadest range of expression through film, DIFF serves as the region’s most powerfully inclusive and equitable platform for diverse, emerging and underrepresented voices. Since its founding, DIFF has screened more than 2,500 widely diverse new films from 60 countries, provided more than $1.1 million in awards and hosted more than 100,000 filmgoers and filmmakers.
DIFF is committed to celebrating films and their impact on society, honoring filmmakers and recognizing their contribution enhancing both the creative community and the city of Dallas, providing leadership in film education, and celebrating excellence in the art of film. More information is available at www.diffdallas.org.