The AFI Dallas International Film Festival announced Wednesday night that Steven and Anne Stodghill will serve as co-chairs of the 2009 festival. Mr. Stodghill is a Dallas attorney with Fish & Richardson P.C. and an avid moviegoer (as you might have guessed).

And lest you think that he’s just some local power player (which he certainly is judging by the crowd gathered at the announcement at Arlington Hall at Lee park), he’s also spent some time on a film set as well. He starred alongside Owen and Luke Wlson in 2005’s The Wendell Baker Story, directed by Luke and Andrew Wilson. Who did he play in the film? You guessed it: a lawyer.

If you don’t see the AFI crew around town much over the next week or so, it’s because most of them are jetting off today to Los Angeles for AFI Fest, AFI Dallas’ big brother festival. In talking to some of those folks last night, it seemed pretty certain that they will be bringing in some special screenings toward the end of the year with big-name talent coming in for the events. Since they haven’t made any announcements yet, I don’t want to spill the beans, but I can tell you that one event that sounds like it’s 98 percent a go will bring to town an Oscar-winning actor and director.

When I get confirmation, I’ll be sure to elaborate.