'Twilight' director Hardwicke to appear during Valley film festival

CineSol Film Festival today announced that McAllen native and Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke will appear during the event's opening weekend in September.

Hardwicke, who late last year told Festiva that she had not been in the Valley in more than 10 years, will be one of many directors to appear during the festival's 16th year, according to a press release from CineSol organizers.

The event kicks off September 11 at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen and concludes September 20 at Cine El Rey in McAllen.

The 1973 McHi graduate, who in December surrendered the director's chair for the Twilight sequel to The Golden Compass' Chris Weitz, last worked in the Valley as an architect. During that time, she spearheaded the construction of the Water Walk neighborhood project off of Second Street in McAllen.

Hardwicke left the Valley in the 1980s to attend film school in Los Angeles. Her directing credits include Thirteen, The Nativity Story and Lords of Dogtown.

Her biggest commercial success to date, Twilight, is up for seven awards at tomorrow's MTV Movie Awards, more than any other movie.