Robert A. Burns will always be remembered for the films and his ability to create a terrifying and eerie backdrop for horror films. Burns worked as art director with noted horror directors Wes Craven, Stuart Gordon, Tobe Hooper and Joe Dante on such classics as “Re-Animator,” “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “The Hills Have Eyes” and “The Howling.”

The Spindletop/Lamar University film festival will pay tribute to the life and work of Burns, a longtime Texan, during the sixth annual film festival April 15 to 17 in Beaumont.

“After I learned about the death of Robert Burns, I spoke with Stuart Gordon. He suggested we pay tribute to Burns at our 2005 film festival. I knew it was the right thing to do,” said Chris Castillo, festival programmer.

As part of the tribute, Gordon will screen his film “Re-Animator” at the festival. Gordon will introduce the film, do a Q & A after the film and will speak on a panel during the 2005 festival. Several other directors and screenwriter who worked with Burns also plan to attend the festival.

Burns, who lived in Seguin at the time of his death, was noted for his art direction, but he also directed, did special effects and starred in films. In May 2004, Burns was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He died less than a month later.

This multi-talented individual, a previous speaker at Spindletop Film Festival, played a major role in making American horror classics, Castillo said. “He was a true artist, and a gentleman.”

Burns wore many hats during his career, including art director, production designer, dialect coach and special effects coordinator. He directed the horror movie “Mongrel,” which marked the feature film debut of Mitch Pileggi. Pileggi later starred as Skinner on “The X-Files.”

Burns received rave reviews for his acting role in “Confessions of a Serial Killer,” based on the confession of the infamous Henry Lee Lucas.

Film Threat said, “The saving grace is Burns’ ambitious acting debut" and The Dallas Morning News called it “an appallingly lurid, fiendishly watchable movie. Mr. Burns’ performance . . . it's a good one.”

The Houston Chronicle said "Burns doesn't mind being mistaken for a serial killer. That just shows he's done his job."

The New York Times News Service called it "the best in a series of serial-killer films, pride of place belongs to Confessions of a Serial Killer. It pivots on a seriously dangerous job of title role acting from Austin-based film artist Robert A. Burns. He makes Hawkins profoundly convincing: The sort of too chummy creep one might find in depots and coffee shops, admirably life-like performance."

The Austin Chronicle also applauded Burns. "He underplays perfectly when his murderous hick confesses and gives a convincing portrayal of a truly appalling person."

Burns starred in numerous films and television projects including “The Stars Fell on Henrietta,” “A Woman of Independent Means," “The Substitute Wife” and “Walker, Texas Ranger."

He made three videos of note including “Still Chainsaw After All These Years,” a DVD commemorating the Texas Chainsaw Massacre 30th Anniversary Reunion at the 2004 Cinema Wasteland Movie & Memorabilia Expo in Cleveland; “Signs of Life: Archeology and Preservation,” a 30 minute education video; and “Out of Your Tree! Crazy About Genealogy,” a how-to video on genealogy.

“Signs of Life,” an entertaining guide to archeological conservation, was funded by the National Park Service. “Out of Your Tree!” was described by the NY Times News Service as, "One of the most universally appealing productions ever to grace the original-for-video market."

For more information about the festival and the tribute, call (409) 880-8490.