Austin, Texas is no stranger to the arts. Music is big here, sure. But so is film. Film is really big in Austin. Austin is the third coast, after all. Austin doesn’t just do film, the city does film differently.
That’s where the Austin Film Festival (AFF) comes in. You see, they focus on the strengths writers bring to film and television. Austin Film Festival has been doing it for thirteen years now — well, this is the thirteenth year. It’s the festival to catch to schmooze with the folks that will be the people to know tomorrow. That’s how it works in the film and television worlds — you're a nobody today and then you’re the hottest thing since sliced bread tomorrow. Austin Film Festival gives you the chance to meet everyone in between and make friends or contacts, but most importantly AFF gives you the inside scoop on the industry from all angles today.
Most of AFF’s venues are in downtown Austin and close enough to walk between. There are two that are in Northwest Austin and not exactly within walking distance – funny enough, those two theaters are the more stereotypical theaters in the venue listing. Two theaters are at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum: the IMAX and Texas Spirit Theaters. Basically across the street is the Landmark Dobie Theater; yep it is in a University of Texas dorm’s mall.
If you jaunt to the other side of the state capital, you’ll find three venues within a block of each other. The Hideout is a coffee shop with two theaters in it, one upstairs and one downstairs. The Stephen F. Austin Hotel is housing a theater in their ballroom. And of course there is the beautiful Paramount Theatre. The other two, the ones in Northwest Austin, are the Regal Arbor Cinema and then Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek. Eight theaters make for eight full days of cinematic treasures to be sought.
I started tonight at The Hideout to see The Descendant’s US premiere. The Descendant is a 95-minute Canadian film about family secrets. James Duke decides to dig for his family roots by doing what his mother made him promise to never do – contact his grandparents. James is welcomed to their home, but not with open arms. The entire town is less than thrilled with his showing up and snooping around. Before long, the audience is aware there is a huge secret the entire town of Ste Harmonie is hiding.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
I'm jealous. Sounds like fun.
2 - -E
HAHA today was good too, I'll write something up about it in a bit.