picture in picture

All week long, I've been digging this fun pictograph reference guide to Fantastic Fest's movies. The chart takes up a full page in the program book, and T-shirts have also been emblazoned with the hand-drawn symbols. 130 little squares depict handy tips to the movies' contents – everything you might imagine and more that you hope you can't. Read More | Comment »

After last week's tease, the Austin Film Festival has announced its official lineup for the 2008 fest, which runs October 16-23. Joining previously announced Marquee Screenings of Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire, Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut Synecdoche, New York, and Kelly Reichardt's followup to Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy, are Paul Schrader's Adam Resurrected (starring Jeff Goldblum), videogame adaptation/fanboy-bait Max Payne (from local screenwriter Beau Thorne), and James Gray's Two Lovers, which netted a lot of attention at Cannes in May and closes out AFF on Oct. 23. Also on our shortlist of must-sees: Bart Got a Room, which sounds like it might fit the inevitable "this year's Juno" slot; Largo, a doc about the famous L.A. nightclub that regularly hosts comics like Zach Galifianakis and musicians like Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann, and Jon Brion (who scored Eternal Sunshine and I Heart Huckabees); and – get this – a retrospective of Top Gun hosted by Tom Skerritt. Nice! Full lineup and descriptions after the jump. Read More | Comment »

Marc Savlov already rhapsodized about Danny Boyle here and how he'll be showing his much-buzzed-about (we're talking Oscar) Slumdog Millionaire at the Austin Film Festival. Now comes down the pike the news that AFF – prescient folks they – are going to hand him a trophy now. He'll be receiving the 2008 Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award, which is earmarked for "individuals who have demonstrated an unyielding commitment to outstanding scripts and innovative filmmaking." Slumdog Millionaire premieres at the Paramount on Friday, Oct. 17, at 7:30pm, followed by a screening of Boyle's breakout first feature, Shallow Grave, with Boyle in attendance. He'll accept the award on Saturday, Oct. 18, at a luncheon, followed by a conference panel titled "A Conversation With Danny Boyle." The Austin Film Festival runs Oct. 16-23. Buy your badges – and seriously, buy them now – at austinfilmfestival.com. For those having to tighten the belt a bit, AFF is offering a pretty stellar deal with the $95 Lone Star Badge, which gives you admission to all festival films and to one day of the screenwriting conference (and it's Saturday, the big guns day that you don't want to miss). Read more about the Lone Star Badge here. Read More | Comment »

Fantastic Fest may be winding down, but there's still a lot of life (or rather death, given its gruesome bent) left in it yet. The fest closes Thursday night with City of Ember, but before then you can still catch a few of the newly announced jury and audience award winners. Check out the FF website for remaining showtimes and after the jump for the award winners. Read More | Comment »

It's Sunday afternoon and we feel like we got punched by a donkey. On a boat. Teeming with beered-up Aussies and Spaniards and Chiléans and Brits and, yes, more than a few Yanks and locals. We blame Fantastic Fest sponsor Foster's "It's Australian for Goddam My Head Hurts" Lager®. Which just serves to prove our theory: Fantastic Fest is has come into its own a mere four years since Harry Knowles, Tim McCanlies, Paul Alvarado Dykstra, and Alamo Drafthouse founder/overlord Tim League dared to dream it. And it's not even half over as we type this. Good on ya, mate. Our Highlights Thus Far: There's good news for everyone who ever wished the Alamo would open up a permanent outdoor drive-in-esque location (other than the Rolling Roadshow, natch). During Friday's outdoor screening of Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, League announced that the official fire lane which currently separates the Alamo South Lamar's front and rear parking areas will become, post-fest, a permanent outdoor venue, complete with -- presumably -- honest-to-goodness green-grass sod laid over the existing, butt-unfriendly blacktop. League has already set the plan in motion and met with representatives from the Austin Fire Department and City of Austin zoning officials, which means by this time next year you won't have to worry about getting gravel in your trousers because you forgot to bring a folding chair, or what that weird red stain on the pavement to your right is. Sweet. Read More | Comment »

Is it just us or does Austin now have more film festivals per capita than Smurfville had little blue not-so-meanies? Here we are with aGLIFF barely behind us, Fantastic Fest is currently, gloriously redefining the limits of our imaginations (and livers), and as of yesterday the Austin Film Festival, which this year runs Oct. 16-23, has just announced their initial lineup of films, filmmakers, and a handful of the many events that continue to make it one of best fests in the country. So who's coming and what will they be screening? Two words: Danny Boyle. Read More | Comment »

Leave it to the inimitable Kevin Smith to slip the word, if not an actual skin flick, into the grand lady of Austin theatrical venues: the Paramount Theatre. A screening of his new film Zack and Miri Make a Porno was the opening film at the fourth annual Fantastic Fest. Smith's simultaneously sweet and unsavory new comedy stars box-office king Seth Rogen and delightful Elizabeth Banks (who is soon to appear as Laura Bush in Oliver Stone's W. Read More | Comment »

China: Not a good place to take your car. Read More | Comment »

"Welcome to the official opening night of the Alamo South Lamar Drive-In," said Tim League, addressing an enthusiastic 100-plus crowd already primed on barbie-fied shrimp and liter upon liter of Fosters Lager (it's Australian for "Budweiser"). "I know that where you're sitting looks a lot like a fire lane, but trust me, this is all totally above board. And I also realize Hurricane Ike is threatening to show up and blow our beautiful Rolling Roadshow screen over, but please, Ike, just give us two hours to watch one of the greatest action movies of all time." And with that, the Alamo kicked off the first of several free-to-the-public events surrounding the now-monumentally awesome Fantastic Fest. Last Friday's Mad Max screening was just the first of a handful of films from down under being screened at Fantastic Fest 2008 but, along with its sequel The Road Warrior, which screens this coming Friday, it's one of the few that demands to be seen within the context of a drive-in-style outdoor venue. It worked, the crowd was psyched (especially Alamo co-founder Karrie League, who had never borne witness to the fuel-injected kickassery that is Mel Gibson's finest hour-and-a-half), and not even Ike's ominous westward rumblings could put a dent in the proceedings. Even cooler is the fact that, as League revealed to us post-Max, the former fire lane really and truly has been approved by the Austin Fire Department for use as a permanent, additional outdoor screening area. How cool is that? Cooler than a '73 Ford Falcon XB GT Coupe aka Max Rockatansky's V-8 Interceptor. Scorchingly so. Read More | Comment »

Holy free movies online, Batman! The Alamo Drafthouse and Fantastic Fest have announced that five feature films and six shorts will be streamed online via the BSide community, in their entirety, from Sept. 14-20. This is big news. Not only did badges for this years Fantastic Fest (Sept. 18-21) completely sell out ages ago, but we've seen five of the films they'll be streaming, and they rock. Hard. Like "Why are you stalking me, Mr. Famous French Gynecologist-in-a-motel room-from-hell?"-type rocking. Seriously, this is some mindwarping stuff they're coughing up for you here. As per the official press release, you'll need to sign up as a member of the BSide to view the carnage, and, of course, you don't get free popcorn or the chance to sit near Harry Knowles, but so what? This is free, baby! Here's a drool-worthy listing of what you'll be able to watch, for free, at home, totally in the nude if you so desire, for free: Dr. Infierno, I Think We're Alone Now, La Creme, Rule of Three, South of Heaven. More info. Did we mention this was free? Read More | 1 Comment »

Without a doubt, it's a sucky time for a true indie film to get any kind of traditional distribution deal. There are a lot of people currently trying to rethink how to get those indies out into the world (and leading the vanguard is former South by Southwest director Matt Dentler). Also fighting the good fight? Filmmaking partners and SXSW regulars Ashley Sabin and David Redmon. Sabin and Redmon not too long ago founded Carnivalesque Films in order to continue producing and distributing their own films, but also to pick up and distribute other indie gems – what Sabin described in a recent e-mail as "great films that [are] usually RIP after the festival circuit." Carnivalesque first released Redmon's Mardi Gras: Made in China on July 29 in stores and at online rental sites, and now the company is distributing Orphans, a family drama which won the special jury award at SXSW 07 and is directed by Ry Russo-Young (she played Hannah's roommate in Hannah Takes the Stairs – and, honestly, who needs six degrees when you've got South By smack in the center?). Orphans will be released Sept. 30. In October, Carnivalesque will release Austinite Sam Douglas and Paul Lovelace's documentary The Holy Modal Rounders: Bound to Lose. Read More | Comment »

The Austin Film Festival hit another one out of the park -- they just announced this year's Outstanding Television Award Honoree, and it's Greg Daniels, a highly respected industry vet whose credits include SNL, Seinfeld, King of the Hill, and, most recently, The Office. Might we suggest Michael Scott emcée? And possibly do a PowerPoint demonstration, too? Daniels will join previously announced Distinguished Screenwriter Awardee Sam Shepard at this year's fest, which runs Oct. 16-23. For more info, visit www.austinfilmfestival.com. Read More | Comment »

OK, here's the deal: In June Austin filmmaker Jeff Guerrero received $10,000 from a short film contest to use in making another short for the final round of competition. Now he's one of 15 finalists competing for a $100,000 grand prize. His short "The Dreamer" features local wag (and Austin Chronicle designated "best writer in Austin") Owen Egerton. Guererro co-wrote the script with his producer Angie Alvarez, who also was producer of the Independent Spirit nominated film Chalk, on the set of which Guerrero discovered a love for acting when he was working as an assistant director and unexpectedly found himself improvising on camera. Got that? You can vote through Sept. 10 at Thedoorpost.com. Read More | Comment »

It is time! The Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival is finally here again! This year, the festival turns 21 (which means they are full-grown and can drink legally), and the programmers and director have put together an incredible program of films (96 films! 18 countries! Oscar-nominated and Cannes Award-winning films!) representing the diversity of LGBTQI filmmaking today. Folks, this is ridiculous, and whether you are LGBTQI or something else altogether these films promise to be amazing. All screenings are at the Alamo Ritz and begin on Wednesday. Below the jump: my dream schedule. Read More | 1 Comment »

The Texas Homeless Network presents the Face the Homeless Film Fest, Tuesday, Sept. 2, at the Alamo Ritz, 320 E. Sixth. The program includes the Texas premiere of Kicking It, a documentary about the 2006 Homeless World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa. That film is 3-5pm ($25); the full event is 8:30am-5pm ($75). Among those in attendance: a player with the Entourage Austin Street Soccer team who's been selected for the national team that's going to Australia for the 2008 HWC in December.
For full event info, download this PDF; see also www.kickingitthefilm.com, www.streetsocceraustin.org, and www.homelessworldcup.org. St. Edward's women (17-3 last season) are ranked 23rd in the NCAA Division II preseason rankings. They start their season today with a scrimmage against Southwestern: Thursday, Aug. 28, 5pm. The Hilltopper men start their regular season Sunday, Aug. 31, 1pm against Regis. Both teams compete in the tough Heartland Conference, along with national powers St. Mary's and Incarnate Word of San Antonio. Below: more home teams: Longhorns, Stoke City, U.S. Men and Women, MLS in CONCACAF. Read More | Comment »

The clock's running down for tonight's special screening at 10:30pm of In Search of a Midnight Kiss, timed rather charmingly to end at midnight for a champagne toast (the title refers to the annual New Year's Eve mad dash to find somebody to smooch at the appointed hour). The screening (at the Alamo South Lamar) is open to Austin Film Society members only. It opens in theaters tomorrow, but why not take the opportunity to finally become an AFS member and enjoy the many benefits – like getting to see In Search's Alex Holdridge introduce the film? And did we mention the champagne? Reserve your ticket here. And read some more about the movie here. Read More | Comment »

Hey gang. Voting closes tonight at midnight for this month's Film Fight. It's still a pretty tight race, so don't think your vote doesn't count. Let me put it this way – if Josh went out and found himself a jury of his peers – well, and maybe throw in the stenographer, judge, and whatever that big bald guy on Night Court played – then he could really win this thing. We'll announce the winner at tomorrow night's Happy Hour at Spider House. We'll also give away some stuff, show a couple shorts, and sit around and do everything in our power to not talk about Shakespeare. Not ever, ever again. See you there. Read More | Comment »

The Alamo Drafthouse announced yesterday on their blog that Zack and Miri Make a Porno will open this year's Fantastic Fest, with writer/director Kevin Smith in attendance for an introduction and Q&A. It's been a while since I've been enthusiastic about a Kevin Smith flick, although he's such a funny, sharp, likable guy, it's hard to begrudge him, exactly, when his films disappoint – kinda like when your kid consistently brings home C's on his report card. I mean, sure, you love your kid and you always will, but wouldn't it be awesome if just once he made honor roll? All that said – and I'm just going with the gut here – but the gut's pretty excited about Zack and Miri. Based on title alone (and this teaser trailer... and the fact the film just had its NC-17 rating overturned for R), one can safely say this is going to be filthy, which is what Smith does best. And the cast is chockablock with, cough, "rising stars" like Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, and Craig Robinson. Zack and Miri's official site can be found here. Find out more about Fantastic Fest here. Read More | Comment »

I devoted last week's TV Eye column to Skins, the "new" series that just debuted on BBC America. I say new in quotes because the series is already two seasons old abroad. The good news is that U.S. audiences can be assured that the series is not going to disappear after a too short run (Freaks and Geeks comes to mind).

Anyway...I was curious about the title and write to the p.r. folks to inquire. I imagined "skins" is British slang for something, but what? The response came after deadline:

"I recently heard the creator speak about this and he said it wasn't one thing ... it is slang for cigarette papers, condoms but it has other potential, deeper meanings."

So, there you go. Read More | Comment »

The 2008 Little League World Series has narrowed the pool down to four teams and four final games to be held this weekend. It's Japan versus Mexico in the International Championship game (11:30am, Saturday, ABC) and Hawaii and Louisiana playing to see who's best in the U.S. (2:30pm, Saturday, ABC). The Championship Game will take place Sunday at 2:30pm with the Consolation Game being played at 11am (both on ABC). For more on LLWS schedules and scores click here. If you got a young'un who's not ready for the Little League action to end, Activision has got you covered. Little League World Series 2008 is out now for the Wii (and Nintendo DS) and is the first officially licensed LL game for next-gen consumers. The motion-sensing controls allow easy accessibility for players of all ages and all skill levels. Sixteen teams from around the globe are featured (eight from the U.S.) as well as three Little League stadiums (Lamade Stadium, Volunteer Stadium, and All-Star Field). LLWS 2008 also features fun power-ups, World Series mode, skill challenges, and much more to keep the young baseball fan fixated until next season. Read More | Comment »