The Texas Filmmakers' Showcase lineup was announced not too long ago, and five Austin films made the cut. And by cut, I mean these five shorts were selected by the Houston Film Commission to be shown (along with three others) at the Showcase's annual special screening in L.A., in which studio execs, agents, and producers are invited to the Directors Guild of America theatre to sample the talents of Texas. Homegrown films include Toddy Burton's "The Aviatrix," Julio & Marla Quintana's "Death Of An Ally," SunHee Cho's "jean=truth," Anne S. Lewis' "Separate Vacations," and Keith Wilson's "When The Light's Red" (a funny, neurotic short we enjoyed the hell out of at UT's annual Hollywood Showcase in 2007). (Did we mention that two Showcasers are part of the Chron family? Both Burton and Lewis are frequent Chronicle contributors. Congrats, ladies.) An Austin screening of the Showcase is in the works. When we know, you'll know.

The casting team of ABC’s Supernanny is searching for Austin families to be on the fifth season of the show. The open casting call is on Thursday, June 19th from 4pm to 8pm at Main Event (13301 N. US Hwy 183 Bldg A, Austin, TX 78750).

This season's producers are working with national nanny and baby sitting registries (Nannies4hire.com and Babysitters4hire.com) to search for families with unique interests; parents who have ordinary and extraordinary circumstances; teen moms; parents with mean girls or bullying boys; culturally diverse parents; and blended families where both sides are seeking help. Producers want families from every type of background.

Interested parents may apply from anywhere online at www.supernanny.com. or by calling 877/NANNY TIME (1-877-626-6984).

As the third season of Venture Bros. helps those who don Aquaman-themed pajamas pass the time ‘til Comic-Con, nerdom’s cinephiles – busily anticipating this year’s Fantastic Fest – can find an additional arm for their support network from the June 3 release of The Machine Girl. Media Blasters purchased the film, which was initially set to screen at Fantastic Fest this fall. The Alamo Drafthouse held a sneak screening of it last Monday at the South Lamar location (no word yet on an Austin theatrical run). Directed by Noboru Iguchi, this Japanese gore-fest follows the revenge quest of a high school girl name Ami (Minase Yashiro) as she rains destruction upon a yakuza ninja family for the murder of her little brother, Yu, and his schoolmates.

We already told you how supercool it is that PJ Raval and Jay Hodges' documentary Trinidad is premiering at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June. But did we forget to mention that they need a little help getting the thing spit-polished for the premiere? That's where you, dear reader, come in, with your cash dollars and your comfy standing-ovation-shoes on. You can check out a very special benefit screening tonight of the doc, which "uncovers Trinidad, Colorado's transformation from Wild West outpost to 'sex change capital of the world,' and follows three transgender women who may steer the rural ranching town toward becoming the 'transsexual mecca.'" Sounds juicy, no? Advance tickets to tonight's benefit previously sold out, but the fine folks at the Drafthouse South Lamar decided to move to a bigger auditorium, thus freeing up more space for you and said cash dollars. You can buy your tickets here.

Has it really been 30 years since George A. Romero, Pittsburgh's slyly subversive godfather of the politically and socially subtextural horror film, taught legions of unsuspecting filmgoers to love the maul but loathe the mall via his taboo-devouring masterpiece Dawn of the Dead? Amazingly, yeah, it has, and to celebrate the occasion the Alamo Drafthouse's Rolling Roadshow, in conjunction with Horrorhound Weekend and enough shriek-show luminaries to gag Tom Savini, are staging a once-in-a-deathtime screening of Dawn... at the original shooting 'n' maiming location, the legendary Monroeville Mall, on Saturday, June 21. For fans of the film -- and apart from Chron film editor Kimberley Jones and my mom, who isn't? -- this is likely to be Heaven (or is that Hell?) on earth. Whichever. All we can say is we're ticked off they didn't do this way back when we actually lived in the area. Of course, we were, like, ten years old, but still.

NBC and Ryan Seacrest Productions will have a casting call for mothers, their sons, and single women for a new reality series (really? another one?) called Momma's Boys.

The premise: women vie for men's attention while their mothers oversee the fun and perhaps offer their input.

When & Where: Friday, May 30, from 6-8pm at Qua Bottle Lounge, 213 W. Fourth, Austin, TX 78701

The niggling details: must be at least 21 years of age to participate. If you can't make the audition apply online www.nbc.com/Casting or nbcdatingshow.com to apply online.

The payoff: Tender moment with your mom and your potential love interest in the same hot tub? Who can resist?

The Texas penal system is once again the subject of a documentary, this one by producer/director Susanne Mason (Are the Kids Alright?), airing on PBS' Independent Lens. Writ Writer (which world-premiered at SXSW Film 2008) tells the story of Fred Arispe Cruz. Convicted in 1960 for a robbery he says he didn’t commit, he became a self-taught lawyer to appeal his case, eventually becoming a trusted advocate for prisoners. His watershed case, Cruz v. Beto, was filed to protest prisoners’ human rights violations and is credited with bringing about huge prison reforms in Texas. Mason has previously written and directed documentaries for the Save Our Springs Alliance and other short films about Austin. San Antonio-born actor Jesse Borrego (24, The New World) provides the voice over as Cruz, in words culled from his personal diaries, letters, and public courtroom presentations. Austin-based writer Dagoberto Gilb adapted Cruz’s narration for the film. Writ Writer premieres Tuesday, June 3, at 9pm on PBS.

We were bummed to miss last week's press screening of The Fall, former music video artist Tarsem Singh's long-delayed followup to The Cell (which plays these days mostly as a punchline, but we remember rather liking it). The trailer looks gorgeous, but early word is decidedly mixed (check out Marc Savlov's very positive review in print tomorrow or online right this very second). We're reserving judgment till we see it in the theatre – which we just might do on Monday, June 2, seeing as how Tarsem will be holding court (or at least a Q&A) at the 7pm show at the Arbor Theatre (9828 Great Hills Trail). Tickets are the usual cost ($8.75 for adults, $7.50 for students, and $6.50 for children/seniors) and can be purchased in advance either at the Arbor box office or online at fandango.com.

Survivor comes to Austin in June in search of cast members for the next season of the popular adventure/competition this Friday, June 13, 1-5pm at the Backwoods in the Hill Country Galleria (12921 Hill Country Galleria Blvd.).
To see full eligibility criteria and to download an official Survivor application, go to KEYE TV's website here.