Shortcuts

The Austin Museum of Art (AMOA) is on a roll of exhibiting film and video; this week begins a presentation of works that haven't had the opportunity to reach wide audiences, previously appearing mostly in obscure film festivals or as one-time programming on PBS. In conjunction with the I Dream a World exhibition (portraits of black women who changed America) AMA has organized Image and Identity, a four-part series of video shorts by and/or about African-American women. On Tues., Nov. 19 at 7:30pm, the series will kick off with Book of Love (1992), an experimental documentary by Tony Cokes in which the artist's mother recounts her life through interviews, stories, and songs; and A Place of Rage (1991) by English filmmaker Pratibha Parmer, which celebrates African-American women and their achievements in the civil rights, black power, and feminist movements. A new program of videos will screen each Tuesday following until December 10. Series co-curator and UT English professor Dr. Mia Carter will introduce each program. Tickets are $4, $2 for museum members, and go on sale at 7pm each evening at the door -- 823 Congress Ave. For a schedule of the entire series, call AMA at 458-8191...

The March SXSW Film Festival may be months off, but festival producer Nancy Schafer is already amassing an impressive lineup of panelists for the conference's fourth year. Now's the time to submit films and videos for consideration (along with an under 50-word synopsis and the $20 entry fee); deadline is December 13. Contact SXSW at 467-7979 for an entry form and more information...

The Texas Multimedia Directory, the Texas Film Commission-created publication of organized business listings covering every aspect of the Lone Star State's expansive multimedia industry, has just gone online in the form of a searchable database. Now, information on local tech services such as programming, software development, animation, Web design, and stock photography can be accessed via the Internet, at http://www. governor.state.tx.us/multimedia. Not wired up yet? Call 463-5842 to obtain a copy of the realspace directory...

Since the Austin Film Society's Powell & Pressburger series wrapped last week, are the faithful foragers of rarely screened films taking a much-deserved break? Of course not! The next installment of their Fall Free Cinema Series will be The Masterworks of Satyajit Ray. Ray's first movie was a hit at Cannes in 1956, and won the independent director the distinction of single-handedly bringing Indian cinema to the West. That film, Pather Panchali, the story of a poverty-stricken family living in a Bengal Village will begin the series on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 9pm in the Union Theatre...

NYU film school graduates Marcello Zamarripa and Zoey Lyle shot their short The Devil -- a film questioning the morality of a group of young men as they attempt to rescue and rehabilitate a prostitute against her will -- right here in Austin. A free screening of the finished project will be shown at the Dobie on Sat. Nov. 16, 11:30am, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers...

The female film fête Reel Women will meet next on Wed, Nov. 20, 7:30pm at WATER House (109 W. Johanna). Dawn Cooper of Silence Film will discuss Under the Flag, a controversial documentary on the CIA. Call Cyndy Kirkland at 280-8706 for more info.