Short Cuts

It was announced this week that the postponed Jack Hill Tribute to be hosted by Quentin Tarantino is now scheduled to happen as part of the upcoming SXSW Film Festival. The festival takes place March 12-20. Details on the scheduled films are still to come, but you might start drooling with anticipatory hopes for such B-movie gems as The Big Bird Cage, The Big Doll House, Foxy Brown, Coffy, and Spider Baby. While the Jack Hill/Quentin Tarantino/SXSW Film logistics are still falling into place, things have finally solidified for QTIII, the nine-day-long Tarantino marathon of film screenings from the director's personal archive of offbeat films. In all, 30 movies will be offered in this third annual event sponsored by the Austin Film Society (AFS) and The Austin Chronicle and taking place at the Alamo Drafthouse February 19-27. Tickets will go on sale to AFS members on Monday, February 8 and to the general public on Monday, February 13. A nine-day pass good for admission to all 30 films is $125. A five-day pass good for admission to any five days of the festival costs $75. Single day passes are $20 for the Monday-Thursday screenings (double bills) and $30 for the weekend screenings (Friday triple bills and Saturday all-nighters). Tickets will also be on sale for the individual shows 15 minutes before showtime if available. The priority for seating is festival pass, five-day pass, single-day pass, and individual show tickets. Tickets may be purchased by phone by AFS members beginning Feb. 8 by calling the AFS office (322-0145) or going to the Alamo box office and showing your membership card. Tickets are available to the general public at both locations beginning February 13...

Aubrey M. Horton is also beginning one of his regular screenwriting workshops. The script consultant will give a free lecture, "Winning Screenwriting Contests," on Sunday, January 24, 3pm, at Book People. Horton will also teach two screenwriting workshops at St. Edward's University -- a four-week class ($130) and an eight-week class ($330). The registration deadline is January 30. Call 835-7639 for more info...

A weekly Film Appreciation class begins on Monday, January 25, 7-9:30pm, at the Art School of the Austin Museum of Art. The instructor will be UT Ph.D. candidate Dick Cutler. The class will meet on consecutive Mondays through March 15 for a total of eight classes. Students will view classics of American and world cinema. Each week, handouts, a brief lecture, a feature-length film, and follow-up discussion offer the opportunity for gaining a better understanding of how films work. Registration is $99. Call 323-6380 for more info or to register...

Put those wire hangers away. Christina Crawford (the famously adopted daughter of movie star Joan) will be in Austin this weekend for a benefit and rally for the Texas Coalition for Adoption Resources & Education (TxCare). For more on the activities of this group see this week's "Public Notice" section or turn to the group's Web site at http://www.txcare.org. Sunday afternoon, beginning at 2pm at the Public Domain Theatre (807 Congress), is the group's benefit featuring Crawford, who will be in attendance for a screening of her autobiographical adoptee horror story, Mommie Dearest, and will be signing copies of the 20th anniversary edition of her book. The event also includes a wine & cheese reception and a performance by country musician Randy Moore. Tickets to the benefit are available at the door; $20 TxCARE members/$25 non-members.