Farewell to Carrie Fisher, the best way Austin knows: at the movies, watching your films.

Farewell to Carrie Fisher, the best way Austin knows: at the movies, watching your films.

The hearts of film fans are a little heavier today after the death yesterday of writer and actress Carrie Fisher. So this week Austin’s cinemas are paying tribute to the child of Hollywood royalty who became an icon as Princess Leia, and then became a whip-smart author and script doctor.

Tonight, the Alamo Drafthouse will host a special lightsaber vigil. Break out your best Star Wars cosplay, lightsaber, flashlight, or even glow stick, and be at the Alamo South Lamar, 1120 S. Lamar, at 6:30pm. Also, follow the Drafthouse on Twitter and Faceboook throughout the day for updates.

That’ll be followed over the weekend by We Love You Carrie Fisher Nights at the Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In. On Jan. 1 and 6, the outdoor cinema will be screening double bills featuring one of Fisher’s most memorable non-Star Wars roles – Jake Blues’ gun-toting ex in The Blues Brothers, and one of her most overlooked performances – 1981’s bizarre Wizard of Oz behind-the-scenes comedy Under the Rainbow. Tickets at www.bluestarlitedrivein.com.

This article appears in December 23 • 2016.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.