Yes, But Will Shatner Be There? Dept: Apparently all settled from their recent move out to new digs/headquarters at the new Austin Studios at the old airport, the Austin Film Society has announced a benefit premiere of the locally shot (at the Austin Studios, natch), Sandra Bullock FBI-cum-beauty-pageant comedy Miss Congeniality on Monday, Dec. 18, at the Paramount Theatre. Sure, that’s a ways off, but judging from the sellout of previous AFS benefit premieres, I can pretty much guarantee you that this one, too, will follow suit and leave procrastinating Sandy fans milling around Congress Avenue with desperate faces and pathetic, hand-stenciled placards to the effect of “will pull PA duty for tix.” Hey, it’s happened before. The screening will benefit both the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the AFS’ Texas Filmmakers’ Production Fund, which awards yearly grants to deserving (and needy) Texan filmmakers. Stars Bullock and Benjamin Bratt will be in attendance, along with global legend Armstrong, and director Donald Petrie and writer Marc Lawrence. Tickets go on sale to AFS members Monday, Dec. 4, at $15, and to the general public Monday, Dec. 11, at $25. Call the Paramount box office (472-5470) or Star Tickets (469-SHOW) to reserve seats. There will also be a limited number of high-dollar tickets ($275/$250) available that will include a special meet-and-greet, after-film bash with the stars. More on that as the info arrives. (And, sadly, co-star/Priceline.com shill William Shatner is not at present scheduled to attend.)… Also in AFS news, the bimonthly Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers salon will be held Monday, Nov. 27, 7pm, at the DeWitty Career Center (2209 Rosewood). Featured speakers will be dueling arthouse masterminds Tim “Final Cut Pro is easy” League of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and Kristin “wacky nickname unavailable at press time” Bomstat of Landmark’s Dobie Theatre, who will discuss/debate public versus private distribution of films in the Austin area. Local filmmakers with completed projects ready for showing are encouraged to attend and make nice with these twin titans of local indie cred. (If you think I’m kidding, please recall what happened to Rick Linklater‘s fledgling film career when then-Dobie owner Scott Dinger decided to give a little film called Slacker a whirl.)… And while I’m on the topic (kinda) of the Alamo, owner League has announced that as of now all shows at the theatre have been opened to ages 18 and up, down from a previous high of 21 and up. This, apparently, due to an ongoing hue and cry from the incoming freshmen community at UT who have in the past felt slighted at their inability to find a proper dining spot which also screens Lucio Fulci films. What? Fake IDs hard to come by of late?… Call for entries: Flicker is a new, bimonthly, Austin-based short film festival featuring “short films by area filmmakers and all other enthusiasts who dare to submit by mail.” Flicker’s first screening will be held Jan. 18, 2001, at the Blue Theater (916 Springdale). Submissions must originate on film (regular and Super-8, 16mm, and films transferred to VHS — and be under 15 minutes in length. The entry fee is reasonable — there isn’t one — and further submission info can be had by e-mailing Cory Ryan at coryan@swbell.net or on the Web at www.flickeraustin.com… Finally, Saturday, Dec. 2, 10am-5pm, Alleywood Studios will present an introduction-to-screenwriting workshop taught by local scribe Sidney Brammer. Registration is $150. Call 916-0001 or e-mail sidkid@austin.rr.com for all other info.
This article appears in November 24 • 2000.