The cancellation of SXSW has left a lot of films without a home, either for a world or Austin premiere. However, several Austin cinemas and unexpected venues have stepped into the breach to give them the ATX debut they had planned upon, and we’ve got the list right here.
The demands of the film industry being what they are, it’s a shorter list than that of the number of music shows that are still going ahead (see our long and growing list right here), but there’s still a chance to catch some SXSW-laureled features, shorts, and even TV episodics on the big screen in Austin in the next week.
There are currently more screenings being planned, and as soon as we know what they are we’ll add them to the list. Meanwhile, bookmark and check back regularly as the Austin film scene comes together this week:
Friday, March 13
• 10pm Mystery World Premiere: No word yet on what this is, but Vulcan Video promises an exclusive first look at a new title from someone on their directors’ wall. Vulcan Video, 4411 Russell, no tickets required.
Saturday, March 14
• 12:30pm Faces of Austin: the annual selection of shorts by local filmmakers, as selected through the City of Austin’s Faces of Austin program. AFS Cinema, 6259, Middle Fiskville (free and open to the public). AFS has announced that this screening has been canceled in accordance with the wishes of the organizes.
• 3pm Austin School of Film Community Works: A celebration of the work of the students at the local media education nonprofit, with 24 premieres from their assorted and diverse production courses. AFS Cinema (another free community screening: tickets here).
• 7:10pm Feels Good Man: Ever wonder where Pepe the Frog actually came from? This incredible and sensitive documentary (produced and written by Austinite Giorgio Angelini) explores the little indie comic that got subverted by the alt-right. Angelini and fellow producer Caryn Capotosto will host a post-screening Q&A. Violet Crown, 434 W. Second (tickets here).
• 8pm I’m Gonna Make You Love Me: Austin filmmaker Karen Bernstein’s new documentary about Brian Belovitch, who transitioned and lived as Tish Gervais before transitioning again. Catch this special hometown screening with Q&A with Bernstein, coproducer and editor Nevie Owens and a special guest via Skype. AFS Cinema (tickets here). Unfortunately, a planned screening at AFS Cinema has been postponed, but you can still read our interview with Belovitch, “A Lesson in Gender Fluidity,” in which he talks about the story behind making the film.
Sunday, March 15
&bull 2pm AFS Shortcase 2020, showcasing short films made by Austin Film Society MAKE level members. The lineup includes “12 Sips to Glory” by Matt Hirst, “Conspiracy Cruise” by Brad Abrahams, “Rebecca by Susan LaMarca, “Lovebites” by Chinwe Okorie, “Beach Dance” by Brittany Reeber, the music video for Galapaghost’s “Jellyfish by director Alonso J. Lujan, “Brother” by Ya’Ke Smith, ” A Different Kind of Caramel” by Daniel Flores, and “Zapateria” by Travis Lee Ratcliff. AFS Cinema (free and open to the public: tickets available here).
10:30pm The Toll: This Mindighter about the terrors of ridesharing has added private, RSVP-only screenings in Austin and Los Angeles, with filmmaker intro and Q&A at both locations. The event has now become a virtual screening, open to people who have already RSVPd. Read our interview with director Michael Nadler and star/producer Max Topplin here.
Tuesday, March 17
• 1:30pm Feels Good Man: Second screening for this remarkable doc, with Angelini and Caryn Capotosto back for another post-screening Q&A. Violet Crown, 1:30pm (tickets here).
• 7pm Master Pancake: Leprechaun Returns Movie Riffing: Every year the Pancake crew and Doug Benson dismantle one of the Leprechaun films for St. Patrick’s Day, and just because SXSW is cancelled, that doesn’t mean this tradition goes. Alamo Ritz, 320 E. Sixth (tickets here).
• 7:45pm A Night of Short Films at the Drive-In: Josh Frank and the team at the Blue Starlite Drive-In have stepped up to provide a home to a selection of SXSW shorts. Confirmed so far are narrative shorts “vert,” “Face to Face,” “Reminiscences of the Green Revolution,” “Still Wylde,” “Basic,” and “Waffle,” plus episodic pilot “The Dream.” Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In, 2103 E M. Franklin (tickets here).• 9:50pm Choose Your Own Pancake With Doug Benson: Not technically a rescheduled SXSW film, but there are plenty of performers still flying in who were coming in for SXSW Comedy, and the Alamo has said that it will be using some special Pancake shows to get them on stage for Austin. Alamo Ritz, 9:50pm (tickets here).
Friday, March 20
• Bull: AFS Cinema will be opening UT RTF lecturer Annie Silverstein’s Texas-shot rodeo drama a full two weeks early, with Silverstein attending Q&As for four screenings across Friday and Saturday.
This article appears in March 6 • 2020.
