Three Austin Films Head to Independent Film Week, Alamo Goes 70mm, and More

By  · Published on August 13th, 2012

P.J. Raval and Kelly Williams had barely unpacked from their trip to the Sundance Creative Producing Labs when IFP announced that Untitled Gay Retiree Documentary and Hellion were selected as part of its Project Forum for the 34th edition of Independent Film Week (September 16–20, 2012). Untitled Gay Retiree Documentary (directed by P.J. Raval, produced by Sara Giustini) was chosen in the Spotlight on Documentaries category which contains 49 other documentary features currently at an early financing stage to those nearing completion. Hellion (written and to be directed by Kat Candler, produced by Kelly Williams) will participate in the No Borders International Co-Production Market which includes 42 other narrative projects in development. Austin will be represented by a third film at IFP, Clay Liford’s script-in-progress, Cutlet (written and to be directed by Clay Liford, produced by Angie Meyer and Brock Williams), which will participate in the Emerging Narrative section with 24 other feature scripts in development.

The purpose of Independent Film Week is to provide opportunities for filmmakers to connect with financiers, executives, influencers and decision-makers who can help them complete their projects. A slate of 165 films were selected by IFP for this year’s Project Forum.

Meanwhile, Bob Byington’s Somebody Up There Likes Me won the Special Jury Prize at the Locorno Film Festival.

In other exciting news… Alamo Drafthouse has taken a great technological leap into the fantastic world of 70mm film. In doing so, they have announced a new ongoing film series beginning on August 24, titled “Presented in Amazing AlamoScope: 70mm at the Ritz!” The series includes West Side Story, Cleopatra, Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Baraka, Playtime and The Master. That’s right! Beginning September 21, Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master will be presented in Austin in the format that it was intended to be projected in… 70mm!!!

Cinema East concludes its Summer 2012 outdoor film series with a Girl Walk // All Day dance party at Yellow Jacket Stadium (1156 Hargrave St). The 71-minute dance music video choreographed to Girl Talk’s All Day will screen on August 19. The film’s director Jacob Krupnick will be in attendance for a Q&A after the screening. More importantly – free sparklers will be provided for the dance party. Check out Cinema East’s Facebook event page for more information.

This summer, Cinema East gave local audiences a chance to see SXSW 2012 stand-outs such as Somebody Up There Likes Me, Gayby, Kid-Thing, Sun Don’t Shine and King Kelly. As with their Summer 2011 program, I have been incredibly impressed by the sheer numbers of hipsters, cinephiles and everyone in between who ventured out to these screenings of modestly produced independent films. I know that I was a little hesitant to accept Yellow Jacket Stadium as this summer’s Cinema East venue, but I actually ended up liking it even more than The French Legation. The only downside has been that the Cheer Up Charlie’s after-parties are not within walking distance of Yellow Jacket Stadium, so I ended up skipping most of the post-screening festivities. That was the advantage to the special screening at Cheer Up Charlie’s of Onur Tukel’s Richard’s Wedding – well, except that it took me a couple of days to recover from closing the bar with Tukel and friends.

Rumor has it that Cinema East will continue its programming schedule into the fall, but Girl Walk // All Day will probably be the last outdoor screening of the year. Cinema East founder Maggie Lea recently announced that the next screening will be indoors – a Cinema East Brunch presentation of I Am Not a Hipster at Alamo Drafthouse on September 2. More indoor Cinema East screenings will be announced soon…

Austin Movie Events This Week:

8/13 – ND Austin – Short Indies presents the short films of several up and coming filmmakers with Q&A’s. There will be free beer for the first hour (or until it runs out). (More info)

7/24 – Alamo South Lamar – AFS’s Essential Cinema Series features We Own the Night. (More info)

8/14–8/16 – Stateside at the Paramount – In coordination with SciFi week at the Paramount Theatre, the Stateside will screen Forbidden Planet and Metropolis. (More info)

8/14–8/19 – Paramount Theatre – It is SciFi week at the Paramount! The Day the Earth Stood Still! The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms! Invasion of the Body Snatchers! Planet of the Apes! The Terminator! A Clockwork Orange! (More info)

8/15 – Austin Film Society – David and Nathan Zellner (Kid-Thing), Kat Candler (Hellion) and Clay Liford (Wuss) will chat about the advantages of making short films. (More info)

8/15 – Alamo South Lamar – Alamo Drafthouse’s ZZANG!!! series has teamed up with BANGARANG! for a ZZANGARANG! presentation of a three movie marathon of their favorite JCVD movies which will then lead straight into an advanced screening of The Expendables 2. (More info)

8/18 – Dobie Theater – Big Love: ASA + AGLIFF Joint 25th Anniversary Fundraiser. (More info)

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