NEWS & EVENTS
AFI DALLAS & THE LATINO CULTURAL CENTER PRESENT A CLASS APART
On February 10, join AFI DALLAS and The Latino Cultural Center for a very special sneak peek of A CLASS APART. This event starts at 6:00 p.m. with a cocktail reception, 7:00 screening and discussion after. Filmmaker carlos Sandoval will be in attendance.
Set in 1954, A CLASS APART is a film about a group of Mexican American attorneys from Texas arguing a case before the United States Supreme Court that changes history.
To RSVP, please email A CLASS APART.
AFI DALLAS AND SAVOR DALLAS PRESENT FOOD FIGHT
FOOD FIGHT
Join AFI DALLAS and Savor Dallas for a very special screening of FOOD FIGHT, a documentary on the birth of America's organic and sustainable agriculture movement. The movie tells the tale of "how a group of California activists and culinarians in the 1960s and 1970s launched the movement that made organic and sustainable agriculture a part of the American
and international food experience today."
The screening of FOOD FIGHT will take place at the Angelika Film Center at Mockingbird Station on Monday, February 9 at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis by emailing movie@savordallas.com.
Monday, February 9 | 6:30 p.m. | Angelika Film Center
OUT TAKES DALLAS
OUT TAKES Dallas - The Annual Lesbian & Gay Film Festival - has announced its first ever "Season of Film" in place of the traditional ten day fall film festival that celebrates its Tenth Anniversary in November. Instead of a ten day festival, the OUT TAKES DALLAS will screen films that are of interest to the GLBTQ audience monthly.
Beginning on Thursday, November 13th and continuing each second Thursday of the month, OUT TAKES Dallas will screen films that would traditionally be seen at GLBTQ Film Festivals across the country.
To brand this new concept, OUT TAKES Dallas has claimed every second Thursday of the month as "Gay Movie Night." OUT TAKES Dallas will open their Tenth Anniversary Season of Film on Thursday, November 13th with an evening Season Premiere Party in the Alley at Inwood Village just adjacent to the Inwood Theater. The Premiere Party starts at 6:00 P.M. and will be followed by the Premiere Film of the season, The World Unseen.
In 1950's South Africa, free-spirited Amina has broken all the rules of her own Indian community, and the apartheid-led government, by running a cafe with Jacob, her business partner. When she meets Miriam, their friendship pushes Miriam to question the rules that bind her. From overcoming oppression to finding personal freedom, to the hesitant joy of an unexpected love affair, The World Unseen transports the viewer to a vibrant, colourful world that is universal in its themes.
The dates for the remaining season are: March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13, and September 10
PROGRAMMING UPDATE
SHUT UP AND SHOOT ME
Films from the 2007 & 2008 AFI DALLAS International Film Festivals continue to make headlines around the world.
The 2007 AFI DALLAS Target Filmmaker Award winner for Best Narrative Feature, Shut Up and Shoot Me, is now available on DVD and can be found at most major retailers including Blockbuster, NetFlix and Amazon and Dallas's own Premiere Video. Another film from the 2007 Festival, A Fair to Remember, was recently honored with a Lone Star Emmy. Co-Directors Cynthia Salzmann Mondell and Allen Mondell, both of Dallas, were presented the award at the ceremony in Houston.
Stranded, a film in the 2008 Target Ten Documentary Competition, recently won the Black Pearl Award for Best Documentary and a cash prize of $150,000, at the Middle East International Film Festival in Abu Dhabi. It has also been announced that Captain Abu Raed will be Jordan's official submission into the Foreign Language film category of the 81st Oscars, making it Jordan's first ever entry. The film joins two other 2008 AFI DALLAS films, Mermaid and The Rest is Silence, in the list of submissions. The official Oscar nominations will be announced in January.
SHUT UP AND SHOOT ME
SHUT UP AND SHOOT ME
Join AFI DALLAS and Last Asylum Entertainment for a special screening of 2007 AFI DALLAS International Film Festival's Target Filmmaker Award, SHUT UP AND SHOOT ME on Thursday, Aug. 14th at the new Studio Movie Grill on Royal Lane in Dallas at 7:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
SHUT UP AND SHOOT ME is a wickedly entertaining dark comedy about a romantic weekend gone wrong. Paranoid English tourist Colin (Andy Nyman - DEATH AT A FUNERAL, THE BROTHERS BLOOM) and his wife Maggie (Klara Low) suffer a tragic accident while on holiday in Prague. Searching for a quick, painless way to end his own life, Colin enlists Pavel (Karel Roden – 15 MINUTES, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY, RUNNING SCARED, HELLBOY), a long suffering Czech loser who works odd jobs to keep his beautiful, ill tempered wife Liba (Anna Geislerova) in designer shoes. Ironically, as plans for Colin’s death spin out of control their unlikely friendship develops. The body count rises even higher as they involve a local gangster known as “The Butcher”, his girlfriend and his evil dog. Colin soon discovers his desire to live when he must risk his own life to save the lives of his new friends.
NASHER SCULPTURE CENTER FRIDAY NIGHT FILMS: BIG
Big
Don’t miss the last Nasher Friday Night Film series screening! Join AFI DALLAS this Friday, July 18th for a screening of Big starring Tom Hanks and Jared Rushton. Big is about a young boy who makes a wish on a magical wish machine to be “big”. He wakes up the following morning to find that his wish has been granted and he has grown older over night but is still the same 12 year old kid on the inside. Follow this delightful film with all of the hilarious ups and downs as he discovers the joys and frustrations of "adulthood".
Bring your blankets and enjoy movies under the stars. The Nasher Sculpture Center will have free admission starting at 6:00p.m.
AFI DALLAS PROGRAMMING UPDATE
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
Films screened at AFI DALLAS continue to be shown and win awards around the world at festivals and other venues.
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson directed by Alex Gibney will open in Dallas on July 4 at the Magnolia Theatre. There will be a special screening of the film Wednesday, July 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Magnolia Theatre. This screening is free and open to the public. Arrive early to ensure seating.
At the Provincetown International Film Festival Irena Salina's Flow: For the Love of Water received the audience prize for best documentary. Winners of the Maui Film Festival include Jacob Medjuck's Summerhood for Best Comedy Feature and Amin Matalqa's Captain Abu Raed for Best Narrative Feature, World Cinema.
As it prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary with a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York this week, Zeitgeist Films has announced a deal for U.S. theatrical and home video rights to Gonzalo Arijon's Stranded: I've Come From a Plane the Crashed in the Mountains.
First Independent Pictures has announced the acquisition of selected U.S. theatrical rights to Darryl Roberts' America the Beautiful. The film is a documentary that looks at America's unhealthy obsession with physical perfection. Beautiful made its debut in 2007 at the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival before going on the win Best Documentary at the Chicago International Film Festival. The film will open in New York on August 6th and in additional cities throughout the month.
AFI DALLAS AU FRANCAIS: CANNES FILM FESTIVAL REPORT
James Faust, Will Smith and Michael Cain
As AFI DALLAS continues its ascent to becoming one of the premiere film festivals in North America, we continus to learn from the biggest and the best. Artistic Director and CEO Michael Cain, Senior Programmer James Faust and Board Liaison Melina McKinnon hit the French Riviera for film screenings, meetings and celebrity sightings.
While in Cannes, AFI DALLAS staffers joined their counterparts from AFI FEST and AFI SILVER Theatre and Cultural Center colleagues in meeting with filmmakers, studios and distribution companies to bring the best international cinema to next year’s Festival. While there, there were a couple of celebrity sightings…Will Smith, Catherine Denueve and Spike Lee all crossed paths with the AFI DALLAS gang.
A highlight of the Cannes Festival was attendance at the Closing Night Film, AFI DALLAS Star Award recipient Todd Wagner-produced What Just Happened? The film was a highlight of the 2008 edition of AFI DALLAS with star Robert De Niro, producer Art Linson and director Barry Levinson in attendance at the Landmark Inwood Theatre.
AFI DALLAS FILMS AFTER THE FESTIVAL
Before the Rains opens today at the Angelika Plano.
Films screened at AFI DALLAS (including Before the Rains which opened in Dallas last weekend) continue to be shown around the world at festivals and other venues.
Meanwhile, other films continue their theatrical releases, including Then She Found Me, The Visitor, Before the Rains and My Brother is an Only Child. Bigger Stronger Faster will open in Dallas on June 6 at the Magnolia Theatre. There will be a complimentary screening of the film on Wednesday, May 28 at 7:30 PM at the Magnolia.
IFC has announced that it has acquired the North American rights to AFI DALLAS Target Narrative Competition winner Mermaid. The deal was struck at Cannes. (Stay tuned for the next issue of News/Reel and our Cannes report.)
The 43rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will open on July 4, 2008 with the international premiere Amy Redford's The Guitar.
Two student-produced short films that played at AFI DALLAS have been named winners in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 35th Annual Student Academy Awards competition. Simulacra by Tatchapon Lertwirojkul was named in the Animation category and Rajeev Dassani’s A Day’s Work was cited in the Narrative category. While the winners know they will each receive an award, their placement - Gold, Silver or Bronze - will not be revealed until the June 7 ceremony.
And even 2007 AFI DALLAS films continue to find audiences. Park is now available on DVD, and 2007 Target Documentary Award winner New Year Baby airs on PBS May 27th.
Q CINEMA KICKS OFF IN FORT WORTH
Join AFI DALLAS in supporting Community Partner Q Cinema and their festival May 29-June 27. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this international gay and lesbian film festival includes AFI DALLAS audience and jury favorite Ciao, screening Sunday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m.
The festival opens May 29 with Were the World Mine, a fantasy in which high school actor Timothy uses a “potion” to turn much of his narrow-minded town gay…forcing them to walk a mile in HIS shoes. Featuring pop/rock and contemporary Broadway music, this musical comedy of errors is directed by Tom Gustafson—who will be in attendance at the screening.
On Saturday night, May 31, Q Cinema will honor actor Leslie Jordan. Familiar to many as Karen’s nemesis Beverley Leslie on the sitcom Will and Grace, he has appeared extensively both on television and film. Among the individuals on hand to honor him will be writer/director/producer Del Shores.
For a full schedule and details, visit qcinema.org
READY. SET. SHOOT.
Video Association of Dallas 24-Hour Video Race Set for May 16.
Registration is underway for the 7th Annual Dallas 24-Hour Video Race, a filmmaking competition sponsored by AFI DALLAS Community Partner Video Association of Dallas. The race will begin Friday, May 16 at 11:59 p.m. at the Magnolia Lounge at Fair Park with a theme, prop, location and line of dialogue assignment for the film and concludes 24 hours later with a race to the finish line.
Registration requires a flat fee per team, plus a small fee of $5 per team member, which must be received by Friday, May 9. Up to 100 teams made up of elementary-aged future videographers to seasoned video professionals will create, shoot, and edit a digital video up to five minutes in length. Completed videotapes must cross the finish line at the Magnolia Lounge by midnight Saturday. All entries that complete the race will be screened at the Angelika Film Center at Mockingbird Station on May 20-22. Videos will be grouped and judged in five divisions, Pixelvision (K-12), Futurevision (college), Auteur (1-2 team members), Guerilla (3-5), and Hollywood (6 or more) - with the top three videos in each division receiving awards.
Registration and full details on this ever-growing and popular local event can be found at www.24HourVideoRaceDallas.com.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS JUST DAYS AWAY!
Charlize Theron in Battle in Seattle
AFI DALLAS will announce its 2008 Festival line-up this week. Beginning February 29, you can visit our newly-launched website at AFIDALLAS.com to see all of the films to be featured this year. Over 200 titles from around the world will screen from March 27-April 6 at our various venues. Whether you love short films, documentaries, international features, Texas films or family fare, there is something for everyone.
AFI DALLAS AND TEXAS FRIGHTMARE WEEKEND CELEBRATE NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
Malcolm McDowell and George Romero at Texas Frightmare Weekend
Last week, horror fans from across North Texas flocked to the Landmark's Inwood Theatre to welcome director George Romero and cast members from Night of the Living Dead in its 40th anniversary year. The event was co-produced by Community Partner Texas Frightmare Weekend. After scores of horror stars walked the red carpet, a full house sat down to enjoy a vintage print of the movie and a Q & A session moderated by A Clockwork Orange star and horror film legend Malcolm McDowell.
JOIN AFI DALLAS AND SAVOR DALLAS FOR NO RESERVATIONS AT VICTORY PARK
Once again, AFI DALLAS partners with Savor Dallas to present a full-length motion picture celebrating food in Victory Park as part of the Savor Dallas 2008 activities.
No Reservations will be shown on the high-definition LED media screens at Victory Park and the American Airlines Center screen beginning at 9:00 p.m. on March 7, immediately following the Savor Dallas Victory Park Wine and Food Celebration in the AT&T Plaza. Gary Cogill, WFAA-TV Channel 8 Film Critic and Good Morning Texas host, will be host for the event, which is free and open to the public.
No Reservations stars Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart. Zeta-Jones plays master chef Kate Armstrong, whose tightly-controlled life is turned upside down by the arrivals of newly-hired sous-chef Nick Palmer (Eckhart) in her professional life and her orphaned niece Zoe (Abigail Breslin) in her personal life.
Movie goers are welcome to bring blankets and lawn chairs. A limited number of lawn chairs will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Beverages and snacks will be available for sale; no coolers will be allowed.
This event serves a kick-off for both AFI DALLAS and Savor Dallas. The AFI DALLAS Box Office at Victory Park will open on March 7 and full film schedules will be available for patrons to pick up. Savor Dallas, Dallas' international experience of wine, food, spirits and the arts, with events scheduled in several beautiful downtown Dallas locations also kicks off that day with its Arts District Stroll and Victory Park Celebration.
Savor Dallas also generously supports these charities: North Texas Food Bank, Greater Dallas Restaurant Association Culinary Scholarship Fund and the Arts Magnet Building Campaign for Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts—all Community Partners of AFI DALLAS.
For more information on the full Savor Dallas schedule, visit savordallas.com.
AFI DALLAS PARTNERS WITH NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK
AFI DALLAS and the North Texas Food Bank partner again in 2008 to improve the community with several programs. The centerpiece of the partnership is the 2008 “Cans Film festival” Virtual Food Drive.
By visiting the North Texas Food Bank’s site (link to food drive) and making a monetary donation, film lovers help hungry children and families and have the chance to check out the 2008 AFI DALLAS International Film festival. Donate a minimum of $10—which provides 50 meals—now through Friday, March 21 and you will be entered into a drawing to win a 2008 Festival Pass. If you don’t have a chance to donate before March 21, you still have a chance to win a $75 gift card to Victory Tavern in Victory Park by making a minimum $10 donation by Sunday, April 6. AFI DALLAS and the North Texas Food Bank encourage you to help feed those in need in North Texas.
The virtual food drive provides resources for the North Texas Food Bank to purchase the exact food items it needs. They are then able to leverage those resources significantly—for every dollar donated, $10 worth of food and grocery items will be distributed to hungry children and families in our community.
AFI DALLAS will also donate 2,000 Family Passes to the North Texas Food Bank for their Food 4 Kids program. And Festival goers can get $2 off an individual screening ticket when they bring 2 non-perishable food items to AFI DALLAS screening venues.
AFI DALLAS Donates Jacket and Festival Package to DIFFA Dallas
The Dallas chapter of DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) has a long and successful history fund-raising for organizations fighting HIV/AIDS through education programs, support service and public policy initiatives. Their largest fundraiser is the DIFFA Dallas Collection-a black-tie evening which includes a fashion show and silent auction of jackets designed and created by designers around the world. This year's event is set for February 23.
As a part of our ongoing collaborative efforts, AFI DALLAS is collaborating with DIFFA Dallas by providing a jacket for the auction-accompanied by a wonderful package of special items sure to delight film fans. The jacket, designed by Bettina Duncan, will be a part of the live auction along with the rest of the package-to include passes to AFI DALLAS and AFI Fest in Los Angeles, stays at the W Dallas Hotel and Hollywood Roosevelt, and round trip-airfare on American Airlines from Dallas to Los Angeles. Bonuses include a visit with the Bettina Duncan at one of her Fred Segal boutiques while the winner is in LA and the weeknight use of a Studio Movie Grill Theatre for a movie party with your friends.popcorn and soft drinks included!
To bid, you'll need to be at the event. Tickets are available through DIFFADallas.org
