Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Women in the Austin Film Festival

We are lucky to live in a town with so many amazing film festivals, among which is the Austin Film Festival. If you're going to the Austin Film Festival this week/weekend, here are some films by women to check out ...


Note from AFF - we are excited to have Mira Sorvino in attendance for Union Square!

All I Know - the Castle Sessions - This melodic doc features 12 singer-songwriters from around the world who have come together for three full days of intense songwriting in a 16th century castle in Denmark.

American Teacher: Matt Damon narrates this doc by AFF Alum Vanessa Roth (attending the festival!) about four teachers living and working in disparate urban and rural areas across the country.

Don't Expect Too Much: Nicholas Ray’s widow Susan directs an exploration into the difficulties that Ray faced in Hollywood and the significant influence he continues to have on filmmakers today. Featuring newly released archival images and audio tapes of Ray.

Leila: Paul and Leila appear to have the perfect life, they are both madly in love; the only problem is that one of them has lost their mind.

One Night Stand: A funny, intimate doc following top Broadway and television writers, actors, and directors as they invent four short musicals, from the blank page to the live stage, all within 24 hours. Featuring Rachel Dratch, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Richard Kind.

Pariah: A Brooklyn teenager juggles conflicting identities and risks friendship, heartbreak, and family in a desperate search for sexual expression.

Union Square: tells the story of a reluctant reunion between two sisters (Mira Sorvino and Tammy Blanchard) One is on the verge of marriage; the other is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Both struggle with truths they're hiding from each other--and from themselves.-- note, director Nancy Savoca in attendance!

When Dreams Take Flight: Through a series of fascinating stories about brilliant and often courageous characters, spanning six centuries and two continents, this doc explores the myth and reality of why humans are compelled to fly like birds.

Wish Me Away: After a lifetime of hiding, Chely Wright becomes the first commercial country music singer to come out as gay, shattering cultural stereotypes within Nashville, her conservative heartland family and, most importantly, within herself.



Also while you're at the festival, you might consider checking out some of the shorts and films made by RTF alumni which includes Women in Cinema's own, Carlyn Hudson and her film, Z & Beau and Chelsea Hernandez and her film, Archer. RTFer at AFF

More information about the Austin Film Festival can be found at: http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/new/ and more specific information - including trailers and screening times for the films at: http://aff.festivalgenius.com/2011/films


Sunday, October 2, 2011

October's Events

October is an exciting month: In Austin it means that the weather starts to cool, the leaves change from greenish yellow to golden brown, and the Halloween holiday adds a bit of mischief in the air. Another thing to look forward to is what Women In Cinema has planned:


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MOVIE NIGHT - Where The Soldiers Came From


Tuesday October 12th 7:00-10:00pm


Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar

1120 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX


Join Women In Cinema for a relaxing night off from school, as we go to the movies to watch an amazing film by a local female director!


From a snowy small town in Northern Michigan to the mountains of Afghanistan and back, WHERE SOLDIERS COME FROM follows the four-year journey of childhood friends and their town, forever changed by a faraway war. A documentary about growing up, WHERE SOLDIERS COME FROM is an intimate look at the young men who fight our wars and their town. Returning to her hometown, Austin documentarian Heather Courtney gains extraordinary access following these young men as they grow and change from teenagers stuck in their town, to 23-year-old veterans facing the struggles of returning home.


Buy your tickets ahead of time at http://drafthouse.com/movies/sxsw_presents_where_soldiers_come_from1/austin


$10 for ticket


Aim to get there an hour early so we can all get seats together.

Email utwomenincinema@gmail.com for movie suggestions.


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SXSW Secrets Revealed

A Panel brought to you by Women in Cinema


Join SXSW producers and programmers JANET PIERSON, CLAUDETTE GODFREY and the Women in Cinema group for their Film Festival Panel to ask all your burning questions about how film selections are made and how such an elaborate festival is organized so successfully.


Tuesday, October 25th, 7pm-9pm, CMA Building, Rm # 3.116


Meeting from 7:00-7:30pm, Panel from 7:30-9:00pm


JANET PIERSON is the Producer of the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival and so is responsible for the vision, programming, and execution of the annual event. Before joining SXSW in April 2008, Janet spent over 30 years championing independent films and filmmakers, in a variety of roles including distributor, exhibitor, producer’s rep, investor, workshop producer, executive producer, documentary subject, and as co-creator and segment director of the IFC cable TV series Split Screen. Much of this work was in partnership with her husband, the author, producer, professor, and co-president of Grainy Pictures, John Pierson. An Austin Film Society Board Member 2004-2010, she’s currently on the Advisory Board, and has served on and taken part in several grant panels, festival juries, and advisory roles, including on behalf of the NEA, ITVS, and Creative Capital.


CLAUDETTE GODFREY is the Film Festival Coordinator and Shorts Programmer for South by Southwest. A University of Texas Film graduate, Claudette also worked as a Corporate Relations Coordinator at the CineVegas Film Festival and is a Shorts Programmer for the Alamo Drafthouse's Fantastic Fest. Additionally, she does a mean karaoke version of Notorious B.I.G.'s ‘Hypnotize.’ a Shorts Programmer for the Alamo Drafthouse's Fantastic Fest. Additionally, she does a mean karaoke version of Notorious B.I.G.'s ‘Hypnotize.

This event is free and open to all.


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and Don't forget Austin Film Festival is from Thu, 20 Oct, 2011 - Thu, 27 Oct, 2011


The Austin Film Festival furthers the art and craft of filmmaking by inspiring and championing the work of screenwriters, filmmakers, and all artists who use the language of film to tell a story.

http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/