Austin Film Society

Deadline: March 1 ($0)

Dogfish Head and Alamo Drafthouse present the Off-Centered film festival 2010. Taking place April 16th and 17th at the Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek, the festival will give independent-minded, aspiring filmmakers the chance to let their freak-flags fly by making films that celebrate the perseverance of the underdog.

Film can be no longer than 5 Minutes in length and all submissions must contain a theme of “off-centeredness” . This can be interpreted however the director sees fit. All submissions must include a reference to Dogfish Head in the script OR have Dogfish Head product placement in the film. Directors submitting films must be at least 21 years old by the submission deadline.

Another festival dispatch coming courtesy of our Texas Filmmakers’ Travel Grant, this one a bit late - apologies! Michel Scott, TFPF recipient for his Sundance premiere doc THE HORSE BOY, reports on his adventures at IDFA in November…

The best thing about IDFA (the International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam) was the audience. Whether it was 10am Saturday morning or 11pm Sunday night, the screenings were packed full of jolly Dutch men and women. It’s clear that IDFA, the largest documentary festival, and one of the best in the world, has been able to really energize the city of Amsterdam to support this yearly event. I had a great time. The staff was extremely friendly and well organized, and the screening venues were beautiful. I feel like at each individual festival, through interaction with filmmakers and audience members, I learn something new and valuable for my career and myself. At IDFA it was a sense of gratitude for being able to see films that, in my opinion, are some of the best documentaries to have been made and that may never get screened in the U.S. or become widely available to the general public. As the search for distribution for my film has been winding down, Ive been able to relax and actually participate in the festivals as an audience member, and it’s made me realize how many incredible films have recently been made. Videocracy and The Edge of Dreaming particularly moved me. Coming out of each screening, I felt a perfect mixture of inspiration and admiration for the films and the directors. And of course the timeless Winnebago Man film and crew were there to keep the positive energy and laughs flowing through the weekend.

Michel Scott (right) with WINNEBAGO MAN director Ben Steinbauer

Besides the festival, Amsterdam itself was quite an experience. I was able to rent a bicycle and pedal around the city for a day, getting lost in all of it’s little side streets between the canals, visiting the Van Gogh museum and seeing a few random street magic shows. Amsterdam is often viewed as one of the happiest cities in the world, and its proven on every smiling face you see.

I’m grateful to the Austin Film Society for providing a travel grant to help with the expenses of attending the festival. I hope to return next year!

The Austin Film Society (AFS) is pleased to announce that the tenth anniversary celebration of the Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards, presented by AT&T, will be held on March 11, 2010. The Awards recognize outstanding actors, directors, screenwriters, musicians, producers and films from, influenced or inspired by the Lone Star State.

Quentin Tarantino will become an honorary Texan, cementing his personal and creative ties to Texas that date back to the early1990s. A longtime collaborator with Robert Rodriguez (MACHETE, GRINDHOUSE, SIN CITY, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, and FOUR ROOMS), Tarantino has also collaborated with the Austin Film Society since a chance meeting with Richard Linklater at a midnight screening of NASHVILLE in Santa Monica. After the two discovered their mutual enthusiasm for showing rare films to live audiences, Tarantino brought his personal collection of 1960s and 1970s genre films to Austin in 1997. A tradition was born that became the QT Festival, which migrated from the Dobie Theater to the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema for the third festival in 1999, helping to launch the Alamo Drafthouse’s reputation for specialty exhibition. Harry Knowles credits his live coverage of the first QT fest on his fledgling web site, Ain’t It Cool News, with launching his success. Tarantino remains active with the Film Society as an advisory board member. He returns to the Texas Film Hall of Fame for the first time since its inaugural year when he presented his agent, Mike Simpson, with the Warren Skaaren Lifetime Achievement Award.

Michael Nesmith, born in Houston, will receive the Warren Skaaren Lifetime Achievement Award. Nesmith is perhaps best known for his work with The Monkees band and TV show but has made significant contributions in film, television and music. He served as executive producer of the cult films REPO MAN, TAPEHEADS and TIMERIDER. In 1980, he developed “Pop Clips,” which became the inspiration for MTV and his video, “Cruisin” became the first video on the network. The next year, he won the first Grammy Award given for Video of the Year for his hour-long “Elephant Parts.” Nesmith served on the board of trustees for the American Film Institute for ten years. World-renowned American artist Edward Ruscha will be on hand to present the award to Nesmith.

San Antonio-born Bruce McGill got his start in the raucous 1978 comedy classic NATIONAL LAMPOON’S ANIMAL HOUSE, drumming the William Tell Overture on his windpipe. His extensive filmography includes SILKWOOD, COURAGE UNDER FIRE, CLIFFHANGER, THE INSIDER, THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE and recently Oliver Stone’s W. McGill earned a B.F.A. in acting from The University of Texas at Austin, and later made his professional debut as a member of Rhode Island’s Trinity Square Repertory Company, appearing in numerous theatrical productions.

They will be honored for their immense contributions to Texas film and join fellow Texas Film Hall of Fame honorees Billy Bob Thornton, Mike Judge, Morgan Fairchild, Dennis Quaid, Kris Kristofferson, Forest Whitaker, Sissy Spacek and many more. Additional honorees will be announced in January.

Thomas Haden Church, an El Paso native, returns to emcee the tenth annual awards ceremony. In addition to his Academy Award nomination for his role in SIDEWAYS, Church has appeared in such films as SPIDER-MAN 3, SPANGLISH and ROLLING KANSAS, his directorial debut, which he also wrote.

Evan Smith and Louis Black serve as Founding and Talent Chairs. This year’s Event Co-chairs are Erin Driscoll and Ali Watson. Dana Wheeler-Nicholson and Alexa Wesner serve as Honorary Auction Chairs, and Kate Hersch is this year’s Lottery Chair. The proceeds from the Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards benefit the educational and artistic programs of the Austin Film Society.

Tables (seating 10 - 12) range in price from $5,000 to $25,000. For table sales and sponsorship information, contact AFS Director of Development Shannon Moody at 512.322.00145 x 222 or by email at shannon@austinfilm.org.

Austin Film Society promotes the appreciation of film and supports creative filmmaking by screening rarely seen films, giving grants and other support to emerging filmmakers, and providing access and education about film to youth and the public. Through Austin Studios, which AFS opened in 2000 in partnership with the City of Austin, AFS helps attract film development and production to Austin and Texas. Gala film premieres and the annual Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards raise funds as well as awareness of the impact of film on economy and community. The Austin Film Society is ranked among the top film centers in the country and recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and Directors Guild of America.