November and December 2017 Programming at AFS

AUSTIN, TX – (October 9, 2017) Audiences will be treated to a wide variety of films, old and new, from around the world with filmmaker visits, more new restorations than ever, and exciting new release films. Texas filmmaking legends Richard Linklater and Robert Rodriguez host special screenings, the UCLA Festival of Preservation visits Austin for the first time, and we showcase film adaptations of Texan author Patricia Highsmith and holiday favorites.

WHO:  Austin Film Society
WHAT:  November and December Programming Announcement
WHERE:  AFS Cinema | 6406 N Interstate 35 Suite 3100, Austin, TX 78752
WEB:  austinfilm.org
CONTACTS:  Austin Film Society | Christine Lee | christine@austinfilm.org
Austin Film Society | Meghan Malone | meghan@austinfilm.org

Highlights include UCLA Festival of Preservation, Robert Rodriguez’s Mexico Trilogy, and Holiday Classics.

Jewels in the Wasteland, 11/8–12/19
Richard Linklater’s series continues with six selections, including BARFLY, ISHTAR, and THE DEAD. Linklater introduces and participates in an audience discussion afterward.

UCLA Festival of Preservation, 11/17–12/17
Making its only stop in Texas, this prestigious showcase of new restorations brings 14 new 35mm prints direct from the UCLA Film & Television Archive to Austin. Titles include Ernst Lubitsch’s breathlessly cosmopolitan 1932 sex comedy TROUBLE IN PARADISE, the Black Panthers documentary THE MURDER OF FRED HAMPTON (1971), and a pair of features from trailblazing female director Juleen Compton.

Essential Cinema: The Cinema of Patricia Highsmith, 11/30–12/21
We salute the work of Fort Worth-born author Patricia Highsmith, whose novels and stories are wondrously cinematic, as demonstrated by such directors as Alfred Hitchcock, who adapted STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, and Todd Haynes, who directed CAROL.

Mexico Trilogy & Mariachi After-Party with Robert Rodriguez, 12/2
On the 25th Anniversary of the release of EL MARIACHI, Robert Rodriguez presents a rare marathon screening of the Mexico Trilogy (EL MARIACHI, DESPERADO, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO). The final film will feature an introduction and Q&A with Rodriguez. Guests will enjoy a mariachi after-party with a live performance by Rodriguez and his band. Ticket on-sale date to be announced.

Home for the Holidays, 12/22–12/30
Enjoy favorite Hollywood holiday classics on the big screen including CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT, THE THIN MAN, WHITE CHRISTMAS, and IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE.

Additional screenings and series are listed below. Visit austinfilm.org for screening times.

• JANE, an intimate portrait of Jane Goodall drawn from over 100 hours of never-before-seen footage
• LADY BIRD, Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut explores both the humor and pathos in the turbulent bond between a mother and her teenage daughter
• GOD’S OWN COUNTRY, cited by Irish Times as “a magical film, one of the best you’ll see this year”
• THE WORK, a documentary set inside Folsom Prison that follows three men from outside as they participate in a group therapy retreat with convicts

• A new restoration of THE SACRIFICE, Andrei Tarkovksy’s final film

The Cinema of Resistance series pairs films about community organizing and social movements with post-screening discussions.

• TRUE CONVICTION, 11/20
  Jamie Meltzer, USA, 2017, DCP, 84 min.
  There’s a new detective agency in Dallas, Texas, started by three exonerated men, with decades in prison served between them. AFS welcomes the detectives featured in this documentary for a post-screening discussion about their tireless work to find justice in the justice system.

Essential Cinema: Catherine Deneuve
We finish our series dedicated to the France’s principal leading lady with works from two of her post-New Wave collaborators: André Techiné and Arnaud Desplechin.

• MY FAVORITE SEASON, 11/9–11/11
  André Téchiné, France, 1996, 35mm, 117 min. In French with English Subtitles.
• A CHRISTMAS TALE, 11/16–11/18
  Arnaud Desplechin, France, 2008, 35mm, 151 min. In French with English Subtitles.

Sunday School family-friendly screenings include:

• THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT, 11/19
  George Roy Hill, USA, 1964, 35mm, 106 min.
• BABES IN TOYLAND, 12/17
  Gus Meins, Charley Rogers. USA. 1934, 35mm, 77 min.

World Cinema Classics

• NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND, 11/17–11/19
  Hayao Miyazaki, Japan, 1986, DCP, 95 min. In Japanese with English subtitles.

Best of the Fests features selections from the world’s most important film festivals, many playing Austin for the first time.

• DAYVEON, 12/15–12/17
  Amman Abbasi, USA, 2017, DCP, 75 min.

Modern Masters showcases the great filmmakers who are making their best work right now.

• SIERANEVADA, 11/11
  Cristi Puiu, Romania, 2016, DCP, 173 min. In Romanian with English Subtitles.
• THE DEATH OF LOUIS XIV, 11/12
  Albert Serra, France, 2016, DCP, 115 min. In Latin and French with English Subtitles.
• BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS AND THE HILLS, 11/16
  Eran Kolirin, Israel, 2017, DCP, 92 min, In Hebrew with English subtitles.
  Lead actor Alon Pdut will be in attendance.
• THE WOMAN WHO LEFT, 11/25
  Lav Diaz, Philippines, 2016, DCP, 226 min. In Filipino with English Subtitles.

The Avant Cinema series showcases a variety of experimental films which have pushed the boundaries of content and have expanded film language.

• Experimental Response Cinema Presents: FILMS OF ALDO TAMBELLINI, 11/19
  Aldo Tambellini, USA, Various, 70 min.
• RAT FILM, 12/18
  Theo Anthony, USA, 2016, DCP, 82 min.

Hosted and programmed by Jazmyne Moreno, Deep End highlights rare cult films with special live music sets.

• THE STRANGE CASE OF DOCTOR JEKYLL & MISS OSBOURNE, 11/18
  Walerian Borowczyk, France, 1981, DCP, 90 min. In French with English Subtitles.
• ARREBATO, 12/16
  Ivan Zulueta, Spain, 1979, 35mm, 105 min. In Spanish with English Subtitles.

Doc Nights features new documentaries.

• IN TRANSIT, 11/1–11/5
  Albert Maysles, Ben Wu, USA, 2017, DCP, 76 min.
  Co-director Ben Wu will be in attendance at the November 1 screening.
• THE WORKER’S CUP, 11/12–11/14
  Adam Sobel, USA, 2017, DCP, 92 min.
• THE CHALLENGE, 11/22–11/26, 11/27
  Yuri Ancarani, Italy, 2016, DCP, 69 min. In Arabic with English Subtitles.
• MACHINES, 12/16–12/20
  Rahul Jain, India, 2017, DCP, 71 min. In Hindi with English Subtitles.

SPECIAL EVENTS

HOUSTON FILM COMMISSION’S TEXAS FILMMAKER’S SHOWCASE, 11/7
Join Texas filmmakers and the Houston Film Commission as they kick off this year’s short film tour, featuring a selection of new work from all over the state.

EGGSHELLS & A Tribute To Tobe Hooper, 11/25
Before THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE there was EGGSHELLS, the late Tobe Hooper’s first feature. AFS presents the film and a pair of early shorts, with special guests in attendance.

Les Blank Tribute Screenings, 12/3
We will be joined by Harrod Blank, son of the late documentarian Les Blank, for a selection of the master’s best short films, including the food films and the music films.