Austin Film Festival

Austin Film Festival (AFF),  will honor  Norman Lear with the “Outstanding Television Writer” Award at the 22nd Annual Austin Film Festival, taking place October 29-November 5, 2015. Norman Lear has enjoyed a long career in television and film, and as a political and social activist and philanthropist. Mr. Lear began his television writing career in 1950 when he and his partner, Ed Simmons, were signed to write forThe Ford Star Revue, starring Jack Haley. After only four shows, they were hired away by Jerry Lewis to write for him and Dean Martin on The Colgate Comedy Hour, where they worked until the end of 1953. They then spent two years on The Martha Raye Show, after which Mr. Lear worked on his own for The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show and The George Gobel Show. In 1958, Mr. Lear teamed with director Bud Yorkin to form Tandem Productions. Together they produced several feature films, with Mr. Lear taking on roles as executive producer, writer, and director. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 1967 for his script for Divorce American Style. In 1970, CBS signed with Tandem to produce All in the Family, which first aired on January 12, 1971 and ran for nine seasons. It earned four Emmy Awards for Best Comedy series as well as the Peabody Award in 1977. All in the Family was followed by a succession of other television hit shows including Maude, Sanford and Son, Good Times, The Jeffersons, One Day at a Time, and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Mr. Lear’s memoir, Even This I Get to Experience, was published in October 2014 by The Penguin Press. Austin Film Festival annually recognizes an Outstanding Television Writer for their collective body of work that has elevated and heavily contributed to the culture of television. Previous Award recipients have been Chris Carter, David Chase, Vince Gilligan, Mitch Hurwitz, Mike Judge, David Milch, Garry Shandling, David Simon, and Matthew Weiner, among others. Lear joins a strong roundup of Panelists confirmed to speak at the 22nd Annual Austin Film Festival & Screenwriters Conference, including: Andrea Berloff, writer World Trade Center Shane Black, writer/director Iron Man 3, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang; writer Lethal Weapon, Last Action Hero Michael Botti, Manager at Industry Entertainment VJ Boyd, writer/producer Justified Jack Burditt, creator Last Man Standing; writer/executive producer The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Mindy Project, 30 Rock; writer/co-producer Fraiser Katie Dippold, writer The Heat, Parks and Recreation, MADtv Seth Grahame-Smith, writer Dark Shadows, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Matthew Gross, President, EuropaCorp TV Studios; producer Sons of Liberty, Body of Proof, Across the Universe James V. Hart, writer Hook, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Contact, Muppet Treasure Island, August Rush, Epic Jason Headley, writer/director It’s Not About the Nail, At The Bar, To Say Goodbye Barry Josephson, Josephson Entertainment; producer Enchanted, Hide and Seek, The Last Boy Scout, Someone Marry Barry; executive producer Turn, Bones Aaron Kaplan, Manager at Kapital Entertainment, Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment Casper Kelly, creator/writer/director Too Many Cooks, Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell; writer Squidbillies Todd Kessler, co-creator Bloodline Craig Kestel, Agent at WME Entertainment Adam Kolbrenner, Co-founder Madhouse Entertainment Gary Lennon, producer Black Box, Orange is the New Black, Justified, The Shield David Lowery, writer/director Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, Pioneer, Pete’s Dragon (2016), writer Pit Stop Jenny Lumet, writer Rachel Getting Married Maggie Malone, Head of Creative Affairs at Disney Animation Studios Kelly Marcel, writer Saving Mr. Banks, Fifty Shades of Grey; writer/executive producer Terra Nova George Pelecanos, writer/producer Treme, The Pacific, The Wire, novelist Nicole Perlman, writer Guardians of the Galaxy Chris Provenzano, co-executive producer/writer Justified; writer Mad Men Pamela Ribon, writer at Walt Disney Animation Studios; writer Romantically Challenged, Samantha Who? Phil Rosenthal, creator Everybody Loves Raymond; writer/director Exporting Raymond Terry Rossio, writer Shrek, Aladdin, The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, The Mask of Zorro John Swetnam, writer Step Up: All In, Evidence, Into the Storm, Breaking Through David Wain, creator Stella, Wainy Days; writer/director Wet Hot American Summer; director Role Models Ron Yerxa, producer Bona Fide Productions, Nebraska, Little Miss Sunshine, Ruby Sparks, Election, Cold Mountain, The Ice Harvest, executive producer The Leftovers   The 2015 Austin Film Festival and Screenwriters Conference will once again present over 150 panels on the art and craft of storytelling featuring a slate comprised entirely of working film, television, and new media industry professionals. In addition to over a dozen parties and nearly 200 film premieres, AFF is adding more networking opportunities this year, including a “Screenwriters Lounge” which will serve as a dedicated space to set meetings and write. The 22nd Annual Austin Film Festival and Conference takes place October 29th through November 5th, 2015.

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The Kings Surrender

Austin Film Festival (AFF) announced its 2014 Screenplay & Teleplay Competition winners, Jury and Audience Award Winners in Film. Awards recipients received an array of cash prizes, travel expenses, industry recognition and access. For the Screenplay & Teleplay Competition winners, a record number of 6,764 scripts were received this year and the Finalists were reviewed by an industry jury. For the Jury Award Winners The Kings Surrender written by Philipp Leinemann won the award for Best Narrative Feature and Once Upon a Crime: The Borrelli-Davis Conspiracy directed by Sheldon Wilson won the award for Best Documentary Feature Jury Award.

 The following winners were selected by category:

Drama Screenplay Award presented by the Writers Guild of America, East: Dead River Girl by Morris Long

Comedy Screenplay Award: Three Months by Jared Frieder

Enderby Entertainment Award: Suicide Boy by Laura Hainke

Fade to Black Award: I Fucked James Bond by Josh Hallman

Darkwoods Productions Horror Award: The 700 Year Itch by Molly Stein & Moon Unit Zappa

Darkwoods Productions Sci-Fi Award: The Incomparable Donald Strange by James Fant & Zach Cannon

AMC One-Hour Teleplay Pilot: Ascension by Wes Brown

Sitcom Teleplay Pilot: Great Points Park by Danny Sullivan

One-Hour Teleplay Spec: The Americans: Barium Meals by Adam Turner

Sitcom Teleplay Spec: Bob’s Burgers: Mr. Whiskers by Damir Konjicija & Dario Konjicija

The following Jury Award winners were selected by category:

Narrative Feature: The Kings Surrender written by Philipp Leinemann

Documentary Feature Jury Award: Once Upon a Crime: The Borrelli-Davis Conspiracy directed by Sheldon Wilson

Dark Matters Feature: One Eyed Girl co-written by Nick Matthews and Craig Behenna,

Comedy Vanguard Feature: Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero co-written by Maz Jobrani and Amir Ohebsion

Narrative Short: Skunk written by Annie Silverstein

Documentary Short: The Next Part directed by Erin Sanger

Animated Short: Between Times co-written by Ru Kuwahata and Max Porter

Narrative Student Short: Luke written by Conor Hamill

Young Filmmakers Program Competition Grand Prize: Special Is Just a Word written by Abby Thompson 

The following Audience Award winners were selected by category:

Narrative Feature: Terrible Love co-written by Luke Helmer and Christopher Thomas,

Documentary Feature: The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young, co-directed by Annika Iltis and Timothy Kane

Dark Matters Feature: The Suicide Theory written by Michael J Kospiah

Comedy Vanguard Feature: Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero co-written by Maz Jobrani and Amir Ohebsion

Narrative Short: Mimi & Me written by Marly Reed

Documentary Short: Albert directed by Daniel Jaffe

Animated Short: TIE The Dam Keeper written by Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi |The Last Resort written by Gillian Park

Student Short: Luke written by Conor Hamill

Heart of Film: Popovich and the Voice of the Fabled American West co-written by Mike Thompson, Jerry Thompson, and Gregory

Stories From Abroad: Taking it Back written by Andreas Schmied

Texas Independents: Flutter written by Eric Hueber

Marquee Feature: Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me directed by James Keach

 

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The Humbling The US Premiere of Barry Levinson’s The Humbling will be the Opening Night Film of the 2014 Austin Film Festival on Thursday, October 23rd. Based on the Philip Roth novel, The Humbling follows an aged and addled actor (Al Pacino) and his affair with a much younger woman (Greta Gerwig).  Also kicking off AFF’s 21st anniversary, writer/director Richard LaGravenese will present the Jason Robert Brown musical adaptation of The Last 5 Years starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan. Jon Stewart and Maziar Bahari will present Stewart’s directorial debut, Rosewater, as the Closing Night Selection on October 30th. Rosewater is based on the New York Times best-selling memoir Then They Came for Me: A Family’s Story of Love, Captivity, and Survival, written by the BBC journalist Maziar Bahari. Edward Zwick will accept the Extraordinary Contribution to Film Award at the 2014 Austin Film Festival Awards Luncheon, held at the Austin Club on Saturday, October 25th. Previous honorees have included Jonathan Demme, Ron Howard, Danny Boyle, Oliver Stone, Sydney Pollack, John Lasseter, Frank Darabont, and Robert Rodriguez. Zwick’s directorial credits feature About Last Night, Courage Under Fire, The Siege, The Last Samurai, Blood Diamond, Defiance and Love & Other Drugs, and the Academy® Award winning films Glory and Legends of the Fall. Along with Marshall Herskovitz, Zwick created The Bedford Falls Company, and produced the critically acclaimed television series My So-Called Life, Relativity, the Emmy Award winning television series, thirtysomething, and the Emmy Award and Golden Globe award winning series Once and Again. Other producing credits include I Am Sam, Traffic, and Shakespeare in Love.Zwick most recently directed and produced Pawn Sacrifice starring Tobey Maguire, Liev Schreiber, and Peter Sarsgaard.Zwick will also be joined by frequent collaborator Winnie Holzman (creator of My So-Called Life) for a conversation on their work in television on Sunday, October 26th. Luke Wilson joins the 2014 Retrospective series, presenting The Pope of Greenwich Village. Austin Film Festival’s Retrospective series allow guest programmers to present works that have inspired their careers.  The Pope of Greenwich Village will be programmed alongside Wilson’s short film Satellite Beach, which he wrote, directed, and starred in, with producers also in attendance. Scott Haze will present The Sound and the Fury, James Franco’s adaptation of the William Faulkner novel. Austin Film Festival’s annual staged script-reading will feature the comedy Flarsky, by Dan Sterling (writer The Office, Girls, The Interview) in a live event co-presented by The Black List on Sunday, October 26th.

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[caption id="attachment_6549" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Black and White[/caption] Austin Film Festival (AFF), announced  the first slate of films included in the 2014 lineup of Festival screenings October 23 thru 30, 2014. The complete list of programming at the 21st annual AFF, including short films, competition titles, and Conference panels, will be announced in mid-September.  Black and White from Writer/Director Mike Binder has been selected as the Centerpiece Film. Starring Academy Award-winners Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer, Black and White is the story of a widowed grandfather (Costner) who is left to raise his bi-racial granddaughter. When the little girl’s paternal grandmother (Spencer) seeks custody, a bitter legal battle ensues that forces the uneasy family members to have an honest conversation about life, death, anger and America’s racial divide.  Additional selections include The Sound and the Fury, The Imitation Game, The Homesman, and the World Premieres of 21 Years: Richard Linklater and Dawn Patrol. AFF 2014 EARLY FILMS: CENTERPIECE FILM: Black and White  Writer/Director: Mike Binder (In attendance) Cast in attendance: Jillian Estell Starring Academy Award-winners Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer, Black and White is the story of a widowed grandfather (Costner) who is left to raise his bi-racial granddaughter. When the little girl’s paternal grandmother (Spencer) seeks custody, a bitter legal battle ensues that forces the uneasy family members to have an honest conversation about life, death, anger and America’s racial divide. Also starring Anthony Mackie, Jennifer Ehle, Gillian Jacobs, Bill Burr, Andre Holland, and introducing Jillian Estell. 21 Years: Richard Linklater – World Premiere Director: Michael Dunaway, Tara Wood (In attendance) A spirited look at the first 21 years of writer/director Richard Linklater’s remarkable career, featuring interviews with collaborators Matthew McConaughey, Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Billy Bob Thornton, Keanu Reeves, Jack Black, and more. 7 Minutes – World Premiere Writer/Director: Jay Martin (In attendance) Cast in attendance: Luke Mitchell, Leven Rambin Three former high-school friends are forced to commit a brazen robbery that quickly goes horribly wrong. Featuring a cast of Kris Kristofferson, Luke Mitchell, Jason Ritter, and Leven Rambin. Dawn Patrol – World Premiere Writer: Rachel Long, Brian Pittman (In attendance) Director: Daniel Petrie Jr. (In attendance) Cast and Crew in attendance: Scott Eastwood, Rita Wilson, Jeff Fahey, Chris Brochu, Kim Matula, Dendrie Taylor, Matt Meola, Rick Dugdale A surfer-turned-Marine (Scott Eastwood) held at gunpoint tells his tragic story of revenge-gone-wrong to stall his execution. With the screenplay originating out of Austin Film Festival’s 2008 Screenplay Competition, Dawn Patrol (formerly Stranded) was acquired by Dan Petrie Jr and Rick Dugdale at Enderby Entertainment and makes its way back to Texas this October for its World Premiere. One-Eyed Girl – World Premiere Writer: Craig Behenna, Nick Matthews (In attendance) Director: Nick Matthews Cast in attendance: Mark Leonard Winter, Tilda Cobham-Hervey A psychiatrist haunted by the death of a former patient stumbles upon a Doomsday cult and battles to save a teenage girl (Cobham-Hervey) from its clutches. The Homesman – Texas Premiere Writer: Tommy Lee Jones, Wesley A. Oliver, Kieran Fitzgerald Director: Tommy Lee Jones When three women living on the edge of the American frontier are driven to the brink, the task of saving them from their surroundings falls to the pious, independent-minded Mary Bee Cuddy (Hilary Swank).  Transporting the women by covered wagon to Iowa, she soon realizes just how daunting the journey will be, and employs a feisty low-life drifter, George Biggs (Tommy Lee Jones), to join her.  The unlikely pair and the three women head east, where a waiting minister and his wife (Meryl Streep) have offered to take the women in.  But the group first must traverse the harsh Nebraska Territories marked by stark beauty, psychological peril and constant threat. The Imitation Game – Texas Premiere Writer: Graham Moore Director: Morten Tyldum Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Alan Turing, the genius British mathematician, logician, cryptologist and computer scientist who led the charge to crack the German Enigma Code that helped the Allies win WWII. Turing went on to assist with the development of computers at the University of Manchester after the war, but was prosecuted by the UK government in 1952 for homosexual acts which the country deemed illegal. The Sound and the Fury – Texas Premiere Writer: Matt Rager, William Faulkner (Novel) Director: James Franco Directed by and starring Academy Award® nominee James Franco, The Sound and The Fury captures the lives and passions of the Compsons, a once proud Southern family caught in a tragic spiral of loss and misfortune. Based on the novel by Noble Prize winner author William Faulkner and considered among the 20th century’s greatest works, The Sound and the Fury encapsulates the universal theme of the death of honor, social injustice and forbidden love. The Texas Promise – World Premiere Director: Vanessa Roth (In attendance) From Academy-Award ® winning documentarian, Vanessa Roth, The Texas Promise is the gripping story of equity, politics, money, and our children as historic decisions are being made about opportunity, the economy, and our democracy. When the Texas legislature cut $5.4 billion from public schools, it affected the daily lives of the 5 million students in Texas public schools and made Texas 49th in the country in per pupil spending.  Texans took to the streets in protest, districts from across Texas sued the state, and ideological battle lines were drawn in Austin.  

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The 21st Austin Film Festival (AFF), taking place from October 23rd to 30th, 2014, announced that accomplished screenwriter and filmmaker Jim Sheridan is the festival’s 2014 recipient of the “Distinguished Screenwriter” Award.  Sheridan’s credits include writing and directing MY LEFT FOOT, THE FIELD, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE BOXER, and IN AMERICA.  He is known for writing  INTO THE WEST and SOME MOTHER’S SON, as well as directing DREAM HOUSE, GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN’, and BROTHERS.

Sheridan’s work has achieved popular and critical acclaim worldwide.  His films have garnered sixteen Academy Award nominations and have won two Academy Awards as well as numerous prestigious international awards. 

 Austin Film Festival annually recognizes a Distinguished Screenwriter for their collective body of work that has elevated and heavily contributed to the culture of film. Previous Distinguished Screenwriter Award recipients include Robert Altman, Shane Black, Horton Foote, Buck Henry, Lawrence Kasdan, Callie Khouri, Richard LaGravanese , Barry Levinson,  Paul Mazursky, John Milius, David Peoples, Frank Pierson, Harold Ramis, Paul Schrader, William Wittliff, and Steven Zaillian.

Sheridan will accept the award at the Festival’s annual Awards Luncheon held on Saturday, October 25, 2014, as well as speak on panels during the Conference. 

“We are thrilled to be honoring Jim Sheridan for our 21st anniversary.  His body of work truly encapsulates the mission of Austin Film Festival,” said Conference Director, Erin Hallagan.  “As we move into this third decade of championing the writer’s role in the landscape of film and television, we look forward to continuing a strong program that addresses both new developments in media, as well as the core elements of their craft.”

Sheridan joins a strong roundup of Panelists confirmed to speak at the 21st annual Austin Film Festival & Screenwriters Conference.  The Conference will provide unparalleled access to some of the best writers, filmmakers, and industry personnel in film and television in an intimate and impassioned atmosphere.  Registrants have the opportunity to attend an array of panels including: meet and greets with Conference speakers, roundtables, the 12th annual Pitch Competition, and panels that cater to the art, craft, and business of storytelling through film and television.

Confirmed panelists* include:

Michelle Ashford, creator Masters of Sex

Eli Attie, writer/executive producer Mind Games, writer/co-executive producer House, MD, writer/supervising producer The West Wing

William Broyles, writer CAST AWAY, APOLLO 13, THE POLAR EXPRESS, UNFAITHFUL, JARHEAD, ENTRAPMENT, China Beach

Cary Fukunaga, director/executive producer True Detective,  director JANE EYRE, writer/director SIN NOMBRE
Terry George, writer/director HOTEL RWANDA, SOME MOTHER’S SON, RESERVATION ROAD, writer THE BOXER, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER

Peter Gould, writer/producer/director Breaking Bad, creator Better Call Saul

John Hamburg, writer/director I LOVE YOU MAN, writer MEET THE PARENTS, ZOOLANDER

Richard Kelly, writer/director DONNIE DARKO, SOUTHLAND TALES, THE BOX, writer DOMINO
Brian Koppelman, writer ROUNDERS, OCEAN’S THIRTEEN, RUNAWAY JURY, writer/director SOLITARY MAN

Franklin Leonard, creator The Black List
Kelly Marcel, writer SAVING MR. BANKS, FIFTY SHADES OF GREY

Craig Mazin, writer IDENTITY THIEF, THE HANGOVER PART II & III, co-host ScriptNotes

Peter Mehlman, writer/co-executive producer Seinfeld
Scott Myers, host Go Into The Story, writer K-9, ALASKA, TROJAN WAR

Alvaro Rodriguez, writer MACHETE, SHORTS, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN 3: THE HANGMAN’S DAUGHTER,From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series

Dan Sterling, producer Girls, The Office, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, writer/producer, The Sarah Silverman Program, writer King of the Hill, South Park

Whit Stillman, writer/director METROPOLITAN, BARCELONA, THE LAST DAYS OF DISCO, DAMSELS IN DISTRESS

Jim Uhls, writer FIGHT CLUB, SEMPER FI, JUMPER

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OXV: THE MANUAL

Austin Film Festival (AFF) announced its 2013 Jury Award Winners as well as Screenplay and Teleplay Competition winners. The Dark Matters Jury Award, awarding the best film from horror, sci-fi, or dark thriller genres, was featured for the first time ever and wen to writer/director Darren Paul Fisher for his film OXV: THE MANUAL. In addition, the Narrative Feature Jury award was given to first time writer/director, Chris Lowell for his film BESIDE STILL WATERS, and  the Documentary Feature Jury Award went to director Christopher Englese, for his film POLITICAL BODIES.

The following winners were selected by category: 

For features, the first ever Dark Matters Feature Jury Award was awarded to writer/director Darren Paul Fisher for his film OXV: THE MANUAL.  OXV: THE MANUAL follows three students at a school where the children are divided into lucky and unlucky, and how they aim to change that fate.

The Young Filmmakers Program Competition Grand Prize was award to Imogen Pohl, director of the short film HB.

The Narrative Student Short Jury Prize was awarded to Avram Dodson, the writer/director of PISTACHIO MILK.

The Documentary Shorts Jury Award was given to director Jenny van den Broeke for her film BLINDE LIEFDE (Blind Love).

The Jury Award for Animated Short, which makes the winning film eligible to be nominated for an academy award ™ was given to Erica Harrison, writer of A CAUTIONARY TALE.

The Narrative Short Jury Award, which also qualifies the short to be nominated for an academy award tm, was given to writer/director Cody Blue Snider.

The Documentary Feature Jury Award was bestowed upon director Christopher Englese, for his film POLITICAL BODIES.  
2012 was a tough year for women, especially the women of Virginia. Political Bodies shows what happens when citizens stand up for their reproductive rights, and tell the government that their bodies are their own – not pawns to be played for political gain. The issue is explored from both pro-choice and pro-life sides of the debate. Featured interviews from pro-choice activists including Shelley Abrams, Molly Vick, Tarina Keene and Rosemary Codding; pro-choice political figures including Katherine Waddell, Janet Howell, Jim Edmondson, David Englin, and Meredith Harbach; and pro-life politicians and activists including Victoria Cobb and Bob Marshall. This film shows audiences the fearlessness and determination it takes to stand up for one’s autonomy

The Narrative Feature Jury award was given to first time writer/director, Chris Lowell for his film BESIDE STILL WATERS.
In this BIG CHILL for Generation Y, a group of childhood friends come together for the last time at the scenic lake house where they all grew up, to comfort each other, rekindle old flames and drunkenly stumble down memory lane. The house brings out the adolescence in all of them, and what follows is a weekend full of drinking and dancing. Laughter and secrets. Sex, drugs, mischief and regret. Equally full of humor and heartbreak, BESIDE STILL WATERS explores the past and getting past it.

For the Screenplay and Teleplay Competition winners, the following winners were selected by category:

Drama Screenplay Award presented by the Writers Guild of America, East: “Last Waltz of Vienna” by Brian Weakland

Comedy Screenplay Award: “Don’t Talk to Irene” by Pat Mills

Enderby Entertainment Award: “Hooking Up” by Jacqueline Fitzgerald

Darkwoods Productions Horror Award: “The Hitch” by Troy Miller

Dark Hero Studios Sci-Fi Award: “Lightspeed” by Brian Siegele

AMC One-Hour Teleplay Pilot: “Liberators” by Eric Haywood

Sitcom Teleplay Pilot: “I Love Monsters” by Julie Cross

One-Hour Teleplay Spec: Doctor Who: “Ghost Town” by Alyssa Weinberger

Sitcom Teleplay Spec: Girls: “Golden Birthday, Golden Showers” by Sarah Carbiener & Erica Rosbe

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“INNOCENCE,” a supernatural thriller set in a New York prep school will have its World Premiere at the 2013 Austin Film Festival.  The fim is described as a chilling allegory of the precarious state of the American teenager, and the film explore themes of loss, the human condition and a society torn between purity and narcissism.

Haunted by nightmares about the death of her beloved mother who died in a Montauk surfing accident, 16-year-old Beckett (Sophie Curtis, “The English Teacher,” 2013) and her father, novelist Miles (Linus Roache, “Batman Begins,” 2005), move to Manhattan in an attempt to piece together their shattered lives. Now enrolled at the exclusive Hamilton Preparatory School, Beckett’s psychosis and hallucinations intensify with the dubious suicides of current and past students. Beckett falls in love with the handsome, caring Tobey (Graham Phillips, “Evan Almighty,” 2007) as she discovers that her new school may be run by a coven of beautiful and seductive women including school nurse Pamela (Kelly Reilly, “Me and Orson Wells,” 2008), psychiatrist Vera (Sarita Choudhury, “Lady in the Water,” 2006) and Tobey’s mother, Natalie, (Stephanie March, “Law & Order SVU”) who perpetuate their youth by drinking the blood of virgins.

“INNOCENCE,” will screen at the State Theatre on Saturday, October 26th at 10:30 PM and on Wednesday, October 30th at 9:30PM at the IMAX Theatre at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum.

http://youtu.be/YWmbl_7VVYk

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WHITEWASH

Austin Film Festival (AFF)  taking place this October 24th to 31st, 2013 will honor actress Susan Sarandon with the 2013 Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking – Actor.  The festival also added WHITEWASH, a comic thriller starring Thomas Haden Church and THE PRETTY ONE, starring Zoe Kazan, Jack Johnson, and Ron Livingston to the 20th Anniversary Film Schedule lineup.

Sarandon will accept the award at the Festival’s annual Awards Luncheon held on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at the Austin Club. The Inaugural Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking – Actor Award was presented to Johnny Depp in 2011. Sarandon will present a retrospective screening of John Turturro’s Romance and Cigarettes, and join a conversation on the art and craft of storytelling with the other 2013 Awardees, Vince Gilligan (Outstanding Television Writer), Jonathan Demme (Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking), Callie Khouri (Distinguished Screenwriter), and Barry Josephson (Heart of Film Award).

Austin Film Festival’s Opening Night will feature the US Premiere of Jonathan Sobel’s break-out Toronto heist hit THE ART OF THE STEAL starring Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon and Jay Baruchel, as well as the World Premiere of AFF success story COFFEE, KILL BOSS – a film that emerged from the Festival’s world-renowned Screenplay Competition in 2011. Coffee, Kill Boss stars Eddie Jemison (Ocean’s 11-13, Hung), Noureen DeWulf (Anger Management) and Robert Forster (Jackie Brown, Mulholland Drive). The comedy is about ten executives who meet in secret to sell off their company and end up the victims of a murder plot. 

AFF’s Closing Night film falls on Halloween and will feature the US Premiere of ALL CHEERLEADERS DIE, a horror comedy about a rebellious outsider who joins the cheerleading squad on a mission to take down the captain of the football team…. until a supernatural force changes everything. Lucky McKee and Chris Sivertson co-wrote and directed the film, hailed as a monster midnight sensation in Toronto.

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