Austin Film Festival Announces 2007 Lineup

AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTS
Three amazing retrospectives from AFF 2007 award recipients, plus an eclectic mix of live comedy and film clips highlight this section.

Glenn Gordon Caron Presents...”Moonlighting” and “Fling”
Once upon a time, Glenn Gordon Caron had a contract with ABC to do three pilots. When the network decided that Caron’s first two pilots weren’t series worthy, they gave the writer an ultimatum of sorts - they would dictate the concept for the third and final pilot left on his contract. They wanted a “boy/girl” detective show. Caron cringed. He hated those shows but also wanted to work. He quickly realized that if he was going to take on the project, he would have to figure out a way to make it something that he would want to watch. He discovered that his problem with detective shows of the era was that there was never any real danger for the detectives because the audience knew the characters would be back next week. If the audience was aware of that artifice, what would happen if the characters themselves were aware that they were on a television show? As Caron once put it, “while we may be the fifty-thousandth TV detective show, we know we’re the fifty-thousandth TV detective show. That’s at the heart of it. The show knows a little bit that it’s on TV." With that artifice exposed, “Moonlighting” was free to do whatever it felt like. The genius was that throughout the series, the perils were emotional rather than physical. Whether we were in the hard-boiled forties or Shakespearean England, we still cared about the characters. Caron will present a handpicked episode of “Moonlighting” and an episode from his unaired series, “Fling”, starring Brooke Langton and Amy Sedaris.

John Milius Presents...“Big Wednesday” (Writers: John Milius, Dennis Aaberg/Director: John Milius)
Considered by many to be one of the greatest films of the 1970s, Milius brings his experience as a surfer in his youth and a soldier in the Vietnam War to create an incredibly accurate portrayal of American life in the late 60s and early 70s to create a modern classic. The story follows three California surfing buddies as their friendship and lives change over the years, all while waiting for the rare 20-foot swell to hit the coast. An honest chronicle of friendship as the young men transition from surf trips and parties to adulthood and Vietnam. Taking place over the course of a turbulent twelve years from 1962 to 1974 the friends go their separate ways, eventually reuniting for the “Great Swell of “74”. Milius directs the film with a passion for the era and the quest for the ultimate ride. It is a true homage to surfing with amazing and vivid camerawork that will take you inside the wave. Cast: Gary Busey, William Katt and Jan-Micael Vincent.

Oliver Stone Presents…“Born on the Fourth of July” (Writer: Oliver Stone, Ron Kovic/Director: Oliver Stone)
Oliver Stone’s “Born on the Fourth of July” resonates as deeply today as ever; perhaps more so. Tracing the true-life journey of Ron Kovic, who co-wrote the screenplay with Stone, the film follows the veteran from enlistment through his work as an activist. Stone himself served in Vietnam and earned a Purple Heart, and handles the complex issues of identity and loss with care. Kovic ultimately is an American who changed his mind about the war, despite the impossible sacrifices he made. A tale of loss, redemption and true patriotism that won Stone best directing honors at the Academy Awards and Tom Cruise a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of Kovic. Cast: Tom Cruise, Kyra Sedgwick, Raymond J. Barry, Caroline Kava, Jerry Levine, Frank Whaley and Willem Dafoe.

Doug Benson Presents...“Highly Regarded Cinema”
Join comedian Doug Benson for a special cinematic presentation that everyone will be buzzing about. It’s an afternoon of clips and live comedy hosted by the self-proclaimed “writer/stand-up comic/actor/idiot”. Doug has appeared on numerous television shows, including “Friends”, “The Sarah Silverman Program”, and “Curb Your Enthusiasm”. He’s perhaps best known for his work on VH1’s “Best Week Ever” and finished in the top ten this season on NBC's Last Comic Standing. Additionally, he has a half-hour stand-up special running on Comedy Central and hosts a hilarious podcast called “I Love Movies.” His current project is a documentary entitled “Super High Me” directed by Michael Bleiden featuring appearances by comedian friends Sarah Silverman, Bob Odenkirk, Zach Galifianakis, and Brian Posehn.

MARQUEE SCREENINGS
This section features some of the best in current world cinema including “Chicago 10”, a new kind of animated documentary about the famed Chicago Seven, Toronto-buzz film “Juno”, the new film from master filmmaker Sidney Lumet, as well as “Control”, a bio-pic about Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis and “In Search of a Midnight Kiss” directed by former Austinite Alex Holdridge.

“Adrift in Manhattan” (Writer: Nat Moss/Director: Alfredo de Villa)
Regional Premiere
A grieving eye doctor confronts her guilt over the loss of her young son; an aging painter comes to terms with impending blindness; and a young photographer grapples with his inner demons in three intersecting stories set along a single subway line in Manhattan. Moss and de Villa’s new feature (they won the Austin Film Festival’s Narrative Feature Jury Award in 1999 for “Washington Heights”) is a deeply moving and wonderfully acted exploration of loneliness set within the confusion and desperation of New York City. Cast: Heather Graham, Dominic Chianese, Victor Rasuk, and William Baldwin.

“American Fork” (Writer: Hubbel Palmer/Director: Chris Bowman)
Regional Premiere
In a supermarket in the armpit of the Mountain West, an enormous grocery clerk scribbles poetry. Tracy Orbison is a dreamer, and his outsized sense of wonder fuels a series of tragic-comic adventures. Tracy enrolls in an acting class, falling under the spell of the arrogant instructor; while at home Tracy fends off his God-fearing, self-loathing mother; and his sister, a perennial lonely heart, at long last finds somebody to love. The producers of Napoleon Dynamite bring us another quirky, but wholly original film. Cast: Hubbel Palmer, William Baldwin, Mary Lynn Rajskub and Kathleen Quinlan.

“Control” (Writer: Matt Greenhalgh/Director: Anton Corbijn) Regional Premiere
Ian Curtis has aspirations beyond the small town life of 1970s England. Wanting to emulate his musical heroes, such as David Bowie and Iggy Pop, he joins a band, Joy Division, and his musical ambition begins to thrive. Featuring a score by New Order and based on Deborah Curtis’ book “Touching From a Distance”, the film marks the feature debut of acclaimed music photographer and video director Corbijn. Cast: Sam Riley, Samantha Morton and Alexandra Maria Lara.

“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (Writer: Ronald Harwood/Director: Julian Schnabel) Regional Premiere
A remarkable true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby (based on his memoir), a successful and charismatic editor-in-chief of French Elle, who believes he is living his life to its absolute fullest when a sudden stroke leaves him paralyzed. Left with his entire body paralyzed, except for his left eye, he uses that eye to blink out his memoir, eloquently laying out the aspects of his interior world, from the psychological torment of being trapped inside his body to his imagined stories from lands he visited only in his mind. Cast: Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Anne Consigny and Max Von Sydow.

“Don’t Eat the Baby: Adventures at Post-Katrina Mardi Gras” (Writer/Director: Todd Berger) Regional Premiere
A highly unique examination of the state of New Orleans, a native explores the true meaning of Mardi Gras as the city holds its first Carnival after “the unpleasantness.” Combining a rocking score by Quintron, academic research and interviews with both experts and everymen, the film presents the true Mardi Gras as a microcosm of the class, race, gender, economic, environmental, and religious issues of New Orleans society and how understanding that society helps to explain what occurred during Katrina and what is currently occurring in its aftermath.

“Good Time Max” (Writers: James Franco, Merriwether Williams/Director: James Franco) Regional Premiere
Director/writer/actor James Franco returns to the Festival with his latest personal project, the story of two brothers who are blessed with powerful intellects but take drastically different paths. Set in contemporary Los Angeles, Franco creates a kinetic and energetic film through his all or nothing approach to his performance and direction. Cast: James Franco, Vince Jolivette, Matt Bell and Wilmer Calderon.

“In Search of a Midnight Kiss” (Writer/Director: Alex Holdridge)
Regional Premiere
A rollicking, comic ride and tender journey though love, sex, and modern romance in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. Wilson, a 29-year-old would-be screenwriter has just had the worst year of his life, is new to Los Angeles, has no date, no concrete plans and every intention of locking the doors and forgetting the last year ever happened. That is until his best friend, Jacob, browbeats him into posting a personal ad on Craig’s List. Holdridge, a former AFF Audience Award winner for his first film “Wrong Numbers”, delivers his most mature film to date. Cast: Scoot McNairy, Sara Simmonds, Brian Matthew McQuire and Katy Luong.

“Judy Toll: The Funniest Woman You’ve Never Heard Of” (Director: Gary Toll)
Regional Premiere
An in-depth look at the quirky, self-deprecating and always funny life of the late comedian/writer/actress, this intimate film chronicles Judy’s career as she rises through the ranks of the 1980s L.A. comedy scene, her time with The Groundlings Comedy Theater, through her flirtation with TV stardom and eventually her work with the writers of “Sex and the City”. By the end of the film you’ll only have one question on your mind: Why haven’t I ever heard of Judy Toll?

“Lars and the Real Girl” (Writer: Nancy Oliver/Director: Craig Gillespie)
Regional Premiere
Written by “Six Feet Under” scribe Nancy Oliver, “Lars and the Real Girl” is a heartfelt comedy starring Academy-Award nominated Ryan Gosling as Lars Lindstrom a loveable introvert whose emotional baggage has kept him from fully embracing life. After years of almost solitude, he invites Bianca, a friend he met on the Internet, to visit him. There’s only one problem: Bianca is a human sized doll. What follows is an emotional journey for Lars and the people around him. Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, Kelli Garner and Patricia Clarkson.

“Musician” (Director: Daniel Kraus) Regional Premiere
Common sense says you can’t make a living in America playing avant-garde improvisational jazz. But Ken Vandermark does it anyway. Among musicians, Vandermark’s work ethic is almost mythic. The Chicago reed player has released over 100 albums with nearly 40 ensembles, spends more than eight months per year on the road, and lives every other waking moment composing, arranging, performing — and trying to discipline his two hyperactive canines. Though Vandermark was the recipient of a 1999 MacArthur genius grant, he still spends most of his life in smoky clubs and low-budget recording studios, hoping people will plunk down hard-earned cash to hear his wholly non-commercial music. Following the artful cinéma vérité style of the Kraus’ internationally acclaimed “Sheriff” (AFF ’04), “Musician” forgoes all interviews and voice-overs. It is a fly-on-the-wall time capsule that expertly captures every subtle sound and texture of this most American of art forms.

“Nanking” (Writers: Bill Guttentag, Dan Sturman, Elisabeth Bentley/Directors: Bill Guttentag, Dan Sturman) Regional Premiere
Directed by the Academy-Award-winning team of Guttentag and Sturman, “Nanking” is a powerful reminder of the heartbreaking toll that war takes on the innocent, and a testament to the courage and conviction of a few individuals determined to act in the face of evil. The film tells the story of the Japanese invasion of Nanking, China in the early days of World War II and focuses on the efforts of a small group of unarmed Westerners who established a Safety Zone where more than 200,000 Chinese found refuge. The events of the film are told through deeply moving interviews with Chinese survivors, archival footage and chilling testimonies of Japanese soldiers, interwoven with staged readings of the Westerners’ letters and diaries as performed by Woody Harrelson, Mariel Hemingway, Jurgen Prochnow, and Stephen Dorff.

“Numb” (Writer/Director: Harris Goldberg) Regional Premiere
In his self-searching directing debut, writer Goldberg tells the semi-autobiographical tale of Hudson Milbank, a depressed screenwriter who falls over the edge into what is diagnosed as “depersonalization disorder,” the sense that everything is unreal – akin to living in some hellish dreamlike state. Desperate to feel like himself again, Hudson seeks out a variety of treatments. Things start to change, though, when he meets Sara, whose relaxed ways and big-hearted spirit help bring him out of his shell. Cast: Mathew Perry, Mary Steenburgen, Kevin Pollak and Lynn Collins.

“Poor Boy’s Game” (Writers: Chaz Thorne, Clement Virgo/Director: Clement Virgo) Regional Premiere
Donnie Rose went to prison for beating a young black man so brutally it left him handicapped for life. Nine years later, Donnie is a changed man but must go back home to the same violent place that created him. Meanwhile, George Carvery has waited nine years to avenge his son’s fate. When he meets Donnie Carvery he surprisingly overcomes his need for vengeance, but the black community still wants justice. Their instrument is Ossie Paris, a devastatingly talented boxer who challenges Donnie to a grudge match. As the racism boils to the surface, Carvery trains Donnie for the fight. Their partnership makes them outcasts from both tribes and their futures will be decided with the bell of the first round. Cast: Rossif Sutherland, Flex Alexander, Danny Glover, Laura Regan, Greg Bryk and K.C. Collins.

“Palo Alto” (Writers: Brad Leong, Tony Vallone/Director: Brad Leong)
Regional Premiere
The story of four college freshman on their last night of Thanksgiving Break during their first time back home since leaving for school. We follow them as they come to realize that their small town, once seemingly boring and meaningless, has much more to offer than they ever expected. The four boys’ stories continue throughout one long night, briefly intersecting before the sun rises and they all leave home again. Written, directed and produced by a group of friends no more than 20-years-old during production, “Palo Alto” is a story of leaving your youth and told by people living the experience. Cast: Aaron Ashmore, Johnny Lewis, Justin Mentell, Ben Savage and Tom Arnold.

“Randy and the Mob” (Writer/Director: Ray McKinnon) Regional Premiere
A smart, southern comedy about a know-it-all, good ol' boy named Randy who lands in hot water with some low rent Italian mobsters. The bumbling, self-centered Randy must seek help from his colorful family (most notably his estranged gay twin brother, Cecil) to save him from the mob. AFF alum, McKinnon, whose short “The Accountant” won AFF ’01 and went on to win the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film, inhabits both Randy and his alter-ego, Cecil. Full of hilarity and heart, McKinnon gives a whole new meaning to the value of family. Cast: Ray McKinnon, Lisa Blount, Walt Goggins, Burt Reynolds and Bill Nunn.

“Reservation Road” (Writers: John Burnham Schwartz, Terry George/Director: Terry George) Regional Premiere
On a warm September evening, college professor Ethan Learner, his wife Grace and their daughter Emma are attending a recital where their 10-year-old son, Josh, is playing cello. On the way home, they all stop at a gas station on Reservation Road. There, in one terrible instant, he is taken from them forever. On a warm September evening, law associate Dwight Arno and his 11-year-old son Lucas are attending a baseball game where their favorite team, the Red Sox, are playing. Driving his son back to his ex-wife, Dwight heads toward his fateful encounter at Reservation Road. The accident happens so fast that Lucas is all but unaware, while Ethan, the only witness, is all too aware. The police are called and an investigation begins. Haunted by the tragedy, both fathers react in unexpected ways. As reckoning looms, the two men are forced to make the hardest choices of their lives. Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Connelly, Mira Sorvino and Elle Fanning.

“The Savages” (Writer/Director: Tamara Jenkins) Regional Premiere
An irreverent, hilarious and heartbreaking story revolving around a modern American family, “The Savages” portrays an all-too-common dilemma: after drifting apart emotionally and geographically over the years, two siblings Wendy and Jon must band together to care for an elderly parent who never cared for them. “Slums of Beverly Hills” writer/director Jenkins, working from her well observed script, avoids histrionics and secures sparkling, authentic performances from her immensely talented cast. Cast: Laura Linney, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Philip Bosco.

“Starting Out in the Evening” (Writer: Andrew Wagner, Fred Parnes/Director: Andrew Wagner) Regional Premiere
Leonard Schiller is an elderly New York writer who has settled into a routine existence after his wife’s passing. He divides his time between visits with his daughter and protracted work on a languishing novel. When a young grad student enters to mine his life for her thesis, she interrupts the monotony, distracting him from the comforts of his habits. Celebrated for its strong three-dimensional characters and marked by career-defining performances, the film’s screenplay was adapted by director Wagner and Parnes from the PEN/Faulkner Award-nominated novel by Brian Morton. Cast: Frank Langella, Lauren Ambrose and Lili Taylor.

"The Walker" (Writer/Director: Paul Schrader) Regional Premiere
A contemporary drama set in Washington, D.C., The Walker centers around Carter Page, a well-heeled and popular socialite who serves as confidant, companion, and card partner to some of the capitol’s leading ladies. Schrader accepted the Austin Film Festival’s Distinguished Screenwriting award in 1998. Cast: Woody Harrelson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily Tomlin, Lauren Bacall, Willem Dafoe, Ned Beatty, Moritz Bleibtreu, and Mary Beth Hurt.

“Under the Same Moon” (La Misma Luna) (Writer: Ligiah Villalobos/Director: Patricia Riggen) Regional Premiere
“Under the Same Moon” tells the parallel stories of 9-year-old Carlitos and his mother, Rosario. In the hopes of providing a better life for her son, Rosario works illegally in the U.S. while her mother cares for Carlitos back in Mexico. Unexpected circumstances drive both Rosario and Carlitos to embark on their own journeys in a desperate attempt to reunite. Riggen’s film is not only a heartwarming family story, but also offers subtle commentary on the much-debated issue of illegal immigration. Cast: Adrian Alonso, Kate del Castillo, Eugenio Derbez, Maya Zapata, Carmen Salinas and America Ferrera.

“Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist” (Director: Andrew D. Cooke) Regional Premiere
Arguably the most influential figure in American comics, Will Eisner, artist/ businessman/innovator/visual storyteller, enjoyed a career that encompassed comic books from their early beginnings in the 1930s to their development as graphic novels in the 1990s. During his sixty-year-plus career, Eisner introduced the now-traditional mode of comic book production; championed mature, sophisticated storytelling; was an early advocate for using the medium as a tool for education; pioneered the now-popular “graphic novel,” and served as an inspiration for generations of artists, from cartoonist/playwright Jules Feiffer in the 1940s and underground comix artist Art Spiegelman in the 1960s to creators working and thriving in the field today. Features interviews with Michael Chabon, Harvey Kurtzman, Frank Miller, Kurt Vonnegut and more.

TARGET FAMILY FILM SERIES
Moving and funny tales of growing up are highlighted in this series, including “A Plumm Summer” with Henry Winkler, “Moondance Alexander” with Don Johnson and the Texas film “The Bracelet of Bordeaux.” Children 12 and under are invited to attend these films free of charge.

“Bracelet of Bordeaux” (Writer: Frank Eaking/Director: Casey Kelly)
Regional Premiere
Two pre-teen girls solve a major dog napping crime with the help of a magical bracelet. In the process, they learn about friendship, courage and the importance of hanging with the right crowd. The adventures of Helen Hixon, her adorable dog, Rufus, and her best friend Marie comprise a humorous and mysterious tale that will captivate both children and parents. This Texas-shot film is a delightful tale that will remind you of the best movies you loved as a child. Cast: Ally Claire Carson, Kelsey Edwards, Shane Savage and Shane Kelly.

“Moondance Alexander” (Writers: Michael Damian, Janeen Damian/Director: Michael Damian) Regional Premiere
Inspired by a true story, “Moondance Alexander” follows a spirited teen named Moondance living with her eccentric mother. Moondance is faced with another uneventful summer until she discovers a lost pinto pony named Checkers who has jumped out of his paddock. Moondance is convinced that Checkers is a champion jumper in disguise and is determined to help him realize his full potential. In time, she discovers that perseverance, loyalty and individuality can land you in the winner’s circle. Cast: Kay Panabaker, Don Johnson, Lori Loughlin, Sasha Cohen, James Berst and Whitney Sloan.

“A Plumm Summer” (Writers: T.J. Lynch, Frank Antonelli and Caroline Zelder/Director: Caroline Zelder) Regional Premiere
When wisecracking celebrity puppet Froggy Doo disappears during a live performance in front of hundreds of children, the FBI comes to Montana to crack the case. When a pretty new neighbor moves next door to non-believer Elliot, he joins her as they try and beat the feds at their own game. Cast: Jeff Daniels, William Baldwin, Henry Winkler, Clint Howard, Peter Scolari, Chris J. Kelly and Owen Pearce.

VIET FILM WAVE
Centered in Orange County, CA and from a tight-knit community of filmmakers and actors comes a series of breakthrough narrative and documentary films about the experience of being Vietnamese and Vietnamese-American in the years following the Vietnam War.

“Bolinao 52” (Director: Duc Nguyen) Regional Premiere
Following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, millions of refugees took the perilous escape across the South China Sea to find freedom. This important documentary tells the story of a group of Vietnamese boat people stranded in the Pacific Ocean in 1988. During their 37 days at sea, they fought their thirst and hunger and refusal to be rescued by a US Navy ship, forcing the boat people to starve despite resorting to cannibalism.

“Dust of Life” (Writer/Director: Le-Van Kiet) Regional Premiere
Dust of Life is a coming of age story set in the urban backdrop of Orange County in the early 1990s. The story follows a displaced juvenile named Johnny, who, as an infant, lost both of his parents to the treacherous ordeal of the Boat People Exodus. Growing up in America, Johnny quickly discovers the harsh reality of assimilation and his situation becomes more desperate when his relationship with the street kids of his neighborhood becomes dangerous. As hope seems more distant than ever, Johnny is reminded to come to terms with his past in order to do the right thing in the present. Cast: Johnny Nguyen, Thanh Van Ngo, Dustin Nguyen and Stephane Gauger.

“Oh Saigon!” (Writers: Doan Hoang, Bret Sigler/Director: Doan Hoang)
Regional Premiere
The last family airlifted out of Saigon on the last day of the Vietnam War attempts to resolve its divided past in this engaging documentary. A father reunites with the brother he fought against decades after the conflict that split them. A mother in impossible circumstances is forced to choose between her daughter and her husband. Meanwhile, two first-generation Vietnamese-American sisters try to reconcile a difficult past that altered the course of their lives: one was airlifted out of Saigon at the end of the war while the other was tragically left behind and suffered through kidnapping and imprisonment.

“Owl and the Sparrow” (Writer/Director: Stephane Gauger) Regional Premiere
A beautiful flight attendant looking for love; a lonely zookeeper hiding within his animal kingdom from a changing society; and a little orphan girl selling roses on the streets who relies on the kindness of strangers to survive. This is modern-day Saigon, where eight million people are just trying to keep up with the pace. In four days, the young runaway will play matchmaker to these lonely hearts in hopes of forming a surrogate family. The only things that may stop her are city authorities and an overbearing uncle tracking her down in the big city. Cast: Cat Ly, The Lu Le, Han and Thi Pham.

“The Rebel” (Writers: Truc “Charlie” Nguyen, Johnny Nguyen, Dominic Pereira/Director: Truc “Charlie” Nguyen) Regional Premiere
The period is 1920s French-colonial Vietnam. Anti-French rebellions emerge all over the country to disrupt the foreign occupiers. In response, the colonialists employ units of Vietnamese agents to track and destroy rebels. The film follows the journey of Le Van Cuong, a French undercover elite officer whose conscience is troubled by the sea of Vietnamese blood he has spilled to uphold a French ideal. The film has been billed as the first Vietnamese martial arts film. Cast: Johnny Nguyen, Thanh Van Ngo, Dustin Nguyen and Stephane Gauger.

DARK MATTERS
Not for the faint of heart, the films in this category celebrate the menacing, the macabre and the absurd.

“Blood Car” (Writers: Adam Penny, Alex Orr/Director: Alex Orr)
Regional Premiere
In the dystopian future of the day after tomorrow, gas prices are at an all time high, nearing almost forty dollars a gallon. A vegan schoolteacher, Archie Andrews, is determined to save the world with a brilliant invention: the wheatgrass powered car. But the engine refuses to start until the day Archie stumbles upon a solution: blood. Human blood. Orr’s tight comedy blends likeable performances, social commentary and brilliant black comedy for a film certain to make you consider our dependence on foreign oil. Cast: Mike Brun, Katie Rowlett and Anna Chlumpsky.

“Bloody Aria” (Writer/Director: Shin-yeon Won) US Premiere
“Deliverance” meets “Oldboy” in this exploitation freak-out that follows a couple of city slickers (an aspiring opera singer and her would-be-rapist mentor) get stranded in the countryside where they attract the unwelcome attention of a gaggle of in-bred, rodent grilling, bat-swinging, gap-toothed bullies who can only soothe the raging demons in their heads with acts of extreme violence. Not for the weak-hearted. Cast: Byeong-jun Lee, Dal-su Oh, Hyeong-tak Shim and Kyeong-ho Jeong.

“Street Team Massacre” (Writers: Adam Deyoe, Eric Gosslein, Jeb Heil /Directors: Adam Deyoe, Eric Gosslein) World Premiere
Two rival street teams are forced into a horrible situation involving death, hippies, and uni-brows. Featuring genre icons Lloyd Kauffman and Roddy Piper and developed by two guys that once made a gay yeti movie, comes an epic tale and this year’s best sports drink-zombie-showdown-gore fest. In the tradition of the best schlock films, “Street Team Massacre” is sure to meet all your prurient desires. Cast: Adam Malumut, Eric Gosslein, Jim Martin, Lloyd Kauffman and Roddy Piper.

“Trail of the Screaming Forehead” (Writer/Director: Larry Blamire)
Regional Premiere
Terror strikes Longhead Bay when Creeping Alien Foreheads begin attaching themselves to local townspeople and seizing their very souls - launching a vast invasion from Space! By remarkable coincidence, a sexy, arrogant scientist begins testing her theory that the forehead - and not the brain - is the seat of all human knowledge. Catastrophe reigns when the experiment goes horribly wrong and the town is taken over by sinister, brow-like nightmares in a terrifying cataclysm of Corpses and Chaos! Cast: Andrew Parks, Fay Masterson.

“The Ungodly” (Writer: Mark Borkowski, Thomas Dunn/Director: Thomas Dunn)
U.S. Premiere
When young filmmaker Mickey tracks down a serial killer, Lemac, and accidentally catches one of his murders on film, he decides to blackmail the serial killer into becoming his next documentary subject. When Lemac moves too slowly for Mickey’s documentary, Mickey intervenes to get the footage he needs. What follows is an intense journey into the darkest aspects of not only the serial killer’s nature but the filmmaker’s as well. Mark Borkowski, who also wrote the psychological thriller, plays the killer in a terrifying performance. Cast: Wes Bently, Mark Borkowski, Beth Grant and Joanne Barron.

“Year of the Fish” (Writer/Director: David Kaplan) Regional Premiere
“Year of the Fish” is a mix of fantasy, romance, and suspense; an animated modern-day adaptation of Cinderella based on an old Chinese version of the story. The film was shot entirely on location in New York City’s Chinatown then digitally painted in post-production. “Year of the Fish” spins the conventions of the traditional fairy- tale in ways that are surprising and engaging. Cast: Tsai Chin, Ken Leung, Randall Duk Kim and An Nguyen.

GREEN CINEMA SHOWCASE
This showcase features films that explore topical environmental issues such as renewable fuel sources, industrial hemp farming, global warming and the impact they have on a micro and global level.

“Freedom Fuels” (Director: Martin O’Brien) Regional Premiere
An in-depth look at renewable fuel sources, such as bio-diesel, ethanol and vegetable oil. “Freedom Fuels” explores the interaction of the petroleum industry and alternative fuels over the last 150 years and examines the global impact that bio-fuels might have on our future. Featuring interviews with leading scientists from around the world and activists including Darryl Hannah and Willie Nelson.

“Standing Silent Nation” (Director: Suree Towfighnia) Regional Premiere
A Native American family plants industrial hemp on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. They put their hopes for a sustainable economy in hemp’s hardiness and a demand for its many products ranging from clothing to food, but when federal agents raided the White Plume’s fields, the Lakota Nation was swept into a Byzantine struggle over tribal sovereignty, economic rights and common sense.

“Who’s Got the Power?” (Director: Thomas Jewett) Regional Premiere
This forceful documentary addresses the reality of global warming, and its attendant dangers in the form of carbon dioxide emissions, while presenting genuine and workable solutions emphasizing the use of renewable energy. From the vantage points of world-renowned scientists, environmental activists, physicians, financial advisers, designers, builders, coal miners and others, the global warming debate unfolds. At the same time the film personalizes the story by having inner city and suburban consumers in America, Germany and Japan, share their experiences with green technology. A bracing documentary on what we can do to save our planet.

AUSTIN SCREENS
In Austin screens we present some of the best of local filmmakers, showcasing seven features including two-time Texas Filmmaker Production Fund recipient “A Yeti in the City” and
“A Year at Danger”, a self-portrait of Austinite Steve Metze’ year at Camp Danger in Iraq.

“Dirt Road to Psychedelia: Austin Texas during the 1960s” (Director: Scott Conn)
World Premiere
The story of how Austin became groovy. With a folk singing Janis Joplin, the 13th Floor Elevators, peyote, LSD and the first psychedelic music venue in Texas, Austin was a fertile ground for the emerging counterculture of the 1960s. Seen as non-conformists, Beatnik-inspired students were drawn together by folk, country and blues music while dabbling with drugs to create an explosive scene. Traditional values became challenged as they sought a lifestyle outside of the system.

“Mississippi Chicken” (Director: John Fiege) Regional Premiere
Shot on Super 8mm film, “Mississippi Chicken” examines the world of the rural Mississippi poultry plants, which provide jobs to untold Mexican immigrants but little other support. Focusing on one group of union organizers that are working to change this area and fight the exploitation of the workers by the poultry companies, Fiege’s beautiful yet haunting film grants the viewer insight into the modern South’s economic and cultural landscape.

“Mondo Capo” (Writer/Director: Scott Calonico) Regional Premiere
AFF alum Calonico brings this ever-evolving and unique film to the Festival. “Mondo Capo” is a narrative created completely from rare clips that time forgot, all found and archival footage from industrial, classroom and promotional films. A strange tour through Cold War America from the 1950s through the 1960s featuring what can only be described as a surreal cast of celebrity guests including John Wayne, Postmaster General Lawrence O’Brian, Edward R. Murrow, Presidents Eisenhower, JFK, LBJ and comedian Harvey Korman. History presented in a hilarious way about a time that is both familiar and very foreign.

“Morristown” (Director: Anne Lewis) Regional Premiere
Factory workers in east Tennessee lose jobs to lower-wage workers in Mexico. Workers from Mexico travel a thousand miles to east Tennessee to find jobs. “Morristown” is an examination of the impact of globalization on laborers both in America and Mexico and how we are all caught in the same global economy.

“Team Everest: A Himalayan Journey” (Director: Andy Cockrum)
Regional Premiere
“Team Everest” chronicles a remarkable group of trekkers on an expedition to the world’s highest mountain. If they succeed in their quest, the team will be the largest group of people with disabilities ever to reach Mount Everest Base Camp. Five men in wheelchairs and their teammates—representing a range of disabilities—trek 21 days with the help of a Nepali support team to push, pull and carry members over the rugged, steep terrain. The altitude, the intense cold, and daily challenges of trekking in one of the most inaccessible places on Earth is enough to stop even the most experienced hikers in their tracks. An honest and inspirational documentation of the strength of human will that dares us to reach beyond our own perceived limitations.

“Weekend Junkies” (Writer/Director: Enrique Garcia) World Premiere
Four buddies spend their days playing disc golf, delivering pizza, and tackling the difficult topics in life like how to pick up chicks and 80s television. When two of the friends get mixed up in a roadside brawl with some street thugs, the whole crew seeks revenge. Can the boys stay out of jail? Will Eli keep the love he has found? And who ate that last piece of pizza? With the blessing of the national Disc Golf Association and a soundtrack featuring various Austin bands, including Riddlin’ Kids, Weekend Junkies is a comic slice of Austin-slackerdom. Cast: Adam Powell, Joe Hursley, Lauren-Elaine Edleson and Rick Diaz.

“Year at Danger” (Directors: Steve Metze, Don Swaynos) World Premiere
Nine days after getting married, Steve Metze found out he was being deployed and stationed at Camp Danger as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Metze, a West Point graduate, Desert Storm veteran and documentary filmmaker, decided to pack a camera and document his year in Iraq. There are no politics on the front line, only personalities. Metze captures all of those personalities more intimately than the most embedded reporter in a film that combines humor with the often-grim realities of a war-torn country. “Year at Danger” is a soldier’s story, told firsthand by the soldier. No bias, no headlines, just the day-to-day reality of life in Iraq.

“A Yeti in the City” (Writer/Director: T'chaka Sikelianos) World Premiere
“A Yeti in the City” is a fantasy-adventure-comedy-drama extravaganza like never seen. It is a poor man’s grown-up Muppet movie for humanimals everywhere; a semi-auto biographical tale about identity, poetry and what happens when you choose not to identify with this side or that side. Using live action, animation, costumes, music and state of the art do-it-yourself techniques, it tells the tale of what happens when an abominable snowman enters a strange city where humans and animals try and coexist together. Cast: Ishaq Clayton, Matt Bearden, Courtney Davis, Alisa Sikelianos and Chris Fairbanks.

NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION
In this category appear World Premieres of the films “Beyond the Pale”, “On the Doll”, “Neal Cassady” and a North American Premiere of “The Riddle” and “The Zombie Diaries.” Also included are regional premieres of great films from local director Jeff Nichols’ “Shotgun Stories”, actress Mary Stuart Masterson’s directorial debut “The Cake Eaters” and actor D.B. Sweeney’s directorial debut “Two Tickets to Paradise.”

“Beyond the Pale” (Writer/Director: Victor Fanucchi) World Premiere
A satire of literary academia, “Beyond the Pale” centers on an eccentric thirteenth year grad student named Sasha Plotzkin who is unable to finish his dissertation and faces expulsion, but he has one last chance to make a name for himself at an upcoming conference. His passion is reclusive author JD Nochpynne, a controversial figure among the literary community who can’t even agree on the pronunciation of his name. Hargrove’s performance evokes the late master of awkwardness, Andy Kauffman, and Fanucchi’s own years of teaching at the University of Michigan help make this a lovingly awkward parody. Cast: Hayes Hargrove, Tom Groenwald, Tara Nida and Mindy Sterling.

“The Cake Eaters” (Writer: Jayce Bartok /Director: Mary Stuart Masterson)
Regional Premiere
Easy, the Kimbrough family patriarch, is grieving over the recent loss of his wife. His youngest son, Beagle, who was left to care for his ailing mother, falls in love with Georgia, a terminally ill, 15-year-old girl. His older brother (after being away for years pursuing his rock star dreams) returns home after missing the funeral. The first feature from both writer Bartok and director Masterson is a sensitive and sweet story of losing and finding your family. Anchored by strong performances and true characters, the film paints a vivid world of small town life. Cast: Aaron Stanford, Bruce Dern, Kristen Stewart and Jayce Bartok.

“Four Sheets to the Wind” (Writer/Director: Sterlin Harjo) Regional Premiere
When Cufe Smallhill finds his father dead next to a bottle of pills, he makes good on an old promise to take his father’s body to a pond and sink it to the bottom. But when everyone expects a lavish funeral, Cufe and his mom decide to fake one. In mourning, Cufe decides he needs to explore the world and leaves to pursue life in the big city of Tulsa. Harjo’s film is a minutely observed slice of Native American life on and off the reservation. Cast: Cody Lightning, Jeri Arredondo and Tamara Podemski.

“Kabluey” (Writer/Director: Scott Prendergast) Regional Premiere
Ineffectual Salman comes to help his sister-in-law tend to his holy terror nephews while Salman’s brother is off fighting in Iraq. After a failed attempt as a babysitter he must take a humiliating job as a giant blue corporate mascot in order to help make ends meet and hold the family together. Shot in and around Austin, Prendergast’s film is a sensitive dramedy that just happens to be laugh-out-loud funny. Cast: Lisa Kudrow, Scott Prendergast, Terri Garr and Chris Parnell.

“The Living Wake” (Writers: Peter Kline, Mike O’Connell/Director: Sol Tyron)
Regional Premiere
A hilarious, dark comedy that chronicles the final day in the life of self-proclaimed artist and genius, K. Roth Binew. Over the course of his last 24 hours, Binew and his best friend/biographer Joquin Mills travel around town setting his affairs in order and handing out invitations to his final party, a living wake, during which K. Roth will perform and then drop dead on the spot. A completely original and charming comedy, “The Living Wake” is a film for everyone that knows, no matter what the evidence to the contrary, that they are the stars of their own stories. Cast: Mike O’Connell, Jesse Eisenberg and Jim Gaffigan.

“Neal Cassady" (Writer/Director: Noah Buschel) World Premiere
How do you live up to being Dean Moriarty? The film follows the tumultuous life of Cassady through his travels with Jack Kerouac, a friendship with Ken Kesey and membership in the Merry Pranksters, and finally his downward spiral into drugs and self-loathing. Brilliantly acted, the film wonderfully evokes life in 50s and 60s America and the downfall of a uniquely American figure. Only his second feature, writer/director Buschel’s keen eye for detail and strong sense of pace brilliantly detail Cassady’s story after life on the road. Cast: Tate Donovan, Glenn Fitzgerald, Chris Bauer, Amy Ryan and Josh Hamilton.

“On the Doll” (Writer/Director: Thomas Mignone) World Premiere
“On the Doll” tells the story of victims of child abuse and the pain it visits upon their later lives. With interweaving stories following victims and victimizers, the film depicts the variety of experiences of abuse. Utilizing a young cast of emerging actors, the characters wander through their disaffected lives searching for meaning, while falling into patterns that lead to more pain. The first feature by acclaimed music video director Thomas Mignone, “On the Doll” is beautifully shot yet emotionally wrenching, and is sure to strike a powerful chord. Cast: Brittany Snow, Josh Janowicz, Paul Ben-Victor and Eddie Jemison.

“The Riddle” (Writer/Director: Brendan Foley) North American Premiere
Mike Roberts is an ambitious London journalist who wants to get off the dog racing beat. But when a good friend, and local pub owner, turns up dead in the river Thames, he is thrust into a bizarre world of political intrigue that seems to turn on the discovery of an unpublished Charles Dickens novel and Mike becomes obsessed with solving a murder hidden within its pages. Cast: Vinnie Jones, Derek Jacobi and Vanessa Redgrave.

“Shotgun Stories” (Writer/Director: Jeff Nichols) Regional Premiere
With a moody, deeply southern visual style and stark, powerful writing Nichols’ fantastic feature debut elevates a story about average people to a level of epic tragedy. “Shotgun Stories” tracks a feud that erupts between two sets of half- brothers following the death of their father. Set against the cotton fields and back roads of Southeast Arkansas, these brothers discover the lengths to which each will go to protect their family. Nichols’ resonant film paints a portrait of men pushed to their limits by the sins of their father. Cast: Michael Shannon, Barlow Jacobs and Natalie Canerday.

“Superheroes” (Writer/Director: Alan Brown) Regional Premiere
“Superheroes” is the story of a wounded Iraqi War veteran who struggles to live with the psychological and physical scars of battle and the young filmmakers who accompany him to a cabin in the Catskills to document his story. With emotional, tense performances, sensitive writing and direction from Alan Brown, this anti-war tale breaks your heart while leading toward a new view of the world. Cast: Dash Mihok, Spencer Treat Clark.

“Two Tickets to Paradise” (Writer/Director: DB Sweeney) Regional Premiere
Although life hasn’t turned out the way they once dreamed, life-long buddies Mark, McGriff and Jason are managing to stay above water in their small Pennsylvania hometown. After the death of Mark’s dad and McGriff’s discovery of his wife’s infidelity, the guys embark on a cross-country road trip to a University of Texas football game. Funny and touching, this directing debut from actor DB Sweeney feels like spending time with old friends. Cast: D.B. Sweeney, John C. McGinley, Paul Hipp and Moira Kelly.

“The Zombie Diaries” (Writers/Directors: Kevin Gates, Michael Bartlett)
North American Premiere
Blending the cerebral horror of George Romero with the British docudrama tradition of Peter Watkins, Gates’ and Bartlett’s film focuses on the aftermath of a zombie plague that rushes across Asia and bears down on the UK. A documentary crew leaves London for the country, unaware of the outbreak, and takes shelter in the woods. A husband and wife escape and scavenge the remnants of dead towns. A group of survivors flee to an old farm, only to find themselves under siege from creatures that attack in the night. “The Zombie Diaries” paints a visceral picture of a world gone mad. Cast: Anna Blades, Craig Stovin, Imogen Church, James Fisher and Jonnie Hurn.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
This year’s program features an international array of subjects from independent businesses in America to teenage cricket players in India. World premieres of “America Unchained”, “Good Riddance” and a North American premiere of “Gearing Up: The Fire Within” are complemented by regional premieres of “Made in China” and Sundance favorite “Chasing the Dream.”

“America Unchained” (Director: Andy Devonshire) World Premiere
Comedian Dave Gorman’s quest is a simple one: drive cross-country from Los Angeles to the Atlantic Ocean and never spend a cent at a chain restaurant, chain hotel or chain gas station. But in a country where the mom-and-pop shop is nearing extinction, does the independent spirit of America still thrive enough to go coast to coast? And, how do you do it all while as a vegetarian, anyway? “America Unchained” opens up the back roads of the country to find the true heart of America.

“Chasing Ghosts: Beyond the Arcade” (Director: Lincoln Ruchti)
Regional Premiere
The video-game capital of the world: Ottumwa, Iowa? For a brief moment in 1982, this tiny town’s Twin Galaxies arcade served as the Mecca of burgeoning video game culture, attracting the top competitors in the competitive world of arcade video gaming. With a story that leads up to the nationally televised 1982 Video Game World Championships, director Lincoln Ruchti finds colorful characters that are just as bright 25 years later.

“Chasing the Dream” (Director: Angelo Mei) Regional Premiere
Eight high school surfers seek the near impossible: a career in professional surfing. Their common dream? To compete in the Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour for which only 44 men qualify each year – and only one becomes World Champion. Director Mei’s intimate film, narrated by Gary Busey, gives you access into the lives of a group of amazingly gifted young athletes.

“Hijos de la Guerra” (Children of War) (Director: Alexandre Fuchs)
Regional Premiere
“Hijos de la Guerra” tells the story of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), an international Hispanic street gang founded by Salvadoran civil war refugees. The film explores the root personal reasons for gang membership, the ensuing explosion of fratricidal violence, as well as the complex role of social and government policy in both containing and aggravating gang proliferation. Director Fuchs gained amazing and unflinching access to the gang’s founders and he creates a multifaceted portrait of these dangerous yet compelling men.

“First Saturday in May” (Directors: Brad Hennegan , John Hennegan)
Regional Premiere
The Kentucky Derby is known as “the most exciting two minutes in sports”. Just to get a horse to the gate in the world’s most prestigious race defies the odds. The Hennegan Brothers’ involving and unexpectedly moving film follows the lives of the teams of people and their extended families that train horses for glory. Focusing on the lead up to the 2006 Derby, complex portraits are drawn of six organizations that range from the sure things to the scrappy underdogs and you are taken into the driven world of professional horse racing.

“Gearing Up: The Fire Within” (Director: Sheetal Agwaral)
North American Premiere
“Gearing Up” tells the story of a 14-year-old boy who left home – 1,500 hundred miles away - at the age of 11 to go to Mumbai and pursue his dream of playing cricket for India. Alone in a city of 18 million and commuting two hours to school every day, the film follows his trials and tribulations as he gears up for the biggest cricketing event of the year, one that is crucial to his chance of fulfilling his dreams.

“Generation XXL” (Director: Teresa MacInnes) U.S. Premiere
Vincent is addicted to fast food; Greg hides behind his jokes; Kat is obsessed with beauty products; and bullied Raya retreats to her room. They are all part of a growing number of adolescents who are obese or overweight. Intimate yet very, very funny, Generation XXL follows these teens in their personal lives as they attend a self-esteem program. Teresa MacInnes’ film examines the problems of childhood obesity by chronicling the lives of four extraordinary children who are at the most important turning point of their lives.

“Good Riddance” (Director: T.R. Young) World Premiere
When Madalyn Murray O’Hair (“The Most Hated Woman in America”) disappeared, it seemed as if the world just shrugged its collective shoulders. The details of her demise might have never been known were it not for a dogged reporter and private investigator who teamed up to solve this Austin-based missing persons case.

“Made in China” (Director: John Helde) Regional Premiere
Filmmaker John Helde directs this personal story about learning of his father’s experience growing up as an American boy in pre-World War II China and discovering a community of other Americans with similar childhoods. Photographs, home movies, interviews and a journey to China reveal an unusual American experience that had nearly been forgotten. Helde brings the eye of a veteran filmmaker to make a beautiful film of this personal story.

“Wonders Are Many: The Making of Doctor Atomic” (Director: Jon Else)
Regional Premiere
“Wonders Are Many” follows the making of a grand opera about the creation of the atomic bomb. This behind-the-scenes documentary follows composer John Adams and director Peter Sellars over the course of a year as they work to forge the tale of J. Robert Oppenheimer into a music drama like no other. Else effortlessly combines his twin stories, the staging of the opera and the life of Oppenheimer, to explore the intersections of science and art with the end of the world.

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