David Berman, the head honcho behind the massively influential Silver Jews, made a turnaround these past couple of years that has both shocked and delighted his many loyal fans. While Berman became renowned through Silver Jews releases like The Natural Bridge and American Water, not to mention a turn at poetry with 1999’s Actual Air, he more recently experienced a religious rebirth and crawled out of his “hell-hole life,” as he described it, discovering an only hinted-at passion for Judaism as well as a renewed appreciation for everyday life....

Okay--so there are a bunch cool things happening at the Austin Film Festival tonight, and a we wanted to let you know about a few last-minute tidbits and screening changes. *The Rebel is now playing at 9:45pm at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, NOT at the 9:30 Paramount slot we'd previously told you about. *The awesome narrative feature and 2007 AFF "Film Jury Narrative Feature Winner" Shotgun Stories is now playing at 9:45pm......

This is a big one for comedy fans: the folks at the Austin Film Festival have just announced Mr. Warmth, The Don Rickles Project as their third "TBA" film. John Landis' star-studded look at the infamous insult comic will screen at the Regal Arbor on Tuesday night, and will presumably be very funny. It'll also undoubtedly be jam-packed with what can only be described as "Rickles Schtick". There's very little early word on this film......

Even people with kids like to watch movies. Partly because family films are just plain fun and educational, and partly because they, if only for a short period of time, provide a distraction from the endless, high-pitched squealing that children provide. But whatever the motivation, the Austin Film Festival's Family Film Series has a little something for everyone this year. Check out our rundown! Moondance Alexander | Dir. Michael Damian Saturday, October 13 12:30pm, Regal......

aGLIFF Aferparty Preview Midnight Opening Night Party featuring special guest Rev. Troy Perry, founder of MCC and star of the opening night film, Call Me Troy Friday, September 28th @ Austin City Hall 9pm-Midnight Centerpiece Film Afterparty Saturday, September 29 @ Club de Ville 10pm Art Party Thursday, October 4 @ Arthouse 10pm-Midnight Closing Night Party Saturday, October 6 @ AMoA Downtown 10pm-Midnight The annual Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival (aGLIFF) is......

Okay, as much as we love Beverly Hills Cop (and Family Guy), we've actually got a more important topic to cover here. The Austin Film Festival is continuing its popular Conversations in Film series this Sunday, August 5th, with a special session on Story and Structure: What to Think About Before You Write the Script. Leading this conversation is none other than Dan Petrie, Jr., who's worked on such top films as Turner and Hooch,......

Highlights from this week's IST List: Folk-pop crooner Page France brings the sparkling jingle-jangle of Page France and the Family Telephone to Emo's, alongside Bishop Allen, The Teeth, and Frank Smith Sidebar's turning three, and they're buying you a drink on the house to celebrate. Join them for Ruby's BBQ, DJ Supafly, and giveaways Alas, one of our favorite social butterflies is flying away to--where else?--New York City. Before he leaves, join Dave "KidIndie"......

Not sure how we missed this, but Miramax and Wild About Movies are presenting a free screening of SXSW 07 favorite Eagle Vs. Shark tonight at the Regal Arbor. Though we haven't had the opportunity to see it yet, the New Zealand comedy got a lot of positive buzz during South By--and we loved the folks dressed in eagle and shark costumes walking around promoting it. Plus, it stars Flight of the Conchords member Jemaine......

Whether you like Michael Moore or think he's an anti-American nutjob, the guy's coming out with a new movie. Sicko is a study of America's (failing) health care system. Moore talks to victims (like a man who had to choose which of his two severed fingers to reattach, because he couldn't afford both) and perpetrators (oft-repentant health insurance agents) of the U.S. health care system, then trots (okay, maybe plods) around the globe in search......

If your first thought upon hearing of the new movie I'm Reed Fish is "Who's Reed Fish?" you're certainly not alone. Who is Reed Fish? Is that even a real name? How could his (her?) parents be so cruel/awesome? Why don't more people have animal last names (we want to meet a Mr. Platypus)? Shouldn't Reed Fish & Co. be the name of a hedge fund company? And are there real live "reed fish"? (Yes,......

WEDNESDAY [6] film • "Gunga Din" at The Paramount film • "The Man Who Would Be King" at The Paramount film • "5-25-77" at Alamo Downtown film • "Welcome Home, Brother Charles" with Jamaa Fanaka at Alamo Downtown film • Weird Wednesday: "Penitentiary" at Alamo Downtown film • Austin Film Festival screens "I'm Reed Fish" at Regal Arbor music • Ozma, Eastern Conference Champs, The Actual, The Laughing at The Parish Room music • Chris......

MONDAY [4] film • "The Big Sleep" at The Paramount film • Eddie Muller Noir Night: "The Window" at Alamo Downtown film • Music Monday: "La Brune Et Moi" at Alamo Downtown food • Central Market Cooking Class: Knife Skills 101 with Chef Cindy Haenel at Central Market Cooking School, 4001 N Lamar ($60, 6:30-9:30pm) music • Lifesavas, Strange Fruit Project, DJ Marc Sense, Who M.I.?, Prawphit at Emo's music • Strange Fruit Project,......

FRIDAY [18] festival • Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrations at Palmer Events Center (11:30am-1pm) party • Nightster Launch Party with Riverboat Gamblers at Scoot Inn (Free Bud 8-9pm, Show at 10pm, 21+) art • Closing Reception: The Puppet Show - Puppets and portraits of Mexican artists by fourth-grade students at Sanchez Elementary at Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, 211 Congress (4:30-6pm) books • Milton Burton presents The Sweet and the Dead at BookPeople (7:00pm)......

THURSDAY [17] theatre • Rubber Repertory presents A Thought in Three Parts at The Vortex (8pm) art • Opening Reception: Denise Prince Martin: Things I Never Told You at Women and Their Work, 1710 Lavaca Street (6-8pm, the artist will discuss her work at 6:30pm) art • Downtown Art Night at Participating Galleries (6-9pm) art • Artist Talk: Ann Connor at Flatbed Press, 2830 E. MLK (6pm) art • Art Fix: Printmaking at The......

We love a good cry, and we are expecting a Niagra Falls worthy Wednesday night, as Austin Film Festival brings us Away From Her, the directorial/screenwriting debut of Canadian powerhouse Sarah Polley. You may remember Polley from Dawn of the Dead, My Life Without Me and of course, the Road to Avonlea series. (Come on, we know you have the entire Anne of Green Gables spinoff on VHS right next to your NKOTB action figures.)......

MONDAY [14] comedy • Funniest Person in Austin Semifinals at Cap City Comedy Club film • "Willy Wonka" with Golden Ticket Giveaway at Alamo Downtown film • Music Monday: "Tim Buckley: My Fleeting House" at Alamo Downtown music • King Kong, Awesome Cool Dudes, Lalaland at Emo's music • Movie Mondays with "Style Wars" at Beauty Bar......

This Sunday, March 18th, the Austin Film Festival and 'Specially for Children will present a free sneak screening of New Line Cinema's family sci-fi film, The Last Mimzy. The screening (which will take place at the Regal Arbor Cinema as part of the AFF's Target Family Film Series) will help raise funds for a film-themed infusion room for teenagers with cancer and blood disorders at the Children's Ambulatory Blood and Cancer Center. Based on the......

The Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival (aGLIFF) is joining forces with Progress Coffee tonight to host a special screening of last year's My Gay Movie competition. As you might recall, aGLIFF invited amateur filmmakers from around the world to submit 10-minute shorts with a "queer sensibility." Out of hundreds of entries, a select few have been chosen to debut tonight, with various prizes to be given out: Hunter4Love -- Robert L. Camina --......

Turk Pipkin is a Texas original who has built a colorful and successful career as a writer, comedian, performer and actor. After appearing in dozens of productions and writing several books, Pipkin decided to focus his creative energies on an issue of global importance. Through his interviews with nine Nobel laureates, Pipkin’s documentary Nobelity, focuses on the most pressing problems in our world today and how we can attempt to leave the planet a better......

Apart from their annual two-week-long fall spectacle, The Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival (aGLIFF) also sponsors various projects and programs throughout the year, all aimed towards fostering the talents of our city's budding young filmmakers of the GLBT persuasion. This year, they've teamed up with Public Access Community Television (PACT) to create the My Gay Movie 2007 Challenge: novice filmmakers are encouraged to create 10-minute shorts with a "queer sensibility"; the best submissions......

(photo by Asa Potter) In the interest of full disclosure, we would like to make it known that Wylie Maercklein, one of the actors interviewed in this piece, is one of Austinist's amazing staff photographers. The Land of Shadowed Sand is quite the visual marvel. With less then 350K and a fair amount of filmmaking ingenuity, Austin-based Lettered Union Pictures have created a stunningly shot, intelligently constructed 1950s gangster flick – complete with hot......

Almodóvar gets a rare and worthy second look: Beginning next Friday, October 6th, the Arbor has a two-week treat for fans of Pedro Almodóvar. The controversial and flamboyant director of All About My Mother and Talk To Her will receive the retrospective treatment, as the Arbor shows new prints of eight of Pedro's films until October 19th. Titles include early classics Matador and Law Of Desire, which are not even available on DVD in......

Tired from a long weekend of listening to music, dancing, drinking and sweating? What better way to unwind than feeding your mind than a nice evening in a cool theatre with a film? Sounds good, right? Well, you're in luck. The Austin Film Society is hosting a FREE advance screening of Boynton Beach Club, a sweet comedy about a group of senior citizens living in an "Active Adult" community in Boynton Beach, Florida. The group......

*This post comes from new Austinist film contributor Christopher Sharpe.* Update: Additional screening to be held tonight at University of Texas, Burdine #216, one block south of Dean Keeton between University and Wichita @ 7:30pm. Five years after the September 11th attacks, video stores could probably devote an entire section to 9/11 conspiracy documentaries. Unfortunately, most of them suck. With a few notable exceptions, 9/11 docs range from amateurish depictions of interesting ideas to completely......

We remember the things our friends used to dare us to eat—dog kibble, crayons, congealed bacon grease—and that was just last month. We also remember the last time we won a bet (thank you, Italy), and the last time we felt social pressure to fit in (henna tattoos can look real if done professionally). That’s why the screen adaptation of Thomas Rockwell’s book, How To Eat Fried Worms is something we’ve been waiting for......

Poverty, famine, political corruption, a fragile ecosystem that is growing more fragile by the day. The world is facing some serious concerns and we must be very conscientious in the way we move forward if we want to have any hope of leaving it a better place for our children. Author, actor, filmmaker Turk Pipkin felt the weight of these pressing global concerns, so he went and found some of the world’s brightest people......

There was an early morning movie disaster at Regal Arbor’s Westgate Theater today when anxious moviegoers were turned away at the 10:00 a.m. screening for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest due to what was deemed an “oversell of tickets.” Interestingly, their minimal parking lot stood empty, and caused even more grumbling among the disappointed parents, kids and computer programmers playing hooky. Doubly annoying was the fact that they all felt like fish on......

MONDAY [19] [film] Tickets on Sale Now for Superman Returns, opening June 27th @ Alamo at Alamo South (Multiple Shows, $8) (more) [sports] World Cup Matches at Alamo Village (Daily, Various) (more) [film] State vs. Reed (funds from screening benefit Rodney Reed's family) at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (more) [film] Casino at Austin Java (8pm, FREE) (more) [film] The Fearless Freaks at Café Mundi (8pm, FREE) (more) [film] Fela Kuti: Music is the Weapon at Alamo......