Slackery News Tidbits, September 20

This should probably be subtitled "Mostly Fantastic Fest News" because with the festival starting Thursday, we're getting more news and info every day. We've also got some AFF news (and have heard that we may hear more on that front later this week), as well as actual non-fest items.

• Fantastic Fest has just published its ticket procedure for badgeholders to use this year, which fortunately has an online reservation component. Very good news indeed for those of us who can't always drive down to Alamo first thing in the morning, every single morning.
• In addition, the fest has announced its competition films and the members of each jury.
• Fantastic Arcade, the new videogame component of Fantastic Fest, also starts in a few days. To honor the event, you'll be able to play a new map in Left 4 Dead 2 called Fan Feast that is based on the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar and The Highball. The Fantastic Fest blog has a video and more info for people who actually know something about videogames (i.e., not me).
• No word yet on who will be/was buried to watch the movie Buried, but I do love this photo.
• Austin Film Festival has announced its 2010 conference schedule. Notable Austinites and former Austinites on panels include PJ Raval, Kat Candler (Love Bug), Paul Stekler, Alison Macor, Owen Egerton, Chris Mass (Chalk), UT alumnus Todd Berger (The Scenesters), Alvaro Rodriguez (Machete), Pamela Ribon (Samantha Who?) and Graham Reynolds (A Scanner Darkly). Austin film critics also figure in strongly on a panel devoted to film criticism -- and disappointingly, populated only by white males (c'mon AFF, it's 2010).
• Did you catch the Dallas-shot movie Earthling at SXSW this year? If you want to see it, director Clay Liford would like it very much if you'd add the film to your Netflix queue. It's not actually on Netflix yet, but the idea is that if enough people ask for it, that'll help its chances. Read Jenn's review from SXSW for more info.
• Filmmaker and former Austinite Steve Collins (Gretchen) has started writing a column for Filmmaker magazine about his latest projects. Hey, I would absolutely go see a film called You Hurt My Feelings.