AFF 2010 Preview: The Feature Films

in

In a little more than a week, ten screens around town will fill up with some of the best films of the year -- including potential Oscar contenders -- at Austin Film Festival, which runs from October 21-28.

If you haven't heard, AFF is one of the qualifying festivals that help films along the road to the Oscars, such as last year's selections An Education and Precious. You could say that AFF is the kick-off to "for your consideration" season, when studios start releasing and screening the films they hope will bring home at least one little gold statue.

Now, those films usually play just once at Austin Film Festival, and usually at the Paramount, the biggest venue in town. But this year, Austin Film Festival is also using Austin Convention Center to show movies, and while their seats are no more comfortable than the Paramount, it means more people can see them. So hopefully there won't be so many disappointed people who couldn't see An Education because it screened at the smaller theater in Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz.

So what's playing that you should pay attention to? Well, first, there's the shorts ... but with ten shorts programs, from docs to narratives including animation and a Young Filmmaker program, that they deserve a preview of their own. Look for one on Slackerwood next week. My suggestion is to catch at least one shorts program, although they're more addictive than crack.

But what are the feature-length films to watch? Well, for me, hands-down first choice is Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan. Not only is it from the director of Pi and The Fountain, but it stars the always-watchable Natalie Portman, as well as Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder and Barbara Hershey.

Danny Boyle's lastest film, 127 Hours, is based on mountain climber Aron Ralston's harrowing tale of survival in an isolated canyon, and stars James Franco. They had me at Boyle, who was here in 2008 not only to receive his AFF Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award, but to present a little film of his that almost didn't get released twice over called Slumdog Millionaire. That so wowed the crowd it got two standing ovations at the Paramount. And look, 127 Hours is another collaboration with Simon Beaufoy.

AFF often has attending filmmakers present their earlier films, and this year, Edward Burns presents... The Brothers McMullen the film that put him on the map. Burns's Nice Guy Johnny is playing the fest this year, a tale of "accidental love" when a sports DJ interviews for a "real job" before he gets married.

Opening night and closing night are usually a given for must-see status, and this year the fest opens with the world premiere of Exporting Raymond by Phil Rosenthal, whose doc is about trying to create a Russian version of his sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. Rosenthal will be in attendance, which makes it a good choice for the writer's film festival. The closing-night film is Casino Jack, based on the true story of Jack Abramoff, with director George Hickenlooper and actor Jon Lovitz in attendance.

Both are excellent choices, and the energy at closing and opening-night movies is usually unbeatable, but I like to choose films that play opposite them, as I always find a gem of a film I might not otherwise see that way. I'm thinking of hoofing it over to the Texas Spirit theater to see Waste Land (pictured above), a documentary by director Lucy Walker (Blindsight). Walker follows artist Vik Muniz from Brooklyn to Brazil, specifically the world's largest garbage dump outside Rio de Janeiro as he photographs "catadores" -- pickers of recyclable materials.

Muniz's original objective is sidelined as his collaboration with the catadores evolves into something more profound. I was very impressed with the SXSW doc Garbage Dreams a couple of years ago where people living off garbage collection and recycling were losing their meager means of survival to multinational corporations, so the idea of seeing art and garbage is intriguing. Oh, and before I forget, Moby does the soundtrack to Waste Land.

Waste Land is not in the fest's documentary competition, but is categorized as a marquee screening, like 127 Hours, Black Swan and the recently condemned with an NC-17 rating Blue Valentine. Marquee films are safe bets when it comes to award season; many become shortlisted for the big awards, if not actually winning them. If you haven't heard of them yet, you probably will in the coming months.They are the movies already getting buzz ... but you might want to look a little deeper into the schedule to find films that just might be your favorites of the festival. So let's find a film or two in the rest of the categories to help fill out your schedule, shall we?

Marquee Screenings -- As mentioned above, this is the category with the most recognizable names associated with it, from the titles to the talent. One film that wasn't on my radar was Made in Dagenham (pictured at top of article), a docudrama about gender equity surrounding a 1968 strike. No, wait, that sounds too dry; look at the picture at the top of this article and you'll probably realize this is not like Norma Ray, and judging from the acting credits, you'll recognize a lot of faces from other favorite British films (if not actually knowing their names). This is the one category where films often don't screen twice, so make sure you check the schedule.

Austin Film Festival Presents -- This is a bit of a misnomer, as it's actually AFF inviting special guests to present their own work or work that influenced them. Last year I had a chance to see one of my favorite Mad Men episodes with Matthew Weiner, complete with themed cocktail specials since it was at Alamo Ritz; as well as the Caprica pilot. Both were worth it just for the Q&As, which are the best part of this program category. "Presents" is not just feature films but television episodes, with the added benefit of discussion.. This year three television shows are featured, including Austin-filmed (and canceled) TV shows Lone Star and My Generation and the New Orleans drama Treme.

Austin Screens -- Not forgetting the home town scene, AFF features local films every year in a separate category. But keep in mind, this is not the only place to find homegrown films from Austin or Texas. We're going to do a preview of the Austin and Texas films, but in the meantime, if you're looking for an ultimate Austin experience, schedule Ultimate Guide to Flight. Filmed in five days, Ultimate Guide to Flight is a day in the life of a Texas Hill Country area disc-golf park, following park staff and patrons and they play the course, with a who's who cast of colorful Austin talent, including Jonny Mars, Owen Egerton and Dan Eggleston.

Comedy Vanguard -- I swear I don't want to see S&M Lawn Care just because it plays with the short Sleep Study, a subject near although not so dear to my heart. The guys behind Simmons on Vinyl and The Stanton Family Grave Robbery are back, this time with the tale of Sal and Mel, who find their lawn care business in jeopardy when an unscrupulous competitor comes to town. I've seen a rough cut, and it's hilarious; it features a very unusual cameo, creative cursing and corndogs. And more, but you need to see it. I can't help but mention New Low (pictured below), just from the description; the neurotic and selfish Wendell is in a relationship based on "mutual lack of ambition and cleanliness" and attend art galleries just for the free food, until Wendell meets Joanne, who introduces him to the alien world where people actually care. Is it this year's Herpes Boy?

Dark Matters -- This is the most frustrating category for me, because most of these movies screen exclusively at Alamo Lake Creek way up north, and I don't drive. Wahh. But this year it looks like I get to see a few of them at ACC and the Ritz. Yay! I'm looking forward to Brian Scott Hunt's A Savior Red not only for that provocative title, but the fact it focuses on terror and trust. Playing opposite the opening-night film as well as later in the week is I Didn't Come Here to Die, which just may win best tagline of the fest: "Volunteer work can be a killer."

Documentary Feature Competition -- In the wake of the Gulf oil spill fiasco, Zed Nelson's Shelter in Place illuminates that shoddy drilling controls isn't the only concern. Refineries are allowed to release unscheduled and accidental emissions at any time as long as they are reported. The residents of Port Arthur, Texas, who live in the shadow of three refineries, deal with the consequences of 13,000 of these instances every year. Presented in partnership with The Texas Observer, this timely doc covers a court case on the behalf of children in the community who severe respiratory issues.

Narrative Feature Competition -- This year, this category is for the dogs; or the dog lovers of sorts. I've already spotted a "theme" for this fest, and it's tubular meat. Jon Greis (Real Genius, Napoleon Dynamite) brings his feature directorial debut Pickin' & Grinnin' and as "Uncle Rico" is very popular in town, so get in line early for this tale of two small-town musicians who hit the road for a sing-a-long contest in Nashville with their corndog song. And António Ferreira's Embargo is bout a hotdog stand vendor whose revolutionary invention who mysteriously finds himself confined to his car.

But wait, there's more AFF programming still shrouded in mystery: the TBA slots. Unlike Fantastic Fest, the TBA slots at Austin Film Festival are announced in advance (although how far in advance can vary). Last year this included The Road. There are also encore slots for the winning competition films, so everyone gets a chance to see them.

Keep in mind, these are just highlights, and only the feature films. You can find out more by reading the Austin Film Festival Schedule. Check back for previews on Austin and Texas films at the fest, conference panels and parties, and short films. We're also working on some helpful guides.

Austin Film Festival runs October 21 - 28 with the conference running October 21-24. You can find Austin Film Festival on the Web, Twitter and Facebook.