Austin at Dallas International Film Festival 2011

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Ok BuckaroosAre you all recuperated from SXSW? Good, that means it's time to think about the Dallas International Film Festival. A mere three hours away (faster depending on your shortcuts/disregard for speed limits), DIFF has a great lineup for 2011 this year.

The fest opens on March 31 with the excellent documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey, and runs through April 10. In addition, documentary filmmaker Steve James and actress Ann-Margret will receive the fest's Dallas Star Awards this year.

Here are some of the films with Austin connections:

Here are the films I found with Texas connections:

  • 8 (Don's review as part of SXSW 2011 Texas Shorts)
  • The Legend of Hell's Gate: An American Conspiracy -- This Texas-shot Western is set in the 1870s.
  • Neal -- (Don's review as part of SXSW 2011 Texas Shorts)
  • Pioneer -- A beautiful, amazing short from Dallas filmmaker David Lowery, which stars Will Oldham and premiered at Sundance this year. Simply lovely.
  • Giant -- The 1956 George Stevens film, set in West Texas, is getting a revival screening at DIFF this year.
  • Hook -- Fort Worth native James V. Hart scripted this 1991 movie.
  • The Trip to Bountiful -- This 1985 film was scripted by Texas writer Horton Foote, an adaptation of his play. Filmmaker Peter Masterson was born in Houston.

Finally, here are some notable films that played in Austin festivals previously that we think you'll want to catch in Dallas if you haven't already.