Slackery News Tidbits: January 14, 2013
By Jordan Gass-Poore' on January 14, 2013 - 11:00am
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Here's the latest in Austin film news.
- Austin-based producer Cori Shephard Stern has received an Academy Award nomination for the documentary short Open Heart, according to The Austin Chronicle. Set in Rwanda, Open Heart follows eight children afflicted with rheumatic heart disease, and their journey to Sudan and the Salaam Centre for Cardiac Surgery. Stern's next project, the feature film Warm Bodies, about a zombie who falls in love with the girlfriend of one of his victims, opens in the U.S. on February 1.
- Despite Texan Matthew McConaughey's Oscar snub, he received a Best Supporting Actor award from The National Society of Film Critics last week for his work in Richard Linklater's dark comedy Bernie (Don's review), and Steven Soderbergh's dramedy Magic Mike (Don's review).
- Austin Film Festival has announced its first round of 2013 panelists. The only Texas-connected panelist so far is Alvaro Rodriguez (Machete). Other speakers include Jim Uhls (Fight Club), Dan Sterling (producer of Girls), John August (Frankenweenie) and Rick Dugdale of Enderby Entertainment, among others, are scheduled to speak at the 20th annual festival, running from October 24-31.
- The historic New Mission Theater in San Francisco, which has been closed since 1993, has been approved for a renovation and remodel into a five-screen Alamo Drafthouse, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. The San Francisco City Planning Committee gave final approval last week to the $10 million deal for the 1916 theater. Work is scheduled to begin this summer.
- Austinites Brian Salisbury and Luke Mullen shot and edited a video farewell to the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar, which closed earlier this month for redevelopment. You can watch the video on Film School Rejects. Never fear, moviegoers and Fantastic Festgoers, South Lamar is slated to re-open in about nine months (Elizabeth's development news).
- Austin Film Society will screen Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters on Wednesday night at Alamo Village. The documentary follows photographer Gregory Crewdson for more than a decade as he documents street scenes in disappearing small towns in the American Northeast. A Skype Q&A with the film's director, Ben Shapiro, will follow the screening.
- Spring film festivals are upon us. To get in on the action, consider applying online for a SXSW Music, Film and Interactive volunteer position. Crew shift selections will take place 3-5 p.m. Saturday and 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, January 29 at the Austin Convention Center, Ballroom ABC on the first floor. Festivities begin March 8.