Slackery News Tidbits: January 21, 2013

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Here's the latest Austin movie news.

  • Films such as Slacker and Grindhouse may have put the "third coast" on the map, but the Texas House and Senate have proposed to eliminate the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program budget, which provides financial incentives for movies, video games and advertising, according to Austin Movie Blog. The state legislative bodies budget proposals include $4.2 million for the Texas Film Commission and Texas Music Office, which would not include incentives, instead of the $39.2 million the Governor's office requested. If approved, the budget cuts could cause many productions to move out of Texas.
  • The "third coast" isn't down yet. Austin Film Festival is kicking off the return of its Audience Series with a screening of the Austin-made horror-comedy Saturday Morning Massacre (Jette's review) on Monday, February 4 at Alamo Drafthouse Village. The film, which screened at AFF 2012, is about a group of down-on-their-luck paranormal investigators and their beloved pooch, who embark on an adventure to debunk the ghost stories surrounding an abandoned mansion. 
  • Andrew Bujalski's latest film will put you in check. The critically acclaimed Austin-based filmmaker's movie Computer Chess, which is premiering at Sundance this week, will screen internationally at the Berlin International Film Festival (aka the Berlinale) next month. The Austin-shot Computer Chess revolves around chess players and computer programmers at a computer chess tournament in the 1980s. Bujalski, a 2011 Texas Filmmakers Production Fund recipient, raised more than $50,000 in crowdfunded donations through United States Artists for the film. (The filmmaker also has a small role in the above-mentioned Saturday Morning Massacre.)
  • The PBS show Independent Lens will broadcast two shows with Texas connections in the next few weeks. Tonight at 9 pm on KLRU, you can watch SXSW 2012 selection Beauty Is Embarrassing (Jette's review), the documentary about artist Wayne White. (If you are Texan, you will love White's LBJ mask.) And on Monday, January 28 at 9 pm, catch The Revisionaries (Don's review), which examines the Texas State Board of Education. Visit the Independent Lens web page for a full broadcast schedule.
  • The Nacogdoches Texas Film Festival is currently accepting films that are 12 minutes or less for its annual Short Film Showcase Competition, to be screened during the fest on April 6. Entries must be postmarked by February 22.
  • Toga it up at the Paramount on Thursday, January 31, when the theatre hosts an Animal House Pub Run and Screening at 6 pm. The pub run begins at the Paramount and will take participants to Banger's Sausage House and Beer Garden and back in time for the 7:30 pm Animal House screening.
  • Join The Show!, a monthly event at Spider House that showcases some of the best Austin comedians, musicians and filmmakers. On Wednesday, February 20, you'll get a chance to catch UT lecturer and Austin-based filmmaker Kat Candler on the heels of her Sundance Film Festival appearance and debut of her short film Black Metal. Candler will discuss Black Metal, about how the lead singer of a metal band (played by Austinite Jonny Mars) deals with the aftermath of a tragedy, and her 2012 short Hellion, which screened at SXSW and Sundance last year.
  • The Show's festivities will continue with an appearance by Sam Eidson, one of the founders of the acting troupe Old Murder House Theatre, who will screen one of his favorite short films, Billy's Birthday. The shortiness continues with a screening of Ronald Short's and Nathan Bayless' animated comedy, Fox and Bear. Closing the night will be the Imperfect Film Festival Block, a series of small short films showcasing some of Austin's up-and-coming talent.