Local Film Fests

Despite growing up in Houston amongst diverse cultures, I didn't learn about fair trade practices until I moved to Austin in 1993. I stumbled across the annual International Holiday Market, which features jewelry, clothing and arts and crafts from artisans across the world. I've volunteered at the market for the last 16 years, and just over five years ago one of the featured fair trade retailers, Ten Thousand Villages, opened a local storefront.

One of the core principles of fair trade practices is that employers and exporters in developing nations agree to abide by fair employment and trade practices, including no child labor, promoting cooperative efforts and even directing some profits back towards the communities' health and education needs. Those retailers can then include the Fair Trade logo on their products. Austinites will have an opportunity to learn more at a new film festival this Saturday, May 8.

In honor of the World Fair Trade Day, which is held the second Saturday in May, the Austin Ten Thousand Villages retailer, Texas Coffee Traders and Fair Trade Austin are presenting the First Annual Fair Trade Film Festival at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar. The festival is an all-day event, featuring entertainment both indoor and outdoor.

File this under Couldn't Be Happier Unless I Had Angel Money to Do This Myself... Austin-based B-Side has been acquired by Slated, and the much missed B-Side Festival Genius has been licensed to long time indie nonprofit IFP.

Just announced Thursday night, the film community rejoiced that the best technological tool for film festivals has been revived. People were downright twitterpated, you could say. I'm re-using the same picture Jette used when she had to announce the sad news about B-Side closing its doors, because, well, B-Side founder Chris Hyams looks equally celebratory and defiant, and that attitude seems to have helped B-Side find a new home.

Personally I could not be happier for Chris and the core members of his team (Chris Holland, Jesse Trussell and Mike McCown) who are all back to work a mere six weeks after the unexpected announcement that B-Side was closing its offices. Hyams and McCown go to Slated, Holland and Trussell to IFP. I speak for Slackerwood and perhaps all of Austin’s film geeks in saying congratulations, guys. These last few weeks must’ve been tough, but we’re very glad to see you land on your feet, and even gladder that a great company and a great tool aren’t left languishing.

If you’re not familiar with IFP, they’re the oldest and largest organization of -- and advocate for -- independent filmmakers.  Slated is a New York-based entertainment and media company. 

If you thought Austin was film-fest free until Cine Las Americas starts later this month, think again ... and get ready to buy some tickets. The eighth annual Austin Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) runs from Saturday night, April 10, through Friday afternoon, April 16.

The festival kicks off Saturday at 6:30 pm at the Arbor with a Havdalah ceremony followed by the movie Lemon Tree (aka Etz Lemon). Lemon Tree is about a Palestinian woman fighting for her lemon grove when an Israeli politician moves next door and wants it removed. The ceremony and screening are free and open to the public. In fact, this year's AJFF includes a number of free films throughout the week.

If you've seen Beer Wars then you'll know who Sam Calagione is and maybe even why international beer writer Michael Jackson called Dogfish Head, which Calagione founded, "America's most interesting and adventurous small brewery." Known for being off-centered, the brewery has worked with an archaelogist to recreate ancient brews including an ancient Turkish recipe using the original ingredients from the 2700-year-old drinking vessels discovered in the tomb of King Midas. So what does a Delaware brewery have to do with Austin film?

Calagione himself brings this off-centeredness to Austin by hosting the Off-Centered Film Fest, part of a two-night event at the Alamo Lake Creek. The annual event includes a beer and food pairing as well as a short film competition. Submissions are currently being accepted until March 1, 2010.

Before our next Butt-Numb-a-Thon (BNAT) feature and apropos to nothing other than the fact they were there for their own guest appearance at a Slammin' Salmon screening, the Broken Lizard guys had a beer-drinking contest with the Ain't it Cool Newswriters. The Lizards won, with appropriate comedic timing. 

Trailers:  They Call Her One Eye, Sudden Death (possibly another but between writing in the dark and my pen being rebellious, I can't tell if just overwrote notes on the next film, or over a trailer name)

Shutter Island.  Essentially still a rough cut, and Harry recounts the correspondence involved getting the film.  And it turned out that Scorcese negotiated the inclusion of The Red Shoes. Nice programming, Mr. Scorcese.  Based on a Dennis Lehane book (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone), the mystery of a missing patient at an isolated mental institution is a little too clever for my taste, but I certainly can't fault the performance (or the pacing, or just about anything other than the story). Not that it's a bad story, just a kind I personally get impatient with. I found myself admiring one particular scene that featured primarily face shots.

26+ hours. Longer, if you start at registration. And hands down one of the best mixed genre programs I could imagine.  For a first time BNAT-er I could not have wished for more; thematically tight with an outstanding mixture of genres and styles old and new. From the contented comments of the veteran BNAT-ers, it sounds like they couldn't either. If you weren't there, this recap will probably make you jealous.

Registration was quick and as efficient as possible. Our goodie bags promptly stored after a quick perusal.  The list:  Two t-shirts, Zombieland cap and hand sanitizer, I Love You Man mug,  Nineteen Seventy-Four by David Peace, Dear Zachary DVD, a promotional poster, a Scare for a Cure cardgame, and a collectible Monsterpocalypse starter set, miniposter for Marianne (2011), and the BNAT Yearbook. 

The yearbook includes our bald pictures required on the applications, and highlights from our apps. No names, though, only a designated ID number based on initials and seat assignments. Very creative.

I'm going to my very first Butt-Numb-a-Thon (BNAT) on Saturday. Eek.

Austin cineastes know this is kind of a Big Deal. For those not in the know, BNAT is a combination film festival of sorts, fundraiser, and birthday celebration. It's the one film event that requires attendees to apply to attend. Only 188 seats were available, and 6,128 applied. That's not a rare ticket, it's practically mythic. 

The application isn't just "let me in," it includes a series of questions that help weed out or secure a seat.  This year's theme is "BNAT1138" as it's the 11th year, so the application picture, which will be used in the yearbook (!) required a bald picture.  There was a lot of bemoaning on the talkback forums about the selection process, but it couldn't be clearer -- over 1,000 people who applied didn't submit a bald picture. It didn't have to be a "good" bald picture, just a bald picture of yourself. After that, the questions, silly and otherwise, were used, particularly related to films. 

I shouldn't be surprised at the yearbook.  There are people who've made it in every year.  There seems to be a real community about it. I feel lucky to know so many veteran BNATters. 

So I've paid my $71 to support the Alamo Kids Club and get a seat. Hopefully a real seat, and not a folding chair, or the very front row (the thought makes my knees ache and my migraine worsen).  Now, to prepare. I'm working on my sleep, something I have a hard time with at the best of times, but I don't want to go into BNAT sleep deprived.     

Tonight the four-day Austin Asian American Film Festival ended its 2009 run with two documentaries: the short My Mother Said (Kuna ni nanang) and the feature Old Partner (Wonangsori).

My Mother Said, by filmmaker Jessica Sison, is the highly personal musings of her 99-year-old grandmother, recounting highlights from her life. Starting out with images of an old woman in a church, and the titular song, it's a documentary with an abstract feel as the woman recounts her history, such as being there for her own mother's death and lacking any mementos of her mother. My Mother Said was the second film in two days that used Ilacano, a language spoken in the Philippines, the other being Fruit Fly.

Old Partner, a South Korean documentary, is an uneven film with some powerful moments, but rambles on more than the film's complaining wife. An aging farmer who does everything by hand faces the inevitable death of his equally elderly ox, which he's had for half of his life. Despite the constant nagging of his wife and his own failing health, every day the farmer goes out to his fields with his ox; it's painful to watch both of them move, although not as painful as it is for either of them. At times seemingly callous, it's hard to deny the intense bond between the two. While the farmer's typical response to his wife is is a grunt, or "huh," if the ox makes a noise, it gets his full attention. 

What a great day at Austin Asian American Film Festival.  I managed to see four features despite a migraine, because the last film was the one film I absolutely had to see (and it didn't disappoint). 

The day started with People in the Shadows, a documentary on people in the streets of Tehran. It was more verite, and not enough cinema for me (specifically, not enough context). 

But then there was White on Rice, with a quick introduction by co-star Lynn Chen. Hiroshi Watanabe (Letters from Iwo Jima) plays Jimmy, who, despite being in his forties, is still relying on other people to get by -- currently his sister, nephew, and long suffering brother-in-law. When his brother-in-law's niece Ramona (Chen) comes to stay, Jimmy becomes obsessed.  Look for a supporting role by James Kyson Lee (Heroes), including an unexpected breakfast-cereal-related costume scene.  It's funny, and a crowd pleaser, which is good, because it was another sold-out crowd.

The Austin Asian American Film Festival's second night has ended.  The only film on Opening Night, The Speed of Life by UT's Ed Radtke was sold out.  I didn't make it to the opening party because I had to get up in the morning.  I did get a chance to talk briefly with Chi Pham by lucky happenstance. [pictured above, center].  

Chi Pham happened to strike up a conversation with a friend and me and ended up sharing quite a bit of his story. Pham plays Dad in All About Dad, the story of a domineering Dad who just can't control his kids any longer.  Pham had quite a journey into becoming a bit of a celebrity. Mark Tran and his production were in jeopardy of shutting down because they couldn't find a bilingual actor to play the father. They scattershot posters all over San Jose, California.  Pham happened upon one, but before he could actually have the audition, his home was lost in a fire, and lost his voice for some time.  But despite the circumstances, he was hired.  He's quite a character, too.  After the screening of All About Dad he was surrounded by dozens of people wanting a photograph with him.