Austin Film Festival -October 22 – 29, 2020

Horton Foote – This well crafted documentary is about the prolific playwright and screenwriters who wrote with heart about the place and people he loved. We interviewed Anne Rapp, the writer/director and friend of Foote’s who finally got permission to follow and interview the award winning dramatist to make the film. It covers his work and his life, with help from his Daughter, Hallie, a writer and actress. He wrote 52 plays, and his films include Tender Mercies, The Trip to Bountiful, the screenplays for To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men and more. His gentle manner for storytelling is beautifully captured, and Rapp has included pieces of his plays in Black and White portrayed by less well-know actors to keep the audience focused on what Foote was trying to say instead of who was saying it. It’s a beautiful tribute to an exceptional storyteller.

Reboot Camp – Writer/Director Ivo Raza creates a satire starring David Lipper and Keli Price as brothers making a documentary to show that they can create a cult from nothing. There is a collection of characters some of whom are played by famous actors including Ed Begley, Jr., Eric Roberts and his wife, Eliza, David Koechner, JaRule, and Chaz Bono. They are part of a big cast who expose fact vs. fantasy. This wild comedy shows how easily people can be duped to become followers of a cult, and how power and money can make it run amuck. See our interview with David Lipper who stars in a dual role and help produce the film. Even though the concept was 5 years in the making, this is a film for today about truth.

Farewell Amor – An Angolan woman and her daughter reunite with her husband in New York City after spending 17 years in exile. Now strangers, they have to get to know each other, accept how they’ve changed, and adjust to a new life and a different family dynamic. Writer/Director Ekwa Msangi crafts a beautiful film with superb casting, colorful costumes and cinematography. The closeups of their faces adds powerful nuance. And the music throughout shows how they finally find common ground in their shared love of dance.

Stardust – This is a biography, without the music, following David Bowie’s first visit to the US in 1971 – a trip that inspired the invention of his iconic alter ego Ziggy Stardust. Co-written by Gabriel Range and Christopher Bell, starring Jena Malone, Johnny Flynn, and Marc Maron. Because the film was created without permission of Bowie’s family, it does not include any of his songs.

Hard Luck Love Song –  This film follows Jesse (Michael Dorman- The Invisible Man), who is a handsome troubadour having made some bad decisions. Now those have caught up with him as he ends up hustling a bad ass pool shark (Delmot Mulroney in a gritty role). Jesse has some re-thinking to do to get back on his feet when his old flame, Carla, (Sophia Bush) shows up unexpectedly and it all blows up. Director Justin Corsbie  wrote the script with Nicholl Craig Ugoretz  The theme is  based “Just Like Old Times,” a song by Todd Snider.”

Film Fest –  What happens when filmmakers try to market their first movie becomes a comedy of errors taking it to a remote festival. Writer/Director Marshall Cook directs Matt Cook, Diona Reasonover, Laird Macintosh, C.J. Vana as they try to make their money back and get their film recognized and distributed. Sound familiar?