Austin Film Festival Kicks Off With Party

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The 2018 Austin Film Festival kicks off Thursday with one of the most highly anticipated events in Austin, Film & Food Fundraising Party at the historic Driskill hotel in downtown Austin.

The fundraising party brings producers, filmmakers, and actors together with local foodies and celebrities for a night of food, flowing cocktails, and auctions benefiting the Young Filmmakers Program. The event is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25.

And there will be food. Inventive culinary treats, presented by 20 of Austin’s most notable restaurants, will be showcased. Participating restaurants include Ranch 616, Sienna, Moonshine, Pitchfork Pretty, The Driskill, Lick Honest Ice Creams, IL BRUTTO, Tiny Boxwoods, Intero, Juniper, Tacos and Tequila, Olive & June, Fukumoto, Mandala, Sala & Betty, Stephen F's and Perry's Steakhouse & Grill.

An open bar will feature various wines provided by Twin Liquors, designer craft cocktails, and ice cold Stella Artois beer available all evening. All proceeds from the event benefit AFF’s Young Filmmakers Program. The Young Filmmakers Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that encourages and supports students, ages 9-18, to explore their creativity and improve their literacy skills through the arts of screenwriting and filmmaking. Programs are offered free through AISD schools and partner organizations and serve over 1,800 kids in the Austin community annually.

Online ticket sales will close at 4PM. Tickets will be available at Walk-Up & the Merch Table in the Driskill Hotel. For tickets, click here.

Thursday's Top Film Picks

Beyond The Night

Writer/Director: Jason Noto
Executive Producer: Adrian Grenier (in attendance)

Cast: Zane Holtz (in attendance), Tammy Blanchard, Azhy Robertson, Chance Kelly

Soldier Ray Marrow is suddenly called back stateside when his wife, Maisie and their 5-year-old son, Lawrence, are involved in a car accident, tragically killing Maisie. After years of serving as a soldier in Syria, Ray is now faced with burying the love of his life while also becoming a single parent. However, when Lawrence begins to reveal secrets about the town and its residents, Ray believes the accident triggered something in Lawrence, giving him knowledge of things he had no way of knowing. Now Ray is faced with a new battle, this time in his own hometown.

Check out this filmmaker's On Story interview

Thursday, October 25 | 7:15 PM | State Theatre

Major Arcana

Writer/Director: Josh Melrod

Cast: Ujon Tokarski, Tara Summers, Lane Bradbury

Set in the backwoods of Vermont, an itinerant carpenter faces a quixotic struggle to end a legacy of alcoholism and poverty as he attempts to build a log cabin by hand. His plans are complicated when he reunites with Sierra, a woman with whom he shares a troubled past, and he is forced to reconcile his old life with his new one.

Check out this filmmaker's On Story interview

Thursday, October 25 | 8:00 PM | Hideout Theatre

Long Time Coming: A 1955 Baseball Story

Writers: Jon Strong, Ted Haddock, John King, Mike Quinn Jr.

Director: Jon Strong

In 1955 when racial segregation defined the South, two groups of 12-year-old boys stepped onto a baseball field for one of the first integrated Little League games in the South. The all-Black Pensacola Jaycees and the all-White Orlando Kiwanis moved beyond fears, threats, and the unknown to break with tradition and show the world what was possible. Now, more than 60 years later, team captains Will Preyer (Pensacola) and Stewart Hall (Orlando) embark on personal journeys back to the 1955 game and find that the forgotten event can become a bridge to embracing the turbulence of today’s social landscape.

Thursday, October 25 | 7:15 PM | St. David's Episcopal Church - Bethel Hall

Simple Wedding

Writers: Sara Zandieh, Stephanie Wu
Director: Sara Zandieh
Cast: Tara Grammy, Christopher O’Shea, Shohreh Aghdashlo, Rita Wilson, Maz Jobrani

Though her Iranian parents long for their daughter to have the perfect Persian wedding, Nousha can’t seem to hold a relationship together long enough to ever see that through. That is until she meets Alex, an eccentric bisexual artist who might just be the one. However, when Nousha’s parents find out about the blossoming relationship, she’s pressured into tying the knot before either of them are already. The thrust-upon wedding becomes a runaway train as cultures clash and families collide.

Check out this filmmaker's On Story interview

Thursday October 25 | 7:10 PM | Alamo Drafthouse Village

Original Sin (Pecado Original)

Writers: Jean Lee, Maia Nikiphoroff

Director: Jean Lee

Cast: Maia Nikiphoroff, Cesar Di Bello, Alejandro Torres Menchaca

After moving to Spain for her husband, Eva, a Paraguayan woman of class and elegance who always behaves in an appropriate way, finds herself bored, unhappy, and sexually frustrated. After Eva compulsively buys a provocative and offensive piece of art the painter shows up to hand-deliver his work. Their sexual tension grows until they inevitably end up in bed. When Eva’s husband returns home early, an absurd battle of strengths and weaknesses among the three characters ensues.

Thursday, October 25 | 9:45 PM | St. David's Episcopal Church - Bethel Hall

Jules of Light and Dark

Writer/Director: Daniel Laabs

Cast: Betsy Holt, Robert Longstreet, Tallie Medel

Set against the backdrop of a vibrant Texas Rave Culture, two young lovers, Maya and Jules, are found wrecked on the side of the road after a party by a loner roughneck, Freddy. During the rehabilitation, their relationship falls apart. Maya rebounds by rethinking her life and forms an unlikely friendship with Freddy, whose past mistakes and experiences offer her insights on her next steps.

Thursday, October 25 | 9:45 PM | Alamo Drafthouse Village

CONFERENCE

"We have the unfortunate news that Daniel Petrie, Jr., scheduled recipient of this year's "Heart of Austin” Award, will no longer be able to attend the Festival and Conference," festival organizers wrote. "After a routine surgical procedure turned into a much longer road to recovery than first expected, it’s best for Dan to stay home and rest. Dan is eagerly looking forward to next year and seeing everyone then. In the meantime, keeping it in the family, we are happy to announce that Daniel's brother, director Donald Petrie, will be attending this year’s Festival and Conference to participate on programming and co-present the Enderby Entertainment Award at Saturday’s Awards Luncheon. We will be postponing Dan’s Heart of Film recognition until next year’s event."

PARTIES

PLUS...

Executive Producer Adrian Grenier (Entourage) will be in attendance.

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>>> All images courtesy of Austin Film Festival