Austin Film Festival Top Picks: Oct. 30, 2018

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The Austin Film Festival is in its waning days yet still going strong as it relates to offering compelling, thought-provoking cinematic offerings for independent film buffs.

TOP PICKS FOR OCT. 30, 2018

Fullsterkur

4:30 P.M. AT STATE THEATRE

Nestled at the doorstep of the Arctic Circle, the country of Iceland is uniquely acquainted with the relationship between strength and survival. For hundreds of years, men and women were challenged to overcome harsh weather and endless winter nights by developing their own distinct physical and mental fortitude—passed down from the age of the Vikings, and iconically represented by the lifting of heavy stones. Produced by Rogue Fitness, Fullsterkur features some of the modern stars of Iceland strength, including Magnus Ver Magnusson, Hafthor Bjornsson, and Annie Thorisdottir. But it also sheds light on strength culture’s early roots in the region, from the traditions of the Vikings and Sagas to the lives of farmers and fishermen.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE TRAILER

In partnership with The Horn FM.

F/11 and Be There

1:00 P.M. AT ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE VILLAGE
Photographer Burk Uzzle, one of America's greatest visual poets, makes museum exhibitions with a local community, travels America's back roads in search of hidden treasures of Americana, and uses his vast archive as a guide to confront race, inequality, and injustice through the many parallels of the 20th and 21st centuries. At the age of 80, Burk shows no signs of slowing in his fervor and adoration for the medium that has been the impetus for his entire life.

Check out this filmmaker's On Story interview

In partnership with the Blanton Museum of Art.

Major Arcana

3:15 P.M. AT GALAXY HIGHLAND SCREEN 8
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

Original Sin (Pecado Original)

5:30 P.M. AT GALAXY HIGHLAND SCREEN 9
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.

Check out this filmmaker's On Story interview

Antiquities

2:30 P.M. AT GALAXY HIGHLAND SCREEN 7
After his father's death, Walt moves to his dad's hometown to learn more about who his father was. After accepting a job in a local antique shop, he meets Ellie, an eccentric and crude free-spirit who still manages to be irresistibly charming. Walt ends up not only finding out who his father really was, but learns more about himself than he ever thought possible.

The Favourite

7:30 P.M. AT PARAMOUNT THEATRE

Early 18th century. England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots. As the politics of war become quite time consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen’s companion. Their burgeoning friendship gives her a chance to fullfil her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics or rabbit stand in her way. *THIS SCREENING HAS LIMITED SEATING*

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>>> Top image: The Heart of Film Conference Party — open bar and all — lured throngs of filmmakers, producers, actors and film festival badge holders to the top floor of the Long Center for camaraderie, with shuttles running from the Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin. The party was from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27. Photo by Tony Cantú/Patch staff. All other images via Austin Film Festival, used with permission.