Email This StoryAustin Film Festival begins with a bang
Oct. 23, 2009
Ash Anderson
A&E editor
AUSTIN -- Every fall the eyes of the film world turn toward Austin.
Since its inception in 1994, the Austin Film Festival has held the event for hundreds of big names in the film industry, whether they are directors, actors, producers or writers. The 10-day event sweeps across the city, taking over eight local theaters and downtown's historic landmark, the Driskill Hotel.
With more than 100 different movies and documentaries being shown this year, there is no shortage of vision.
Austin native Stephanie Harrison said that although it's her first time attending the festival, she's looking forward to networking and meeting people in the industry.
"I'm looking forward to the premieres of the big (films) that are coming out in the evenings," Harrison said. "I've been to two panels, talking with some writers (and) met a couple of producers."
Harrison said she feels like the panels are informative and allow for personal growth.
"These are people that have been there, done that, so it's just a matter of trying to get information out of them," Harrison said. "Most of them are really willing to give out helpful information. The panels are pretty crowded."
As the first day of the festival wound down, most attendees headed toward The Paramount Theatre, where the opening film, "Serious Moonlight," was showing.
Director Cheryl Hines was in attendance to give a small speech before the premiere and gave a question-and-answer session afterward about her experience as a first-time director.
"It's a very stressful job, that directing," Hines said in a one-on-one interview with The Lariat. "It's very enlightening. I felt like I was in grad school. I learned so much every day."
Hines, an industry veteran, said she didn't think about moving her comedy from the small screen with "Curb Your Enthusiasm" to the directing process. As for directing Meg Ryan, however, Hines was very outspoken.
"It was exciting, you know? It was unbelievable that I was directing Meg Ryan. My life is so crazy, weird and great."
Hines also mentioned the difficulty of finishing the film in three weeks.
"It was very difficult. We were about to break and everybody was going in separate directions ... that added to a lot of the stress," she said. "[Justin Long and Kristen Bell] are so funny. They're so great in this. I think it was great representation of people in their 40s and people in their 20s and how they see the world. I love that."
With many executives working at the festival, their constant presence at every event is necessary for the promotion of their film.
Promoter Ben Shelton said his first day at the festival went well.
"Day one has been so far, so good," he said. "I was setting posters for the movie we are promoting, 'Calvin Marshall.'"
With additional movies premiering tonight and through the weekend, this year's Austin Film Festival is starting off right.
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