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DIFF  / Film
This Year’s DIFF Has Local Ties to Six Fascinating Dallas Residents | Get Tickets!
AdChat DFW Posted On October 10, 2022


This year’s Dallas International Film Festival has quite a few interesting films that have direct ties to local residents. Their stories range from WWII suicide letters to jazz legends. It’s not too late to grab some tickets to enjoy what is shaping up to be one of the best DIFFs so far.

Here’s info on the local inspiration.

LET US DIE (Documentary) will world premiere with the incredible story of an antique desk that contained a collection of old German letters from World War II hidden inside a secret compartment. Years later, the owner, Dallas resident Tim Mallad, had the letters translated to discover they explained how, in the final days of the war, thousands of innocent German families took their own lives in fear of what the conquering Soviets would do to them. (The man and the desk are local)

FINDING SATOSHI (Documentary) has a group of passionate puzzle players trying without success to answer the question, “Who is this man?” with only a photograph and a name. The playful documentary finally solves the 14-year-old mystery, and features Highland Park High School graduate and Dallas native Laura E. Hall. WIRED magazine has a great piece with more of the story behind the film.

Executive produced by local legend herself, Erykah Badu, HARGROVE (Documentary) tells the up-close story of Jazz trumpet legend Roy Hargrove, deemed by his peers as a musical prophet. Following him on an award-winning tour from Los Angeles to Marseille in what would be the last year of his life, the film features interviews and live performances inclusive of musical icons Badu, Herbie Hancock, Mos Def, Robert Glasper, Wynton Marsalis, and Sonny Rollins. Hargrove attended Booker T. Washington High School, which will host the screening on his birthday, Oct. 16.

ALL MAN: THE INTERNATIONAL MALE STORY (Documentary) is a nostalgic and colorful peek behind the pages and personalities of International Male, one of the most ubiquitous and sought-after mail-order catalogs of the 80s and 90s. The movie was written by Dallas’ own Rob Brinkley, Turtle Creek resident and former editor of PaperCity and FD, the style magazine of The Dallas Morning News.

ACIDMAN (Drama/Sci-Fi) stars Dianna Agron as Maggie and Texan Thomas Haden Church as her reclusive father. After a decade apart, the two awkwardly try to get to know one another against the backdrop of his obsession with UFOs and communicating with extraterrestrial beings. Older generations will remember Haden Church from his days as the lovable Lowell from the series WINGS, while younger generations will remember him from last year’s SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME as the Sandman.

FRAME OF MIND (Documentary), KERA’s acclaimed television program hosted by Dallas film legend Bart Weiss, will screen its best independent film and video from Texas-based filmmakers, including FLESH AND BONE, THE BARBER OF MAYDELLE, BIRDS, ZAPATERIA, EL FANTASMA, and NUT CRACKER.


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Dallas International Film Festival Announces Full Lineup for 16th Anniversary Run
Dallas International Film Festival Posted On September 27, 2022


Dallas Film has announced the full lineup for the 16th Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF), running Oct. 14 through 20 at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Cedars and various other Dallas landmarks.

Nearly 80 short and feature length films curated for local audiences will be shown at Festival headquarters, including four world premieres, as well as special events in partnership with the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Texas Theatre, the South Dallas Cultural Center, and 4DWN Skate Park. DIFF 2022 films fall under the categories: DTV, Deep Ellum Sounds, Documentary Competition, Frame of Mind, Galas, Game On, Latino Showcase, Midnight Specials, Narrative Feature Competition, Premiere Series, Shorts Competition, Special Presentation, Texas Competition, Women in Film, and World Cinema.

James Faust, Artistic Director for the Dallas International Film Festival, said, “This year’s lineup has an incredible array of powerful stories that touch on a little bit of everything, from war veterans and dementia to Native American activism, and three, count them, three movies with a trumpet in a starring role. DIFF 2022 will give Dallas cinephiles a first chance to see films that will be on everyone’s list come awards season, and some they might not otherwise have the chance to ever see on the big screen.

“Our local film audiences have a passion for the diverse art that filmmakers produce,” Faust continued, “which is why we ensure our programming includes a spectrum that can appeal to the most discerning cinephile to the casual weekend viewer. We hope to help viewers of any type discover some new treasures debuting here, in Dallas.”

Feature-length films that are premiering or screening during DIFF 2022 (those marked with an asterisk have filmmakers scheduled to attend) are:

A LOT OF NOTHING (Comedy/Drama Thriller) shows an upper middle class married couple find their lives spiraling out of control when they decide to take justice into their own hands and seek retribution against their neighbor.

* A CASE FOR KINDNESS (Documentary), for which director, Steven Sawalich, who had the first film in AFI Dallas 2007, will return to DIFF. This film strives to understand the true nature of kindness. Carefully threading the themes of bullying, hate, mental health, racial injustice, food insecurity, and climate change, it builds the case to inspire us to understand the need for and benefits of adopting kindness. It features Ben Affleck, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, and Norman Lear.

* A RUN FOR MORE (Documentary) tells of Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe, who goes on a personal journey and questions her relationship to her community as she runs for city council in San Antonio, attempting to become the first elected openly transgender official in Texas.

* ACIDMAN (Drama/Sci-Fi) stars Dianna Agron as Maggie and Thomas Haden Church as her reclusive father. After a decade apart, the two awkwardly try to get to know one another against the backdrop of his obsession with UFOs and communicating with extraterrestrial beings.

AFTER SUN (Drama) shows lead character Sophie reflecting on the shared joy and private melancholy of a holiday she took with her father twenty years earlier. Memories real and imagined fill the gaps between miniDV footage as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn’t.

* ALL MAN: THE INTERNATIONAL MALE STORY (Documentary) is a nostalgic and colorful peek behind the pages and personalities of International Male, one of the most ubiquitous and sought-after mail-order catalogs of the 80s and 90s.

ALL THAT BREATHES (Documentary) takes place against the darkening backdrop of New Delhi’s apocalyptic air and escalating violence as two brothers devote their lives to protecting one casualty of the turbulent times: the bird known as the black kite.

ARMAGEDDON TIME (Drama) from acclaimed filmmaker James Gray is a deeply personal tale on the strength of family, the complexity of friendship, and the generational pursuit of the American Dream. The film features an all-star cast, including Anthony Hopkins, Anne Hathaway, and Jeremy Strong.

BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND (Drama) is set in 1987 as other students wonder if new kid Robin is a boy or a girl, who then forges a complicated bond with the school bully, making increasingly dangerous choices to fit in.

BIRTHDAY BOY (Drama) has Jimmy celebrating his 45th birthday at a beach house, where he has invited his close circle of friends to a weekend full of fun, excess, and concessions. Everything is interrupted by Jimmy’s confession of wanting to end his life before the party is over.

CALL JANE (Drama/Comedy) stars Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver in this story of a married woman with an unwanted pregnancy who lives at a time in America when she cannot get a legal abortion, and then works with a group of suburban women to find help.

CORSAGE (Historical Drama) is a fictional account of Empress Elizabeth of Austria, idolized for her beauty and renowned for inspiring fashion trends, who celebrates her 40th birthday and must fight to maintain her public image by lacing her corset tighter and tighter.

* FENOM (Documentary) follows rising star and school senior Flau’Jae Johnson, a Georgia native who has become one of the nation’s top basketball recruits and is also a rapper under Jay Z’s label, living out her late father’s dream. FENOM follows her journey through her senior year fulfilling both of her destinies, and was executive produced by WNBA legend Sue Bird in association with TOGETHXR.

FINDING SATOSHI (Documentary) has a group of passionate puzzle players trying without success to answer the question, “Who is this man?” with only a photograph and a name. The playful documentary finally solves the 14-year-old mystery, and features Dallas native Laura E. Hall.

* FRAME OF MIND (Documentary), KERA’s acclaimed television program hosted by Dallas film legend Bart Weiss, will screen its best independent film and video from Texas-based filmmakers, including FLESH AND BONE, THE BARBER OF MAYDELLE, BIRDS, ZAPATERIA, EL FANTASMA, and NUT CRACKER.

* GREENER PASTURES (Documentary) will have its world premiere with an urgent and intimate look at American farming, told through the stories of farmers living at the intersection of climate change, globalization, and a mental health crisis. Capturing the day-to-day lives of four small, multigenerational family farms over three years, it is a story of perseverance, patience, and determination that tackles the future of farming in America.

* Executive produced by local legend herself, Erykah Badu, HARGROVE (Documentary) tells the up-close story of Jazz trumpet legend Roy Hargrove, deemed by his peers as a musical prophet. Following him on an award-winning tour from Los Angeles to Marseille in what would be the last year of his life, the film features interviews and live performances inclusive of musical icons Badu, Herbie Hancock, Mos Def, Robert Glasper, Wynton Marsalis, and Sonny Rollins. Hargrove attended Booker T. Washington High School, which will host the screening on his birthday, Oct. 16.

* IMAGINING THE INDIAN (Documentary) highlights the fight against Native American mascoting, examining the use of Native American slurs, names, logos, images, and gestures that many Native Americans and their allies find offensive. The film investigates caricatures like Chief Wahoo of the Cleveland Indians and gestures like the Atlanta Braves’ “tomahawk chop” with commentary from ESPN commentator Kevin Blackstone.

* JUNETEENTH: FAITH & FREEDOM (Documentary) tells the story of a Black American troubled by the legacy of American slavery and the misuse of Christianity to justify it. He travels throughout Texas discovering how Juneteenth reveals faith and a fight for freedom in an unjust society.

* LA UVA (Documentary) will world premiere with the tale of Rolando Herrera, the Ceja Family and Bulmaro Montes, all Latino winemakers in Napa Valley. The film follows them on the long and winding road from humble beginnings in Mexico, to the most prestigious settings, wine bars and even The White House.

LAST FLIGHT HOME (Documentary) is an intimate portrait of Eli Timoner, a dedicated husband, father, and entrepreneur who founded the airline Air Florida in the 1970s and who ultimately decides to medically terminate his life.

* LET US DIE (Documentary) will world premiere with the incredible story of an antique desk that contained a collection of old German letters from World War II hidden inside a secret compartment. Years later, the owner, Dallas resident Tim Mallad, had the letters translated to discover they explained how, in the final days of the war, thousands of innocent German families took their own lives in fear of what the conquering Soviets would do to them.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG’S BLACK & BLUES (Documentary) is an intimate and revealing look at the world-changing musician, presented through a lens of archival footage and never-before-heard home recordings and personal conversations. This definitive documentary honors Armstrong’s legacy as a founding father of jazz, one of the first internationally known and beloved stars, and a cultural ambassador of the United States.

* MVP (Drama) takes place on the streets of Hollywood where a recently retired NFL player is saved from scandal by a homeless veteran. With their “glory days” behind them, the two men bond in search of purpose and identity. Actor and director Nate Boyer will attend the special screening at the historic Texas Theatre.

PROJECT WOLF HUNTING (Action/Thriller) depicts a floating hell with no escape with a cargo ship transporting the most vicious prisoners overseas, 1630 miles from Manila to Busan.

* In RETROGRADE (Documentary) from Academy Award-winning director Matthew Heineman, he tells the story of the last months of the 20-year war in Afghanistan through the intimate relationship between American Green Berets and the Afghan officers they trained.

RETURN TO SEOUL (Drama) has Freddie returning to her birthplace, South Korea, on an impulse to reconnect with her origins before being adopted and raised in France. The headstrong young woman starts looking for her biological parents in a country she knows little about, taking her life in new and unexpected directions.

* ROLL WITH IT (Comedy) is the story of a small-town Biscuit Barrel waitress forced to enter the Cheatham County Fair Karaoke Showdown as a last resort to save her house from foreclosure. Star of the film Chonda Pierce, the popular comedian known as “The Queen of Clean”, and other members of the cast will attend.

* ROPE (Crime/Drama/Mystery) is the Hitchcock classic where two men attempt to prove they committed the perfect crime by hosting a dinner party after strangling their former classmate to death. The film will show as part of Stodghill Movie Night, a DIFF tradition of celebrating the classics.

RUBY’S CHOICE (Comedy) stars two-time Golden Globe Winner Jane Seymour as Ruby in a poignant tale that follows three generations of strong women. Secrets from the past are revealed as the family must make a big decision while Ruby’s illness threatens to push them apart.

* RUN LOLA RUN (Action/Thriller) is the cult classic depicting Lola receiving a call from her boyfriend Manni. After losing money in a subway train, she has 20 minutes to raise the amount and meet Manni. Three different alternatives may happen depending on some minor event along Lola’s run. The screening is in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Sony Pictures Classics’ excellence in filmmaking.

* SHOUTING DOWN MIDNIGHT (Documentary) is both a cautionary tale and rallying cry, recounting how the Wendy Davis filibuster of 2013 galvanized a new generation of activists, revealing what is at stake in the struggle for reproductive freedom.

* SIGN THE SHOW: DEAF CULTURE, ACCESS AND ENTERTAINMENT (Documentary) provides insight into Deaf culture and the quest for access to entertainment, bringing together entertainers, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH) community. American Sign Language interpreters discuss accessibility at live performances in a humorous, heartfelt, and insightful way.

SKATE DREAMS (Documentary) follows the rise of women’s skateboarding, profiling a group of women whose pursuit of self-expression, equality, and freedom have created an international movement. Directed by Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Jessica Edwards, the story spans the trailblazing pioneers of the 1980s and the next generation of Olympic contenders. A special screening of the film will be hosted at the 4DWN Skate Park.

* SONG FOR HOPE (Documentary) will debut at a special screening in collaboration with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and CancerBlows at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center on Oct. 19 at 7:30 pm. Directed by Chris Haigh, the film portrays the incredible story of trumpet virtuoso Ryan Anthony after he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at the age of 42 and given just months to live. For many, this would be a crushing blow, but for Ryan, it motivated him to start CancerBlows and show the world that music can save lives. Following the screening, there will be a Q&A moderated by James Faust featuring the filmmakers and members of the Anthony family – Niki, Jackson, and Rowan.

SUBJECT (Documentary) focuses on the ethics and responsibility inherent in documentary filmmaking by examining well-known documentaries of the past decade and revealing the impact their commercial success has had on the lives of the onscreen subjects.

* TAKE PAINS, BE PERFECT (Documentary) explores the profound transformational impact of Shakespeare at Winedale, a program created in 1970 by University of Texas professor James “Doc” Ayres. Through multiple generations of program alumni interviewed in the film, audiences will discover the powerful connection between creative learning and the development of social and emotional skills.

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN (Comedy/Drama) stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two lifelong friends who find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship with alarming consequences for both.

THE INSPECTION (Drama) tells the story of Ellis French, a young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother and with few options for his future, who decides to join the Marines and do whatever it takes to succeed in a system that would cast him aside.

THE LOST KING (Drama), co-written by and starring Steve Coogan, relates how an amateur historian defies the academic establishment to find King Richard III’s remains, which were lost for over 500 years.

* THE SMELL OF MONEY (Documentary) asks what price we pay for the world’s pork. Directed by Dallas film director, Shawn Bannon, and executive produced by Kate Mara and David Lowery, it offers a look at North Carolina residents who take on one of the world’s most powerful companies in a fight for their rights to clean air, pure water, and a life free from the stench of pig feces.

THE RETURN OF TANYA TUCKER (Documentary) celebrates the trailblazing, hell-raising country music legend Tanya Tucker, who defied the standards of how a woman in country music was supposed to behave. Decades after Tanya slipped from the spotlight, rising Americana music star Brandi Carlile takes it upon herself to write an entire album for her hero based on Tanya’s extraordinary life, spurring the greatest comeback in country music history.

* THE UNKNOWN COUNTRY (Drama) launches a grieving young woman on a solitary road trip through the American Midwest after an unexpected invitation. Tana, played by Lily Gladstone, struggles to reconcile the losses of her past with the dreams of her future on her journey, with a portion filmed in Dallas.

UNTIL THE END OF TIME (Drama) finds Patricio breaking up with his wife, unable to see his daughter, financially broke. The possibility of rebuilding his life, a new love, recovering his family, and a nuclear threat are intertwined in an unexpected ending.

Shorts being featured at DIFF 2022 include:

#BLACKATSMU

ALWAYS TOGETHER

BARTER

A BRIEF AND PASSING THING

DALLAS LOWRIDERS – A FAMILY LEGACY

A DIRE STRAIT

DOLLAR GENERALS

DON’T YOU GO NOWHERE

DOWN HOME

THE EVENT

EXIT

FOUL

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS

LAST DAYS OF AUGUST

MOTHER FUCKER

MY SUMMER VACATION

MY YEAR OF DICKS

NINETY-FIVE SENSES

THE SIGHT OF BLUE

(S)HIT SQUAD

SILT

SPINNER

THE STRANGER

TOUCH THE EARTH

WALKER

Tickets for the 2022 Dallas International Film Festival are available along with sponsorship information at dallasfilm.org. Festival sponsors as of Sept. 26 include: (LEADERSHIP Sponsors) Capital One, Mercury One; (PROGRAMMING Sponsor) EarthX Film; (SCREENING Sponsors) Fort Worth Film Commission, Presbyterian Village North; (SUPPORTING Sponsors) BakerHostetler, Visit Dallas; and (SPONSORS) Consulate General of Canada in Dallas, SAG-AFTRA. Dallas Film SUSTAINING Sponsors include ABCO, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Cedars, Commerce House, Four Corners Brewing Company, and The Preston of the Park Cities.


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Dallas Film  / Film
DIFF 2022 Announces the First 16 Films Its 16th Anniversary | October 14-20th
Dallas International Film Festival Posted On September 16, 2022


Dallas Film has announced the first 16 films for the 16th Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF), Oct. 14 through 20 at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Cedars and various other Dallas landmarks. Special screenings and events will also be held at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Texas Theatre, the South Dallas Cultural Center, and 4DWN Skate Park.

“This is a proper return to our full festival with more than 80 films from every genre for North Texas moviegoers,” said Scott Eustace, Chairman of the Board of Dallas Film. “As he has since the inception of DIFF, our amazing artistic director James Faust has curated a powerful line-up of films and screenings that not only celebrate the artform and artists, but also the Metroplex and Texas.”

James Faust, Artistic Director for the Dallas International Film Festival, added, “Our local film audiences have a passion for the diverse art that filmmakers produce, which is why we ensure our programming includes a spectrum that can appeal to the most discerning cinephile to the casual weekend viewer. We hope to help viewers of any type discover some new treasures debuting here, in Dallas.”

The first 16 special screenings and premieres at this year’s festival in alphabetical order include:

A CASE FOR KINDNESS (Documentary), for which director, Steven Sawalich, who had the first film in AFI Dallas 2007, will return to DIFF. This film strives to understand the true nature of kindness. Carefully threading the themes of bullying, hate, mental health, racial injustice, food insecurity, and climate change, it builds the case to inspire us to understand the need for and benefits of adopting kindness. It features Ben Affleck, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, and Norman Lear.

ACIDMAN (Drama/Sci-Fi) stars Dianna Agron as Maggie and Thomas Haden Church as her reclusive father. After a decade apart, the two awkwardly try to get to know one another against the backdrop of his obsession with UFOs and communicating with extraterrestrial beings.

ALL MAN: THE INTERNATIONAL MALE STORY (Documentary) is a nostalgic and colorful peek behind the pages and personalities of International Male, one of the most ubiquitous and sought-after mail-order catalogs of the 80s and 90s.

ARMAGEDDON TIME (Drama) from acclaimed filmmaker James Gray is a deeply personal tale on the strength of family, the complexity of friendship, and the generational pursuit of the American Dream. The film features an all-star cast, including Anthony Hopkins, Anne Hathaway, and Jeremy Strong.

CALL JANE (Drama/Comedy) stars Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver in this story of a married woman with an unwanted pregnancy who lives at a time in America when she cannot get a legal abortion, and then works with a group of suburban women to find help.

FENOM (Documentary) follows rising star and school senior Flau’Jae Johnson, a Georgia native who has become one of the nation’s top basketball recruits and is also a rapper under Jay Z’s label, living out her late father’s dream. FENOM follows her journey through her senior year fulfilling both of her destinies, and was executive produced by WNBA legend Sue Bird in association with TOGETHXR.

GREENER PASTURES (Documentary) will have its world premiere with an urgent and intimate look at American farming, told through the stories of farmers living at the intersection of climate change, globalization, and a mental health crisis. Capturing the day-to-day lives of four small, multigenerational family farms over three years, it is a story of perseverance, patience, and determination that tackles the future of farming in America.

Executive produced by local legend herself, Erykah Badu, HARGROVE (Documentary) tells the up-close story of Jazz trumpet legend Roy Hargrove, deemed by his peers as a musical prophet. Following him on an award-winning tour from Los Angeles to Marseille in what would be the last year of his life, the film features interviews and live performances inclusive of musical icons Badu, Herbie Hancock, Mos Def, Robert Glasper, Wynton Marsalis, and Sonny Rollins. Hargrove attended Booker T. Washington High School, which will host the screening on his birthday, Oct. 16.

IMAGINING THE INDIAN (Documentary) highlights the fight against Native American mascoting, examining the use of Native American slurs, names, logos, images, and gestures that many Native

Americans and their allies find offensive. The film investigates caricatures like Chief Wahoo of the Cleveland Indians and gestures like the Atlanta Braves’ “tomahawk chop” with commentary from ESPN commentator Kevin Blackstone.

MVP (Drama) takes place on the streets of Hollywood where a recently retired NFL player is saved from scandal by a homeless veteran. With their “glory days” behind them, the two men bond in search of purpose and identity. Actor and director Nate Boyer will attend the special screening at the historic Texas Theatre.

In RETROGRADE (Documentary) from Academy Award-winning director Matthew Heineman, he tells the story of the last months of the 20-year war in Afghanistan through the intimate relationship between American Green Berets and the Afghan officers they trained.

ROLL WITH IT (Comedy) is the story of a small town Biscuit Barrel waitress forced to enter the Cheatham County Fair Karaoke Showdown as a last resort to save her house from foreclosure. Star of the film Chonda Pierce, the popular comedian known as “The Queen of Clean”, will attend the world premiere.

SKATE DREAMS (Documentary) follows the rise of women’s skateboarding, profiling a group of women whose pursuit of self-expression, equality, and freedom have created an international movement. Directed by Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Jessica Edwards, the story spans the trailblazing pioneers of the 1980s and the next generation of Olympic contenders. A special screening of the film will be hosted at the 4DWN Skatepark.

SONG FOR HOPE (Documentary) will debut at a special screening in collaboration with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and CancerBows at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center on Oct. 19 at 7:30 pm. Directed by Chris Haigh, the film portrays the incredible story of trumpet virtuoso Ryan Anthony after he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at the age of 42 and given just months to live. For many, this would be a crushing blow, but for Ryan, it motivated him to start CancerBlows and show the world that music can save lives. Following the screening, there will be a Q&A moderated by Faust featuring the filmmakers and members of the Anthony family – Niki, Jackson, and Rowan.

THE SMELL OF MONEY (Documentary) asks what price we pay for the world’s pork. Directed by Dallas’ most successful film director, Shawn Bannon, and executive produced by Kate Mara and David Lowery, it offers a look at North Carolina residents who take on one of the world’s most powerful companies in a fight for their rights to clean air, pure water, and a life free from the stench of pig feces.

THE UNKNOWN COUNTRY (Drama) launches a grieving young woman on a solitary road trip through the American Midwest after an unexpected invitation. Tana, played by Lily Gladstone, struggles to reconcile the losses of her past with the dreams of her future on her journey, with a portion filmed in Dallas.

“As we celebrate 16 years of bringing film to our community at a profound level, we are honored to have a role in sharing the art of these powerful real and imagined stories,” said Beth Wilbins, the recently appointed Chief Executive Officer of Dallas Film. “We are grateful to the sponsors who are furthering our mission of celebrating films and their impact on society, recognizing the impact of filmmakers on enhancing both the creative community as well as the city of Dallas and beyond.”

Tickets for the 2022 Dallas International Film Festival go on sale Sept. 21, and are available along with sponsorship information at dallasfilm.org. Festival sponsors as of Sept. 14 include: (LEADERSHIP Sponsors) Capital One, Mercury One; (PROGRAMMING Sponsor) EarthX Film; (SCREENING Sponsors) Fort Worth Film Commission, Presbyterian Village North; (SUPPORTING Sponsors) Baker Hostetler, Visit Dallas; and (SPONSORS) Consulate General of Canada in Dallas, SAG-AFTRA. Dallas Film SUSTAINING Sponsors include ABCO, Commerce House, Four Corners Brewing Company, and The Preston of the Park Cities.

Instagram – @WeAreDallasFilm

Facebook – @WeAreDallasFilm


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The Dallas International Film Festival Introduces Spring Preview Weekend April 29 to May 1
Dallas International Film Festival Posted On April 21, 2022


Dallas Film has announced dates for its first Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF) Spring Preview Weekend, April 29 to May 1, featuring both film premieres and film festival favorites at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Cedars. The DIFF Spring Preview sets the stage for the full Dallas International Film Festival this fall, giving fans a first feel for programming at the broader festival.

“We’re excited to give movie lovers a reason to get out to the theater, especially with how we’ve all changed our viewing habits over the last three years,” said Scott Eustace, Chairman of the Dallas Film Board of Directors. “This is a precursor to our full celebration of film this fall when we’ll get to share art North Texans might not otherwise be exposed to, and to do so with illuminating context and participation from the filmmakers themselves. It’s the popcorn, it’s the people, and it’s the perfect complement – great programming.”

The Spring Preview Opening Night Film will be Apple Original Films’ CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH (Dramatic Comedy), written and directed by Dallas native Cooper Raiff, on April 29 at 7:30 p.m. The audience winner at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, it was produced by and stars Dakota Johnson alongside Raiff, Leslie Mann, and Brad Garrett. It tells the story of a young man fresh out of college who begins working as a party starter on the local bar/bat mitzvah circuit, where he strikes up a unique friendship with a young mother and her teenage daughter. Raiff’s first film was scheduled to debut at DIFF 2020. Other films that will be featured for the DIFF Spring Preview include:

HAPPENING (Drama), an IFC film that won the grand jury prize at the 2021 Venice Film Festival and releases in early May. An adaptation of Annie Ernaux’s eponymous novel directed by Audrey Diwan, it looks back on her experience with abortion when it was still illegal in France in the 1960s.

JAZZ FEST: A NEW ORLEANS STORY (Documentary), a Sony Pictures Classics release directed by Frank Marshall and Ryan Suffern, was a hit at SXSW. The film captures the signature annual music and cultural event called America’s greatest festival in all of its beauty and glory, delving into the deep and rich culture of The Big Easy with Jimmy Buffett, Gary Clark Jr., Al Green, Tom Jones, Katy Perry, Pitbull, Aaron Neville, and Bruce Springsteen, among others.

CORSICANA (Western), a Texas shot and produced film directed by Isaiah Washington and set in Corsicana, an hour south of Dallas in Navarro County. The film tells the story of Deputy United States Marshal Bass Reeves reuniting with a former partner turned fugitive, and an ex-Union sharpshooter. The trio are in a race against time as they track a vicious outlaw gang of killers to the oil-rich Texas town. It stars Washington alongside Noel Gugliemi, Stacey Dash, Kevin Gage, and Major Dodge Lew Temple.

BAD AXE (Documentary), an IFC film directed by David Siev, is a real-time portrait of 2020 as it unfolded for an Asian-American family in Trump’s rural America. It shows the family’s fight to keep their restaurant and American dream alive in the face of a pandemic, Neo-Nazis, and generational scars from the Killing Fields.

“The Spring Preview films run the gamut of genres from independent filmmakers, some of them Dallas’ own,” added James Faust, Artistic Director of the Dallas International Film Festival. “The artistic process involved in creating a compelling film event is rewarding as we go beyond the box office to understand and explore the artistic process poured into each film. It’s going to be a moving movie weekend.”

Tickets for individual film screenings for the 2022 DIFF Spring Preview Weekend are available at dallasfilm.org/spring-preview or the box office at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Cedars. Additionally, film fans can purchase early bird DIFF Star Passes at a special price during the Spring Preview. Information about sponsoring or submitting films for the Dallas International Film Festival this fall is also available at dallasfilm.org.

Get Tickets

About Dallas Film
Dallas Film (www.dallasfilm.org), established as Dallas Film Society in 2006, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that exists to celebrate the past, present and future of film in our community. The organization provides leadership in screen education and the recognition and celebration of excellence in the art of film, television, and digital media. Through a variety of screenings, educational programs, and festivals, Dallas Film raises awareness of the world’s most approachable and inclusive art form.


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DIFF  / Film
Real Men Love Cats | CATDADDIES World Premiere at Dallas International Film Festival Oct. 8-10
Kelly Kitchens Posted On September 28, 2021


Filmmaker Mye Hoang’s new documentary, CAT DADDIES  premieres Sunday, Oct 10 at 3 pm in Screen 1 at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (1005 Botham Jean Blvd., Dallas, TX 75215) as a part of the Dallas International Film Festival – Oct 8-10. Born and raised in North Dallas, Hoang was the founder of the Asian Film Festival of Dallas and an SMU alum.

The film will also screen in October at the famed Newport Beach Film Festival, the stubbornly independent Tallgrass Film Festival, and in November at the Hawaii International Film Festival.

CAT DADDIES focuses on David Giovanni who is living on the streets of New York, determined to stay together with his beloved cat, Lucky. When he’s finally granted a spot in a transitional housing facility that accepts cats, the COVID-19 pandemic and a devastating medical diagnosis put his future together with Lucky in doubt.

David’s journey is interspersed with portraits of other “cat dads” from all over the country and some who struggle to navigate the unprecedented events of 2020 with their little furry friends. They include a group of firefighters, a stuntman, a truck driver, a Bay Area tech worker, a schoolteacher whose cat becomes a viral sensation, and an actor/Instagram influencer. These men couldn’t be more different, but they share an unconditional love for their beloved pets. CAT DADDIES is a refreshing and timely exploration of modern masculinity and the unlikely bond between man and cat.

SPARK OF THE DOCUMENTARY

Hoang’s husband and fellow filmmaker Dave Boyle, who also produced CAT DADDIES, initiated her fascination with cat dads.  Hoang had always been a cat lover and Boyle was indifferent about animals when they met – until one day a cat showed up on Boyle’s doorstep and created an immediate close bond.  As Boyle became a bonafide cat guy, Hoang noticed a transformation in Boyle and in their relationship.  She wondered how many other men could also not know they love cats because they have been conditioned to love dogs.  At the same time, a trend in cat dads on social media and Buzzfeed articles was exploding.  Men and cats were becoming more accepted and even cool with hashtags like #catdad #menwithcats #hotguyswithcats and so forth.

The filming of CAT DADDIES which began in late 2019 was then interrupted in March 2020.  The film inevitably took a slight shift in direction to address the ways in which the events of 2020 affected some of the cat dads and how their beloved pets became a source of healing and self-care.  “I see Cat Daddies as both a collective portrait as well as a time capsule, documenting a challenging year in which people desperately needed hope, relief and companionship,” said Hoang.

About filmmaker, Mye Hoang:

Hoang is the former Executive Director of the Asian Film Festival of Dallas and former Artistic Director of the San Diego Asian Film Festival.  She has directed numerous short films and produced several narrative features such as I WILL MAKE YOU MINE (SXSW 2020) and MAN FROM RENO (2015 Spirit Award nominee).  She is a co-producer on the upcoming documentary feature ASHIMA (2022) featuring acclaimed Japanese American rock climber Ashima Shiraishi.

DETAILS FOR CAT DADDIES:

When: Oct. 10 at 3 p.m.
Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Cedars) 1005 Botham Jean Blvd, Dallas TX, 75215
Admission: $10
DIFF link: https://dallasfilm.org/film/cat-daddies

In-Person from Film at DIFF: Film director/producer, Mye Hoang and producer/editor Dave Boyle

Watch preview clips…

 


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DIFF Powered by Capital One Announces Winners of “Broaden Your Horizons” Screenwriter Competition
Dallas International Film Festival Posted On May 28, 2020


DFW locals Jody Hadlock, A.J. Orr, Mike Farris and Troy Perkins topped the competition. They will each receive cash prizes, a professional consultation with a high profile writer, Star Pass at the Dallas International Film Festival and opportunities to pitch their work to industry professionals through Virtual Pitch Fest. The two grand prize winners will embark on a future Writer’s Enrichment Cruise.

Features and 1-Hour Pilots

WINNER  — GREENWOOD by Jody Hadlock & A.J. Orr 

Based on a true story, a 1920’s African-American lawyer takes on the system to defend the residents of Greenwood, the all-black district of Tulsa, Oklahoma, when it’s destroyed by an angry white mob. 

RUNNER UP — THE CATCH by Mike Farris

Two detectives hunt for a serial killer who is killing lawyers and staging the murder scenes to reflect lawyer jokes.

Shorts and 30-Min Pilots

WINNER — CLOISTERED by M. Rowan Meyer

A priest, a nun, and an excommunicate navigate identity within the boundaries of their Catholic faith.

 RUNNER UP — CROSSING by Troy Perkins

Lyle, a Texas rancher, hunts migrants crossing his sprawling ranch near the Mexico border. The tables are turned when he has a serious accident and needs help from a migrant woman and her little boy.

FINALISTS (Features and 1-hour Pilots):

CONNECTED

Hillery Baker

Privileged teenagers Emilia and James Capriglione are about to learn there isn’t enough holy water in New Jersey to wash all the blood off their family’s hands.

FASTER THAN HORSES

Chris & Michael Mul

An arrogant runner embarking on the Marathon des Sables—the toughest footrace on earth—faces a race against time to survive when he becomes isolated in the desert and a hostage to its harrowing conditions.

THE STORM KING

Alex Hendler

With the help of a Yale-educated behavioral psychologist, a classical pianist struggles to bond with his mentally challenged disruptive young son before the turmoil he causes tears the family apart.

FINALISTS (Shorts and 30-Min Pilots):

BOXED WINE

Gregory Caruso

After years of constant rejection, a struggling painter in his late-20s decides to make a statement by putting almost no effort into his artwork, resulting in immediate acceptance from the art community, throwing him into a spiral of self-questioning and self-destruction.

GREAT AMERICA

Angelita Mendoza & Morten Vestergaard Jensen

A border vigilante’s house is broken into by an undocumented immigrant and his daughter who are desperate for water.

SELKIE

Chris & Michael Mul

A selfish fisherman is morally torn between his conscience and happiness when he meets and falls in love with a mysterious woman.


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Film
Check out Dallas International Film Festival’s Virtual Cinema & Summer Drive-in Movies Sponsored by Samsung
Dallas International Film Festival Posted On May 18, 2020


Ruth Bader Ginsberg is an unexpected pop culture icon. RBG explores her incredible personal journey to the nations highest court.

“VITAL. A FIST PUMPING, CROWD PLEASING DOC. Makes one heck of a play to remind people of Ginsburg’s vitality and importance, now more than ever.” – Kate Erbland, Indiewire

When you buy a ticket here for RBG, 10% of the ticket sales will to go NYU Langone’s food pantry The Table, and 50% of the remaining proceeds will go directly to supporting Dallas Film.

Watch RBG here.

One more thing, join us for a Q&A with directors Betsy West and Julie Cohen, moderated by the New York Times’ Melena Ryzik on Wed. 5/20 at 7:00 pm CT. You can submit your questions by email to submityourquestion@magpictures.com, or you can tweet at us using the hashtag #magnoliadocseries.

Currently Playing

Coming Soon to DIFF Virtual Cinema

May 22 – LIFE ITSELF
• The life and career of the renowned film critic and social commentator, Roger Ebert.

May 29 – BLACKFISH
• A documentary following the controversial captivity of killer whales.

Starting May 27th, we will launch our monthly DIFF Drive-in Series presented by Samsung. We are going to spend the summer gathering outside Four Corners Brewery to watch some classic summer movies on an outdoor screen thanks to our new partners at Samsung.

May 27: THE GOONIES
June 24: JAWS
July 31: RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

DIFF Summer Drive-in presented by Samsung
Four Corners Brewery
1311 S. Ervay Street
Dallas, TX
Suggested Donation: $20/car
Gates open around 7:00


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DIFF
DIFF Screenwriting Competition Quarterfinalists Announced | 8 DFW Writers
Dallas International Film Festival Posted On April 23, 2020


Eight DFW writers topped the winning list of quarterfinalists for the screenplay competition this year, offered by Dallas International Film Festival, powered by Capital One. Highlights include: Harry Hunsicker with three winning scripts, Troy Perkins, who also earned success in both categories, and UNT student Hunter Marion for his short script. Other winning Dallas writers include:

Features and 1-Hour Pilots:
• Greenwood by Jody Hadlock
• Outpost by Troy Perkins
• The Catch by Mike Farris

Shorts and 30-Min Pilots
• Blood Trail by Derek Massey
• Bucking Up by Erin Lennox
• Crossing by Troy Perkins
• (S)hit Squad by Harry Hunsicker
• Special Days by Black Rice

You may find the full list of winners here:

The DIFF “Broaden Your Horizon” Screenplay Competition, presented by Event Horizon Films, provides Hollywood access to Dallas screenwriters, among others, who are interested in improving craft and exposure. Each script was reviewed by working industry professionals at top Hollywood rep agencies (United Talent Agency, Creative Artists Agency, Gersh, etc.) and graded based on strength of plot, characterization, format, originality, style, dialogue, pacing and current market potential.

Semifinalists will be announced May 1.

Dallas International Film Festival, powered by Capital One, and Dallas Film is committed to providing leadership in screen education and the recognition and celebration of excellence in the art of film, television, screenwriting and digital media in the Dallas community. Through year round screenings, festivals and a variety of educational programs including The Veterans Institute of Film & Media and the Mercury One High School Film Labs, Dallas Film raises awareness of the world’s most approachable and inclusive art form.


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Dallas Film  / DIFF
Watch DIFF High School Shorts | Get Schedule & Links
Dallas International Film Festival Posted On April 20, 2020


The Dallas International Film Festival powered by Capital One is proud to launch its first Online Screening Series with some of Dallas’ most talented young filmmakers.

The link to each night’s student film block will be shared on the Dallas Film Facebook page each day. Join us today HERE.

DIFF 2020 High School Short Films Schedule

4/20: Block 5 (Monday, April 20 @ 6:30pm CST) – WATCH HERE
• DOLENTE – Director: Gaven Dean (Allen)
• TARDY – Director: Caleb Burns (A+ Academy)
• STEEL DREAMS – Director Max Nathan (Alcuin School)
• HAIKU – Director: Katie Baxter (Alcuin School)
• THE PERFECT ASK – Director: Stanley Turner (Alcuin School)
• HOME – Director Anna Prince (Allen)
• 2ND GENERATION – Directors: Caroline Gulledge, Emily Nguyen (Allen)
• THE EMPTINESS INSIDE – Directors: Mason Vaughn, Carah Allen (Cedar Hill)

Q&A with Gaven Dean following Block 5.

Block 1 – WATCH HERE
• CANCER – Director: Meredith Smith (Richardson)
• PRESSURE – Director: Ruben Olano (Richardson)
• IN RETROSPECT – Director: Leila Saidane (Richardson)
• CARPATHIANS – Director: Daria Krachun (Lake Highlands)
• THE ART OF STORY TELLING – Director: Benji Boone (Lake Highlands)
• TIME FOR DINNER – Director: Belinda Kahindo (Lake Highlands)
• GOD’S CHURCH – Director: Ethan Tinsley (Richardson)

Q&A with Meredith Smith following Block 1.

Block 2 – WATCH HERE
• THE IMPACT OF YOUR CLOTHING – Director: Juliana Thompson (Coppell)
• STUCK – Director: Sam Petty (New Tech/Coppel ISD)
• AKIMBO – Director: Connor Tipton (New Tech/Coppell ISD)
• IN OUR BACKYARD – Director: Natalie Adams (Coppell)
• EXPRESSIONS – Directors: Umama Suriya, Khushi Bansal, Rishi Meka (Coppell)
• HYMN – Directors: Ania Mangwiro, Noah Waddell (Denton/Lagrone Tech)
• BRAINMAN – Director: Cooper Clark (Denton/Lagrone Tech)
• KANSAS CITY – Director: Zack Geldersma (Denton/Lagrone Tech)
• EL TAQUERO – Director: Jose Moreno (Denton/Lagrone Tech)

Q&A with Juliana Thompson following Block 2.

Block 3 – WATCH HERE
• THE CHRONICLES OF HARVEY DINGUS – Director: Andrew Orticio (Garland)
• CITIZEN’S ARREST – Director: Jimmy Cassidy (Garland)
• THE TEST – Director: Riley Padon (Garland)
• THE INTRUDER – Directors: Oscar Hernandez, Diego Vasquez, Marcus Weber (Garland)
• ANGEL – Director: Brooke Adams (Hockaday)
• LE CORBEAU (THE CROW) – Director: Abby O’Brien (Hockaday)
• ROSEY FRAMES – Director: Lucy Roberts (Hockaday)
• JACKIE – Director: Haley Coleman (Hockaday)

Q&A with Andrew Orticio following Block 3.

4/19: Block 4 – WATCH HERE
• CONVERSATIO MORUM – Director: Brandon Insensee (Kennedale)
• DOTTY – Director: Oscar Renova (Lake Highlands)
• ARTHROPOD – Director: Simon Pruitt (Lake Highlands)
• COLORBLIND – Director: Myleena Ebron (Lake Highlands)
• SLEEPER AGENT – Director: Jared Miller (Parish Episcopal)
• THE PEN – Director: Kenneth Borders (Parish Episcopal)
• ON THE ROPES – Director: Lauren Chappell (Parish Episcopal)

Q&A with Brandon Insensee following Block 4.

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DIFF
Dallas International Film Festival’s Coronavirus Statement | Event Will Reschedule
Dallas International Film Festival Posted On March 27, 2020


For the health and safety of our community, staff, volunteers, sponsors, patrons and filmmakers, Dallas Film is following the guidelines of the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Dallas County Health Department and will postpone the Dallas International Film Festival powered by Capital One, originally scheduled for April 16 – 23.

Dallas Film, which operates the Dallas International Film Festival powered by Capital One, is in the process of developing plans an intends to reschedule the event later this year.

Thank you for your support and understanding during this unprecedented time.  We look forward to showcasing talented filmmakers and celebrating a safe and enjoyable movie-going experience with you as soon as possible.

Please visit DallasIFF.org, follow our social channels or subscribe to our email for the latest updates.


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