Film Flam

We’ve vented before about how aggravatingly far down the food chain Austin is as a theatrical market. Lucky for us, repertory theatres and microcinemas have been filling in the gaps, most recently with a just-announced indie series at the Stateside.

On Feb. 18, the Stateside at the Paramount launches the weekly Stateside Independent series, which aims to bring “critically acclaimed films from arthouse cinemas and the top film festivals around the world to Austin audience.” First up? The Texas premiere of 56 Up, the latest in Michael Apted’s monumental documentary series that catches up with the lives of a group of disparate Britons every seven years. The following Monday will see the Austin premiere of Cory Van Dyke’s Far Marfa.

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SXSW Interactive announced yesterday that Vice President Al Gore will appear at the festival on March 9 to discuss his just-out book The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change.

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The Austin Film Festival has named Ryan Darbonne its new Film Department Director. A short film and music video director, Darbonne also cofounded local indie outfit Cinema41.

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The Austin Film Society is currently accepting submissions for its annual AFS ShortCase at SXSW, a chance for AFS members (Make level or above) to show off their short films to an international audience. Submissions are due Monday, Feb. 18; Slackerwood has all the details.

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Favorite headline of the week so far: “Yes, The Magic Mike Musical Will Include Audience Lap Dances.” Not much is known about the under-construction theatrical adaptation, but we’re crossing our fingers that Matthew McConaughey will keep his career hot streak going by storming Broadway. Eff the Oscars and their infuriating snub of McConaughey’s stripper Dallas: Take the Tony!

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