FERAL CINEMA: The Quickening

The third Thursday of each month I Luv Video, The Austin Chronicle, The Onion & The Austin Underground Film Society will present FERAL CINEMA Double Features — rare, freakish & often damn near impossible-to-find cult classics from the wild fringes of pop culture. Hosted & curated by Marc Savlov of the Austin Chronicle, Charles Lieurance of I Luv Video, Pop Matters & Blastitude Magazine & Andy Gately from The Austin Underground Film Society & Psych Fest, these double features will bring to light a wide range of chronically unseen treasures. As an added bonus, screenings will have surprises like giveaways, trivia contests, drink specials, and erudite, boozy introductions from your hosts.

WHO IS KK DOWNEY?
Darren Curtis/Pat Kiely, 2008

We’re kicking off Feral Cinema with this brutal send up of hipster culture via the real-life controversy surrounding 16-year-old transgender cult author JT LeRoy, who made headlines with her “astonishingly confident” (New York Times Book Review) semi-autobiographical debut novel Sarah. Despite questionable literary merit and dubious authenticity, the story of a boy truck stop prostitute struck a masochistic chord with younger readers through its exotic subject matter and pitch black humor, and catapulted the mysterious teenage author into celebrity status, as she soon found herself being courted (in every sense) by the likes of Asia Argento, Gus Van Sant, Carrie Fisher, and Debbie Harry. It soon came to light that, in what the San Francisco Chronicle calls “the greatest literary hoax in a generation,” the sunglass-clad guy appearing on LeRoy’s speaking dates was not, in fact, the true scribe behind the work, or even a guy…

Enter Montreal comedy troupe Kidnapper, who lampoons the scandal’s perpetrators and marks for all it’s worth, and then some. Just leave it to the Canadians to rip American scenesters a new one. View the trailer HERE.

WHO IS KK DOWNEY? Will be preceded by the amazing punk rock short TORTURED BY JOY (Dir. Henry Griffin, 11 min.)

Doors @ 8 p.m. so you can get your drink on & the actual films will be shown at 8:30 p.m., with an intermission for giveaways, more drinking and bathroom breaks. Feral Cinema screenings cost $5. Feral Drink Special #1: $2 Lone Star pints

Don’t forget to check out the new film Zoo York Skate of Mind when it premieres at the best skate shop in town, Lone Star Sk8. Check the trailer then swing by the shop for free beer, BYO chair. Directed by R.B. Umali, music by Mr. Green

The 3rd Austin Underground Film Festival took place on December 19th, 2009 at the Salvage Vanguard Theater. Over thirty short films and music videos (see line up) were screened to our largest and most enthusiastic audience yet. In addition to the great turn out, we had even more support from local businesses and filmmakers than ever before.

Congratulations to the winner of the ‘08 Audience Choice Award, Ciro Altabas, for his awesome short film DVD!

Dozens of door prizes were given away courtesy of I Luv Video, SmoCo smoke shop and Lone Star Sk8. Delicious food, drinks and dessert was provided by Ararat and Starlet Sweets and the Massage Gypsy provided free massages.

The Strange Boys and Hacienda both played great shows at the after party which was sponsored by Live Music Capitol. Free beer was provided by Junior’s Beer and Wine and I Luv Video.

Special thanks to longtime patrons Mopac Media, Maker Faire and Bird’s Barbershop.

Photos of the festival and after party were taken by Francis Cruzada.

Scope the press frenzy:

The Onion / Decider Austin: interview with fest founder Andy Gately

KVUE-TV Austin: Live event coverage and interview

Austin Chronicle: Interview and preview of the films

Live Music Capitol Magazine: line-up breakdown and AUFF teaser trailer

That Austin Girl: Interview

BadLit: Review of the entire line-up

“The show was great, we had a really good time.”
-Tim League, Founder, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

“These are the films that keep Austin batshit crazy. Let’s see that on a bumper sticker.”
-I LUV VIDEO

AUSTIN.COM: Festival Preview

Click thumbnails for larger versions.

Psychedelic rock and short films, sponsored by Dripping Springs vodka. All ages.

Join us as we christen the newly-renovated East Side venue Bill’s Place! (3421 E.
Cesar Chavez)

Featuring the music of:

CAVEDWELLER
SHAPES HAVE FANGS
THE ASTRONAUT SUIT

Map and more info available HERE.

The work of various Austin visual artists is now being exhibited through Jan. 17th in a nontraditional venue: Amplify Bank @ Brockton.  Check out footage from the gallery opening party:
art direction by Bob Boucher
curated by Diane Graden

The late deadline for the 2008 Austin Underground Film Fest has been announced: Halloween. We’ve gotten a ton of great entries, but if you’ve been putting it off, now’s the time to send in your masterpiece. Entry fee is only $20.

Check out our friends over at Xemumba Fest this weekend for loads of great bands.

9:30 Lady Bell
http://www.myspace.com/ladybell

10:30 The Little Gentlemen
http://www.myspace.com/thelittlegentlemen

11:30 Charles Potts Magic Windmill Band
http://www.myspace.com/charlespottsmagicwindmillband

12:30 The Little Morts
http://www.myspace.com/thelittlemorts

Ruta Maya on 3601 S. Congress. Friday Sept. 12th ‘08.
Only six scrolls.

Local Austin band Focus Group, who you may remember from the 1st AUFF charity fundraiser, has informed Austin Underground that they are interested in working with local filmmakers on soundtracks. To find out more info, contact them through their MySpace page here:

Our friends over at the Video Association of Dallas present the 21st annual Dallas Video Festival to be held at the Angelika Film Center, located at 5321 East Mockingbird Lane in Mockingbird Station on October 3-5, 2008. Categories include: documentary, experimental video, video art, narrative fiction, music video, other, and installation. June 6 is the early deadline, August 3 regular deadline, and August 11 late deadline. Participants may register online at www.videofest.org. 214-428-8700 for more information.

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