Tomorrow, The Austin Film Festival kicks off and will run through October 29th. This year’s fest will feature several buzzed about new films including Precious, which was produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry. Here’s a list of the other must see movies in Austin this year according to Austin 360.
‘Serious Moonlight.‘Cheryl Hines (best known as Larry David’s wife on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’) directs Meg Ryan, Timothy Hutton, Justin Long and Kristen Bell in this twisted romantic comedy written by late actress-screenwriter Adrienne Shelly. The movie kicks off the festival, and Hines will be in attendance. (7 thursday, Paramount)
Matthew Weiner presents ‘Mad Men.’Emmy-winner Weiner, the creator of AMC’s hit series, screens one of his favorite episodes and talks about the program. (6:15 thursday, Alamo Ritz)
Ron Howard presents ‘Apollo 13.’This show includes much more than just Howard’s masterful 1995 historical drama. Co-sponsored by NASA, the screening also features rare archival Apollo footage contributed by NASA and a Q-and-A panel with Howard; ‘Apollo 13’ screenwriters William Broyles Jr. and Al Reinert; co-star Clint Howard; commander of the Apollo 13 mission, astronaut Jim Lovell; and Jon Aaron, Sy Liebergot and Jerry Bostick, retired NASA Mission Control advisers who played key roles in the 1970 Apollo 13 crisis. (6 p.m. Saturday, Paramount)
‘The Messenger.’Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster play officers in the Army’s Casualty Notification service in this timely emotional drama directed and co-written by Oren Moverman. Harrelson, Foster and Moverman will be in attendance. (7 p.m. Sunday, Paramount)
Steven Zaillian presents ‘The Falcon and the Snowman’ —Zaillian shows the classic 1985 drama he adapted from Robert Lindsey’s Cold War novel. The film stars Sean Penn and Timothy Hutton and was directed by John Schlesinger. (8:45 tonight, Alamo Ritz)
Stewart Stern presents ‘The Ugly American.’Stern shows the semi-obscure 1963 drama, starring Marlon Brando, which he adapted. Stern also wrote ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ and ‘Rachel, Rachel.’ (12:15 p.m. Friday, Alamo Ritz)
‘Alabama Moon.‘Director and Austinite Tim McCanlies and star Clint Howard present this family-friendly adventure based on the novel by Watt Key. (4 p.m. Sunday, Paramount)
‘Tales from the Script.‘Because this is a festival celebrating the screenwriter, this documentary, all about the art of script writing and featuring dozens of famous scribes (John Carpenter, Paul Schrader, William Goldman, Guinevere Turner), is a perfect fit. With director Peter Hanson and many of his writing subjects, including Shane Black, in attendance. (7:30 p.m. Friday, the Independent at 501 Studios)
‘Up in the Air.’This Jason Reitman comedy, starring George Clooney, is already a huge hit on the festival circuit. Reitman, who also directs, adapted the satirical novel by Walter Kirn. Reitman (‘Juno’) will be at the show. (8 p.m. Oct. 29, Paramount)
