by Chris Ullrich, Jun 18 2010 // 11:00 AM
Of all the film festivals I’ve been to over the years I rank Austin’s Fantastic Fest as one of my favorites. The selection of films, events, parties and the people running the fest, and in Austin in general, make it a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Now it seems the fine folks in charge of the fest are trying to make it even better with the announcement of the new Fantastic Fest Fantastic Arcade.
This new part of the fest will feature fresh, cutting-edge games designed by independent game developers and publishers. During the fest the infamous Highball ballroom will be transformed into an old style arcade to showcase all of these games. This event promises to further enhance Fantastic Fest’s already terrific lineup of things to see and do. I, for one can’t wait to check it out.
Fantastic Fest runs from September 23-30 in Austin, TX. If you love genre movies and want to have a great time, it is well worth the trip. Check out the full press release announcing the Fantastic Arcade after the jump.
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Posted in: Announcements · Fantastic Fest · Film Festivals · Horror · Movies · News
Tagged: Alamo Draft House, Fantastic Arcade, Fantastic Fest, Film Festivals, Horror, Movies, Sci-Fi, SXSW
by Chris Ullrich, Jul 13 2009 // 2:10 PM
Film festivals are often a conumdrum for me because I sometimes wonder how they get started and, more to the point, who picks the films that get shown at them. My problem is that the films selected for many of the festivals don’t usually seem all that appealing (at least to me) and are often a collection of “art for art’s sake” films overwhelmed by their own sense of self-importance.
Fortunately, I don’t have this problem with the Fantastic Fest in Austin, which runs from September 24th to October 1st. The films selected for this festival represent an eclectic mix of genres and filmmakers and what I consider to be some of the most interesting, innovative and creative films being produced today. Sure, they’re not all potential Hollywood blockbusters, nor are they for everyone, but they are all pretty much guaranteed to be interesting, entertaining and in their own way, artistic and provocative. Plus, they’re just so darn fun to watch.
Besides, any festival that kicks off with Director Jared Hess’s (Napoleon Dynamite) film Gentlemen Broncos, starring Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords fame, is aces in my book.
Here’s the first list of the films announced today that will be showcased at this years Fantastic Fest:
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Posted in: Events · Fantastic Fest · Movies · News · Press Releases
Tagged: Alamo Draft House, Austin, Fantastic Fest, SXSW