The festival has been affected by recent events, but as of now the schedule remains virtually unchanged. Most of the guests want to come to Austin, but whether they will be able to get here on schedule or not remains to be seen. The EX show at the Mercury on Saturday has been cancelled.

We're suggesting that people call Cinematexas at 762-1235 (festival headquarters from Friday 9/14 on) to check for schedule updates.

In light of recent events, many of us are wondering why we should be directing so much time and emotional energy towards something like a film festival. This question brings up the function and history of film festivals and their role in society. Film festivals as a phenomena began en masse after World War 2 as a means to promote international dialogue - obviously, this is as urgent now as it was then, and it is a big function and goal of Cinematexas. We'll be showing films from 26 countries, from the Middle East, from Africa, from the Balkans, from Latin America. For young people growing up in Central Texas it is absolutely vital that they come out to see these films and learn about other cultures. Since the closing of the Union Theater film program, there is virtually no access to images and stories of other cultures in Austin - there is certainly little on the local or national news programs or newspapers.

Our function as a festival is not only to bring films from around the world to Austin, but to bring together people from around the world to discuss these issues. We invite you to join us for drinks and conversation at the opening reception 6-9pm Sept 14, at Ancient Gallery on 916 Congress. Food will be provided by Ararat Middle Eastern Restaurant. Please invite your friends and families.

We would like to thank you for your support of Cinematexas 2001 and hope that through the festival and all it's films you are able to find support, inspiration, and community.


Sincerely,

Festival Directors
David Barker
Micah Magee
Bethany Malmgren
Anne Reecer
and Julie Dervin

competition screenings

IINTERNATIONAL COMPETITION Over 100 films mined from the corners of the world. In past years, films having their US premiere here have gone on to screen in the Sundance and New York Film festivals, and be listed on '10 Best Films of the Year' in Film Comment and other journals. Includes (out of competition) new films by Guy Maddin, Hal Hartley, and Errol Morris. Jury members include: Jytte Jensen (Museum of Modern Art, New York), Ed Halter (New York Underground Film Festival, New York Press), Bill Horrigan (Wexner Center for the Arts), Elisabeth Subrin (Shulie), and Ximena Cuevas (DORMIMUNDO).

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS STUDENT COMPETITION Approximately 50 of the best and brightest films from up and coming undergraduate and graduate student filmmakers. Last year, Sean Gallagher's film OUT OF WATER was spotted and invited to the Rotterdam Film Festival. This year jury members include: Bart Weiss (Dallas Video Festival), Laura Harrison (SECRET PEOPLE), Dara Greenwald (Video Data Bank), Bryan Poyser (filmmaker, programmer, and UT graduate)

special programs

ALL THE GIRLS WITH CAMERAS IN THEIR HEADS
A survey of diverse work by seven of the most prolific women in avant-garde cinema, with in-person presentations by most artists. Filmmakers include: Trinh T. Minh-ha, Leslie Thornton, Peggy Ahwesh, Greta Snider, Ximena Cuevas, Miranda July, and Elisabeth Subrin.

JAN SVANKMAJER Three programs of short films by the Czech animator, from the '60's through the 90's. This is a rare screening of archival prints from the Prague Film Archives, many of which have never been available in the US. So-sponsored by the Czech Endowment Chair.

PETER TSCHERKASSKY The first US retrospective of the Austrian filmmaker whose work has forever altered the art of contact printing. His film OUTER SPACE had its US premiere at Cinematexas in 1999, then went on to play at the New York film Festival, win over 28 awards, and get listed as one of the Ten Best Films of the Year in Film Comment. A curator, teacher, critic, and the founder of Vienna's infamous Sixpack Film distribution initiative, Tscherkassky will present a retrospective of his own work, as well as a program of Austrian avant-garde cinema he has assembled.

ANDY WARHOL A rare screening of two featurettes by Andy Warhol, MY HUSTLER and VINYL, Warhol's pre-Kubrick adaptation of A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.

festival sidebars

TERRA COGNITA MOVING IMAGE INSTALLATION SERIES Our answer to the "end of cinema" debate and the agoraphobia of the digital age, Terra Cognita reclaims public space with moving image installations and video interventions throughout the city of Austin. Guests artists from Cologne, Dublin, New York, and Los Angeles will meet with local architects, filmmakers, musicians, and performers to upset the boundaries of inside/outside, body/machine, image/apparatus. Featured artists include Harun Farocki, Leslie Thornton, Rosa Barba, and Anne Bray and Molly Cleator of LA Freewaves, as well as the moving-image inspired art of Tom Zummer and Cuban poster artist Julioeloy Mesa.

PARALLAX VIEW: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF IMAGES A forum for cutting edge work from several disciplines addressing the relationship of art to social questions. With an unprecedented combination of genre busting film, installation, internet intervention, comic book artists, culture jammers, tremendous writers and micro radio gurus, Parallax View turns the traditional concept of media participation on its ear during with some of the highest quality work and thinking available in the hemisphere. Emceed by Craig Baldwin.

CINEMAKIDS By publicly exhibiting youth-made films from around the world, this series of screenings honors young filmmakers and empowers other youth to express themselves through film and video. Persons under the age of 18 are welcome to register for our free filmmaking workshops.

AUSTIN EYE+EAR Imagine seeing a butoh performance, Miranda July, and Jan St. Werner in the span of a week. An avant dream? No, it's Austin Eye+Ear, swinging into the real millennium, blowing the doors wide open, focusing on the hottest pioneers and upstarts working in the arena of cutting edge music/performance.


Plus ten days of workshops, receptions, and parties!