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"An
oasis of cinematic radicalism, lodged deep in Bush country, which has
nevertheless staked claim as one of North America's most respected experimental
festivals." "I was
able to be reunited for the first time in many years, with so many filmmakers
that i had not seen as well as meeting filmmakers whose work Iknew but
had never had the chance to meet it was an outstanding experience for
me." "One
of the most significant and inspiring festivals in the country." “Best
Short Film Festival” “Cinematexas
is a festival of great importance in the field of contemporary arts and
media. The choices, openness, inventivity, and rigorous quality of the
selection are unique. It is a Festival of reference.” “The
best short film festival in the U.S.” “The
wonderful thing about Cinematexas is that it sets out to do the impossible
on the slenderest of means, and often succeeds. Getting to see the world
premiere of the complete and finished Peggy and Fred in Hell is a good
case in point, and so, apparently, are the Kiarostami and Jarmusch events
that I missed the previous year. In contrast to the business orientation
of other festivals (whose names I don't need to mention), the passion
for cinema determines everything at Cinematexas—which makes it very
special.” “The
friendliest and best-programmed festival I’ve been to.” “From
my first exposure to Cinematexas, I [have been] awed by the imagination,
energy, and dynamism that are in evidence, both in the festival’s
curation and in its production. The festival’s juxtaposition of
film with live music and performance art proves elegant, useful, and utterly
organic, creating a cultural experience that is far greater than the sum
of its parts.” “It’s
easy to become hopelessly drunk on the compassion, hospitality, and positive
energy that Cinematexas radiates. As a young filmmaker, I can not express
how deeply I appreciated the respect that my film and I were shown.” “Cinematexas
has become, in a very short time, simply one of the best, most varied
and most respected venues for new independent film worldwide. The festival
has become an important resource for many European curators, and an indispensable
conduit to the larger, more established and prestigious film festivals.
The sheer intelligence of the directors and staff is in evidence everywhere:
in the cutting edge programming, in the various special projects, screenings,
exhibitions, retrospectives and events that are produced, and in the accommodation
of new media forms, and broad support of local, national and international
works by emerging and established artists. I don’t think there is
anything else like it in the U.S, and few other programs of its caliber
worldwide.” “I
have found a piece of free-minded, independent, educated, friendly filmland
on earth: Cinematexas, Austin.” “Cinematexas
is about the ineluctable power of images and sounds—and that power
can be poetic or political, but it is always evident.” “There
are no other festivals that have earned international recognition and
passionate admiration so quickly. Such promise is rare. Cinematexas followed
its own mind and ran smack into the zeitgeist.” “There
is a well-earned national buzz going around. I will come back every year
and I will tell everyone that Cinematexas is a do-not miss event. It is
a signifier of the rebirth of radical media.” “Cinematexas
is at the right place at the right time…hands down the most dedicated
festival to developing film and art form engaged with contemporary culture.” “What
a wonderful festival you all put on! I met great people and became eager
to make more films, especially ones that continue to be committed to an
alternative vision. What you did is incredibly unique in a world where
‘independent’ merely means pre-Hollywood.” “Thank
you so much for creating such a happy, intelligent festival environment.” “Not
a day has gone by since I left that I haven’t told someone how totally
magic my visit to Austin was. Thank you so much for each of your hard
work and generosity. It really, really, matters.” “The
week I spent in Austin was a total rejuventation. I left determined to
make more films, and soon—in part because I’d been excited
by what I’d seen and who I’d met, in part because I had been
assured there was an audience for my kind of work, and in part because
I was hellbent on coming back again next year.” |
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