AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL, MEXIC-ARTE MUSEUM AND TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL TO HOST “SUPER SATURDAY” ON OCTOBER 27
Free Screening of Disney•Pixar’s Academy Award®-winning film “Coco,” live music, food, children’s activities and much more to take place in downtown Austin
This year, three of Austin’s most anticipated events will coincide on Saturday, October 27. Austin Film Festival (AFF), Mexic-Arte Museum’s Viva la Vida Festival and Parade and the Texas Book Festival will be teaming up to offer a full day of culture and activities in the heart of downtown Austin.
“We Austinites are fortunate to have so many opportunities to experience arts and culture first-hand,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler. “We have three of Austin’s most iconic events taking place on Saturday, October 27—Austin Film Festival, Mexic-Arte Museum’s Vida la Vida Festival and Parade, and the Texas Book Festival. These venerable organizations—hosting annual events that have helped shape this city as a Festival town—are working closely together to maximize the day’s cultural impact for our citizens. It’s a Saturday downtown you won’t want to miss!”
Live music, children’s art activities, retail booths and food will be available along Congress Avenue from 4th Street to the Capital. The three organizations will also be teaming up to a host a free public screening of Disney•Pixar’s Academy Award®-winning animated feature Coco at 4:00 pm at the Paramount Theatre, which will be followed by a Q&A with the film’s co-writer Matthew Aldrich. At 2pm, Texas Book Festival and Mexic-Arte Museum will present author Matt de la Peña and illustrator Christian Robinson, Newbery Medal winners of Last Stop On Market Street, for a reading and signing of their new picture book, Carmela Full of Wishes, at the Festival’s Education Pavilion (at the Frost Bank Tower patio on 4th and Congress).
Capital Metro and the Austin Public Library invite you to GET DOWN! Park for free at six (6) different branch library locations and ride for free with a Transit Day Pass — so you can spend more time at the festivals and less time circling downtown for parking.
CHECK-IN | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Go to the front desk at any of the participating branch libraries (below) between 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM to get a free Capital Metro Day Pass and a Travel Guide, so you can get to and from downtown with ease.
- Recycled Reads | 5335 Burnet Road | Routes 3, 803
- Pleasant Hill | 211 East William Cannon Drive | Routes 1, 801
- Little Walnut Creek | 835 West Rundberg Lane | Routes 1, 801
- Ruiz | 1600 Grove Boulevard | Route 20
- Carver | 1161 Angelina Street | Routes 2, 6
- Southeast | 5803 Nuckols Crossing Rd | Route 7
CATCH CAP METRO | All locations are served by high-frequency transit lines — arriving every 15 minutes or faster — that will drop you within blocks of the festivities (by Republic Square Park or the Austin History Center ). New to transit? No worries! Capital Metro will provide you with a Travel Guide to help you get to and from the events. Use the CapMetro App to help plan your trip when you head towards Republic Square to catch a ride back. Click here for more information on the Park & Ride Fall GET DOWN.
The 25th annual Austin Film Festival will take place October 25 – November 1, Mexic-Arte Museum Viva la Vida Festival and Parade on October 27, and the Texas Book Festival (TBF) runs October 27 – 28.
About Austin Film Festival
Austin Film Festival is an annual film festival and writers conference dedicated to furthering the art and craft of storytelling. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this October, AFF transforms the city into a haven for writers and creators, playing host to over 200 panelists including 2018 honorees Roger Corman, Tony Gilroy, Daniel Petrie, Jr., and Larry Wilmore. Accompanying the Conference is a slate of more than 175 films set to screen during the eight day Festival along a slew of networking parties and events for film fans, creators, and industry professionals alike.
About Mexic-Arte’s Viva La Vida Festival and Parade
Mexic-Arte Museum’s Viva La Vida Festival and Parade is Austin’s largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival. Entering its 35th year, the annual celebration includes a Grand Procession, the Education Pavilion—with hands-on art activities and artist demos—as well as lively festivities featuring traditional foods, local artist and retail booths, a low-rider exhibition, live music, and performances throughout the day.
Leading up to this year’s festival, Mexic-Arte Museum will be hosting a FREE Museum Day and FREE Family Day on September 23, 2018 with artist in residence collective KUNIKLO. Art activities will highlight this year’s theme of “Alebrijes”, fantastical creatures of Mexican folklore—most recently featured in Disney-Pixar’s movie Coco. KUNIKLO will guide visitors (of all ages) through the creation of decorative masks and alebrije caterpillars using recycled materials.
About Texas Book Festival
More than 270 writers, including chefs, photographers, activists, and more, make up the exciting 2018 TBF lineup. One of the nation’s premier literary events and longest-running book festivals, the Festival continues to be free and open to the public thanks to its generous and dedicated sponsors and volunteers. The Festival brings together more than 50,000 attendees, live music, kids’ activities, food trucks, book signings, sales, and 100 exhibitors in and around the State Capitol over two full days.
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ABOUT AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL:
Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation, and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships. AFF is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department and the Texas Commission on the Arts. All attendees and events are based on permitting schedules and are subject to change and/or cancellation without notice. For media credentials, please contact Lauren Kelcher Stevenson at aff@sunshinesachs.com. Badges and passes are available for purchase online at www.austinfilmfestival.com or by phone at 1-800-310-FEST.
To apply for press credentials, please complete this form.
ABOUT MEXIC-ARTE MUSEUM:
Mexic-Arte Museum is dedicated to cultural enrichment and education through the collection, preservation and presentation of traditional and contemporary Mexican, Latinx, and Latin American art and culture to promote dialogue and develop understanding for visitors of all ages. Since 1984, Mexic-Arte Museum has produced and presented cultural and educational programs for communities in Texas and is one of the first museums to present Mexican and Mexican American art in the United States. In 2003, the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas recognized the uniqueness and significant cultural role of Mexic-Arte Museum, and designated it as the “Official Mexican and Mexican American Fine Arts Museum of Texas.”
ABOUT TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL
With a vision to inspire Texans of all ages to love reading, the Texas Book Festival connects authors and readers through experiences that celebrate the culture of literacy, ideas, and imagination. Founded in 1995 by former First Lady Laura Bush, Mary Margaret Farabee, and a group of volunteers, the nonprofit Texas Book Festival promotes the joys of reading and writing through its annual Festival Weekend, the one-day Texas Teen Book Festival, the Reading Rock Stars program, grants to Texas libraries, the Fresh Ink Fiction Contest and year-round literary programming. The Festival is held on the grounds of the Texas Capitol each fall and features more than 250 renowned authors, panels, book signings, cooking demonstrations, and children’s activities. The 2018 Texas Book Festival Weekend will take place October 27 – 28. Thanks to generous donors, sponsors, and 1,000 volunteers, the Festival remains free and open to the public. Visit www.texasbookfestival.org for more information, and join the conversation using the hashtag #txbookfest on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @texasbookfest.
ABOUT CAPITAL METRO
Capital Metro connects people, jobs and communities by providing Central Texans with safe, high-quality and sustainable transportation alternatives. The award-winning CapMetro App was among the first mobile ticketing apps to allow riders to purchase tickets and plan trips. Visit capmetro.org for more information.