AFF is set to premiere NIGHTBITCH, THE ROOM NEXT DOOR, and Texas films LA GLORIA, TEXAS CULT HOUSE and more.
Austin, TX (September 16, 2024) – Austin Film Festival (AFF), the premier film festival recognizing writer’s and filmmaker’s contributions to film, television, and new media, has announced its Second Wave of screenings to be included in their 2024 film slate, taking place Thursday, October 24 – Thursday, October 31.
AFF is thrilled to present an impressive lineup of films from Texas filmmakers at the 31st edition of the Festival. Exciting new World Premieres include the Texas-made border drama LA GLORIA starring David Morse; the heartwarming documentary DEAF SANTA; and horror film TEXAS CULT HOUSE starring Adrienne Palicki. These films join the previously announced Texas features PARTY PEOPLE and THE EGO DEATH OF QUEEN CECILIA, showcasing the outstanding talent in Texas filmmaking presently.
Additional programming includes Pedro Almodovar’s THE ROOM NEXT DOOR, starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, which recently won the Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival, and Marielle Heller’s satirical comedy NIGHTBITCH with Amy Adams and Scoot McNairy.
Films will be premiering alongside AFF’s Annual Writers Conference, featuring awardees and panelists across all sectors of the industry. Previously announced awardees include Kathleen Kennedy (Polly Platt Award for Producing), Ronald D. Moore (Outstanding Television Writer Award), Justin Marks (Writer’s Writer Award), and Rachel Kondo (New Voice Award); and panelists Craig Mazin, John August, Tanya Saracho, Meg LeFauve, Matt Selman, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, and VJ Boyd.
AFF SECOND WAVE:
Photo by Iglesias Más. © El Deseo, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
THE ROOM NEXT DOOR (USA) – Sony Pictures Classics
Written/directed by: Pedro Almodovar
Cast: Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore, John Turturro
Synopsis: Ingrid (Julianne Moore) and Martha (Tilda Swinton) were close friends in their youth, when they worked together at the same magazine. Ingrid went on to become an autofiction novelist while Martha became a war reporter. Eventually, they were separated by the circumstances of life. After years of being out of touch, they meet again in an extreme but strangely sweet situation.
NIGHTBITCH (USA) – Searchlight Pictures
Written/directed by: Marielle Heller
Cast: Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Snowden, Emmett Snowden, Zoë Chao, Mary Holland, Archana Rajan, Jessica Harper
Synopsis: A woman (Amy Adams) pauses her career to be a stay-at-home mom, but soon her new domesticity takes a surreal turn
LA GLORIA (USA)
Written by: JT Walker, Christopher Carl Young
Directed by: JT Walker
Cast: David Morse, Jaklyn Bejarano, Bill Heck
Synopsis: An embittered Texas border rancher mistakenly shoots a young migrant woman as she crosses his property and must decide whether to help her, risking discovery by his estranged son, a Border Patrol Agent.
World Premiere
DEAF SANTA CLAUS (USA)
Directed by: Ben Shelton, Anthony Mowl
Synopsis: With an uncanny resemblance to the icon himself, Charles Graves chases his dream of becoming a professional Deaf Santa Claus.
World Premiere
TEXAS CULT HOUSE (USA)
Written by: Julia Barnett, Zachary Raber
Directed by: Julia Barnett
Cast: Adrianne Palicki, Ryan Cooper, Katherine Willis, Samantha Ryan
Synopsis: High school friends party at the abandoned home of a former cult leader and discover a mysterious anointing oil that holds the secret to the cult’s unraveling. Austin, a gay teen, is haunted by childhood trauma, while his mother (Adrianne Palicki) seeks to redeem the sins of her past.
World Premiere
SUBTOPIA: THE STORY OF HUECO CANYON (USA)
Written by: Clifford Wildman, Luis Caffesse, Lowell Bartholomee, Hilah Johnson, Ellie McBride, Ken Edwards, Liz Fisher, Lana Dieterich
Directed by: Clifford Wildman, Luis Caffesse
Synopsis: In 2011, Wally and Julia Kaplan were looking for a community and found the neighborhood of Hueco Canyon. But when leadership at the Homeowners Association changes hands, their idylic life is soured. As a joke, Wally runs for President. That joke leads to the largest suburban riot in Texas history.
World Premiere
AMERICAN SPIRIT (USA)
Written/directed by: Christopher Yates
Cast: Yasmeen Fletcher, Cooper Roth
Synopsis: Melody and Jonathan dated in high school, but that was four years ago. Now dating someone new, Melody is forced to retread her past missteps and question what comes next after a chance encounter with Jonathan.
World Premiere
The complete list of Festival programming, including over 100 films as well as hundreds of panels, will be announced in late September. Badges and Film Passes to the 31st Annual Austin Film Festival are now available. Purchase prior to September 26, 2024 and save before prices go up to door prices.
Press accreditation is now open through October 8, 2024. Press can apply at austinfilmfestival.com/contact/press-inquiries