David Berman, the head honcho behind the massively influential Silver Jews, made a turnaround these past couple of years that has both shocked and delighted his many loyal fans. While Berman became renowned through Silver Jews releases like The Natural Bridge and American Water, not to mention a turn at poetry with 1999’s Actual Air, he more recently experienced a religious rebirth and crawled out of his “hell-hole life,” as he described it, discovering an only hinted-at passion for Judaism as well as a renewed appreciation for everyday life....

Okay, as much as we love Beverly Hills Cop (and Family Guy), we've actually got a more important topic to cover here. The Austin Film Festival is continuing its popular Conversations in Film series this Sunday, August 5th, with a special session on Story and Structure: What to Think About Before You Write the Script. Leading this conversation is none other than Dan Petrie, Jr., who's worked on such top films as Turner and Hooch,......

Highlights from this week's IST List: Folk-pop crooner Page France brings the sparkling jingle-jangle of Page France and the Family Telephone to Emo's, alongside Bishop Allen, The Teeth, and Frank Smith Sidebar's turning three, and they're buying you a drink on the house to celebrate. Join them for Ruby's BBQ, DJ Supafly, and giveaways Alas, one of our favorite social butterflies is flying away to--where else?--New York City. Before he leaves, join Dave "KidIndie"......

Whether you like Michael Moore or think he's an anti-American nutjob, the guy's coming out with a new movie. Sicko is a study of America's (failing) health care system. Moore talks to victims (like a man who had to choose which of his two severed fingers to reattach, because he couldn't afford both) and perpetrators (oft-repentant health insurance agents) of the U.S. health care system, then trots (okay, maybe plods) around the globe in search......

If your first thought upon hearing of the new movie I'm Reed Fish is "Who's Reed Fish?" you're certainly not alone. Who is Reed Fish? Is that even a real name? How could his (her?) parents be so cruel/awesome? Why don't more people have animal last names (we want to meet a Mr. Platypus)? Shouldn't Reed Fish & Co. be the name of a hedge fund company? And are there real live "reed fish"? (Yes,......

We love a good cry, and we are expecting a Niagra Falls worthy Wednesday night, as Austin Film Festival brings us Away From Her, the directorial/screenwriting debut of Canadian powerhouse Sarah Polley. You may remember Polley from Dawn of the Dead, My Life Without Me and of course, the Road to Avonlea series. (Come on, we know you have the entire Anne of Green Gables spinoff on VHS right next to your NKOTB action figures.)......

Still not sure what to do for Mom for Mother's Day? No worries—there are plenty of filmtastic options. First, the Alamo Drafthouse is coming to your rescue with a Sabrina Mother’s Day Feast! The classic film starring Hepburn and Bogart (not the remake with Harrison Ford) is sure to be one of your mom’s faves, and even if it’s not, it will be soon—thanks to romantic tale and the delicious food set to accompany......

This Sunday, March 18th, the Austin Film Festival and 'Specially for Children will present a free sneak screening of New Line Cinema's family sci-fi film, The Last Mimzy. The screening (which will take place at the Regal Arbor Cinema as part of the AFF's Target Family Film Series) will help raise funds for a film-themed infusion room for teenagers with cancer and blood disorders at the Children's Ambulatory Blood and Cancer Center. Based on the......

Turk Pipkin is a Texas original who has built a colorful and successful career as a writer, comedian, performer and actor. After appearing in dozens of productions and writing several books, Pipkin decided to focus his creative energies on an issue of global importance. Through his interviews with nine Nobel laureates, Pipkin’s documentary Nobelity, focuses on the most pressing problems in our world today and how we can attempt to leave the planet a better......

Almodóvar gets a rare and worthy second look: Beginning next Friday, October 6th, the Arbor has a two-week treat for fans of Pedro Almodóvar. The controversial and flamboyant director of All About My Mother and Talk To Her will receive the retrospective treatment, as the Arbor shows new prints of eight of Pedro's films until October 19th. Titles include early classics Matador and Law Of Desire, which are not even available on DVD in......

The Austin Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (aGLIFF) runs from Friday, September 29th through October 8th. Check out the films that will be screening tomorrow night, below the jump. [aGLIFF Official Site] aGLIFF 19: "Say What?" Friday, September 29 – Sunday, October 8, 2006 Regal’s Arbor Cinema (9828 Great Hills Trail) [map] Tickets Available Now Photo from Eating Out 2......

We are insatiable movie lovers. Because we just haven’t had our fill of summer sunshine; are kept awake at night wondering how Edward Norton made a tree grow out of an orange seed; and want to gross ourselves out one more time on that Austin-filmed worms in a blender flick, we won’t be missing out on tomorrow night’s Cans Film Festival. No, not the Cannes you find in far-away France. We’re talking about the cans......

The Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival (aGLIFF) is in dire need of a select few individuals to sit in the projector booths and watch the films while they screen in the theater. As far as we can tell, it's a simple enough gig: they'll provide you with a walkie talkie, and if a technical problem should arise, you merely need to dispatch someone to come fix it. Details: Shifts are 4-6 hours......

The 19th annual Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival (aGLIFF) kicks off in exactly one week, and things are looking better than ever for the oldest and largest GLBT film fest in the Southwest. Nearly two decades ago, the festival began as a humble, five-film event over at the Dobie. This year, aGLIFF will screen an astounding 150 films from over 20 countries, with well over 10,000 attendees in total. Entitled "Say What?",......

Tired from a long weekend of listening to music, dancing, drinking and sweating? What better way to unwind than feeding your mind than a nice evening in a cool theatre with a film? Sounds good, right? Well, you're in luck. The Austin Film Society is hosting a FREE advance screening of Boynton Beach Club, a sweet comedy about a group of senior citizens living in an "Active Adult" community in Boynton Beach, Florida. The group......

*This post comes from new Austinist film contributor Christopher Sharpe.* Update: Additional screening to be held tonight at University of Texas, Burdine #216, one block south of Dean Keeton between University and Wichita @ 7:30pm. Five years after the September 11th attacks, video stores could probably devote an entire section to 9/11 conspiracy documentaries. Unfortunately, most of them suck. With a few notable exceptions, 9/11 docs range from amateurish depictions of interesting ideas to completely......

While it arrives in Austin too late to capitalize on World Cup fever, the new documentary Once In A Lifetime tells a surprising and all but forgotten story. In the late 1970's, some brilliant businessmen sold the city of New York on soccer as a stadium event and planted the seed for a huge new pro sports league...only to watch their dream fall to pieces. The most entertaining thing here is to realize that......

aGLIFF, or the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival, tonight hosts the latest in its 2006 Filmmaker Series, which presents works by up-and-coming queer filmmakers and donates any proceeds from ticket sales to support their future projects. Austin-based auteur Alpha's first effort, a documentary short piece entitled What Can 2 Girls Do Together?, debunked common misconceptions that straight males hold about lesbians and earned her a reputation as a guerrilla filmmaker. Since then, she's......

WEDNESDAY [2] [music] Ghost of the Russian Empire, Lomita, Fire v. Extinguisher, Moth Fight at Beerland LINK [music] "Wax Wednesdays" at Ruta Maya (8pm) LINK [music] Rhett Butler at Cactus Café ($7, 8:30pm) LINK [music] Free Nugs & the Kickbaxx, The Hudsons at Threadgill's LINK [music] Abba Yo Yo's, End of the Year at Snake Eyes Vinyl (7pm) LINK [music] Teenage Symphony, The Shells, Economy at The Chain Drive (9pm) LINK [music] Band of Heathens......

Poverty, famine, political corruption, a fragile ecosystem that is growing more fragile by the day. The world is facing some serious concerns and we must be very conscientious in the way we move forward if we want to have any hope of leaving it a better place for our children. Author, actor, filmmaker Turk Pipkin felt the weight of these pressing global concerns, so he went and found some of the world’s brightest people......

MONDAY [8] [music] Art Brut, Birdmonster, The Robocop Kraus at Emo's (link) [music] She Wants Revenge and OKGO at Stubb's (link) [music] The Lashes at Waterloo (Free, 5pm) (link) [film] Amelie (with FREE crème brulee) at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (link) [film] L.A. Confidential at Austin Java (8pm, FREE) (link) [film] Anime Monday at Ventana del Sol (7:30pm, FREE) (link) [film] Wet Hot American Summer at Rounders Pizzeria (6pm, FREE) (link) [film] School of Rock at......

M O N D AY [ 31 ] music/party · The White Ghost Shivers' Halloween Ball at American Legion Hall! Burlesque, Independence Brew, apple bobbing with the TX Roller Girls, Tarot card readings, a kissing booth and more. The White Ghost Shivers will also be performing a live soundtrack to accompany Buster Keaton's "Cops." ($25, 9pm) music · Galactic, Mofro and New Monsoon at Stubb's music · Halloween Show at Emo's with Flametrick Subs, Satans......

: : FRIDAY : : [film] New Movies @ Your Local Theater! [music] Willie Nelson @ Stubb's (also Saturday) [music] The Queers, The Vibrators, The Independents (outside) and Wolf Eyes, Prurient and Rubble (inside) @ Emo's [music] CD release show for The Lovely Sparrows & Big Blue Marble @ Beerland [music] The Arm and New Model Army @ Elysium [film/lecture] Rabia Clark presents her short film, "The Dervish Project", 7pm @ Ventana del Sol......

M O N D A Y [3] film · "Bamako Chic"'s creator Maureen Gosling, a former Austin resident, is back in town hosting a special fundraising screening of "Blossoms of Fire" - her 16mm documentary film about the people of Juchitán, Oaxaca, Mexico - at Austin Studios. (7pm, map) music · 54 Seconds play Lucky Lounge (10pm) in-store · Billy Joe Shaver at Waterloo Records (5pm) film · aGLIFF runs through Saturday - check their......

Tomorrow night, the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival (aGLIFF) hosts the 5th Annual My Gay Movie (MGM) screening and awards ceremony, intended to give recognition to up-and-coming filmmakers across the country - with an emphasis on those in Austin, naturally. Last year's award categories still crack us up: · Best exploitation of household pets · Best impersonation of character from Gone With the Wind · Best lesson on accessorizing · Best product......

Now that the Oscars are over, Hollywood is unleashing all of the feel-good movies that previously had to take a back seat to the serious, thought-provoking, make-you-want-to-die films that usually crowd awards season. And while Austinist's favorite celeb does have a new movie out this week, we suggest checking out a little movie called Millions. It's a beautiful British film about 2 boys who find a bag of cash and their opposite ideas on......