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We started as a group of friends getting together to watch films that weren't going to be distributed to the general public.
As word got out, that small group of cinephiles turned into hundreds. So in 1985 the Austin Film Society (AFS) was born, honoring classic and independent film with screenings in public venues all over Austin.
Filmmaker Richard Linklater spearheaded the Austin Film Society's early efforts, and in May of 1986, AFS was incorporated as a non-profit educational organization. From the outset, programs have been curated to present films within an artistic and cultural context. Series are constructed around thematic links, or feature the work of an individual director, and program notes accompany most screenings. Over the years our offerings have built a loyal audience and brought forth a nationally known, thriving film culture.
Visiting filmmakers are an important component of AFS programming, both as inspiration to the audience and affirmation for the filmmaker. Steven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantino, Ron Howard, Robert Rodriguez, Atom Egoyan, Charles Burnett, Monte Hellman, Tobe Hooper, Nancy Savoca, Gregg Araki, Albert Maysles, James Benning, Les Blank, Jean-Pierre Gorin, Ross McElwee, D.A. Pennebaker, and others have presented their works for AFS audiences.
The Austin Film Society's advisory board consists of Charles Burnett, Guillermo del Toro, Jonathan Demme, Mike Judge, Robert Rodriguez, Nancy Savoca, John Sayles, Kevin Smith, Steven Soderbergh, Paul Steckler, and Quentin Tarantino.
For the full essay, check out the blogs above. And for more info, please visit us at austinfilm.org! Don't forget to visit our facebook group!
