Some films subtly creep under your skin, tightening their hold until you realize you’ve been holding your breath. Cruel Hands, directed by Al Kalyk and co-written with Matthew Kalyk, is one of those films. I saw it at the 2025 Austin Film Festival, and although I couldn’t stay for the Q&A afterward, the story has… Continue reading AFF 2025 – Cruel Hands:
Category: Festivals
AFF 2025-Crystal Cross: a story of love, hope, and second chances
Premiering at the 2025 Austin Film Festival, Crystal Cross surprised me in the best way. On paper, it sounds like just another indie road movie—two strangers with baggage hitting the road—but Richie James Follin’s debut as writer, director, and star elevates that premise into something much more heartfelt. It’s a story of love, hope, and… Continue reading AFF 2025-Crystal Cross: a story of love, hope, and second chances
Austin Film Festival 2025 – Bite to Bite World Premiere Feature Documentary
Directed by Austin Director Kelly Lipscomb, Bite to Bite chronicles the journey of one giant Bluefin tuna from the frigid waters of Nova Scotia to the sushi tables of Japan as two lifelong Canadian fishermen and a scientist from Texas set off to follow their fish halfway around the globe to the world-famous Tsukiji seafood… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2025 – Bite to Bite World Premiere Feature Documentary
The documentary Voices: The Danny Gans Story, about a Las Vegas entertainer, makes its Texas premiere at the Austin Film Festival.
The documentary Voices: The Danny Gans Story, written and directed by Andrew Davies, is screening at the Austin Film Festival in the Juried Festival Selection. The first screening is on Friday, October 24, 2025, from 1:30pm to 3:38pm at the Rollins Theatre at the Long Center. About: VOICES follows filmmaker Andrew Davies Gans as he… Continue reading The documentary Voices: The Danny Gans Story, about a Las Vegas entertainer, makes its Texas premiere at the Austin Film Festival.
FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – Shelby Oaks: smart, eerie, emotionally grounded
I entered Shelby Oaks at Fantastic Fest 2025 with fairly modest expectations — the premise sounded quite familiar, and I half-expected another typical horror mystery. Instead, I left surprised by how much the film stayed with me. It’s not perfect, but it’s smarter, eerier, and more emotionally grounded than I expected, with moments that truly… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – Shelby Oaks: smart, eerie, emotionally grounded
Austin Film Festival News: Sell Out – Austin Filmmakers and Cast Sounds Like a Blast
Sell Out, written and directed by brothers Nick and Josh Holden, will have its world premiere at the 32nd Annual Austin Film Festival. The Holden brothers’ first feature film, The Golden Rut, premiered at the 2016 Austin Film Festival. The filmmakers shared this statement through a press release: “We are beyond excited to share this… Continue reading Austin Film Festival News: Sell Out – Austin Filmmakers and Cast Sounds Like a Blast
Critica de cine Fantastic Fest: Black Phone 2 – Sustos fantásticos de un elenco excelente
Vi The Black Phone (2021) y me emocionó saber que habría una secuela. Cuando supe que el Fantastic Fest de este año ofrecería Black Phone 2, se convirtió fácilmente en una película muy esperada por mí en el festival de este año. Siempre es un gran momento en el festival estar sentado en un cine… Continue reading Critica de cine Fantastic Fest: Black Phone 2 – Sustos fantásticos de un elenco excelente
Fantastic Fest 2025: IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU Features An Incredible Turn By Rose Byrne
Though not the typical Fantastic Fest movie, I was nevertheless thrilled that the programmers included this incredible film by writer/director Mary Bronstein. It is definitely not a very entertaining or amusing film (though it has its moments of fun and humor), but it is undoubtedly a phenomenal experience. Leading the film’s cast is the lovable… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2025: IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU Features An Incredible Turn By Rose Byrne
FANTASTIC FEST 2025: Answering the Call Again – Black Phone 2 Delivers Chilling Tension and Strong Returns
Black Phone 2 proves that some nightmares never really end. Directed by Scott Derrickson and co-written with C. Robert Cargill, the film picks up four years after Finn killed his abductor and escaped, leaving him the only survivor of The Grabber. Finn, now a teenager, carries a hard-earned edge, while his sister Gwen is still haunted… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2025: Answering the Call Again – Black Phone 2 Delivers Chilling Tension and Strong Returns
AFF 25 News: Austin Film Festival taking place October 23-30, Offers Many Premieres
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) returns for its 32nd annual festival, taking place from October 23 to 30, and offering high-profile world premieres, Texas premieres, and the renowned Writers Conference, held from October 23 to 26. The festival celebrates the art of storytelling on both the screen and the page. The writing and filmmaking partners… Continue reading AFF 25 News: Austin Film Festival taking place October 23-30, Offers Many Premieres