Austin Film Festival 2006

Regional Premiere With an eye for cinema and ear for personal stories, Antonino Isordia lays bare the disappointments and tragedies felt by a generation of young Mexicans in his explosively kinetic "1973." By focusing on three case histories, each about someone born in 1973 who eventually spent time behind bars, Isordia delivers a startling tapestry of contempo Mexico City life. Pic superbly reps a brilliant new wave of Mexican non-fiction (including "Tropic of Cancer") and is in the midst of a vibrant fest run. - Robert Koehler, Variety

Winner, Documentary Feature Film Competition Regional Premiere Japan, 1977 - A dark, lonely road leads to the windswept shores. This is the remarkable story of a 13-year-old Japanese girl abducted on her way home from school by North Korean spies. Her parents had no idea what had happened to her or if she was even alive for 20 years. Then one day the whole world learned the shocking truth. This is an extraordinary tale of mystery, intrigue, and most of all love. The film is told through the eyes of the girl's mother and father, who have been searching for their daughter for nearly 30 years. The film begins with the day Megumi vanishes and traces the astonishing course of this personal tragedy, as it becomes a battle between two nations rising to a shocking climax.

World Premiere! Rose must escape the clutches of her family’s imprisonment in order to prove once and for all she is not alone in the galaxy. And she’ll prove it through song. Filmmaker synopsis : As a child, Rose has an extra-terrestrial experience that alters the course of her life forever. Or is she just crazy? Did aliens really visit her, promising to return and rocket her back to their home planet? Despite her family’s conviction that she’s deluded, Rose persists in her unyielding faith. As the moments draw nearer to that promised hour of the aliens’ return, Rose must escape the clutches of her family’s imprisonment in order to prove once and for all that she is not alone in the galaxy. And she’ll prove it through song.

How far can a man go before the creatures turn on him? An evil farmer and his robot wife cultivate an insidious new drug. He will soon get a taste of his own medicine.

Regional Premiere Andy (Jeff Bridges) has the perfect plan for winning back his wife and son: adult films do big business, so why not get filthy rich by producing a porn flick? Recruiting his friends to produce the film and the man known only as Some Idiot (Joe Pantoliano) to direct, Andy's adult film progresses swimmingly - until it becomes apparent that the performance problems of the lead actor (Moose, played by Ted Danson) may be due to the fact that he may be gay. Released as "The Moguls" in the UK, which in itself may be telling commentary on the differences between British and American moviegoers. Watch a trailer on YouTube

Regional Premiere American Scary is a look at the nation's tradition of horror hosting, from Zacherley to A. Ghastlee Ghoul. With interviews from major hosts from the 1950s to the present day, along with memories from celebrities and fans who were influenced by these hosts, you'll follow this American folk art form from its glamorous beginnings, through repeated waves of popularity, to its scrappy resurgence and survival in the age of cable access and the Internet. American Scary looks to remind people how much fun local TV could be - and maybe could be again. Featuring Joe Bob Briggs, Tim Conway, Neil Gaiman, Tom Savini and more! With horror host and Austinite Professor Anton Griffin and Frank Della Stritto from Cult Movies Press in attendance! Read more at Fangoria.com !

Regional Premiere From the birth of cinema through the 1960s in the United States, most pornographic films were brief, black and white, anonymously produced films known as 'stag films', 'blue movies', or 'smokers,' so called because of the smoke-filled rooms where men would gather for private screenings. This film examines the 'stag' film not as much for the subject matter or lack of production value, but as a metaphor and reflection of American popular culture. Featuring interviews with Adam Carolla, Melvin Van Peebles, Tommy Chong, Barbara Hammer, Linda Williams, Chris Gore, David Skal, and Rupert Jee.

When the IRA devises the assassination of two British marines, a 13-year-old girl must save the village from English retaliation.

Regional Premiere Made in the cinema verite style of the director's previous and Academy Award nominated film, Genghis Blues , Beyond the Call tells the story of three middle aged men whose idea of adventure is taking desperately needed food and medicine into some of the most dangerous yet beautiful places on Earth: the front lines of war. Ed Artis, Jim Laws and Walt Ratterman are former soldiers and self-styled Knights of Malta. In 1995, they formed Knightsbridge International, a unique humanitarian aid organization with the motto "High Adventure and Service to Humanity." Their specialty is going where death from landmines, bullets, or bombs is as frequent as death from hunger, disease, or the elements. They are a fusion of Mother Theresa and Indiana Jones. Their personal convictions and courage drive them to places like Afghanistan, Albania, Chechnya, Cambodia, Rwanda and the southern Philippines, often before other aid organizations arrive. The three are still on the ground when other aid organizations deem things too dangerous and pull out. Artis explains: "We're not there to change anybody's politics, we're not in the God business, and we pay our own way."