University of Texas at Austin Radio-TV-Film Faculty, Alumni Invited to SXSW Film Festival

AUSTIN, Texas — Feb. 19, 2007 — A documentary about a community in Houston’s Third Ward fighting for its future and a feature film about a security guard seeking to settle an old score – both from professors in the Department of Radio-Television-Film (RTF) at The University of Texas at Austin – have been invited to screen in the Lone Star States category at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in Austin next month.

“Third Ward, TX,” directed by Associate Professor Andrew Garrison, is about the economic and creative redemption of a traditionally African-American neighborhood in decline, through the efforts of a group of local artists, residents and volunteers. The film aired on PBS last year and will screen at 9:30 p.m., March 9 and again at noon on March 15.

Garrison is an independent filmmaker with experience in both documentary and dramatic film production. His films have been broadcast on PBS and screened in international festivals such as Sundance, the New York Film Festival and Rotterdam. He is the founder of the East Austin Stories documentary project, a collaboration between University of Texas at Austin student filmmakers and the residents and businesses in East Austin.

“Forfeit,” directed by Assistant Professor Andrew Shea, tells the story of an armored car guard whose elaborate plan for revenge is threatened by his relationship with an old friend – a brilliant and unpredictable television preacher.

Making its world premiere at SXSW at 7:30 p.m. March 13 and again at noon March 16, “Forfeit” features Billy Burke (“24”), Sherry Stringfield (“ER,” “NYPD Blue”), Gregory Itzin (“24”) and Wayne Knight (“Seinfeld,” “Jurassic Park”), and was written by John Rafter Lee. This is Shea’s third feature film. His previous features, “The Corndog Man” and “Santa Fe,” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and were broadcast on HBO and The Sundance Channel. His short film, “Take My Breath Away,” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

“Weaving Worlds” a documentary exploring the personal stories of Navajo weavers and their complex relationship with reservation traders, was directed by RTF alumnus Bennie Klain (B.S. ’03), while RTF Associate Professor Nancy Schiesari served as cinematographer. The film makes it world premiere in the Lone Star States category at 9:30 p.m., March 14 and again at 7:30 p.m., March 16.

“Bella,” which was written and directed by RTF alumnus Alejandro Gomez Monteverde (B.S. ’02), will make its regional premiere in the SXSX Spotlight Premiere category at 7 p.m. March 15. The film is an English-language drama about an international soccer star and an attractive waitress whose lives converge and turn upside down on a single day in New York City. “Bella” won the “People’s Choice” award at the Toronto International Film Festival last year.

“Elvis and Anabelle,” a feature film from The University of Texas Film Institute and its for-profit production company Burnt Orange Productions, will make its world premiere in the Spotlight Premiere category at the Paramount Theater at 6:30 p.m., March 10 and again at 9:45 p.m. on March 15.

For screening locations, visit http://2007.sxsw.com/film/screenings/date/2007-03-09.html

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For screenshots from “Third Ward, TX,” “Forfeit” or “Elvis and Anabelle” contact Erin Geisler.

Contact: Erin Geisler

(512) 475-8071

erin.geisler@austin.utexas.edu