UNDEAD TILL DAWN: Fantastic Fest's VAMPIRE BALL at the HIGHBALL

The VAMPIRE BALL at the HIGHBALL
Thursday, Oct 1, 10pm
A limited number of tickets are available to the general public, and we've got those on sale for just $5 right here!

The closing night of Fantastic Fest is always a bittersweet moment filled with sighs, tears, and lots and lots of partying. Last year we partied down in a cave to celebrate the Secret Screening of CITY OF EMBERS, but this year we're leaving the dwelling of bats and becoming the more sinister creatures of the night: Vampires!

Join the Fantastic Fest attendees for one last night in The Highball before we shut it down again for a few weeks and plan for our grand opening. We'll have DJs spinning the best of the darkest pop music from the '80s, blood bags for general consumption, and fangs provided for everyone. But don't let those fangs be your only decoration!

We'll also be holding a costume contest in the middle of the party, and as you can see in photos and videos from last year's Vampire Prom, you can't possible take this too seriously. But we don't care if you're the kind of vampire that has perpetual bedhead and sparkles in the sun or you're the kind of vampire with long fingernails and a spooky shadow that glides down the hall - just come out as ANY kind of vampire, and we'll keep the party going well into the night.

Bite me, fangbangers!

FANTASTIC FEST = FANTASTIC CELEBRITY GUESTS!

To say that Fantastic Fest is going to be bigger and better than ever this year is a major understatement. To say that Fantastic Fest is going to blow your god damn mind and you may never recover is probably closer to the truth.

We've packed in so many exciting events to this year's schedule. Some of them are so massive that we had to move them to the Paramount so that we could show festival goers and non-festival goers alike how serious we are about having fun. We are super serious!

These gala screenings are totally free to VIP FF badge holders! They are also free to regular FF badge holders, although admission is not 100% guaranteed (keep in mind, however, that the Paramount is MASSIVE and that most badge holders that want to attend will probably get in - it just sounds weird to say that you're 94.325% guaranteed).

All of these screenings will have very special guests in attendance so if you've never gotten to experience any piece of Fantastic Fest, take this chance! We'll see ya there!

GENTLEMEN BRONCOS with stars Jemaine Clement, Sam Rockwell, Mike White, Michael Angarano and filmmakers Jared & Jerusha Hess LIVE! - Thur, Sept 24, 7pm
Click here for tix

ZOMBIELAND with stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and director Ruben Fleischer LIVE! - Fri, Sept 25, 6:45pm
Click here for tix

THE VAMPIRE’S ASSISTANT with stars John C. Reilly, Josh Hutcherson, Chris Johnson and Chris Massoglia LIVE! - Sat, Sept 26, 6:45pm
Click here for tix

SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD with director George A. Romero, director of photography Adam Swica and editor Michael Doherty LIVE! - Sat, Sept 26, 9:45pm
Click here for tix

Fantastic Fest = Fantastic Celebrity Appearances

GET TICKETS TO THESE SCREENING HERE!

To say that Fantastic Fest is going to be bigger and better than ever this year is a major understatement. To say that Fantastic Fest is going to blow your god damn mind and you may never recover is probably closer to the truth.



We've packed in so many exciting events to this year's schedule. Some of them are so massive that we had to move them to the Paramount so that we could show festival goers and non-festival goers alike how serious we are about having fun. We are super serious!



These gala screenings are totally free to VIP FF badge holders! They are also free to regular FF badge holders, although admission is not 100% guaranteed (keep in mind, however, that the Paramount is MASSIVE and that most badge holders that want to attend will probably get in - it just sounds weird to say that you're 94.325% guaranteed).



All of these screenings will have very special guests in attendance so if you've never gotten to experience any piece of Fantastic Fest, take this chance! We'll see ya there!

GENTLEMEN BRONCOS with stars Jemaine Clement, Sam Rockwell, Mike White and filmmakers Jared & Jerusha Hess LIVE! - Thur, Sept 24, 7pm
Click here for tix

ZOMBIELAND with stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and director Ruben Fleischer LIVE! - Fri, Sept 25, 6:45pm
Click here for tix

THE VAMPIRE’S ASSISTANT with stars John C. Reilly, Josh Hutcherson, Chris Johnson and Chris Massoglia LIVE! - Sat, Sept 26, 6:45pm
Click here for tix

SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD with director George A. Romero, director of photography Adam Swica and editor Michael Doherty LIVE! - Sat, Sept 26, 9:45pm
Click here for tix

Will Gogol Bordello stop? Find out tonight!

GOGOL BORDELLO NON-STOP
Tonight at the Alamo Ritz
Advance tickets available here

"Gogol Bordello is a collective, musically and politically. We create an insane party atmosphere to deliver messages of social and political commentary." –Eugene Hütz.

From New York City's sensational Russo-disco scene to a non-stop touring marathon with his band Gogol Bordello, Eugene Hütz takes us deep into his artistic life and influences. The story unfolds over five years, beginning in 2001, and follows Eugene and Gogol Bordello's progress from underground legend to international phenomenon. Ranging in age from 25 to 50 years old, and hailing from five different countries, Gogol Bordello's members share their tales of immigration, of how they became part of the band, and how they quit their day jobs to go on tour. Through music, the film delivers messages of social and political commentary, and captures Gogol Bordello in the act of performing. But GOGOL BORDELLO also goes beyond music, beyond the political, opening hearts and ears to an artistic revolution in a globalized era.

Get your tickets here

Musical Mania at the RItz!

ACCIDENTAL ARTS ENSEMBLE PRESENTS: TOMMY LIVE!: Sunday 6:45
Buy tix here.
BEATLES ROCK BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS: Sunday 9:45
Buy tix here.

It's a double feature of musical insanity at the Ritz as we start with the Accidental Art Ensemble's Live version of The Who's TOMMY. A couple of years back we showed the movie TOMMY and had Austin's own Accidental Arts Ensemble out to play a few songs beforehand. With all due respect to the Ken Russell film, when it started the energy in the room took a nosedive - because the band destroyed. We've always wanted to have them out to perform the rest of TOMMY. Well, now's the time. This September the AAE will shred on the original and best Rock Opera of all time. No movie, just music. See you there. The Accidental Arts Ensemble consists of current and former members of The Palm School Choir, Lions, the Rockland Eagles, Michael Clay Band, The Polyphonic Spree, Low Line Caller, and more.

Then at 9:45 it's time to play Beatle's Rock Band on the huge screen in front of a crowd as part of the Beatles Rock Band Championships. Bone up on the rules here and get your Fab on tonight!

Top secret! THE INFORMANT opens this weekend at Lamar!

Matt Damon gains 30 pounds to star in the new espionage comedy from Academy Award magnet Steven Soderbergh!
Get your tickets HERE!

What was Mark Whitacre thinking? A rising star at an agri-industry giant, Whitacre (Matt Damon) suddenly turns whistleblower. Even as he exposes his company's multinational price-fixing conspiracy to the FBI, Whitacre envisions himself being hailed as a hero of the common man and handed a promotion. But before all that can happen, the FBI needs evidence, so Whitacre eagerly agrees to wear a wire and carry a hidden tape recorder in his briefcase, imagining himself as a secret agent.

Unfortunately for the FBI, their lead witness hasn't been quite so forthcoming about helping himself to the corporate coffers. Whitacre's ever-changing account frustrates the agents (Scott Bakula and Joel McHale) and threatens the case against ADM as it becomes almost impossible to decipher what is real and what is the product of Whitacre's active imagination.

BUT WAIT...CHECK OUT THESE REVIEWS!:

"A return to form for Soderbergh...he is in full control, and his star is on fire." - The New Yorker

"The pic showcases an excellent performance by a chubbed-out Matt Damon as a Midwestern executive who's so smart he's dumb. " - Todd McCarthy, Variety

Grab these tickets while they're HOT!

No Fantastic Fest Badge? Don't worry - we'll still rock your world off its axis!

Fantastic Fest at the Paramount

GENTLEMEN BRONCOS with stars Jemaine Clement, Sam Rockwell, Mike White and filmmakers Jared & Jerusha Hess LIVE! - Thur, Sept 24, 7pm
Click here for tix

ZOMBIELAND with stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and director Ruben Fleischer LIVE! - Fri, Sept 25, 6:45pm
Click here for tix

THE VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT with stars John C. Reilly, Josh Hutcherson, Chris Johnson and Chris Massoglia LIVE! - Sat, Sept 26, 6:45pm
Click here for tix

SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD with director George A. Romero, director of photography Adam Swica and editor Michael Doherty LIVE! - Sat, Sept 26, 9:45pm
Click here for tix

This year at Fantastic Fest we have some giant events. So big, in fact, that we've partnered with the colossal Paramount Theater to bring them to you. That means a whole bunch of tickets are available to folks who don't even have a Fantastic Fest badge. Tickets to star-packed premieres of GENTLEMEN BRONCOS with Jemaine Clement and others, ZOMBIE LAND with Woody Harrelson and others, SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD with George Romero and THE VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT with John C. Reilly and others are available to YOU. With just the swipe of a credit card you too can be rubbing elbows with the stars and enjoying the films that all your friends will be talking about later. Don't get left out! Be there.

Big Screen Classics: SUPERFLY
Monday and Wednesday at the Alamo Ritz
Advance tickets available here

With a very special guest, crew member and brother of the director David Parks, to share some of his memories of the making of this film.

For years Hollywood gave little thought to black audiences. Theaters in African American neighborhoods mainly played second run action and western films. But when Melvin Van Peebles hit the jackpot with SWEET SWEETBACK'S BAADASSSSS SONG, and particularly when MGM was saved from imminent bankruptcy by SHAFT, producers took notice. SUPERFLY was made by indie producer Sig Shore and director Gordon Parks Jr. Unlike a lot of the blaxploitation product coming from the studios, SUPERFLY worked and truly spoke the language of the streets. A lot of the credit goes to star Ron O'Neal, who really gives it his all as Cadillac-driving, womanizing, fur-coat clad coke dealer Priest. He's determined to get ahead and live the high life even though the cards are stacked against him. Priest's story arc is like a classical tragedy set in the penthouses and back alleys of New York. Like few other soundtracks before or since, Curtis Mayfield's brilliant songs set the tone and provide a kind of funky Greek chorus - a sort of counterpoint to Super Fly's deeds. This is a film you must see with an audience to truly appreciate. Be there.

Get your tickets here

TV at the Alamo: FLASHFORWARD from the future!

TV at the Alamo presents a special sneak preview of ABC's
FLASHFORWARD
Weds, Sept 16, 7pm at the Village
Reserve your seat now with a food and beverage voucher available here!

KVUE, ABC, and the ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE have teamed up to bring Austin a special sneak peek at one of this season's most eagerly anticipated new dramas: FLASHFORWARD! Best of all, this screening will be absolutely free! You can reserve your seat by purchasing a $5 food and beverage voucher through this website and be 100% sure that you're getting in, or just show up at the theater before the show and see if we've got any open seats. However you get there, just make sure you're there. Check out this show description and watch the trailer - this thing looks amazing!

What would you do if you were given a glimpse of the future? Would you accept what you saw and live life to its fullest, or would you do everything in your power to change your destiny? When the world's population is given a glimpse of their future, it forces everyone to come to grips with whether their destinies can be fulfilled or avoided, in ABC's exciting new drama, "FlashForward."

It's just another normal day in Los Angeles. FBI agent Mark Benford (Joseph Fiennes, "Shakespeare in Love") and his partner, Demetri Noh (John Cho, "Star Trek," the "Harold & Kumar" film series), are in the midst of a car chase monitored by their boss, Stanford Wedeck (Courtney B. Vance, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent") and colleague Janis Hawk (Christine Woods); Mark's wife, Dr. Olivia Benford (Sonya Walger, "Lost"), is in the middle of surgery; Dr. Bryce Varley (Zachary Knighton) is weighing a potentially life-ending decision; Mark's friend, Aaron Stark (Brían F. O'Byrne, "The International"), is working high above the ground on power lines; and Nicole (Peyton List) -- baby-sitter to Mark and Olivia's daughter, Charlie -- is in the throes of passion with her boyfriend when suddenly and without warning, every person on Earth blacks out for two minutes and seventeen seconds and sees a series of events from their own future, taking place on April 29, 2010 at 10:00 p.m., Pacific Time. For some the future will be joyous and hopeful; for others, shockingly unexpected; and for a few, it simply doesn't seem to exist.

Everyone in the world will eventually begin chronicling what they saw in their flashforwards on a worldwide website -- the Mosaic Collective -- that will further draw people together. And some of the flashforwards just might help Mark and his colleagues piece together the cause of the blackout.

Knowing their fate will alter each person's life in one way or another and poses the questions: Can destiny be changed? And by changing just one destiny, what effect would that have on those of others?

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE opens South Lamar!

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE
Now Playing Alamo South Lamar
Advance tickets available here

VOGUE Czar Anna Wintour has become well-known to millions of readers and movie-goers as the inspiration for the fashion medusa editor-in-chief in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA. Here's a chance to see the real Miranda Priestly in action. Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

"An eye-opening, highly satisfying romp." - Boston Phoenix

"R.J. Cutler's vibrant and mischievous documentary THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE is only partly a movie about fashion. At its heart, it's really a movie about work, about the ways individuals compete with, grate against and inspire one another in the workplace." - Salon

"Vogue VIP Anna Wintour slinks through this highly entertaining verite documentary like a stoic, sunglasses-bedecked fetish doll." - Time Out New York

Anna Wintour, the legendary editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine for twenty years, is the most powerful and polarizing figure in fashion. Hidden behind her trademark bob and sunglasses, she has never allowed anyone to scrutinize the inner workings of her magazine. Until now.

Every August a record-breaking number of people can't wait to get their hands on the September issue of Vogue. The 2007 issue was and remains the biggest ever, weighing over four pounds, selling thirteen million copies, and impacting the $300-billion global fashion industry more than any other single publication. An intimate, funny and surprising look at Anna Wintour and her team of larger-than-life editors as they create this must-have Bible of fashion, Cutler explores the untouchable glamour of Wintour's Vogue to reveal the extraordinarily passionate people at its heart. He takes us behind the scenes at Fashion Week, to Europe, on shoots and reshoots, and into closed-door staff meetings, bearing witness to an arduous, entertaining, and sometimes emotionally demanding process.

At the eye of this annual fashion hurricane is the two-decade relationship between Wintour and Grace Coddington, incomparable Creative Director and fashion genius. They are perfectly matched for the age-old conflict between creator and curator. Through them, we see close-up the delicate creative chemistry it takes to remain at the top of the ever-changing fashion field.

Roger Ebert's review of THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE

Get your tickets here

I WANNA ROCK!

The Action Pack presents
THE MONSTER ROCK SING-ALONG
The Best 80s Hair Metal, guaranteed to make your fist pump and your head bang!
Thursdays Sept 10 & 17 at the Alamo Ritz
Advance tickets available right here!

We celebrate hair metal every February in our annual LOVE BITES Power Ballad Sing- Alongs, but sometimes you want to do more than slow dance. Sometimes, you want to ROCK. And this month, that's exactly what we're effing gonna do. We're not gonna take it anymore, because god gave rock and roll to us and now we're going to shake you all night long.

So yeah, we've got the big hair and bigger make up of Twisted Sister and KISS. We've got the spandex of Van Halen and Poison. And we'll bring back more favorites from the Love Bites show, too, because "November Rain" isn't the only song by Guns 'N Roses. Oh, and AC/DC. Lots and lots of AC/DC.

But hey, if rock isn't for you, that's cool, too. Follow @theactionpack on Twitter and send us your ideas for future action packed shows!

aGLIFF Is On!

Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Fest
Sept 8-13th
Tickets and Schedule Here

The Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival (aGLIFF) cultivates the Central Texas lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) film and arts community through the exhibition and support of the best in recent LGBTQI international, national, and regional films. aGLIFF is the oldest and largest festival of its kind in the Southwest, and seeks to educate the community, promote the best films, and create positive images regarding LGBTQI people. The festival showcases features and shorts, mainstream and avant-garde. Symposia and panels explore current political and social trends. Special shorts programs focus on issues faced by LGBTQI youth, immigration of LGBTQI people, gender identity and expression, adoption, marriage, military service, religion, racial identity, cultural issues, and hate crimes against LGBTQI-identified people.

Tickets to most shows can be purchased at the door. See agliff.org for full schedule.

DADLABS with Owen Egerton and friends: Tonight!

DADLABS
Monday Night, Ritz 7:15
Buy tickets here.

With $1,000 in special Giveaways from Baby Bjorn!

This Labor Day celebrate the ones who never go through Labor… Dads! Join the four dads of Dadlabs.com (Brad Powell, Clay Nichols, Troy Lanier and Owen Egerton) as they present their award winning, side-splitting, occasionally insightful videos on being a father in the 21st century. The night will also include live interaction including the Male Breast Pump Challenge! Wikipooia! And Favorite Fathering Drinking Games! Dadlabs.com broadcasts irreverent advice and entertainment to fathers and has garnered a growing national following. With videos featuring Kevin Nealon, Sara Hickman, a slew of Austin’s best comics and, of course, the four dads, you’ll learn about breastfeeding, foreskins, inappropriate playground interaction, pregnant men and all the joy of being a dad, having a dad or knowing someone who has a dad!

Be the first in line to enjoy the hilarious insight of these bold impregnators.

Click here for a brief instructional video. Warning: male breast pump footage may be disturbing to sensitive viewers.

Mike Judge's EXTRACT now playing at the Ritz!

Mike Judge's EXTRACT
Midnight Premiere at the Alamo Ritz
Advance tickets available here

"Where IDIOCRACY held up a grotesque mirror to American mass culture and politics, EXTRACT seems to be designed to give capitalism a human face."
J. Hoberman, The Village Voice

Mike Judge, Austin's most hilarious filmmaker, returns to the screen for more working man's hijinks! If you liked OFFICE SPACE. You'll love EXTRACT.

The owner of a flower-extract plant (Jason Bateman), tries to contend with myriad personal and professional problems, such as his potentially unfaithful wife (Kristen Wiig), an attractive new temp (Mila Kunis) and employees who want to take advantage of him. Judge is back in his element: championing the failures of the blue-collar world.