USA Film Festival announces lineup for 2008

by John P. Meyer

No sooner does one local film festival close (the AFI Dallas International) in this movie-mad burgh than another one (the USA Film Festival) prepares to roll out their crimson carpets.

The USA film fest folks have just announced their program lineup for 2008 (April April 21 - April 27), and it includes some special tributes worthy of early mention, including a salute to Dallas-born rocker Meat Loaf (including a screening of Meat Loaf: In Search of Paradise) and a special nod to Mystery Science Theater 3000 featuring a panel discussion with MST3K creators/performers, along with clip highlights and a live riffing show in support of their new venture, Cinematic Titanic.

Also on tap: a Great Director tribute to Claude Lelouch (featuring a showing of Roman de gare); a tribute to cinematographer William A. Fraker (with a clip compilation and a 40th anniversary screening of Rosemary's Baby); a tribute to actor Austin Pendleton (with a screening of Lovely by Surprise); a tribute to Texas-born actor Rip Torn (with a film clip compilation and a showing of August); and a remembrance of Texas writer-director Eagle Pennell (with a restored print of The Whole Shootin' Match and the new documentary The King of Texas).

The Academy-qualified 30th annual National Short Film & Video Competition will also be held during the festival. World premiere feature films to be screened include Journal of a Contract Killer and Lucky Days, along with documentary premieres such as Robert Blecker Wants Me Dead and Drug Wars: The Colombianization of Mexico.

All screenings will be held at the Angelika Dallas - advance tickets go on sale (through Ticketmaster) beginning on April 10. Tickets are $8 per admission, or $25 for the Cinematic Titanic riffing event.

Sounds like fun!

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