AFI Dallas CEO and programmers pick their fave films from other festivals

by John P. Meyer

Say you're the artistic director of a big-time film festival like AFI Dallas. (Go ahead, say it - it feels GOOD!) What do you do during the off-season, when you're not lining up a slate of fantastic films for your hometown audience or schmoozing with stars and big shot producers?

Easy: you go to other film festivals and check out the competition.

That's the way AFI Dallas CEO and artistic director Michael Cain - along with his dynamic duo of programmers, Sarah Harris and James Faust - spent some of their time in 2008, in the process traveling to such exotic locales as Toronto, L.A., Park City, Cannes and even Marfa (way to go, Sarah!) in order to ferret out the finest in freshly-filmed entertainment. (Nice work if you can get it.)

With Sundance 2009 almost upon us, Michael, Sarah and James recently took the time to mull over all the great films they'd seen last year at other festivals and narrowed them down to their favorite five. Then, they reminisced about the top audience pleasers from their own lineup at AFI Dallas 2008.

Michael Cain had this to say about his five favorite films from other festivals:

Slumdog Millionaire - "I first heard of the film at Toronto and finally caught it at the Austin Film Festival, and then again at AFI FEST. Besides witnessing an amazing film, getting to meet Danny Boyle and hear his process is one of my highlights of the year."

The Wrestler - "Caught this at Toronto and was so impressed with Darren Aronofsky and his return to a low budget format. Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Aronofsky all deserve awards for their work in this film."

Doubt - "The AFI FEST Opening Night film was a true performer with every performance and direction a masterpiece."

U2 3D - "Our team caught this film at Sundance and the combination of the power of U2 coupled with the new technology used exactly as it was meant to be used brought Bono right into our seats. It was also amazing to be there as the band joined the director afterwards for the Q and A."

Man On Wire – "Again, the programming team at Sundance delivered by programming a film that makes you believe that you can do anything. You sit mesmerized as the seemingly impossible is attempted and wonder if you would have the nerve to do the same."

* And as for Michael's top 5 audience pleasers from AFI DALLAS last year:

The Visitor - "James Faust and I watched this at a private screening six weeks before the festival and could not wait to see an audience witness Richard Jenkins’ performance. It was worth every second of the wait. They loved it."

What Just Happened - "Dallas loves movies about movies and the combination of a new cut of the film, Barry Levinson, Art Linson, Robert De Niro and Dallas’ own Todd Wagner for two sold out screenings was exhilarating."

Captain Abu Raed - "Our sold out audience had no idea what to expect from the first independent film from Jordan and were blown away. I had been tracking the film since Sundance and after we chose the film we found out that an AFI alum had directed it. Great storytelling."

Jump! - "We screened the film three times - each time with a capacity crowd. The first time was outdoors in Victory Park with a jump rope competition. It was like Rocky for 9-18 year olds. We became everyone’s favorite aunts and uncles that day."

Circus Rosaire - "The audience loved this touching exploration of the Rosaire family and their quest to protect the animals who had become their family during the rough times that have befallen their small traveling circus. Touching."

James Faust talks about his top five films from other festivals:

Slumdog Millionaire - "My favorite film of the year. At a sold out screening at the Toronto Film Festival I ran into director Danny Boyle as I was leaving and he was heading to the stage with his cast. He is now my hero. See my facebook pictures of he and I in Austin... I'm the grinning fool standing next to the genius."

Johnny Mad Dog - "The most powerful film I have ever seen about Africa and it’s constantly violent political landscape. I walked out of the Debussy theatre in Cannes and I was in a daze for hours. I ran into Sundance Super Programmer Trevor Groth and he had the same reaction. Funny... the film is playing Sundance this year."

Still Orangutans – "AFI FEST Senior Programmer Lane Kneedler, tells me this is a must see at AFI FEST so I walk in and I am blown away. This Argentinean road trip is so cool it hurts. One shot. 20 characters. ONE SHOT!!! Awesome!"

JCVD – "I saw this at theToronto Film Festival. You don’t go into a Jean Claude Van Damme film thinking, 'Oh, this will be insightful, smart and beautifully photographed.' But it was. I was shocked and so were the other 300 people in that room. Standing applause in a Press and Industry screening. And only half the crowd was French... I think. Do French people like Jean Claude?"

The Good The Bad The Weird – "This was at Cannes. There is no more fun film on the planet. If Clint could have done half of these stunts... Well, he’d be dead... but man..."

Medicine for Melancholy – "I caught this little film at the L.A. Film Festival. It ushers in a new era in independent black cinema. Yes, I know this is six, but I saw a bunch of films this year...you can’t hold me to 5!"

* And what about James' top 5 audience pleasers from AFI DALLAS 2008?

The Visitor - "The sold out screening was filled with Dallas dignitaries and thrilled moviegoers. Richard Jenkins deserves the Oscar for just being a cool guy - then, his performance as well."

Nerdcore Rising - "The story of MC Frontalot and the Nerdcore Hip Hop Movement. We had the band play a show after the screening. They were so happy the crowd was pumped. And I will never forget this line from the film, 'Nerdcore talks about the things I’m interested in....Magic The Gathering and internet porn addiction'."

More Shoes - "Director Lee Kazmir slips the DVD of his film in my coat pocket at the Slamdance Film Festival closing night party. That little film sold out 3 times at AFI DALLAS and people are still talking about this crazy guy who walked from Madrid to Kiev. I just received a post card from Lee. He’s in Indonesia screening his film. He still counts AFI DALLAS as his best festival experience of 2008."

Amal - "Director Ritchie Mehta and lead actor Rupinder Nagra had never been to Texas. Their two sold out screenings were some of the most spirited question and answer sessions I had ever been apart of. I talk to Ritchie a lot now. The film has gone on to be one of Canada’s most successful films and garnered over 10 festival awards in the last 9 months. I also took these unsuspecting Indian Canadians to their first Tex/Mex meal while they were herel. Ahh, the wonders of Dallas."

Blood on the Highway - "The most spirited screening ever. A midnight world premiere that started around 12:40 a.m. We had to turn away at least 100 people. Some intoxicated patrons were thrown out before the show. One of them snuck back in, started attacking one of the AFI DALLAS banners, takes off running and is tackled by the security and the filmmaker’s father (who is a black belt in some form of martial arts apparently). When I started the show the lead actress’ 80 year old grandmother (as I am told) asked if this is how all the screenings at AFI DALLAS start. Maybe…"

Ace programmer Sarah Harris said this about her fave five films from other fests:

Slumdog Millionaire – "I saw this at a Press & Industry screening at Toronto and was blown away. One of the very rare times I’ve ever heard that much applause and seen an ovation from an often jaded industry audience."

U2 3D – "We saw the completed public world premiere at Sundance last year with the entire band in attendance. The energy in the audience was incredible. It felt like a huge rock concert held in a 'little' theater in Park City. And did Bono reach out to touch my hand?!"

There Will Be Blood - "I never saw this in 2007, but finally saw a new 35mm print of it at an outdoor screening on the original set of downtown “Little Boston” used in the film at the opening night of the Marfa Film Festival. And this was in the middle of the desert under a giant Texas sky of stars... (However, the story from the rest of the night can only be told in person.)"

The Wrestler – "This was an AFI FEST Centerpiece Screening. It was great to see an AFI alum (Darren Aronofsky) have a homecoming of sorts from AFI in the legendary and beautiful Mann Chinese Theater."

More Than A Game – "This film was one of my favorites out of Toronto that I’m trying to bring to Dallas in the spring. (Hopefully, it will make for an even better memory for 2009.)"

* As for Sarah's top five audience pleasers from AFI Dallas 2008:

The Visitor– "This film had a lot of buzz during (and now after) the festival. People were asking for a second screening that we unfortunately couldn’t do. Director Tom McCarthy and Richard Jenkins were great guests."

Frag - "We are still finding the little green plush grenades the filmmakers threw around to promote the film (including to everyone who watched their red carpet entrances at North Park) in random places all around the programming office."

More Shoes – "That film had 3 amazing sold out screenings. Director Lee Kazimir let us in on his beautiful journey, inspired by the iconic director Werner Herzog and the audience just couldn’t get enough."

Summerhood - "I will never forget the Q&As with director Jacob Medjuck. So much fun…"

Shorts Blocks - "Especially the MIDNIGHT SHORTS BLOCK. Crazy films, a crazy crowd - you just had to be there to understand."