San Antonio Film Festival 2015 Preview – travel film report

Director David Zucker, actor Sean Young, and stuntman Corey Eubanks are all scheduled to attend the San Antonio Film Festival, which takes place July 28th through August 2nd at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in downtown San Antonio. The festival has consistently outgrown venues since its inauguration more than two decades ago, and continues to increase in size and influence every year. Look for my reviews and interviews coming in the next week.

The Festival launches today with a free community screening at the Pearl Stable. Then, tomorrow, it moves to the Tobin Center, the festival’s new home for the next two years.

Founded in 1994 by Adam Rocha, the festival’s ultimate mission is to raise San Antonio’s stature in the international film community, both as a resource for creative talent and as a destination. In fact, it has served as a springboard to success for several local filmmakers. Mr. Rocha told me that more than 20 of this year’s 100+ entries are made by — or focus on — people from the Alamo City, which something he’s quite proud of managing. He also added, “If you’ve ever had a desire to get into the film business, the Festival is the place to network.” In addition to the scheduled screenings and panel discussions, there are after-parties every night and opportunities to meet the people who are already successfully working in the industry.

Highlights of this year’s festival include:

Film Industry Panels: Free and open to the public, these panels cover such topics as crowdfunding, working with composers and the five steps to follow for a successful production. There will also be a conversation with veteran Hollywood stuntman Corey Eubanks. The panels will be held on Friday, July 31st and Saturday, August 1st from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

Top Secret: David Zucker (Airplane!) will be in attendance for a screening of the director’s cut of his 1984 comedy starring Val Kilmer on Saturday, August 1st at 7:00 p.m. at the HEB Performance Hall.

Criminal Activities: The directorial debut of San Antonio resident Jackie Earle Haley (The Bad News Bears, Watchmen, Little Children), this crime caper stars John Travolta, Michael Pitt (Boardwalk Empire) and Dan Stevens (The Guest, Downton Abbey). Haley also appears as Travolta’s henchman. The film screens Saturday, August 1st at 9:15 p.m., and Mr. Haley will be in attendance. See more on its IMDB page.

Inside Peace: This documentary follows three convicts in San Antonio’s Dominguez State Jail as they struggle to rebuild their lives and find peace within themselves. The film screens Saturday, August 1st at 9:00 p.m. See more information on the film’s website.

Leaves of the Tree: Filmed in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, and Houston, Texas, this is the story of a once-powerful lawyer, sidelined by a life-threatening disease, who journeys to Sicily to discover the mysterious healing powers found within a legendary tree’s leaves. The film stars Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight), Armand Assante (The Mambo Kings) and Sean Young (Blade Runner). Leaves of the Tree screens Sunday, August 2nd at 7:00 p.m., and Ms. Young plans to be in attendance. See more on the film’s website.

Listening: A psychological thriller that earned a rave from the Hollywood Reporter, Listening is the story of a group of grad students who invent a mind-reading technology that results in disaster. The film screens Friday, July 31st at 7:00 p.m., and director Khalil Sullins is slated to be on hand for a Q&A. See more on the film’s website.

Unimaginable: San Antonio filmmaker Cedric Thomas Smith debuts his drama that focuses on the topic of same-sex domestic violence. The film screens Friday, July 31st at 9:00 p.m. Get more information on its Facebook page.

Till We Meet Again: The director and stars will be in attendance for the world premiere screening of this romantic drama. The film screens Thursday, July 30th at 9:00 p.m. See more on the film’s website.

The San Antonio Film Festival will be held July 28th through August 2nd, 2015, at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle. Tickets and the full schedule can be obtained online.

 You can read Kurt’s film reviews here.