Category Archives: Film

Screening: Ruben Salazar: Man in the Middle 3/27

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KLRU featured event

KLRU’s partners at The University of Texas Moody College of Communications School of Journalism present a preview screening of the PBS documentary Ruben Salazar: Man in the Middle. Director Phillip Rodriguez will be present for a post-screening Q&A.

DATE: March 27th
TIME: 4-7 pm
LOCATION: KLRU’s Studio 6A (map)
RSVP: Free and open to the public

Ruben Salazar: Man in the Middle examines the life and mysterious death of pioneering journalist Ruben Salazar. At the heart of the story is Salazar’s transformation from a mainstream, establishment reporter to primary chronicler and supporter of the radical Chicano movement of the late 1960s. Killed under mysterious circumstances by a law enforcement officer in 1970, Salazar became an instant martyr to Latinos — many of whom had criticized his reporting during his lifetime. Adding to the Salazar mystique is that the details of how he was killed have been obscured in the ensuing four decades since his death.

Ruben Salazar: Man in the Middle will air on KLRU Tuesday, April 29th at 8 pm.

New Austin documentary All of Me airs 3/24

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All of Me: A Story of Love, Loss and Last Resorts will air nationally on Independent Lens March 24th at 8 pm. KLRU is the presenting PBS station for this documentary, which explores the relationships between a group of women from Austin who have been friends — and morbidly obese — for years. But now, having weight-loss surgery is about to upset everything they thought they knew about health, happiness, friendship and love.

KLRU produced, and is distributing to PBS stations nation-wide, a townhall-style show called Civic Summit: Obesity, Weight Loss and Body Acceptance. The Civic Summit explores the complex issues and experiences surrounding obesity and weight loss. This panel discussion will raise questions and provide information and insights related to the physical and emotional challenges confronting those in our society who are obese. Experts in the field of weight loss surgery, mental health, wellness and body acceptance discuss the struggles, stigma and prejudices faced by members of the obese community and the many options available to them.

All Of Me focuses on the journeys of three of these Austin women: Judy, who is determined to succeed while her husband is conflicted; Dawn, who had an early career as a fat model and calendar girl, and struggles with both her weight and identity; and the heaviest of the Girls, Zsalynn, who, at over 500 pounds, desperately tries to save enough money for surgery, for her young daughter’s sake.

Through their stories, All of Me shines light on our attitudes and prejudices about obesity — its causes, challenges, and the intense psychological struggle so many have with food that no surgery or diet can cure. The Girls take us through their food addiction and emotional eating with a searing honesty. For a group so often vilified, joked about, or ignored, All of Me provides a platform for their stories and encourages viewers to take a fresh look at our own prejudices and complicated relationships with food, fat, and our bodies.

KLRU worked with filmmaker Alexandra Lescaze on both the documentary and the Civic Summit. Lescaze is a NY-based documentary filmmaker and the Executive Director of the Sidney Hillman Foundation, home of the annual Hillman Prizes in Journalism and monthly Sidney Awards, honoring excellence in journalism in service of the common good. Her first film, Where Do You Stand? stories from an American mill, documented the 25-year effort of North Carolina textile workers to organize a union in the face of modernization and globalization.

Texas Film Awards 3/6

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KLRU featured event

KLRU’s partners at the Austin Film Society are hosting the annual Texas Film Awards.  You can watch the Texas Film Awards 2012 now

Texas Film Awards
Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 6 PM
Austin Studios, Stage 7
Honorary Gala Chairs: Bobbi and Mort Topfer
For tables and tickets, visit austinfilm.org/TFA

Join Amber Heard, Billy Bob Thornton, Danny McBride, Priscilla Presley, Robert Rodriguez, Danny Trejo, Luke Wilson and many more, as AFS inducts legends of cinema and television into the Texas Film Hall of Fame! All proceeds benefit the artistic and educational programs of the Austin Film Society.

Followed by The Texas Party
9 PM – Midnight
For tickets, visit austinfilm.org/TexasParty
Come mingle with the stars at the official after party of the Texas Film Awards featuring musical performances by Money Chicha and DJ Mahealani, a Patrón Spirits photo booth, the Lady Luck Lottery, The Dos Equis Lounge, a LIVE social media wall powered by Mass Relevance and a silent auction filled with one-of-a-kind experiences. Plus, enjoy Texas food and drink provided by: Hat Creek Burger, Thundercloud Subs, Austin Cake Ball, How Do You Roll?, HWY 29 BBQ, Nothing Bundt Cakes and more!

KLRU films chosen for City’s Faces of Austin project

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The City of Austin has chosen two KLRU short films— Arts In Context Shorts Pour Your Heart Out and Austin Revealed Civil Rights Stories — to be featured in the annual Faces of Austin short film project.

The City of Austin will premiere its Faces of Austin short film selections for 2014 as part of the SXSW Film Community Screenings on Saturday, March 8 at 11:00 a.m. at the Marchesa Hall and Theatre, 6226 Middle Fiskville Rd. The 2014 Faces of Austin premiere is free, open to the public, and does not require a SXSW film badge or pass.

The 12 films chosen this year were all made by local filmmakers and highlight the people, institutions, and cultures that make up Austin. Several films feature local non-profit organizations, such as Goodwill of Central Texas and the Austin Bike Zoo. Other films focus on unique individuals within the community, including a Hurricane Katrina survivor who now calls Austin home and pioneers of the local civil rights movement.

The entire list of 2014 films can be viewed at www.austintexas.gov/facesofaustin.

Faces of Austin is intended to showcase the work of Austin filmmakers that reflects the diverse faces, voices, and experiences that make up Austin’s unique identity. Individual films from the 2014 collection will be viewable on ATXN, online, and at special screenings.

Faces of Austin is a program of the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department and ATXN, the City’s government access channel. The program debuted in 2005; this year marks the seventh year of showcasing Austin-made short films. The 2014 program was supported by SXSW Film and the Austin Film Society.

City of Austin Cultural Arts Division
The Cultural Arts Division of the Economic Development Department provides leadership and management for the City’s cultural arts programs and for the development of arts and cultural industries. The Cultural Arts Division is responsible for the Cultural Arts Funding Programs, Art in Public Places Program, community-based arts development, and programs to assist the development of film and creative industries in Austin. For more information, visit www.austincreates.com.

One Square Mile: Texas starts 1/16

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One Square Mile: Texas is a documentary series that portrays Texas culture from the perspective of distinct square miles across the Lone Star state. The series begins airing on KLRU January 16th and episodes will air Thursdays at 8 pm. As a whole, the series is a microcosm of Texas life and a collective portrait of the state. The series represents the many faces and facets of Texas from the perspective of the individual while spanning the emotional, demographic and physical landscapes. This is a series about shared challenges and aspirations. The square miles include urban, suburban and rural communities and neighborhoods from every corner of the state. Each episode has a theme by which the series examines the square miles and provides a cohesive thread that allows us to explore, compare and shed light on universal issues. Looking beyond the preconceived notions or stereotypes that typically define the state, OSMTX’s objective viewpoint provides a platform and outlet for discussion of the collective and varied identity of the state and the regions and towns that comprise it.

El Paso January 16
The Segundo Barrio square mile near downtown El Paso is the birthplace of El Paso culture. Located on the border with Ciudad Juarez, this square mile is an example of the interdependency of two neighboring cities.

Nacogdoches January 23
This square mile in Nacogdoches includes some of the oldest neighborhoods and historic sights. This episode looks at contemporary life in Nacogdoches to see where the lines of history fade into modern life.

San Antonio January 30
This square mile in Southtown, San Antonio includes the historic King William District and the up-and-coming neighborhood of Lavaca. The residents of each community have built a culture and sense of place that permeates across the city.

Silverton February 6
The small Panhandle town of Silverton is home to 731 people. The town has no grocery store, no traffic lights and is exactly one square mile in size. As the town’s population slowly dwindles, the community that remains is strong and self-sufficient.

Austin February 13
This square mile in downtown Austin runs from Ladybird Lake northward to the State Capitol an includes areas that have seen massive changes over the past decade as Austin continues to grow. This episode explores Austin through the lives of Austinites navigating an ever-changing landscape. 

Port Isabel February 20
The square mile of Port Isabel is an island community located between the culture of South Texas and the vacation destination of South Padre Island. As the once vibrant shrimping industry fades, the community that has emerged is forging a new identity.

Midland February 27
Midland is the fastest growing town in the United States. This square mile on the northwestern edge of town is where the suburbs meet the plains. As Midland’s economy booms, the lives of the people that live here are shaped by the economy and the influx of job-seekers.

Houston TBD
The square mile Montrose is one of Houstons most progressive neighborhoods. In a city that is known for being diverse, Montrose pushes the boundaries of what modern and future Texas will look like.

Dallas TBD

KLRU receives grant from the Texas Bar Foundation

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Admissions on Trial documentary gets update
and resource-filled website thanks to $7,500 grant

Austin, TX — KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, announces the Texas Bar Foundation has granted the station $7,500 to help update the documentary Admissions on Trial: Seven Decades of Race and Higher Education after a recent US Supreme Court decision. The Texas Bar Foundation grant will also be used to assist in the creation of an educational website to allow public study of the case.

Admissions on Trial: Seven Decades of Race and Higher Education, narrated by Dan Rather and produced by Lynn Boswell, examines the case of Fisher v. Texas, which challenges the University of Texas’ use of race as a consideration in admissions.   When first aired on KLRU in March 2013, the documentary considered the case prior to its consideration by the Supreme Court. The case was heard by the Court in its last session and remanded to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for further consideration. The Texas Bar Foundation grant will allow the producer to update the documentary to reflect the Fifth Circuit’s ruling and the case’s possible return to the Supreme Court. With this update, the film will be set for distribution to PBS stations nationwide for broadcast.

Admissions on Trial presents the Fisher case and the larger policy questions raised, in light of a series of historic decisions also involving The University of Texas. The documentary traces the history of affirmative action in higher education admissions back to 1946, when an early civil rights case called Sweatt v. Painter challenged the admission policies of The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Law. That case, decided  in favor of the Plaintiff, Heman Sweatt, laid the foundation for desegregation of schools nationwide, and set precedent that was central to the landmark desegregation case  Brown v. Board of Education.

The accompanying website will provide additional material on the subject of race in admissions and can be used by researchers and in classrooms nationwide to give more in-depth details about the cases featured in Admissions on Trial.

“Thanks to the generous support of the Texas Bar Foundation, KLRU is able to present this important documentary to the nation with additional analysis on the recent Supreme Court action,” said Bill Stotesbery KLRU CEO and general manager. “In addition, the website supported by this grant will allow us to augment the educational experience and make the project a true resource for educators.”

The Texas Bar Foundation solicits charitable contributions and provides funding to enhance the rule of law and the system of justice in Texas, especially for programs that relate to the administration of justice; ethics in the legal profession; legal assistance for the needy; the encouragement of legal research, publications and forums; and the education of the public. Since 1965, the trustees of the Texas Bar Foundation have awarded more than $15 million in grants to charitable organizations across Texas. Grants are made possible by the generosity of Fellows and charitable gifts from individuals and law firms across the state. The Texas Bar Foundation and its members are committed to the mission of Advancing Justice in Texas…by providing opportunities to support the rule of law in Texas.

The original Admissions on Trial documentary was funded in part by The William and Salome McAllen Scanlan Foundation, The RGK Foundation, The Meyer Levy Foundation and an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign. The film can be watched online at klru.org.

About KLRU-TV, Austin PBS
KLRU-TV, Austin PBS is dedicated to telling stories that entertain, inspire and change our lives. KLRU highlights what makes Austin unique – whether music, arts or public issues – by creating and distributing award-winning original content. KLRU produces several series including Austin City Limits, Arts In Context, Central Texas Gardener, Civic Summit and Overheard with Evan Smith. As a nonprofit educational organization, KLRU also prepares children to succeed in school and creates lifelong learning opportunities for all. Find out more at klru.org.

 

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Community Cinema: The Graduates 10/1

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KLRU and the Austin Public Library present Community Cinema. The free public screenings take place at the Windsor Park Branch Library (5833 Westminster Dr.) from 7 pm to 9 pm.

On  October 1st, watch a preview and discuss The Graduates/Los Graduados. This bilingual documentary explores pressing issues in education today through the eyes of six Latino and Latina adolescents from across the United States, offering first-hand perspectives on the barriers they have to overcome in order to make their dreams come true.

Dr. Pauline Dow, Chief Academic Officer Austin Independent School District, will discuss local educational issues. The presentation will also feature the short film Skipping Up with filmmaker Jim Mendiola in attendance.  Set primarily in Mark Twain Middle School in San Antonio, Texas, Skipping Up follows a group of eighth graders as they finish their year in the Middle School Partners Program, a new and highly successful dropout-prevention project that helps students who were previously behind catch up quickly.

Dr. Pauline Dow currently serves as Chief Academic Officer for the Austin Independent School District, an urban school district of 85,000 PreK-12 students in over 120 schools and learning sites, providing overall instructional leadership for curriculum and instruction, bilingual education, and special education to promote attainment of the District’s vision. Prior to this, she served as Associate Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer for the Ysleta Independent School District, a district with 62 schools serving more than 44,000 students.  She has focused  on establishing meaningful standards of excellence, strengthening school-community partnerships, and a culture of collaboration at all levels. Dr. Dow’s research focuses on the achievement of students in dual language education programs and the policy implications of bilingual schooling. Her most recent publication includes a book chapter published on June 13, 2012 by Springer: “Education Policies: Standardized Testing, English Language Learners and Border Futures” in Social Justice in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region. She is a founding member of the Institute for Language and Education Policy.

Jim Mendiola is an independent filmmaker, curator, and writer based in Texas. A Rockefeller Intercultural Media Fellow, Mendiola’s films have screened in numerous film festivals, museums, and colleges in the U.S., Mexico and Europe, public television and cable TV. His projects have been supported by the Independent Film Service, Film Independent, National Association of Independent Latino Producer, Latino Public Broadcasting, Mun2, SiTV, and the Sundance Filmmakers Lab. As a curator, Mendiola created the film program at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, programmed for San Francisco’s Cine Accion Film Festival, and is currently directing San Antonio CineFestival, the nation’s longest running Latino Film Festival. He is an artist-in-residence at the University of Texas at Austin where he is writing a book and creating a digital archive on the history of U.S. Chicano/Latino independent filmmaking.

Community Cinema is a groundbreaking public education and civic engagement initiative featuring screenings of films from Independent Lens on location in 100 cities and online. Between September and June, Community Cinema brings together leading organizations, community members and public television stations to learn, discuss and get involved in today’s critical social issues.

Special thanks to

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Austin American-Statesman

Community Cinema 2013-14 Begins with The Graduates

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KLRU featured event

Independent Television Service and KLRU announce this year’s Community Cinema films. For the 2013-14 season screenings will be held in Austin at the Windsor Park Branch Library (5833 Westminster Dr.). All screenings will start at 7 pm, are free and open to the public.

Community Cinema is a groundbreaking public education and civic engagement initiative featuring screenings of films from Independent Lens on location in 100 cities and online. Between September and June, Community Cinema brings together leading organizations, community members and public television stations to learn, discuss and get involved in today’s critical social issues. This year’s Community Cinema will feature both public screenings and online screenings. Online screenings are still TBD.

THE GRADUATES/LOS GRADUADOS
October 1
Pressing issues in education today are explored through the eyes of a diverse array of Latino and Latina adolescents from across the United States in this eye-opening documentary on the challenges facing both the students and their families. The Girls Hour of this two-hour series is part of the Women and Girls Lead campaign.

THE STATE OF ARIZONA
December 3
The divisive battle over illegal immigration in Arizona that came to a head with Senate Bill 1070 frames this tense documentary that tracks multiple perspectives – activists, politicians, Latino immigrants, controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio, ranchers, and others – as America eyes the results.

LAS MARTHAS
February 4
In the lingering aftermath of the U.S.-Mexican War, the border town of Laredo, Texas created an annual debutante ball unlike any other. Las Marthas follows two Mexican American girls carrying this gilded tradition on their shoulders during a time of economic uncertainty and tension over immigration.

THE TRIALS OF MUHAMMAD ALI
March 4
The Trials of Muhammad Ali covers the famed boxer’s toughest bout of all: his battle to overturn the five-year prison sentence he received for refusing U.S. military service. The film explores Ali’s exile years when he was banned from boxing and found himself in the crosshairs of conflicts concerning race, religion, and wartime dissent.

MEDORA
April 1
Medora, Indiana is a once-booming community beset by a crippled economy and a dwindling population. This documentary follows the town’s down-but-not-out varsity basketball team over a season, capturing the players’ stories on and off the court – as the team’s struggle to compete parallels the town’s fight for survival.

THE NEW BLACK
May 6
Centering on the historic fight to win marriage equality in Maryland, The New Black takes viewers into the pews, the streets, and kitchen tables as it looks at how the African American community grapples with the divisive gay rights issue. Part of the Women and Girls Lead campaign.

Special thanks to
Austin American-Statesman

Q Night at the Movies 7/6

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KLRU Q - Night at the Movies

Just Scene It at 7 pm
Review show where industry professionals present their takes on current movies and TV shows, and interview Hollywood insiders.

On Story Writing the Fantastical at 7:30 pm
David Magee discusses adapting FINDING NEVERLAND and LIFE OF PI, and how he approached translating such imaginative worlds for the screen. Followed by THE RETURN, Jeremy Mackie’s short film about a college graduate who’s literally scared off the scene of his first job.

Get Shorty at 8 pm
A film-loving loan shark teams with a B-movie producer to become a Hollywood mogul. Cast: John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, Danny DeVito.

Catalina: Hollywood’s Magical Island at 9:35 pm
Through the eye of film director, Greg Reitman, we get a first hand glimpse of The Magic Isle off the coast of California, Santa Catalina Island. While exploring historical, social, and environmental changes, the film captures the mystical splendors, natural beauty and romance of Catalina. Using a mix of rare 16mm, archival film and old black and white stills, inter-cut with interviews of islanders, historians and celebrities; the viewer is taken on a journey during America’s golden era.

Q Night at the Movies 6/29

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KLRU Q - Night at the Movies

Just Scene It at 7 pm
Review show where industry professionals present their takes on current movies and TV shows, and interview Hollywood insiders.

On Story Conversation with Brian Helgeland at 7:30 pm
Brian Helgeland, the creative force behind 42, LA CONFIDENTIAL, MYSTIC RIVER, and A KNIGHT’S TALE, shares his experience as a screenwriter, director and producer, along with the ups, downs and left turns of the filmmaking industry.

Shakespeare Uncovered Hamlet with David Tennant at 8 pm
An acclaimed Hamlet himself in the RSC’s recent hit production (and another recent GREAT PERFORMANCES production), David Tennant meets with fellow Hamlets, including superstar Jude Law, comparing notes on the titanic challenge of playing the most iconic of all roles. He also tries, alongside Simon Russell Beale and Ben Whishaw, to master the meaning of the play and the reason why it is considered the greatest of Shakespeare’s works

Shakespeare Uncovered The Comedies with Joely Richardson at 9 pm
Joely Richardson investigates (with her mother Vanessa Redgrave) the legacy of these two brilliant cross-dressing comedies and the great comic and romantic heroines created by Shakespeare in two perennially popular plays.

Much Ado About Nothing at 10 pm
Young lovers Hero and Claudio, soon to wed, conspire to get verbal sparring partners and confirmed singles Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) and Beatrice (Emma Thompson) to wed as well. Cast: Denzel Washington, Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson.