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Home , Austin Film Society, Blake Edwards, David Gordon Green, John Hawkes (actor), Jonathan Demme, Texas Film Hall of Fame

ANNUAL REPORT — 2016 A GREAT LEAP FORWARD 1901 East 51st Street Austin, TX 78723 512.322.0145 austinfilm.org TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS

The Austin Film Society has long held the dream of our own full-time cinema, a local place where people can assemble to communally explore all that international film culture has to offer. This was the year we took action on that dream and signed a long-term lease with The Linc to create the AFS Cinema. Two full-time screens will support interesting, challenging and entertaining cinematic events, lovingly curated by our brilliant team of programmers. A kitchen, lobby bar and event hall will support community gatherings and provide extra income to supplement ticket sales.

The AFS Cinema was not AFS’s only program expansion in fiscal 2016. We also opened Austin Public, a 7,000-square-foot television studio in East Austin open to anyone in Austin who wants to explore filmmaking. By virtue of a contract with the City of Austin, AFS is able to offer classes, studio space and equipment at an incredibly low barrier to entry, and distribute locally made work on our channels and website.

Additionally, we are making progress on plans for building out the former National Guard Armory into a creative media hub with the help of the 2012 bonds. Our facilities team expects to have schematic designs to show in 2017 as well as a plan for obtaining the $3.5 million-plus needed to create a fully functioning building.

Meanwhile at AFS, it’s business as usual, with our instructors delivering youth media programs at under-resourced schools in Austin and our programmers planning screenings at various Austin theaters while the AFS Cinema is dark for renovations (November 2016 –Spring 2017).

We have compiled the stories and statistics presented in this annual report to inspire our members and donors and make you proud. We look forward to connecting in 2017 at one of our three locations — Austin Studios, Austin Public, and the AFS Cinema — as well as around town. We appreciate our members, donors and customers for participating in all of these programs and supporting these initiatives, helping realize the vision that Austin will be synonymous with great film.

With gratitude,

Richard Linklater Rebecca Campbell AFS Artistic Director CEO

1 2016 IN REVIEW

EXHIBITION ARTIST SERVICES

245 194 19,781 42 $105k 17

Screenings Films Screened Attendees AFS Grants Distributed Cash Funds Awarded Filmmakers Awarded Through the AFS Grant Travel Grants to Attend Film Festivals

COMMUNITY MEDIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

19,488 448 781 85 2,547 $70.8m

Hours of free instruction Youth participants in Recipients of tours at Productions at Jobs Created through use Economic Impact offered to afs film club our Film Club and Austin Public and Austin Studios of Austin Studios students in under- Summer Camps Austin Studios resourced aisd schools

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS

4 THE BEST LITTLE ART HOUSE IN TEXAS 5 AUSTIN’S HOME FOR GLOBAL CINEMA 9 NURTURING ARTISTS TOWARDS CAREER LEAPS 11 TEXAS FILMMAKERS IN ACTION 12 AUSTIN: A CREATIVE & CULTURAL CAPITAL 14 YOUNG VOICES, FUTURE ARTISTS 17 MEDIAMAKERS FIND THEIR VOICE 18 CELEBRATING TEXAS FILM 20 OPERATIONS & FINANCES

3 THE BEST LITTLE ART HOUSE IN TEXAS

EARLY DAYS and his cinephile friends started the Austin Film Society 31 years ago with the simple desire to show great films from around the world, important films that wouldn’t otherwise be shown in Austin. Their nomadic film series became a staple of Austin’s DIY creative culture and strengthened the local film community by fostering a love of global cinema.

AFS AT THE MARCHESA In 2013, after years of nomadic programming, AFS made a decisive move to invest in a single-screen space as a partnership with the Marchesa Hall and Theater, located at the Linc complex in the Highland neighborhood. Through this move, the Film Society was able to double our offerings and grow our community. Today’s Film Society screenings bring together a community of filmmakers and film lovers and have become an essential element of Austin’s unique culture, a place where we honor and celebrate our city’s deep appreciation of film.

THE AFS CINEMA In 2016, it looked like AFS might lose the space that had allowed our programs to flourish, until two of our most dedicated supporters stepped up to make the largest gift ever in our organization’s history. Their donation allowed AFS to establish our permanent future home for film screenings and take over the lease to the theater at the Linc this past spring. In November, we begin construction, and in the spring of 2017 the space reopens as a full-time repertory and art house cinema complete with a second screen, renovated lobby, and updated special event space.

4 AUSTIN’S HOME FOR GLOBAL CINEMA

↑ Founding AFS board member, professor and author Charles Ramírez Berg presented three works of Classical Mexican Cinema, including DISTINTO AMANECER, Mexico’s first film noir.

↑ World-class retrospectives graced the silver screen at the AFS Cinema, including series featuring the work of Chantal Akerman, , Maurice Pialat, Wim Wenders and Blake Edwards. →

5 SCIENCE ON SCREEN AFS HOSTS NEW EUROPEAN FILMMAKERS AFS participated in the national Science on Screen program, In June, AFS welcomed four new European directors to Austin as in which we presented science-themed films and hosted post- part of our annual partnership with the Premiers Plans Festival screening discussions with practicing scientists and science of Angers, France. The filmmakers, who visited from France and professionals. Professors from UT’s physics department Belgium, shared the US premieres of their films to an enthusiastic explained how particle physics help us understand the origins of and welcoming audience. At a member mixer and moviemaker the universe after a screening of PARTICLE FEVER; two doctors dialogue, Austin filmmakers made connections with the visitors. discussed mystery illnesses and chemical sensitivity along with ’ SAFE; and the doctors of KUT’s “Two Guys on Your Head” debunked some of Hitchcock’s suggestions about memory loss after a screening of SPELLBOUND.

AFS celebrated the release of Richard Linklater’s ‘80s college comedy, EVERYBODY WANTS SOME! with the director and cast in person. The after-party recreated scenes from the film, including an epic ping pong tournament. ↓

6 “I can earnestly say that the AFS LEARN program has been one of the very best things about moving to Austin.” - James McNulty, Graduate Student THE LEARN PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE FILM TICKETS TO STUDENTS

AFS’s LEARN program became a fundamental resource for Students enrolled in students to get their film education on the big screen. The 638 LEARN program program — established in 2014 when Co- President Michael Barker made a gift in honor of his fellow UT classmate and good friend Ed Lowry — provides free tickets to students at every regular AFS screening. Tickets issued through 1239 the LEARN program

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Ethan Hawke was the subject of the Austin Film Society’s 2016 Artist Spotlight, which included an insightful Q&A with Hawke after a special screening of ’s BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD. The following evening, Hawke returned to the AFS Cinema for an unforgettable conversation with frequent collaborator Richard Linklater.

7 AFS GRANT RECIPIENT DIRECTS PETE’S DRAGON FOR DISNEY “I owe my career David Lowery, a five-time AFS Grant recipient, returned to Austin in August with his biggest film yet, Disney’s summer hit PETE’S DRAGON. AFS presented a special preview screening to the Austin Film of the film with David and co- Toby Halbrooks in attendance. To come full circle, the screening benefited the Society.” Austin Film Society’s grant program. “I owe my career to the AFS, so it’s great to be able to give back in this way and to help support the next wave of Texas filmmakers,” said Lowery. - David Lowery

8 NURTURING ARTISTS TOWARDS CAREER LEAPS

WHERE SOLDIERS COME FROM PIT STOP STUMPED Heather Courtney Yen Tan Robin Berghaus

EVOLUTION OF A CRIMINAL NAKOM ST. NICK Darius Clark Monroe T.W. Pittman and Kelly Daniela Norris David Lowery

THE SENSITIVES SLASH HELLION Drew Xanthopoulos Clay Liford Kat Candler

IN THE SHADOWS COMPUTER CHESS KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER Alvaro Torres-Crespo Andrew Bujalski David Zellner

20 YEARS OF THE AFS GRANT AFS Grants Through the AFS Grant, we awarded $105,000 in cash in addition to $64,000 in goods distributed 42 in 2016 and services to 42 projects and 36 filmmakers from across the state of Texas in 2016. Among this year’s AFS Grant recipients there were many newcomers, with two-thirds being first-time Grant recipients. AFS Artistic Director Richard Linklater led the Cash funds establishment of the AFS Grant 20 years ago to address the lack of public funding for granted in the emerging Texas artists. Since then, the Austin Film Society has awarded a total of $1.6 $105k 2016 cycle million in cash and $268,345 in goods and services to 503 projects. Past recipients include David Lowery, who went on to direct this year’s summer blockbuster, Disney’s PETE’S DRAGON, and Jeff Nichols, who went on to make the internationally celebrated AFS Grants distributed films MUD, MIDNIGHT SPECIAL and the much-anticipated LOVING. Additionally, other 503 since 1996 previous recipients include Guggenheim Fellows, Gotham Award and Independent Spirit Award nominees and winners, and filmmakers whose AFS Grant-supported works have been in selection at Cannes, Berlin and Sundance. Cash funds granted $1.6m since 1996 9 “There’s no more important moment in the life of a finished film than its premiere. As the director of SOUTHWEST OF SALEM, I was preoccupied with a long to-do list leading up to this moment. The last thing I thought about was how I will raise the funds to attend this critical debut. One of the great resources that we have as Texas filmmakers is knowing that AFS Travel Grants are designed to ease this burden. With two grants I was able to go to two major festivals, both of which were keys to getting our national and international distributors on board.” —DEBORAH ESQUENAZI, FILMMAKER

THE AFS INDIE PENDENTS: SENDING TEXAS FILMMAKERS TO FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD Thanks to the fundraising efforts of the AFS INDIEpendents—a group of young professionals led by Amy Edwards and Christopher Rios who are committed to supporting emerging Texas filmmakers—the AFS Travel Grant awarded $15,000 to filmmakers to travel with their films to the world’s most celebrated international festivals, fellowship programs and development labs. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AFS continues to make professional development for filmmakers a key focus of our artist support programs. Throughout the year, we offered educational workshops to the community as well as one-on-ones with AFS Grant-supported filmmakers. Workshops coached filmmakers on grant writing, legal contracts, crowdfunding, and festival strategy. Our annual Artist Intensive in October brought together industry professionals including Richard Linklater, , and Azazel Jacobs to workshop Texas filmmakers’ projects in development.

WORKS-IN-PROGRESS “I flew to Austin just to participate in AFS Works- The Works-In-Progress program offered eight promising In-Progress with my new film, as I have yet to find a filmmakers peer-level critiques of rough cuts of their work. Three projects that participated in the fall went on to be selected for filmmaking community that is as sharp and helpful as world premieres at the SXSW Film Festival. AFS’s. We had a great experience at our screening, and we got just the kind of feedback we needed at this stage in our edit. Thank you, AFS, for offering this wonderful service to filmmakers. ” —KYLE HENRY, FILMMAKER AND PROFESSOR AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

10 TEXAS FILMMAKERS IN ACTION

AFS INCUBATES ↑ The Austin Studios facility provides local Jason Cortlund & Julia Halperin’s upcoming filmmakers with infrastructure to get their film LA BARRACUDA films made and grow their businesses. was produced at Austin Studios with Austin Studios Red Building tenant, David Hartstein.

CIRO GUERRA DAVID ZELLNER JEREMY SAULNIER

AFS ARTISTS AT SUNDANCE AFS partnered with Dell to celebrate the members of the Austin film community participating in the 2016 . At the brunch, Texas artists met with members of the industry and other participating festival filmmakers. Among the attendees were filmmakers Ciro Guerro (EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT), David Zellner (KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER), and Jeremy ↑ Saulnier (GREEN ROOM). The Bear—an Emmy Award-winning, full-service production company anchored by the directing talents of Berndt Mader and Ben Steinbauer— doubled its staff this year and helped to provide over 100 jobs for Texas productions. The Bear offices out of Austin Studios.

11 AUSTIN: A CREATIVE & CULTURAL CAPITAL

PUTTING AUSTIN ON THE MAP SUNDANCE WORKSHOP 2016 AFS’s film-focused programs have served as a foundation and One of AFS’s key initiatives in providing resources to local catalyst for Austin as a creative media hub. The reach began filmmakers is the annual Sundance Artist Services Workshop. locally but is now felt internationally. In 2016, we welcomed many The workshop keeps Austin producers up to date on the rapidly guests to Austin including the National Endowment for the Arts evolving world of film finance, marketing and distribution, with a Chairman Jane Chu. Pictured above is Consul General Li Qiangmin particular focus on filmmaker-driven distribution models for low- of China, whose economic development group toured Austin budget films. A highlight of this year’s event was the keynote by Studios. producer Jay Van Hoy (THE WITCH).

PARTNERSHIP WITH THE IDA The International Documentary Association became an official ↑ partner of AFS, inviting three AFS-supported artists to be fellows Orly Genger, world-famous structural artist, utilized at their annual Getting Real conference in Los Angeles. The Austin Studios—along with Waller Creek Conservancy event brings together documentary filmmakers from around the and The Contemporary Austin—to create this piece of public art. Our Austin Studios team visited the country for a weekend of education and networking with funders. unveiling of the work. In August, IDA and AFS presented a lively master class with filmmaker Jeff Feuerzeig (AUTHOR: THE JT LEROY STORY; THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON). 12 FILMMAKER MAGAZINE’S 25 NEW FACES A GLOBAL REACH OF INDEPENDENT FILM What starts in Austin makes ripples around the globe. Texas Austin was heavily repped in Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New filmmakers T.W. Pittman and Kelly Daniela Norris premiered their Faces of Independent Film,” an annual list that names the AFS-supported and Ghana-shot narrative feature NAKOM at the filmmakers to watch on the independent film scene. Six Austinites Berlin Film Festival, making their film the first ever Ghanaian film made the list, and five are Austin Film Society grant alumni. to premiere at Berlin. The filmmakers included Ivete Lucas, Patrick Bresnan, Tom Rosenberg, T.W. Pittman, Kelly Daniela Norris and Macon Blair.

Austin Studios tenant Rooster Teeth ramped up production on several new series, including Crunch Time, which stars Samm Levine (Freaks and Geeks). Rooster Teeth’s global online community exceeds 1.8 million participants. ↓

13 YOUNG VOICES, FUTURE ARTISTS

COMMUNITY MEDIA PROGRAMS FLOURISH AFS provided 336 after-school Film Club participants in 12 underserved schools with media, digital literacy, and 21st-century skills. Our week-long summer filmmaking camps continue to be popular, and we conducted 15 interactive youth tours of Austin Public, our new Community Media Center. Our instructors exposed students to the art of filmmaking at events such as the Austin Youth Council’s Career Fest, TEDxYouth@Austin, and the Earth Day Festival. We partnered with organizations such as Legacy of Giving and Young Journey and participated in programs such as The Travis County Summer Youth Employment Program and the MINDPOP Student Fellowship to provide young people with meaningful work experiences in creative industries.

SUMMER CAMPERS DIRECT A MUSIC VIDEO 336 112 31 AFS summer campers worked with film mentors and local musician SaulPaul to develop and shoot their own music video for SaulPaul’s original song “Welcome to Austin,” which celebrates Students reached Youth participants in our Tours given of through AFS Film Club Summer Camps Austin Public and our unique city. Austin Studios

14 STUDENTS FROM FAR AND WIDE VISIT AFS TEEN SUMMER CAMPER TURNS PRODUCER Students from various schools and youth organizations came Summer Camp moved to Austin Public this year. As a result, we from as far as Las Cruces, New Mexico to participate in offered our first “TV for Teens” camp, and one enthusiastic teen interactive tours at Austin Public and Austin Studios. They has since become an Austin Public Producer. received hands-on experience with filmmaking equipment and green screen sets.

← AFS received a generous grant from the Andy Roddick Foundation to expand our after-school film club AFS Film Club at Hart Elementary produced an program at Pecan Springs exceptional film, THE RACE, which was accepted into and Harris Elementary the 2016 Emergencia Youth Film Competition (part of Schools. the Cine Las Americas International Film Festival). ↓

15 A FOOT IN THE DOOR TO THE INDUSTRY Austin Film Society’s Internship and Film Referral Program provides opportunities for students and pre-professionals to gain valuable office experience and to network within the local film community.

56 30 23

Participants in our Interns who continued Industry jobs and Internship program onto a Senior Internship internships facilitated in 2016 by AFS’s Film Referral Program

← Julia Kipnis poses with filmmaker Jonathan Demme at our 2015 Artist Intensive.

AFS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM SHINES “We are so excited by Austin Film Society’s nomination ON NATIONAL STAGE for the 2016 Sundance Ignite’s Fellows program; Julia Senior Exhibition Intern Julia Kipnis was selected to be part of the Kipnis is a passionate and talented emerging filmmaker Sundance Institute’s inaugural Sundance Ignite Fellows program. Julia was an ideal candidate for the program, which allowed her to and film programmer who has become a great addition attend the Sundance Film Festival and access exclusive mentor to the Sundance family. It’s always a pleasure to work and panel discussions. AFS was proud to see our internship with the Austin Film Society; their commitment to program represented at such a prestigious event. developing and supporting filmmakers, industry members, and film lovers and their fantastic programming makes them an obvious choice when looking for new talent or partnering on programs.” - MEREDITH LAVITT, DIRECTOR, SUNDANCE IGNITE

16 MEDIAMAKERS FIND THEIR VOICE

AFS CELEBRATES ONE YEAR OF INSPIRING THROUGH COLLABORATION MANAGING AUSTIN PUBLIC AFS and Capital City Black Film Festival co-hosted “So You Want A commercial-free, content-neutral space that serves to Work on a Film Set,” a panel where industry professionals underrepresented populations, Austin Public provides support for shared stories and discussed opportunities for aspiring “below- a wide spectrum of mediamakers to create content and diversify the-line” filmmakers. The partnered event took place at Austin the media landscape. AFS has expanded our education programs Public. via Austin Public, where we offer the community low- and no-cost training, tools, facilities, and distribution opportunities on our three public access channels and website. We were thrilled to celebrate our first year operating Austin Public in collaboration with the City of Austin’s Department of Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs.

← Through an expansion of mediamaking inventory and training at Austin Public, the community was able to access film-set quality equipment, including the Canon 5D Mark III and Sony FS5.

17 CELEBRATING TEXAS FILM

2016 TEXAS FILM AWARDS PAST HONOREES INCLUDE The Texas Film Awards, presented by H-E-B, brought together legends of cinema and television for an evening of festivities Elizabeth Avellan inducting industry icons into the . The Louis Black Ethan Hawke annual event supports AFS’s artistic and educational programs. Powers Boothe Betty Buckley Amber Heard This year’s honorees included: Cyd Charisse Stephen Tobolowsky , presented by Mac Davis Mike Judge , presented by Adrianne Palicki Danny Trejo Michael Barker, presented by Ethan Hawke Morgan Fairchild Richard Linklater Forrest Whitaker Chandra Wilson, presented by Ellia English Farrah Fawcett Lyle Lovett JoBeth Williams , Luke Wilson Mike Judge presided as emcee for the event. posthumous tribute Lukas Haas Matthew McConaughey Renee Zellweger Larry Hagman Bill Paxton ZZ Top 18 ↑ ↑ Event chairs Melo- Ethan Hawke presented dy McCaig, Sherri Sony Pictures Classics West and Armando co-founder Michael Friday Night Lights Zambrano planned an Barker with the Austin castmates Jesse extraordinary event Chronicle Champion of Plemons and Adrianne with a neon-themed, the Arts award. Palicki reunited when Austin-hip vibe. Plemons was given the Rising Star award. ↓

← Houston actress Chandra Wilson was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame by her longtime friend Ellia English.

On Thursday, March 9, 2017, we celebrate the legacy of Things got turned Texas film and the Lone Star State’s unique contribution upside down at to global cinema. Save the date for this not-to-be-missed The Texas Party.­­­­ event at Austin Studios. austinfilm.org/tfa ↓ ↓

19 OPERATIONS & FINANCES

INCOME: $3,816,948 Fiscal Year 2015 (September 1, 2014 – August 31, 2015)

47% Contributions 34% Rental Income 8% Government & Foundation Grants 4% Admissions 4% Other 34% — Rental Income 3% Membership

47% — Contributions

8% — Government & Foundation Grants

4% — Admissions 4% — Other 3% — Membership

Contributions Include:

48% 25% 20% 7% Individuals Sponsored Corporate Donated Projects Donations Goods & Services

EXPENSES: $3,341,090

36% Austin Studios 27% Film Programs

20% Artist Services 27% — Film Programs 12% Administration & Fundraising 5% Education 36% — Austin Studios

20% — Artist Services

5% — Education

12% — Administration & Fundraising Full audit available on request. Contact Lauren Alexander- Labahn at 512.322.0145 x3222 or [email protected] 20 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADVISORY BOARD MANAGEMENT TEAM

Suzanne Weinert Elizabeth Avellán Rebecca Campbell Board President Michael Barker CEO [email protected] Jane Schweppe Thomas Borders Vice President Charles Burnett Lauren Alexander-Labahn Armando Zambrano Chief Revenue Officer [email protected] Secretary Jonathan Demme Gary D. Newsom Sarah Green Holly Herrick Treasurer Mike Judge Head of Film & Creative Media [email protected] Richard Linklater Harry P. Knowles Artistic Director Tim League Sarah Ann Mockbee Rebecca Campbell Alexandra Malick Chief Operating Officer CEO [email protected] Chris Adams Janet Pierson Mike Blizzard John Pierson Austin Culp Marketing Manager Eric DeJernett [email protected] Nicolas Gonda Deborah Green Mike Simpson Katy Daiger Dial Director of Operations Philip Hardage Ginger Sledge [email protected] Jordan Levin Evan Smith Mark McKinnon Kevin Smith Mirasol Enriquez Director of Community Media Tracy LaQuey Parker Paul Stekler [email protected] Bryan Poyser Quentin Tarantino Charles Ramírez Berg Lawrence Wright Charlotte Hill Communications & Partnerships Consultant John Robison [email protected] Artemio San Martin Rick Triplett Shannon Kors Sales Manager Abe Zimmerman [email protected]

David Monahan General Manager, AFS Cinema [email protected]

Thanks to our sponsors

The Austin Film Society is funded and supported in part by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Depart- ment/Cultural Arts Division believing an investment in the Arts is an investment in Austin’s future. Visit Austin at NowPlayingAustin.com. 21 1901 East 51 Street NON-PROFIT Austin, TX 78723 ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID 512.322.0145 AUSTIN, TEXAS austinfilm.org PERMIT NO. 2026