The city of Garland’s Cultural Arts presents the second It Came from Texas Film Festival that features 10 Texas-made films return to the Big Screen. Among featured films are three Academy Award winners: Tender Mercies (1983), The Last Picture Show (1971) and Giant (1956).
Link to tickets/passes: https://www.prekindle.com/event/65896-2023-it-came-from-texas-film-festival-all-access-pass-garland
All-access festival pass: $75 – Individual tickets: $10-$20 – Student individual tickets: $10
Festival pass perks: Limited Availability – Early Admission – Commemorative Poster – Discounts from participating businesses
When/Where: Sept. 13-15 – Plaza Theatre on Downtown Garland Square – 521 W. State Street
In addition to securing the Western-adjacent classic films, Tender Mercies, Giant and The Last Picture Show, festival director Kelly Kitchens has added…the 2020 documentary Horton Foote: The Road Home (screening as a double feature with Tender Mercies Friday night).
“When the idea of the Western genre blossomed into an Independent Texas Spirit theme, that broadened our horizons to a lot of possibilities in films we could showcase with our Oscar-winners: Tender Mercies, Giant, The Last Picture Show. It opened the doors to the rarely seen Spencer Williams’ all-Black film, The Blood of Jesus, from 1941, the first Texas film honored with being on the coveted Library of Congress’s National Registry List in 1991. We’re also showing a couple of Classic Westerns with Gene Autry and Roy Rogers!” said Kitchens.
The festival welcomes Jeannine Oppewall, art director of Tender Mercies – who will talk about working on the film. She has received Academy Award nominations for her work on LA Confidential, Pleasantville, Seabiscuit and The Good Shepherd.
FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:
Friday, Sept. 13 – 7 p.m. – Double Feature – Documentary and Feature ($20 individual tickets)
Horton Foote: The Road to Home (2020) – North Texas Premiere – Director: Anne Rapp (in attendance) – Filmed in Wharton, Texas; New York City, New York; and Hartford, Connecticut
Chronicles the journey of acclaimed Texas writer Horton Foote – a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and winner of two Academy Awards for screenwriting. (IMDb)
HORTON FOOTE: THE ROAD TO HOME Trailer
9 p.m. – Tender Mercies (1983) – Director: Bruce Beresford – Filmed in Palmer, Waxahachie and Arlington, Texas
Featuring an Oscar-winning screenplay by Horton Foote, Tender Mercies, starring Robert Duvall, tells the story of a broken-down, middle-aged country singer who gets a new wife, reaches out to his long-lost daughter and tries to put his life back together. (IMDb). (Rated PG)
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Saturday, Sept. 14 – 11 a.m. – Feature ($15 individual tickets)
The Last Picture Show (1971) – Director: Peter Bogdanovich – Filmed in Archer City and Holliday, Texas – In attendance: Angie Bolling (Actress in TLPS’s sequel Texasville)
In 1951, a group of high schoolers come of age in a bleak, isolated, atrophied North Texas town that is slowly dying, both culturally and economically. (IMDb) – Film stars two-time Oscar winner; Jeff Bridges and Cybill Shepherd. (Rated R)
Lunch Break
2 p.m. – Short, Feature and Panel ($10 individual tickets)
The Making of a Classic (Short film, 2024) – Director: Stephen Robinson (in attendance) – Filmed in Bastrop, Texas
Also in attendance: Martin C Jones (producer)
“The Making of a Classic,” part of the Forging Texas video series, offers an intimate look into the production of Spencer Williams Jr.’s The Blood of Jesus. Set during the 1941 classic movie’s filming, it explores the behind-the-scenes journey of filming a pivotal scene.
The Making of a Classic illuminates Williams’ unwavering commitment and humility as he skillfully maneuvers through the emotional intricacies of the production process. Based on a true story.
The Blood of Jesus (1941) – Director: Spencer Williams – Filmed in Dallas – Housed at the G. William Jones Film and Video Collection, Southern Methodist University
In attendance: Dr. Rick Worland (SMU Film Professor; Film Historian)
The Blood of Jesus – Williams served as director, writer and star, pioneering independent cinema and impacting the industry. Rediscovered in the 1980s, the film was unearthed from a warehouse in Tyler, Texas, alongside a collection of film prints. It was the first Texas-made film entered into the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry in 1991.
It is the story of an atheist who accidentally shoots his godly wife. When she dies, she ends up at the fabled crossroads of Hell or Zion, where the devil tries to lead her astray. (IMDb)
Special Film Archives and Preservation Panel Discussion
A panel discussion will feature SMU film studies head Worland delves into the historical and artistic significance of The Blood of Jesus. Worland will detail how its last-known film reels were found in a warehouse in Tyler.
Additionally, Worland and Elizabeth Hansen of the Texas Archives of the Moving Image (TAMI – http://texasarchives.org) will talk about the importance of film preservation and archiving.
4:30 p.m. – Documentary with GHS Student Short Films ($10 individual tickets)
Children of Giant (2015) – Director: Hector Galan (in attendance) – Filmed in Marfa, Texas
A documentary that unearths deeply wrought emotions in the small West Texas town of Marfa before, during and after the month-long production of George Stevens’s 1956 feature film, Giant. (Galan Productions)
This block includes student films from Garland High School’s ‘Reel Owl Cinema.’
Dinner Break
7:30 p.m. – Feature film ($15 individual tickets)
Giant (1956) – Director: George Stevens – Filmed in Marfa and Valentine, TX; Charlottesville, VA; and Los Angeles, CA
This Oscar-Award-winning sprawling epic covers the life of a Texas cattle rancher and his family and associates. (IMDb) Stars James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson. (Rated G)
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Sunday, Sept. 15 – 1 p.m. – Feature and cartoon ($10 individual tickets)
Under Western Stars (1938)/Tex Avery The First Bad Man Cartoon (1950s) – Director: Joseph Kane – Filmed in California
Introduced by Sean Griffin (SMU Film History Professor) – Roy Rogers is elected to Congress to bring the misery of the 1930s “Dustbowl” to the attention of Washington politicians. (IMDb)
Although not filmed in Texas, the star of Under Western Stars, Roy Rogers, came to Garland to promote the film and was photographed on the square during the trip. It will be followed by The First Bad Man cartoon from famous Texas animator, Tex Avery. See what Dallas looked like in 1 Million B.C.
“The First Bad Man” Tex Avery cartoon (1955)
3:30 p.m. – Double Feature – Feature and Documentary ($15 individual tickets)
The Big Show (1936) – Director: Mack V. Wright and Joseph Kane – Filmed in Fair Park, Dallas – Housed at the G. William Jones Film and Video Collection, Southern Methodist University
Introduced by Sean Griffin (SMU Film History Professor)
At the Texas Centennial in Dallas (the precursor to the State Fair of Texas), Gene Autry confuses two girls by being himself and his own stunt double. (IMDb)
A Fair to Remember (2008) – Directors: Allen Mondell, Cynthia Salzman Mondell, and Phil Allen – Filmed in Fair Park, Dallas
In attendance: Allen Mondell and Cynthia Salzman Mondell – A documentary about the rich history of the Great State Fair of Texas.
A FAIR TO REMEMBER Trailer and Website
Dinner Break
7 p.m. – Comedy troupe live riffs on Campy Classic with GHS Student Short Films ($15 individual tickets)
Mocky Horror Picture Show live riffing of Rock Baby Rock It (1957) – Director: Murray Douglas Sporup – Filmed in Dallas
Mocked by comedians Danny Gallagher, Liz Barksdale and Albie Robles
This campy film follows teenagers as they resist attempts by shady underworld types to take over their rock ‘n’ roll club. It features great rockabilly performances by Don Coates and The Bon-Aires, Preacher Smith and the Deacons, The Five Stars, The Belew Twins, Johnny Carroll and Roscoe Gordon. (IMDb)
Featuring the Texas’ version of 1957’s Elvis, The Everly Brothers and others – Black and white acts alike.
This block includes student films from Garland High School’s ‘Reel Owl Cinema.’
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About GHS IB Film Program:
The Garland High School IB Film Program, also known as Reel Owl Cinema, is a unique four-year high school narrative International Baccalaureate (IB) film program, which has been producing films at Garland High School since 2005. This program began in the IB program as a part of the pilot program for film. It is the first Fine Arts film class offered in a public school in Texas and is now the only public high school in Texas offering a four-year narrative film program.
Reel Owl Cinema has been educating, inspiring and celebrating students and the stories they tell through film for 20 years.
Thank you to sponsors: City of Garland and Garland Cultural Arts