Yellow City’s imprint on the global film scene is growing, as audiences will see at the second Amarillo International Film Festival, opening Thursday.
Following Thursday’s sold-out VIP reception, the festival will feature screenings of 11 feature films and 51 shorts over the next two days—approximately double the offerings from the inaugural festival in 2024.
“At any given time, there are two options for you to watch,” said festival director Sherman Bass, the film commissioner for Visit Amarillo and the Greater Amarillo Film Commission.
Short films will run in two-hour blocks, opposite the feature-length films and documentaries, Bass explained. Festival organizers have added more Q&A sessions with filmmakers, as well as two special sessions: Filmmaking on a Micro-Budget with director John Putch at 4 p.m. Friday, and Filming in Texas with Texas Film Commissioner Stephanie Whallon and Texas Media Production Alliance Executive Director Fred Poston at 1 p.m. Saturday.
“John will be a hoot,” Bass said. “He has been involved with everything from American Pie to Hallmark movies and everything in between.”
Putch’s The Father and the Bear, about a character actor who wants to do one last performance before succumbing to dementia, will screen out of competition at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Whallon and Poston will discuss newly increased incentives for making movies in the Lone Star State, as well as new resources for filmmakers.
The festival will feature 32 films from Texas, including eight from the Amarillo area, including three student short films. Films also were accepted from Austria, Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom. In addition to the competitive films, Omaha, directed by Cole Webley and starring John Magaro (Past Lives), also will get a special screening at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The film was entered into the competition but had to be disqualified when it picked up a distribution deal following its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
Admission is $15 for one day or $25 for both days; attendees can come and go throughout the event, Bass said.
Film lovers also have several options in theaters this weekend:
Roofman adapts a fascinating true story about a crook (Channing Tatum) with surprising success at evading arrest, with Kirsten Dunst as the woman he falls for. It’s set to open at both Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive, and Cinergy, 9201 Cinergy Square.
Also opening: inspirational biopic Soul on Fire and sci-fi sequel Tron: Ares, as well as special engagements of The Dark Crystal on Oct. 12 and 13, and Trick ‘r Treat on Oct. 14 and 16.
This week’s other can’t-miss options:
Big Cheese fundraiser at the Tri-State Fairgrounds (Tuesday)
Jazztober on Polk St. (Tuesday)
[title of show] musical: at Amarillo College Experimental Theatre (Thursday through Sunday)
Candlelight Concerts at Amarillo Little Theatre Allen Shankles Mainstage: Rock Favorites on Strings (6:30 Friday) Coldplay and Imagine Dragons (8:30 p.m. Friday)
Sixth Street Massacre: on Sixth Street (Friday and Saturday)
Amarillo Scaregrounds: on 10th (Friday and Saturday)
The Haunt at Sundown: (Friday and Saturday)
Old Tascosa Fall Festival at Old Tascosa Taproom and Brewery (Friday with a Hops n’ Shops Vendor Market on Saturday)
Gee’s Family Farms: (Saturday)
Oktoberfest at The Lumberyard (Saturday)
Amarillo Night Glow at Arts in the Sunset (Saturday)
A Night in Paris fundraiser at Amarillo Civic Center Complex Heritage Ballroom (Saturday)
Songwriters in the Round at Chalice Abbey (Saturday)
Big G and Dean Cover Queen at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts (Saturday)
Cottonwood Faire Renaissance Fair: at Thompson Park (Saturday and Sunday)
Maxwell’s Pumpkin Farm: (Saturday through Monday)
Jazztober on Polk Street (Oct. 14)
