A screening of the not-yet-released ‘Coriolanus’ will be featured in the Cinema Arts Festival this weekend. With screenplay by John Logan, this Shakespearean adaptation was directed by Ralph Fiennes and stars Brian Cox. | Dave J. Hogan/Getty Images
The third annual Cinema Arts Festival Houston kicked off yesterday, initiating another outstanding celebration of films by various artists that are personal to each filmmaker.
Of all the film festivals Houston has to offer, the Cinema Arts Festival is easily the most distinguished.
The festivals of the past two years have included panels of Oscar-nominated and Oscar-winning actors, screenwriters and filmmakers with Q-and-A sessions.
Visitors to past festivals include Richard Linklater, Guillermo Arriaga, Tilda Swinton, Lynn Hershman-Leeson, Isabella Rossellini, Alex Gibney, Shirley MacLaine and John Turturro.
Guests Lynn Hershman-Leeson and Richard Linklater have returned for this year’s festival, which also adds Ethan Hawke into the mix.
Before the festival ends on Sunday, several noteworthy screenings will occur including titles that have yet to be released.
Films like “The Artist,” Ralph Fiennes’ Shakespearean adaptation of “Coriolanus,” which is a Freud-Jung psychoanalysis work from David Cronenberg; “A Dangerous Method”, as well as Wim Wenders’ “Pina” in 3D to close the festival.
Many exciting venues around Houston will be participating, including Edwards Greenway Grand Palace Stadium 24, Miller Outdoor Theatre, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Rice Cinema, One Allen Center, River Oaks Landmark, Talento Bilingue De Houston, West Ave, DiverseWorks, Glassell School of Art and Gigi’s Asian Bistro for the Cinema Arts Celebration on Saturday night.
The festival has much to offer, with discounted tickets for students — and some free events too.
Ethan Hawke will be in attendance for his new film, “The Woman in the Fifth”, which co-stars Kristin Scott Thomas, on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the Museum of Fine Arts.
He will also be present with director Richard Linklater for Sunday’s first screening of “Tape”, a 2001 film that he starred in along with Uma Thurman and Robert Sean Leonard.
Additionally, Hawke will be awarded the prestigious Levantine Cinema Arts Award.
Lynn Hershman-Leeson will be showing her feminist documentary, “Women Art Revolution” — which has been 40 years in the making.
The documentary will be shown at the second festival tonight at 8 p.m. at the Museum of Fine Arts.
At 3 p.m. on Saturday, the best 11 submissions from Texas Monthly’s Where I’m From Short Film Contest will be shown at Rice Cinema free of charge — showing films from local Texas filmmakers about where they’re from in 10 minutes or less.
Other screenings include “HERE”, starring Ben Foster with a question-and-answer session with director and co-writer Braden King to follow.
“The Mill and the Cross”, starring Rutger Hauer and Michael York will be shown this weekend as well.
Other filmmakers will be available for question-and-answer sessions along with screenings of their specifically chosen films, making each event a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all film fans and aspiring filmmakers in the Houston area.
For more information on the festival, visit its website at cinemartsociety.org.
