This weekend, we broke up with an old friend. It was a tough decision because he’d been with us for years, in good times and bad, making us laugh, making us cry, even introducing us to gay porn.
Yes, it was a little sad to put our VCR out on the curb with our old tube TV, but it was time. And because somebody snatched up both within 3 minutes of attaching a sign reading “Yes, They Still Work,” we’re pretty sure he went to a good home.
So we’re happy this week to have another way to discover films that will tap into our emotions with unapologetic force. It’s the 26th annual Dallas VideoFest, which now calls Alamo Drafthouse its home for the five-day event showcasing independent, alternative and non-commercial media, including hard-to-find works that rarely see the light of day (or dark of theater).
It starts tomorrow with an opening night party (not at Alamo Drafthouse, FYI) and the screening of True Tales, a documentary about a housewife-turned-exotic dancer whose secret life was exposed after strip club owner Jack Ruby was arrested for killing Lee Harvey Oswald. There will even be a live burlesque performance accompanying the film. You know, in case you’ve never seen tassel-covered boobies before.
The rest of the weekend is chock full of cinematic gems, including several themed short film showcases for the attention span-deprived.
That means until Sunday, it’s movie night every night.
And not a single videotape to be kind and rewind when you’re finished.
Dallas VideoFest 2013
October 9-13
Full schedule, pricing and details at www.videofest.org
