As film festivals go, the Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF) may not be the biggest, loudest or most instantly recognizable but considering that Dallas didn’t even have an annual film festival a little more than a decade ago, the DIFF certainly does an admirable job of filling an important void. For its part, the Dallas Film Society – which puts on the festival every year – works diligently to bring fresh, noteworthy films to Dallas and more importantly provides a creative jolt of energy to the local film scene. Everything is bigger in Texas and the DIFF always tries to live up to that mantra.
Over the weekend, the DIFF announced the first 11 films to grab a spot on their 2017 festival lineup. Right off the bat, there appears to be something for everyone – from documentaries about film scores to Texas born heist movies to haunting loves stories. James Faust, the Dallas Film Society’s uber smart Creative Director, has again secured an initial, well-rounded group of films that not only include world premieres but that also cater to the uniquely diverse cinematic tastes of North Texas movie goers.
Check out the DIFF’s new logo for 2017.
“Dallas film audiences are among the most knowledgeable, diverse, and enthusiastic in the entire country,” said Faust. “Therefore, programming the Dallas International Film Festival is always an exercise in striking a balance by finding films that appeal to the savvy cinephile, and the weekend escape-seeking film fan, as well as everyone in between. This year, we have already had great success securing films that impressed us at other prominent film festivals around the world, to discovering brand new gems, which will make their debut right here at DIFF.”
Bomb City
The exclusive premieres that Faust mentions are particularly interesting this year, including the film “Bomb City“. Produced and directed by North Texas filmmakers, “Bomb City” dramatizes the true life story of Brian Deneke, a 19-year-old punk musician from Amarillo who was killed in a deliberate hit-and-run attack on December 12, 1997, by 17-year-old jock Dustin Camp. Described as a gritty-drama about hatred and oppression in a conservative Texas town, “Bomb City’s” timing might be right on point considering the country’s – and indeed the state’s – political atmosphere.
For the music geek in all of us, “Score: A Film Music Documentary“ delves into the art of soundtracking a film by gaining first-hand knowledge from legendary composers like Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore and John Williams. “Score” should be an enlightening experience for all film fans, but particularly for budding musicians and composers. Watch the trailer below and if you appreciate iconic soundtracks for equally iconic films, then the open scene of the trailer should make you giddy with nostalgia.
Speaking of documentaries and nostalgia, “44 Pages“ should also be on your list of films to watch at this year’s DIFF. Remember Highlights Magazine? “44 PAGES” is a behind the scenes look at that very publication and introduces audiences to the quirky people who passionately produce it. Throughout the film, a rich and tragic history is revealed, the state of childhood, technology, and education is explored, and the future of print media is questioned.
Another DIFF 2017 premiere of a film with Texas roots is “Into The Who Knows!“, a self-described “kid’s adventure film” about a lonely young boy who makes an escape from his summer camp to venture into a mysterious forest in pursuit of a mythical being called Totem. On the international front, the DIFF will be screening a physiological drama from Mexico called “Los Presentes (The Present Ones)” about a former actress who suffers a personality split when she returns to a role that was pivotal during her relationship with her husband.
Rounding out the rest of the first 11 announced films for the 2017 Dallas International Film Festival is “Abacus: Small Enough To Jail“, “A Bad Idea Gone Wrong“, “Buster’s Mal Heart“, “Frantz“, “The Lost City of Z” and “Strad Style“. For more info on any of these films check out this Dallas Film Society page and stay tuned for more info as DIFF 2017 get closer. If you’ve never been to DIFF before or haven’t been to a film festival at all, the DIFF is a great place to start or continue your love of film. If 2016’s Dallas International Film Festival was any indication, this year’s fest will be worth grabbing a ticket for.
The Dallas International Film Festival runs from March 30 thru April 9th, 2017. Screenings take place at various movie theaters through the city of Dallas. Online tickets go on sale early for Dallas Film Society members beginning Monday, March 13 at DallasFilm.org, and will open to the public on Thursday, March 16. You’ll also be able to snag old fashioned physical tickets at the Prekindle Box Office through the duration of the film festival, starting March 30.
