Earlier this month, the Dallas-based USA Film Festival announced its films and schedule of events for the film festival’s 55th edition opening April 23 through April 27. Over its five days, the festival will bring a roster of new and classic films from the the U.S. and abroad. Among this year’s selections are a number of queer-centric films as well.
“We are pleased to once again celebrate Dallas Arts Month with our annual Spring Festival,” USAFF Managing Director Ann Alexander said in a press release, “We are honored to bring a number of distinguished Master Artists to our stage in Dallas and to celebrate so many talented filmmakers with new works as well as revisiting a few classic favorites. With support from our sponsors, once again this year most of our programs will be presented as free admission.”
All screenings and events will be held at the Angelika Film Center (5321 E. Mockingbird Lane).
Two films have queer ties among the festival’s selections. USAFF will present the new queer romance drama On Swift Horses on April 24 at 7 p.m.
Directed by out filmmaker Daniel Minahan, based on the novel of the same name by Shannon Pufahl, the period film follows Muriel (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and her husband Lee (Will Poulter) as they begin a bright new life in California when Lee returns from the Korean War. But their newfound stability is upended by the arrival of Lee’s charismatic brother, Julius (Jacob Elordi), a wayward gambler with a secret past, and a dangerous love triangle forms. When Julius takes off in search of the young card cheat he’s fallen for (Diego Calva), Muriel’s longing for something more propels her into her own self discovery, leading to a secret life of gambling on racehorses and exploring a love she never dreamed possible.
USAFF welcomes queer director Sue Ann Pien to Dallas to present her directorial debut Once More, Like Rain Man as part of the Narrative Short Films block on April 25 at 9 p.m.
The short film follows the day-in-the-life of an autistic actress running the gambit of stereotypes she has to deal with in a funny, frustrating, painful and sometimes triumphantly sarcastic kind of way. USAFF celebrates Autism Awareness Month with this screening.
Pien is an autistic actress and director and a strong advocate for representation for people on the autism spectrum. And she enjoys performing alongside music composer and wife Cynthia Catania.
The festival begins with the Opening Night salute to Hollywood legend Nancy Kwan (Flower Drum Song), with a look at her career and signing of her memoir, The World of Nancy Kwan.
Opening night also honors filmmaker Jon Avnet (Fried Green Tomatoes), featuring a screening of his latest film, The Last Rodeo, with the film’s stars Neal McDonough (Yellowstone) and Mykelti Williamson (Forrest Gump) in attendance.
The festival will include a 25th anniversary screening of Christopher Nolan’s classic crime-thriller Memento (2000), with Dallas actor Stephen Tobolowsky in person.
Closing Night will feature a 40th anniversary screening of Brigitte Berman’s Academy Award-winning documentary Artie Shaw: Time Is All You’ve Got (1985) and works from Texas artists and filmmakers. Also celebrated, will be veteran actor Martin Kove, with a 50th anniversary screening of the Roger Corman cult classic, Death Race 2000 (1975).
Tickets range from free-$10 and available here. Day-of-show tickets will be available at the Angelika’s sales desk upstairs one hour prior to showtime. For more details and to view the full schedule of programs, visit usafilmfestival.com.