Take a gander at film, art & design at Houston Cinema Arts Festival 2017

Ballad of Lefty Brown | Film still courtesy of Houston Cinema Arts Festival 2017

Immerse yourself in films as diverse as our city at venues across town during the Houston Cinema Arts Festival 2017 (HCAF17), running for five days from Thursday, November 9 through Monday, November 13, 2017.

Now in its ninth year, Houston Cinema Arts Festival 2017 brings films focused on the arts for five days of viewing pleasure in a unique-to-Houston experience. Unlike other film festivals, HCAF17 is a curation of films about the arts, and their creators. It pulls from local, regional, and international talent to tell a global story about the arts and create fascinating, pop-up experiences.

Following the devastation and impact of Harvey, the one-of-a-kind film festival is returning once again in a big way, welcoming back HCAF alums; staging a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the city with Bun B and others performing songs from the movie musical Singing in the Rain; the return of the Space City-themed films of CineSpace, world premieres, and more.

Events & Film Screenings at HCAF17 

Films are screened (and pop-up events held) a screens and partner venues across the city, including the Museum of Fine Arts (MFAH), Rice Cinema, and more.

This year’s lineup of films is exciting, compelling, and quite extensive. Click here to view a full, day by day line up of movies and events, and continue reading for this year’s main HCAF highlights.

The Gold Line in The Texas Filmmakers Showcase | Film still courtesy of Houston Cinema Arts Festival 2017

Regional Premieres on Opening Night

The big event kicks off with two big films on Thursday, November 9, 2017.

Filmmaker Lisa Immordino Vreeland, an HCAF alum from 2012, will premiere Love, Cecil at MFAH. The film focuses on iconic British photographer, costume designer, and larger-than-life personality Cecil Beaton, who won two Academy Awards for his work on the classic musicals Gigi and My Fair Lady. A talk with the director and book signings will follow.

At Rice Cinema, native Houstonian, influential music video director (Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, U2, Eminem), and boundary-pushing filmmaker Joseph Kahn will present his brand new feature (winner of the People’s Choice Midnight Madness award at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival). A satire set in the world of contemporary battle rap, Bodied explores the dangerous spaces of the world’s most multicultural and artistically brutal sport. After the screening, Kahn will discuss his film with Houston’s own beloved hip-hop artist Bun B.

houston-cinema-arts-festival-2017-bodied
Bodied by Joseph Kahn | Film still courtesy of Houston Cinema Arts Festival 2017

Singin’ in the Rain: A Houston & Cinema Arts Celebration

A tribute to Houston’s resilience after Harvey and a major highlight of HCAF17 will be Singin’ in the Rain: A Houston and Cinema Arts Celebration at White Oak Music Hall on Saturday, November 11, 2017.

Featuring live performances Houston hip hop favorite Bun B, popular jazz singer Kat Edmonson, and American blues singer-songwriter Carolyn Wonderland. Plus there will be a special presentation choreographed by Oliver Halkowich featuring Houston Ballet Dancers. The musical numbers will be unique renditions of songs from the iconic Gene Kelly film, which celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2017, and will be accompanied by energetic dance routines.

The event includes a screening of the classic movie musical, with the musical numbers performed and interpreted live.

As part of the evening, White Oak Music Hall will donate 10% of box office proceeds to its own Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. It has also offered the venue to the Houston Cinema Arts Society for the program at no cost.houston-cinema-arts-festival-2017-singin-in-the-rain

Worldwide Film Premieres About Houston Artists

Two films about Houston artists will debut at MFAH in back-to-back screenings, on Sunday, November 12, 2017.

Cressandra Thibodeaux of 14 Pews will present Jesse Lott: Artist in Action about Fifth Ward-based painter Jesse Lott, who was recently awarded the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Art League of Houston. The film will be screened at

Filmmaker Wayne Slaten, whose short film Red Pearl was a prize winner at CineSpace in 2015, will premiere Ash: The Art of Wayne Gilbert about the eponymous artist who utilizes cremated human remains to create stunning artistic works.

A discussion between both filmmakers and their subjects will follow the screenings.

houston-cinema-arts-festival-2017
Ash: The Art of Wayne Gilbert | Film still courtesy of Houston Cinema Arts Festival 2017

CineSpace Returns for Third Year

The short film competition CineSpace, presented in partnership with NASA, returns for the third year and will again be judged by indie director Richard Linklater. It offers filmmakers around the world a chance to share their works inspired by, and using, actual NASA imagery.

CineSpace finalists were selected from more than 650 global submissions and prize winners will be presented at Rice Cinema on Friday, November 10.

Noteworthy Houston Film Premieres 

HCAF17 will also be the first opportunity for Houstonians to see films that have already become festival favorites, but have yet to be released. Last year’s festival goers were among the first to see the acclaimed musical La La Land, which went on to win five Academy Awards, including the titles of best actress, director, and musical score. 

  • Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri at MFAH | Friday, November 10 – The People’s Choice Award winner at the Toronto International Film Festival, the movie a scorching black comedy from acclaimed director Martin McDonagh (In Bruges), with a stellar cast, including Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, and Sam Rockwell. In the film, Mildred (McDormand) goes head-to-head with local law enforcement officials after they fail to properly catch her daughter’s murderer.
  • The Ballad of Lefty Brown at MFAH | Saturday, November 11 – is a gritty Western starring screen legends Bill Pullman and Peter Fonda. The film depicts the 63-year-old Lefty Brown’s transition from lifelong sidekick to sudden hero when the title character, portrayed in a career best performance by Pullman, must avenge the death of his lifelong friend Edward Johnson (Fonda). At times poignant, brutal, and uplifting, the film received considerable praise when it screened at SXSW earlier this year.
  • Call Me By Your Name at MFAH | Saturday, November 11 – A radiant and sumptuous portrait of a budding romance, the film was directed by HCAF alumnus Luca Guadagnino, written by fellow HCAF alum James Ivory, and stars Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet. Amid the sun-drenched splendor of northern Italy in 1983, Elio (Chalamet) and Oliver (Hammer) discover and explore the desire and passion of first love over the course of a life-altering summer.
  • Bomb City at MFAH | Sunday, November 12 – Written and directed by Amarillo natives Sheldon Chick and Jameson Brooks (who will attend the screening), Bomb City is a combustion engine of a film. Based on a true story, it pits punk rockers in a conservative Texas town against a more affluent clique and culminating in a brutal hate crime. The young cast includes Lorelei Linklater, who recently had a breakout turn in her father’s landmark 2014 film Boyhood.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbings, Missouri | Film still courtesy of Houston Cinema Arts Festival 2017

Closing Film: I, Tonya Starring Margot Robbie

The festival closes with the local debut of the highly anticipated film I, Tonya on Tuesday, November 13.

Starring Margot Robbie in the titular role, the film showcases Tonya Harding, whos name lives in sports scandal infamy through her involvement in a brutal attack on fellow Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan (Caitlin Carver) leading up to the 1995 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.

I, Tonya | Film still courtesy of Houston Cinema Arts Festival 2017

About Houston Cinema Arts Festival

Presented by the Houston Cinema Arts Society (HCAS), the Houston Cinema Arts Festival showcases films by and about artists in the visual, performing, and literary arts. Welcoming a bevy of Texas-born filmmakers, actors and other celebrity artists, showings are held at both traditional theatrical venues and through interactive video installations, live multimedia performances and outdoor projections.

Houston Cinema Arts Festival 2017

Call Me By Your Name | Film still courtesy of Houston Cinema Arts Festival 2017

This content was sponsored by Houston Cinema Arts Festival. Per our advertising policy, 365 Things to Do in Houston only accepts sponsored content from businesses and organizations that meet our editorial standards and truly present a valuable activity, resource or destination for Houstonians and Houston visitors.

Click here for more information about advertising your event, attraction, business or product on 365 Things to Do in Houston.

Previous articleRevel in week-long free admission for veterans & active military at NMFH
Next articlePark Spotlight: West 11th Street Park
Sponsored Spotlight
Sponsored Spotlight stories are paid promotional placements, purchased by local event organizers and businesses to promote their events, products and services. To advertise, these organizations must meet our editorial standards and truly present a valuable activity, event, resource or destination for Houston area residents and visitors. This advertising revenue directly supports 365 Things to Do in Houston and our contributors, allowing us to expand our coverage of activities and events around the Houston area. Click here to learn more about advertising your event, business, product or service.