The Austin Film Society has announced a stellar lineup of arthouse classics for November and December, with its Essential Cinema series focusing on the films of Federico Fellini.
The series is called “8 1/2 Fellinis” and will include eight of his films and one featurette, in honor of his centennial. The films are: “Variety Lights,” the newly restored “The White Sheik,” the newly restored “La Strada,” “8 1/2,” the newly restored “Nights of Cabiria,” the newly restored “La Dolce Vita,” the newly restored “Juliets of the Spirit” and a double-feature presentation of the newly restored “Amarcord” and featurette “Toby Dammit.”
Another key series focuses on the documentaries of Rosine Mbakam, who explores the lives of African women in Belgium and in her home country of Cameroon. The films are “Chez Jolie Coiffeur,” “Two Faces of a Bamileke Woman” and “Delphine’s Prayers.”
The film society’s exploration of German filmmaker Werner Herzog continues with a series of his nonfiction films. The Herzog Restorations, Part 2: Nonfiction Herzog features five documentaries and hybrid narratives, including “Ballad of the Little Soldier,” “Lessons of Darkness,” “Land of Silence and Darkness,” “Little Dieter Needs to Fly” and “Where the Green Ants Dream.”
One of the more interesting events will focus on Austin artist Daniel Johnston. On Dec. 8, AFS and The Contemporary Austin are partnering to present “Daniel Johnston in the ‘80s,” an evening of Johnston’s early film appearances including Richard Linklater’s “Woodshock” from 1985. The screening coincides with the Contemporary’s exhibition, “Daniel Johnston: I Live My Broken Dreams,” the first-ever museum survey of works by the musician and visual artist.
The society has lots more offerings to round out the year. Visit austinfilm.org.
