Austin Film Festival News

Jon Stewart adds AFF appearance to already packed Austin visit

A double dose of Jon Stewart? Yes, please. Austin Film Festival has announced that when Jon Stewart visits Austin in October for a series of tapings of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart at the ZACH Theatre, he’ll also present his directorial debut, Rosewater.

Barbara Morgan, executive director of AFF, says that it just "made a lot of sense" to have Stewart's film be the Closing Night Selection. "Obviously we connected it because he was going be here," Morgan explains.

Fans of The Daily Show may remember Stewart's hiatus from the program last summer. During those three months, Stewart shot Rosewater, a film adaption of journalist Maziar Bahari’s time in an Iranian prison. Stewart was not only the director; he also wrote the screenplay based on Bahair's written memoir about the entire experience. Bahari will also co-present Rosewater during the festival.

When Iran accused Bahari of espionage and subsequently incarcerated him in 2009, his appearance on The Daily Show earlier that year was used as evidence against him. He then spent 118 days in an Iranian prison where he was forced to confess to spying and brutally interrogated until his release.

Bahari is played by Mexican actor Gael García Bernal; Kim Bodnia portrays the man known as “Rosewater.”

The opening night of the festival includes the U.S. premiere of The Humbling, starring Al Pacino and written by former AFF award winner Buck Henry. Other screenings include The Homesman, The Last 5 Years and The Sound and the Fury, as well as Dawn Patrol, which originated from AFF's screenplay competition in 2008.

The 2014 Austin Film Festival runs from October 23-30. Passes and badges are still available through the AFF website.

The Humbling was directed by Barry Levinson and co-written by Buck Henry, two former awardees of the Austin Film Festival.

Courtesy of Millennium Films

The Humbling was directed by Barry Levinson and co-written by Buck Henry, two former awardees of the Austin Film Festival.

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Music Notes

12 top music shows to see — with or without a wristband — at SXSW 2025

Photo by Ismael Quintanilla III

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South by Southwest (SXSW) is taking over Austin from March 7-15, and there’s a lot to see and experience with or without a credential. Here you’ll find a variety of mostly free music recommendations taking place across the entirety of the festival. Also, if you missed it, a collection of select events and activations can be seen here.

Hotel Vegas & Volstead – March 7-12
As is the case every year, the best place to get your SXSW underway is at Hotel Vegas and Volstead. The pair of venues, which have three stages combined, have a ton of music to experience — largely for free — and it’s an easy catch-all if you want to get into the mix of the festival without having to run all over the city.

Friday, March 7 – The Smoke Showwith Heartbyrne, Farmer’s Wife, Foxtales, Rattlesnake Milk, and more across the two Hotel Vegas stages. The Volstead will feature comedy and drag acts. Free. Doors at 8pm. 21+
Saturday, March 8 – SX Soundcheck with Golden Dawn Arkestra, Como Las Movies, Shooks, and more on the patio, a variety of cumbia acts on the inside stage, and DJs at Volstead. Free until 7pm. Doors at noon. 21+
Sunday, March 9 – Side One Track One vs Austin Town Hallwith Quiet Company, Jane Leo, Grocery Bag, Otis Wilkins, Club Coma, and more than 20 other local bands on all three stages at Hotel Vegas and Volstead. Free. Doors at 2pm. 21+
March 10-12 - Springbreak Boogie
Monday, March 10 with Tear Dungeon, Porcelain, Exotic Fruitica, and more on all three stages.
Tuesday, March 11 with Man/Woman/Chainsaw, Prehuman, Tearjerk, and others on all three stages.
Wednesday, March 12 with Night Drive, Twin Tribes, Shower Curtain, and more on all three stages.
*All three shows are free until 5pm. 21+

South By San José – March 12-16
South by San José is back for its 26th year in the parking lot that’s shared between Hotel San José and Jo’s Coffee from March 12-16. These free day parties have stacked lineups with artists from all over, including Big Freedia’s Gospel Revival, Briscoe, Fantasy Of A Broken Heart, Kam Franklin (of The Suffers), and lots more. There will also be local vendors and more to explore. Music starts at noon each day. All ages.

Marshall Day Party – Wednesday, March 12
The Marshall Day Party is back at the Mohawk on Wednesday, March 12, with a big lineup that features a slew of bands from Austin and all over: Die Spitz, Fleshwater, Wishy, Urban Heat, Maruja, Freak Slug, and others. Attendees can also expect Waterloo Records and Feels So Good pop-up stands, along with giveaways and more. Free with RSVP. Show starts at noon. All ages.

Bloody Mary Morning – Thursday, March 13
Crawl out of bed early and get to GSD&M’s backyard at 828 West 6th St. on Thursday, March 13, for the 11th annual Blood Mary Morning. The event, which is put on by Austin City Limits and Austin PBS, will feature performances by Larkin Poe, David Ramirez, Chief Cleopatra, and Amber Mark, who just landed a support slot for a run of Sabrina Carpenter shows. Breakfast tacos, Bloody Marys and more will be on hand. Free with RSVP. 10 am start.

Pooneh Presents – March 13-14
Austin photographer Pooneh Ghana will do as she did last year and host a pair of free shows at Radio East on March 13 & 14. The lineups for these have a good mix of local talent, such as Being Dead and Annabelle Chairlegs, with touring acts like Holy Fuck, Baths, and Frankie & The Witch Fingers. There will also be a market, raffles, and more. Doors at noon each day. All ages.

Antone’s 50th x Austin Blues Fest – Friday, March 14
As a part of Antone’s 50th Anniversary festivities, the venue has teamed up with the Austin Blues Festival and the Clifford Antone Foundation for a day party on Friday, March 14. Jackie Venson, Gypsy Mitchell, the Peterson Brothers Band, and others round out the lineup, and there will be free food, raffles, live screen printing, and more. Free with RSVP. Doors at noon. All ages.

Spring Break – March 14 & 15
Local imprint Spaceflight Records will be hunkered down at Central Machine Works across March 14 & 15 with a pair of free showcases that feature a ton of great Austin acts, such as Grandmaster, Andrew Cashen, S.L. Houser, Garrett T. Capps, Geto Gala, and more. The start time for each day is 4 pm. All ages.

Steady Transmissions – Saturday, March 15
Radio Coffee & Beer (South, 4204 Menchaca Rd.) will host its own free showcase, Steady Transmissions, during the day on Saturday, March 15. This is a largely local lineup with Mama Duke, The Point, Magna Carda, Large Brush Collection, and more. Doors at noon. All ages.

Grillo’s Pickles – Sunday, March 16
If you haven’t had enough SXSW by the time it wraps on March 15, then don’t miss Grillo’s Pickles’ St. Pickles Day Party at Hotel Vegas on Sunday, March 16. The free show will kick off at 1 pm on the venue’s patio with buzzworthy locals Touch Girl Apple Blossom, and then it'll stretch into the evening with performances by Narrow Head, Wand, Nuclear Daisies, Portrayal of Guilt, and others. You can also expect pickle-themed cocktails, live screening printing, and more. 21+