Last year was my first Fantastic Fest and I'll go ahead and admit it: mistakes were made. In my defense, I have a hard time believing that anyone, let alone little 'ol me, can attend the world's largest genre film festival for the first time and walk away feeling like they did everything perfectly. That's just not how the world works. Heck, that's just not how film festivals work.
However, I learned a lot over those eight days, seeing five movies a day at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (the best theater in the best theater chain in the world, if you'll allow me to be so bold) and managing to live to tell the tale. Now, I'm a returning veteran. I'm a champion of Fantastic Fest, ready to return for another 192 hours of the best horror, science fiction, fantasy and action films the world has to offer. While I'm by no means an expert—some of my friends and colleagues have braved the fest six times and are returning for round seven—I do think that I've learned a thing or two about how to do Fantastic Fest right. Grab a pen and some some paper, film buffs… you're going to want to take notes.
1. Eating Right
One of the benefits of Fantastic Fest being held at the Alamo Drafthouse is the food: delicious, often fried and always artery-wrecking—food that will be brought straight to you as you watch a film. After all, nothing compliments a Korean revenge drama more than a basket of hot wings.
But be warned! There are serious side effects to subsisting entirely on Drafthouse cuisine for a week straight (aside from those extra five pounds you'll take home as a nasty little souvenir). The food on the menu may be tasty, but it's heavy and it has the nasty habit of making even the toughest festival-goer sleepy and bloated when too much is consumed. Sure, buy a meal every so often, but don't be afraid to brown bag it, preferably with something light and healthy. Your stamina—and your wallet—will thank you.
2. Regulating Your Caffeine
On a related note, you will need caffeine. I repeat: You. Will. Need. Caffeine. This really isn't an option. If you want to do Fantastic Fest right, you're going to need to pump your slowly weakening body full of brain-slapping chemicals. Here's my secret caffeine schedule, which I gladly pass onto you, grasshopper:
Begin with tea (I'm a fan of the orange dulce with two sugars, lemon and one honey), consumed during the evening shows. Around day three, you'll need to start consuming tea during the day and coffee in the evening. You may be tempted to start with coffee, but you need to work toward that. Too much too soon and you'll crash and burn. Around day five, coffee during the day becomes an option and you'll be needing espresso at night. Days seven and eight? Espresso, all day and every day.
3. Don't Be Shy!
If you're attending Fantastic Fest, it's because you're a movie fan, a hobby that requires you to silently sit in the dark and shun others for two hours while you watch imaginary things projected onto a screen in front of you. This is not a hobby that trains you to be sociable, so many of us movie buffs are shy, soft spoken and afraid of crowds and meeting new people.
Lose this mentality. Now.
Fantastic Fest is a celebration of eclectic cinema, most of which belongs on the opposite end of the spectrum from the mainstream and appeals to the tiniest of niche audiences, AKA, you! Do you know what this means? The guy standing in line in front of you and the guy behind you all belong to the same niche! This is a gathering of people who like the same things you do. Don't look at your feet. Don't ignore others. Say hello. Make new friends. Strike up conversations. If you're one of those people who always has trouble in social situations because all you can talk about is movies, then you're finally in the right place. Embrace that.
4. Be Adventurous
Don't get attached to your schedule, folks. No matter how meticulously you plan your week, there will always be a few screenings you can't get into. Or you'll hear great buzz about another film that wasn't on your radar. Or you'll decide to forgo a movie and attend one of Fantastic Fest's nutty and amazing special events (the Fantastic Feud and the Fantastic Debates should not be missed). If you won't be malleable, if you try to stick to your carefully diagrammed schedule no matter what, you may miss something that you'll regret. Over-planning and fretting over your schedule is no way to have fun. Make your priorities and have a rough outline of what you want to do, but keep it loose and ready to change at a moment's notice. Let Fantastic Fest happen to you. Shake things up. Try things that are outside your normal comfort zone.
If you're not the party type, attend a party anyway. If you came for the horror films, give the French hitman comedy a shot. This week is a celebration of cinema and a celebration of being a fan of cinema. You can stick to routine any other week of the year. Try something special. Try something different. Try something dangerous. But not literally dangerous. Because that would be dangerous.
5. When In Doubt, Walk Out
Sometimes, being adventurous means you walk into a fetishistic Japanese gore comedy featuring a climactic battle between a mutant schoolgirl and a ten foot tall monster who shoots acidic milk from her breasts. There is an audience for this, but if you're like me, you do not belong to this very specific niche. Don't sit there and suffer: just stand up and walk out (unless you're a paid writer and you have to review it, you poor sucker).
Outside of that theater, there is plenty more to do, plenty more to see and plenty more people to meet. If you're not having fun, just leave... even if it means catching the disappointed glare of the attending filmmaker. You've learned something about your personal tastes and now you're a stronger person for it. Well done. Pat yourself on the back and dash across the street for a treat at Gourdough's. You've earned it.
The springtime festival season is in full bloom, and these happenings are proof of a social calendar teeming with possibility. Catch exclusive screenings at the Indie Meme Film Festival, or enjoy the foraging of local chefs and farmers at the Field Guide Festival. Check out the top seven things to do in Austin this weekend. For a complete list of events, visit our calendar.
Thursday, April 18
Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum presents Umlauf Garden Party
Stroll the grounds of the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum in your spring evening best at this year’s garden party. The special “An Austin Gem”-themed soiree will feature decadent tastings from 25 of Austin's top restaurants and chefs in celebration of the city’s culinary talent. Additional highlights include live big-band music from the Nash Hernandez Orchestra, a selection of premium wines provided by Twin Liquors, and craft cocktails by Tito's Handmade Vodka. Splurge on tickets while you still can!
The Domain presents 16th Annual Austin Fashion Week
Runway models, emerging designers, and catwalks collide at The Domain for Austin Fashion Week. The three-day experience is the largest fashion event in Texas and features five runway shows, pop-up shops, exclusive parties, and more chic moments in one of Austin’s most style-forward districts. Badges and ticket information are available on the Austin Fashion Week website.
Indie Meme Film Festival
Films from across the world hit AFS Cinema screens at the 9th annual Indie Meme Film Festival. The event features more than 30 international films that showcase South Asian stories, screening in more than 17 languages. The global festival showcases filmmakers and relevant cinema from countries such as India, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, and the United States. Badges and schedule information are available on the festival website.
Friday, April 19
Moontower Comedy Festival presents Roy Wood, Jr.
Stand-up comedy star Roy Wood Jr. performs live at The Paramount Theatre as part of the Moontower Comedy Festival. Wood is best known for his tenured role as a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. He’s also starred in AMC’s Better Call Saul and The Last O.G. on TBS. Select tickets are still available.
Saturday, April 20
Preservation Austin presents Homes Tour
Wander through and explore 10 charming abodes across the city at the Preservation Austin Homes Tour. The two-day event features various tours, plus a Homes Tour Block Party in the Rogers-Washington-Holy Cross Historic District, known as Austin’s first historically Black neighborhood. VIP and general admission tickets are available.
Field Guide Festival
Connect with local farms and chefs through food at the Field Guide Festival. Tickets include tasting access to dishes using seasonal ingredients created by more than 50 partnering Central Texas chefs and farmers. Attendees can also learn about current food trends, sip wine and spirits from local makers, enjoy live fire cooking demonstrations, take part in kid-friendly programming, shop the Farmer’s Market Bodega, participate in symposium conversations, and more. Tickets are still available. Admission is free for children 12 and under.
C3 Presents presents Two Step Inn
Country music and the honky tonk spirit make their way to Georgetown for the Two Step Inn showcase. The two-day event at San Gabriel Park features performances from more than 40 acts, including major stars like Martina McBride, Clint Black, Ludacris, Cody Johnson, Turnpike Troubadours, and more. Tickets are still available.