Out of This World Films

Out-of-this-world films with a space-age theme and the Wilson brothers boost Houston Cinema Arts Fest lineup

The 2015 Houston Cinema Arts Festival (HCAF) is shaping up to be out of this world.

In addition to showcasing two films with Oscar buzz, officials announced Thursday that the local film fest will feature an abundance of space-related programming with celebrity attendees, including Luke Wilson (The Royal Tenenbaums, Old School) and older brother Andrew Wilson (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums).

The Wilson brothers, who are Dallas natives, will present Satellite Beach, which they co-directed and was written by Luke. He also stars in the short film as a man who follows the journey of the Endeavour space shuttle as it travels through Los Angeles to the California Science Center and the final move of the historic spacecraft Atlantis to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Along with presenting more than 20 space-themed films and programs, the HCAF, which runs November 12 through 19, has teamed up with NASA to launch the inaugural CineSpace competition.

The top 16 space-themed short films, whittled down from 194 submissions, will be presented throughout the day on November 13 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Astronaut Don Pettit will award five winners, selected by Houston-born director Richard Linklater and members of NASA, with $26,000 in cash prizes.

The festival will also feature a screening of Time magazine’s A Year in Space, a documentary series that follows astronaut Scott Kelly on the International Space Station, and the acclaimed 1995 movie Apollo 13. The film's screenwriters William Broyles, Jr. and Al Reinert, along with Jeffrey Kluger who co-authored the book Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13 on which the movie was based, will be on-hand to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the hit film.

For more information on The Houston Cinema Arts Festival and other space-related programming, visit the HCAS website.

Luke Wilson stars in acclaimed short film, Satellite Beach, which he co-directed with his brother Andrew Wilson.

Houston, Houston Cinema Arts Fest 2015, October 2015, Luke Wilson

Courtesy of Houston Cinema Arts Society

Luke Wilson stars in acclaimed short film, Satellite Beach, which he co-directed with his brother Andrew Wilson.

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Soccer star and Grammy-winning singer will lead Houston Art Car Parade

Courtesy of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art

Art Car weekend returns April 9-12.

If you see a lot of unusual-looking automobiles on the streets and freeways next month, it’ll be for one simple reason: the Art Car Parade is back.

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art announced the return of the Houston Art Car Parade Weekend presented by Team Gillman, taking place Thursday, April 9 through Sunday, April 12. This will culminate in the Houston Art Car Parade – its 39th – on Saturday, April 11, featuring more than 250 one-of-a-kind, rolling works of art.

The four-day celebration transforms the city into a canvas of color, creativity, and community, with the parade serving as the weekend’s crowning spectacle, drawing more than 315,000 spectators annually and making it the largest free cultural event in Houston. Serving as the 2026 Featured Artist is Phillip Pyle II, a visual artist, graphic designer, and photographer whose work engages with issues of race and popular culture through the lens of graphic design.

This year’s grand marshals, former Houston Dynamo player Brian Ching and singer/The Suffers frontwoman Kam Franklin, represent two powerful pillars of Houston’s cultural identity: sports and music. Ching and Franklin join a distinguished list of past marshals, including Bun B, Carl Lewis, Marilyn Oshman, J.J. Watt, Dan Aykroyd and George Clinton.

“This year’s Orange Show Art Car Parade honors Kam Franklin and Brian Ching as Grand Marshals,” said Orange Show executive director Jack Massing. “Selected for their positive contributions as Houstonians, both are dedicated community leaders committed to fostering creativity through music and sports, helping build a happier, healthier city.”

Attendance remains free and open to the public, reinforcing the Orange Show’s mission to make art accessible to all. For those looking to immerse themselves in the parade’s energy while supporting its mission, the VIPit offers a festival-style atmosphere with limited tables and reserved grandstand seating starting at $250. Admission includes complimentary food and beverages from Houston favorites, private restrooms, and premium parade views. Proceeds directly fund year-round Art Car programming at the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, including Art Cars in Schools, a curriculum aligned with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards that brings hands-on creative learning into classrooms across the region.

For more information, visit the Orange Show website.

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