PARK CITY, Utah — With so many movies from the Lone Star State at this year's Sundance Film Festival, it wasn't surprising that The Texas Party, hosted by the Texas Association of Film Commissions, attracted a large and enthusiastic crowd at Cisero's Ristorante Sunday night.
Director Richard Linklater, whose movie Before Midnight premiered at the festival, and the Austin Film Society welcomed several hundred guests to the party, which celebrated nine Texas films that premiered this week at Sundance, along with the return of Robert Rodriguez's classic El Mariachi, honoring the 20th anniversary of its Sundance debut.
"It's great Texas representation — one of the best in years," said Houston Film Commission deputy director Alfred Cervantes, a Sundance regular.
"It's great Texas representation — one of the best in years," said Houston Film Commission deputy director Alfred Cervantes, a Sundance regular. "With Robert Rodriguez and Richard Linklater, it makes it extra special because they are leaders of the Texas film community."
Also honored were A Teacher director Hannah Fidell, Ain't Them Bodies Saints director David Lowery, Black Metal director Kat Candler, Computer Chess director Andrew Bujalski, Houston director Bastian Gunther, Mud director James Nichols, Pit Stop director Yen Tan and Prince Avalanche director David Gordon Green.
Among those celebrating were Austin Film Society executive director Rebecca Campbell, Sundance Cinemas vice president of marketing Nancy Gribler, Dallas International Film Festival director of programming James Faust, Austin Film Festival director of programming Bears Fonte, Austin filmmaker andcomposer Scott Honea, and actor Marcus DeAnda, a Presidio native who stars in Pit Stop.
It was the first Sundance for DeAnda, who was at the party with his brother, Houston attorney David DeAnda.
"It's overwhelming, don't you think?" Marcus DeAnda said. "I really like the energy of the filmmakers and directors."
From left, Houston director Bastian Gunther and Alfred Cervantes, deputy director of the Houston Film Commission
