Texas's New Leander Film Festival Lines Up Keaton and Zellweger Shorts

The inaugural Leander Film Festival will run November 11 to 15 in Leander, Texas, north of Austin, with screenings at the Leander VFW, Alamo Drafthouse, Film Alley and AMC, Latin Heat reported on October 24. The festival is presented by the nonprofit Leander Arts & Film Alliance and was co-founded by Sasha Yelaun, Leander City Council member Mike Herrera, Laura Davis and Diane Herrera. Its website promises more than 30 films and more than 20 visiting filmmakers. Latin Heat reported that the program includes the Texas premieres of Sweetwater, a 21-minute short directed by and starring Michael Keaton opposite Kyra Sedgwick and written by his son Sean Douglas; They, an animated short that marks Renée Zellweger's directing debut; and Bravado, starring Alex Hanno. Organizers also list the first public screening of Faith, starring Adrian Grenier, and say Leander is the only U.S. festival showing You Can't Leave during its theatrical run. Other selections include Kinolime Films' Our House Is On Fire, JIMMY with KJ Apa as James Stewart, Little Bug with Martin Freeman and Gimme My Money with James Hong. The festival opens on Veterans Day with the animated Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero at the VFW and closes at AMC with Revolution's Daughter, Thaddeus D. Matula's documentary about Fidel Castro's daughter Alina Fernández. Confirmed guests include Douglas, Kara Killmer, Justin Strawhand and Oscar-nominated director Jonathan Heap, and producer Christian Sosa will speak on a panel about SB 22, the Texas incentive law. A feature screenplay and co-production pitch market offers cash prizes and development packages to finalists. Latin Heat did not report whether Keaton, Zellweger or Grenier will attend."