Film Lovers Unite

Dallas International Film Festival reveals star-laden lineup for 2024

The 18th Dallas International Film Festival will take place from April 25-May 2 at Violet Crown Cinema in West Village Uptown, featuring screenings of more than 100 films, Q&A sessions, and panels with filmmakers and actors, and special events.

The full lineup features a mix of feature films boasting big-name stars and filmmakers alongside documentaries and lesser-knowns making their way in the movie industry

Headlining the festival will be the world premiere of the documentary Dude Perfect: A Very Long Shot, part of ESPN Films’ “30 for 30” series, which will be the opening night film on Thursday, April 25 at Majestic Theatre. The film charts the history of the Frisco-based trick shot group and where they will go in the future.

Closing on the festival on May 2 will be A24’s Sing Sing, starring recent first-time Oscar nominee Colman Domingo. Based on the real-life program Rehabilitation Through the Arts, the film features a cast that includes formerly incarcerated actors and alumni of the program.

Other notable films being screened include The Dead Don't Hurt, a Western from writer/director Viggo Mortensen starring Vicky Krieps and Mortensen; Ezra, a comedy/thriller starring Bobby Cannavale and Robert DeNiro; I Saw the TV Glow, a horror starring rising star Justice Smith; The Idea of You, a romcom starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine; and Print It Black, a documentary about how journalists in Uvalde, Texas responded to the school shooting at Robb Elementary.

“We always try to ensure the festival features important and interesting stories, and this year’s schedule abounds with the kind of films that remind us why we love watching movies,” said James Faust, DIFF Artistic Director, in a statement. "I could say this every year, but this program might be my favorite ever.”

Photo courtesy of Dude Perfect

Dude Perfect: A Very Long Shot will be the opening night film at the 2024 Dallas International Film Festival.

Festival passes, which range from $100-$500, are now on sale at dallasfilm.org/diff; individual tickets will go on sale at a later date.

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RIP Joe

Texas country music singer-songwriter Joe Ely dies at 78

Joe Ely/Facebook

Joe Ely was a major figure in Texas' progressive country scene.

Joe Ely, the legendary songwriter, singer, and storyteller whose career spanned more than five decades, has died from complications related to Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and pneumonia. He was 78.

According to a statement posted to his Facebook page, Ely died at his home in Taos, New Mexico, with his wife Sharon, and daughter Marie, at his side.

Born February 9, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas, Ely was raised in Lubbock and became a central figure among a generation of influential West Texas musicians. He later settled in Austin, helping shape the city’s reputation as a hub for live music.

"Joe Ely performed American roots music with the fervor of a true believer who knew music could transport souls," said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

In the 1970s, Ely signed with MCA Records, launching a career that included decades of recording and touring around the world. His work and performances left a lasting impact on the music scene and influenced a wide range of artists, including the Clash and Bruce Springsteen, according to Rolling Stone.

"His distinctive musical style could only have emerged from Texas, with its southwestern blend of honky-tonk, rock & roll, roadhouse blues, western swing, and conjunto. He began his career in the Flatlanders, with fellow Lubbock natives Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, and he would mix their songs with his through 50 years of critically acclaimed recordings."

Read the full story at KVUE.com.

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