Film

Back On The Circuit June 26 - 30, 2013 by Nathan Stueve

Crowley TheaterIn its first three years the Marfa Film Festival received international praise as an up-and-coming destination film festival and a serious contender on the US film festival circuit. Regarded as one of the "top 25 festivals worth-the-fee," by MovieMaker Magazine and hailed as "the best little festival" by the LA Weekly, the festival often received comparison to early incarnations of Sundance and Telluride. Avid supporter John Paul DeJoria recently called Marfa Film Festival "the most unique festival in the world." Many selections which received their first public screening with us went on to collect major awards and distribution deals, a satisfying testament to our adventurously selective programming approach.

Tastemakers and art aficionados have considered the high desert oasis of Marfa, Texas (pop. 2000) an alluring destination ever since Donald Judd focused attention and investment on the local landscape with magnificent art installations and significant property acquisitions, now managed by the Chinati and Judd Foundations. Marfa's mystique and creative community have garnered articles in the New York Times, The New Yorker, and Vanity Fair. The television program 60 Minutes aired a piece about the town.

Marfa offers  compelling juxtapositions, world class art and cultural amenities in an unpretentious, pastoral setting. Modernist masters and beat up pickup trucks. The Marfa Film Festival embodies this same spirit. From event spaces seemingly removed from the passage of time to one-off performances by trendmaking contemporary musicians, from festive outdoor movie screenings under the desert stars to the intimate company of reclusive legends like Larry McMurtry and Lou Reed, this film festival feels special in every sense of the word.

This year's festival will adhere to our tradition of showcasing up-and-coming filmmakers alongside seasoned veterans, in a creative milieu which aims to foster the art of filmmaking and celebrate each unique contribution to the form. All this without competition or judgment - no prizes awarded besides inclusion. We anticipate a 2013 festival every bit as magical as the successes of previous years and invite you to share the excitement as this year's festival takes shape.

Follow the developing story on Facebook and Twitter:

- /marfafilmfestival @MarfaFilmFest