METRO Connections 2009

A UNIQUE DISPLAY OF THE ARTS IS ONLY A RAIL RIDE AWAY

If you have a penchant for the arts, then mark your calendars! The first ever Cinema Arts Festival Houston is coming.

And, don’t worry about finding a place to park - let METRO be your green ride to this extraordinary festival.

After two years in the making, the Houston Cinema Arts Society, with the help of various Houston arts institutions and professionals, will proudly present nearly 40 programs of pure multimedia entertainment starting Nov. 11-15.

Many of the event’s venues are located in downtown Houston and the museum district area - just a short walk from METRORail. 

METRO is one of the many sponsors of this festival, which will encompass everything from documentaries, feature films and performances, outdoor screenings, interactive video installations and live music. The arts-oriented festival will also include workshops with actor and director, and Texas native, Tommy Lee Jones, and Mexican screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga. Other featured celebrity guests include Houston-born filmmaker/director Richard Linklater, actress Tilda Swinton - with a sneak preview of her new independent feature film - and many more.

"How appropriate for a city with so many first-class arts institutions to host a festival devoted to films by and about visual, performing and literary artists," said Houston Mayor Bill White in a statement. "I am especially pleased to see that director Tommy Lee Jones and screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga will be here to explore the elements that combined to produce a masterwork from our own state, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. Emerging filmmakers will, I expect, be inspired and future Texas-filmed classics may grow out of this inspiration."

The festival’s headquarters will be at the historic Alabama Theatre, located at 2922 S. Shepherd Drive.

If you prefer to go by bus rather than METRORail, use one of our two trip planners to map out your route to the festival.

For ticket information, click here.