Houston Specialty Movie Venues

Sundance Cinemas - Houston’s newest movie theater comes with an impressive pedigree. It’s affiliated with Robert Redford’s prestigious Sundance Film Festival. Occupying the space formerly leased by the Angelika, Sundance Cinemas has brought independent and foreign film once again to a sophisticated downtown venue. Sundance Cinemas Houston

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston – The MFAH film program is Houston’s most consistent and valuable resource for international and non-mainstream cinema. Many important films receive their Houston debut in the museum’s George E. Brown Auditorium. The museum holds frequent extended programs of films by particular filmmakers or from a particularly country and often brings in filmmakers to discuss their work. MFAH film website

River Oaks Theatre – One of the few vintage theaters in Houston that still functions as a movie theater, the Landmarks River Oaks Theatre was built in 1939 and its Art Deco interior has been preserved. It’s main auditorium is one of the best places in town to catch a movie. Upstairs is less comfortable – the theater has been split in two and so is cramped, and sound from one theater can bleed into the next. Still, the River Oaks ranks with the Angelika as Houston’s primary venues for new foreign and independent American movies. It offers midnigtht shows on Friday and Saturday nights. River Oaks Theatre website

Rice Media Center – The Rice University Media Center was founded by Jean and Dominique de Menil in 1969 as a place where film, photography and art would be sued as a tool in both research and teaching. The center screens films from around the world, including features, shorts, documentaries and animation. The center screens films most weekends during the academic year. Rice Media Center website

SWAMP – The Southwest Alternative Media Project has supported the creation and appreciation of film, video and new media since the 1970s. It hosts a range of workshops and screenings. SWAMP website

Aurora Picture Show – Aurora hosts a full schedule of screenings and events. One of its most popular annual events is the Extremely Shorts Festival, which features films and videos that are three-minutes long or shorter. The festival is open to admissions, says Aurora, from “anyone with a camera and a vision.” Aurora Picture Show website

Houston Film Festivals

Worldfest – One of the oldest international film festivals in existence, Worldfest each spring brings dozens of world premiere features and shorts to Houston. Worldfest website

Cinema Arts Festival Houston – A relative newcomer, this ambitious and handsomely financed festival kicked off in 2009 in grand, star-studded style, an important addition to Houston’s film scene. Festival website

Houston Film Resources

Houston Film Commission – The commission not only provides information and assistance to film companies but also to local film professionals. Website

Women In Film and Television, Houston – Dedicated to helping women achieve in film, television and new media, the organization’s membership is hardly limited to women. It is an important Houston film resource. Website