Arts Alive San Antonio

The big event this weekend is the San Antonio Film Festival which will take place Aug. 5-8 at the Radius Center downtown. Since last year’s fest had to go online because of COVID-19, this year’s celebration is extra special for all, organizers, filmmakers and audiences.

“It’s very fulfilling to be back in-person to celebrate the 27^th anniversary of SAFILM,” said festival founder Adam Rocha. “We are excited, but we are still in a kind of limbo because of the new (corona virus) variant. But we are going to be safe.”

The films to be screened are the ones that were planned for last year, he explained, because those filmmakers did not have the opportunity to showcase their work “to a REAL audience.”

The four-day fest will be packed with screenings, gatherings and panel discussions. Altogether, some 65 films will be shown, including lots of shorts and daily full-length features.  Among the latter are: “The Good Wolf” by San Antonio filmmaker, Wilfred H. Shipley, a story about a fugitive hiding in the woods where he encounters a 12-year-old boy (Aug. 5); The Subject” by New York-based director Lanie Zipoy, about a documentarian who records the murder of a black teenager and then finds himself followed and threatened (Aug. 6); “Show Me What You Got,” by multiple-award winning director and cinematographer Svetlana Cvetko, about three young people figuring out life (Friday, Aug. 6); and “My Father’s Brothers,” by Shawn Kelley about a devastating jungle battle in Vietnam that his father survived while most of his comrades perished. (Sunday, Aug. 8).

Earlier today we received a “media alert” from SAFILM announcing an added screening in honor of Marcia Nasatir, a film producer and supporter of the festival who just died. The film, ”A Classy Broad,” will be screened Saturday at 8 p.m. To see the full schedule, go to www.safilm.com (Radius Center, 106 Auditorium Circle, Suite 120; evening feature screenings are $15; VIP passed are $109 and include everything.)

As usual, the music scene is lively. From touring shows at the Tobin and the Majestic, to many smaller venues, there’s a lot to choose from. Tribute shows have become popular across the board and several are coming to San Antonio. At the Tobin Center, “The Music of Simon & Garfunkel” will again be heard live from the stage as performed by the folk duo Swearingen & Kelli, Saturday, Aug. 7, at 8 p.m. (Carlos Alvarez Theater, Tobin Center, 115 Auditorium Circle, 78205; tickets start at $29.50; 210-223-8624, tickets@tobincenter.org)

At the Empire Theater, you can enjoy again the music of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, who is, of course, Elvis!  DEAN Z – The Ultimate Elvis is described as a “musical journey spanning the 20-year career” of Elvis Presley, from the 1950s to his “infamous” Las Vegas performances in the 1970s. (Aug. 7 at 8 p.m.) And plan to return downtown Aug. 21, if you were a fan of The Beatles. Yes, it’s another tribute titled 1964 – The Tribute (Aug. 21 at 7 p.m.; Majestic Theater, 224 E. Houston; box office 210-226-3333; info@majesticempire.com)

For fans of jazz, there’s no better place than Jazz TX at the Pearl. This is where jazz maestro, Doc Watkins, performs with various ensembles, and hosts other jazz artists on a regular basis. Watkins & his Quartet will play Friday at 7 p.m., and he and a larger orchestra will be center stage again Saturday at 7 and 9:30 p.m. ($35-$45 per person; 210-332-9386; info@jazztx.com; the club has full dinner service)

Country fans can always count on certain venues in the city and immediate surrounding areas, including John T. Floore’s Country Store, which will feature Aaron Watson, Saturday, Aug. 7. Watson is a member of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. ($29-$35; 8 p.m., 14492 Old Bandera Rd., Helotes 78203; 210-695-8827; www.liveatfloores.com)

The Hip Hop group, Cypress Hill will bring its assertive style to the Whitewater Amphitheater Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. ($42-$245, 11860 FM 306, Suite 1, New Braunfels; 830-964-3800, www.whitewaterrocks.com)

We also want to tell you about “Explore Opera in the Park,” a free outdoors concert for families that aims to introduce opera to children. It will feature Opera San Antonio’s 2021 Apprentice Artists and the delightful Children’s Chorus of San Antonio. Other fun activities are included. (10 a.m., Aug. 7; Landa Branch Library, 233 Bushnell Ave., 78212; bring blankets and lunch.)

And now theater news! We are excited to let you know about a brand-new play, “Carmen From Mexico,” written by actress/playwright Anna De Luna, and directed by Jorge Pina.  It will premiere Aug. 13-14 at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. The one-woman show is based on the playwright’s mother’s experience as an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, which was first presented as a work-in-progress at the Luminaria festival in 2018. De Luna is well known to San Antonio theater audiences, and is, in fact, the recipient of the ATAC Globe Award for her performance in “Anna in the Tropics” at the Public Theater. (More about this next week)

Another well-known theater professional, Nichole Erwin – who, besides being an accomplished artist is also the managing director of the Overtime Theater – will soon appear on stage as Patsy Cline in the beloved musical “Always Patsy Cline” opening next week at the Fredericksburg Theater Company. The show features 22 Patsy Cline songs. Erwin called it her “dream role.”

 On Aug. 8, The Jump-Start Performance Co. plans to present eight 8-minute performances in an 8-foot cube. We are not making this up! This event will unfold at the San Pedro Springs Park, between the gazebo and the grotto, north of the pool and south of the tennis courts, under two live oaks. They will have a chair and a beverage for you. Admission is $8 or free. To get a ticket for either price go to www.jump-start.org. Aren’t you intrigued?

Company members, Sheila Sister-Currie and Kim Corbin have assembled an assortment of artists who will present performances in a range of styles. This is also Jump-Start’s first in-person show since March 2020.