by Travis Johnson
It’s pretty much accepted now that the coolest cinema chain on earth is the Alamo Drafthouse. Founded in Austin, Texas by Tim and Karrie League, the Alamo Drafthouse boasts a cinema experience designed by and for real movie fans: a carefully curated selection of new and classic films, top notch food and beverage options, and – crucially – a brutally unforgiving “No Talking, No Texting” policy, which they inform their audiences of in the most delightful possible ways:
Yes, the worst thing about being in hell is knowing there’s a heaven somewhere.
Now, he founder and CEO of the Alamo Drafthouse, Tim League, will be on hand to speak at the 71st Australian International Movie Convention at Jupiters on the Gold Coast from October 9-13. That’s going to be fascinating; in addition to his exhibition chain, League founded the US’s biggest genre-specific film festival, Fantastic Fest, and his own distribution label, Drafthouse Films, just so he could make sure Four Lions got a theatrical run in the US. He’s a fearless advocate of good cinema, and has actually physically fought in the ring against German director Uwe Boll, among others, as part of the Fantastic Fest Debates series.
With the Drafthouse brand remaining strong while distribution and exhibition go through incredibly rapid technology-led changes, he’s sure to have some captivating insights on the future of this thing of ours. For more info, go to the AIMC website.
