History
Houston Cinema Arts Society (HCAS) began in 2007 as an initiative from Mayor Bill White to stimulate the development of film culture and highlight moving image media in all forms, particularly as they resonate for the diverse cultural communities that define the country’s fourth largest city.
Guided by board chair France Crane, a task force of cultural leaders with a special interest in film and the moving image laid the groundwork for HCAS’ commitment to enrich Houston’s cultural environment and foster cross-cultural understanding through a unique festival focused on innovative cinema and new media by and about artists in the visual, performing, and literary arts.
Since HCAS received 501(c)(3) status in September 2008, the organization has supported a variety of initiatives and programs including periodic screenings, performances, guest lectures, and the annual Cinema Arts Festival Houston (CAFH). In addition to presenting the highest quality narrative, documentary and experimental cinema, CAFH breaks out of the confines of the movie theater and collaborates with a number of the city’s museums, art centers, and cultural institutions to present live multimedia performances, outdoor projections, interactive video installations and more.
The 2008 preview festival featured filmmakers and multimedia artists Lynn Hershman Leeson and Alex Rivera, and initiated collaborations with other arts organizations including Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Southwest Alternate Media Project and Aurora Picture Show.
In 2009, CAFH drew attendees to 34 events, with 44 guest artists, and spotlighted Houston as an international art city with a diverse array of programming that connected moving image media with all the visual and performing arts. It spanned five days and five venues and hosted a number of international artists and their works including Oscar-winning actress and documentary director Tilda Swinton, Texas-based filmmaker Richard Linklater and Oscar-nominated Mexican filmmaker Guillermo Arriaga.
The 2010 Festival expanded collaborations with Houston arts organizations. Ninety-five guest artists and arts experts contributed to 45 screenings and live performances over five days at six venues. Highlights included films by and lively interviews with accomplished guest artists Isabella Rossellini, John Turturro and Shirley MacLaine. At its conclusion, the 2010 Festival succeeded in bringing new insights and in-depth exploration of the synergistic way in which different arts disciplines interact, the importance of arts education, and a more complete understanding of why arts are universally vital to our communities.
