DALLAS OBSERVER • KALEIDOSCOPE 25 Celebrate the Silver Screen The best film festivals in Dallas-Fort Worth in 2025. BY AUSTIN ZOOK O n June 6, 2024, the North Texas film community was rocked by the abrupt closure of all five of the area’s Alamo Drafthouse locations, as well as the An- gelika Film Center in Plano. In some ways, the Alamo Drafthouse represented stability in a rapidly changing filmgoing environ- ment. As a nationally recognizable brand, the Alamo offered something for everyone, from the latest blockbusters to repertory screenings of beloved classics, and promoted itself as the distraction-free theater chain: no talking, no texting, no arriving late. Naturally, Alamo Drafthouse’s unexpected closure in the North Texas marketplace caused widespread concern about the future of moviegoing. The DFW locations, and one in Minnesota, were owned by a franchisee that filed for bankruptcy and shut down these theaters as a result. The broader Alamo Draft- house chain was unaffected, and quickly announced it was seeking a way to bring the theaters back to life in North Texas. ”When the franchisee pulled out, it became clear that step- ping in and reopening the theaters was essential — not only to preserve the connection we’ve built with our guests but also to maintain our strong presence in a city that’s at the heart of the film and entertainment industry,” says Taylor Smith, Alamo Drafthouse’s field marketing manager. Sure enough, a few months later, the Alamo Drafthouse mothership had taken over all five North Texas locations and began reopening them one by one. Today, movie lovers can catch their favorite films, new and old, or attend events (such as trivia) hosted in the bars at their local Drafthouse. Even through these curveballs, Smith says that Alamo Drafthouse was able to have a strong showing in the DFW marketplace, which included hosting a red carpet season pre- miere for Netflix’s Cobra Kai, providing special screenings for films such as Wicked and Nosferatu and upgrading the Rich- ardson location’s recliners and the projectors at the Richard- son and Las Colinas locations. It was commonly accepted that 2024 was a tough year for the movie industry, far beyond any setbacks Alamo Draft- house overcame in North Texas. Production was recovering from the extensive SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023, the box office was often disappointing, and “Survive ‘til ’25” became a man- tra for theaters and studios alike. Well, 2025 is here and, while there have already been chal- lenges, the industry is hoping to rebuild and move forward. And Alamo Drafthouse is looking forward to being part of what comes next. “In 2025, Alamo Drafthouse is excited to introduce several new upgrades and new experiences to the market,” Smith says. These include new recliners for the Las Colinas Alamo and upgrades to the theaters’ bars, including private karaoke rooms at the Cedars location. But that’s just the tip of the ice- berg for Alamo, as Smith adds, “This spring, we’ll be launch- ing a new happy hour with discounts on beer, wine, appetizers and pizza.” Smith says that everything Alamo does has one express purpose: “to truly celebrate and appreciate film.” Even with changes in the industry, staying committed to being the the- ater of choice, “for movie lovers, by movie lovers” is at the heart of Alamo’s efforts. ”We want to give you an experience you can’t re-create on your sofa,” she says. “Whether you’re there for the cut- ting-edge viewing experience, the friendly service, or just to share a laugh with a hundred other people, we want it to be memorable.” In addition to the screenings and events Alamo Drafthouse hosts each year, Dallas filmgoers are fortunate to live in an area that has been steadily rising through the ranks as a desti- nation for filmmakers and their work. There are a number of film festivals that take place in Dal- las-Fort Worth each year, and 2025 will be no exception. These are communal events where audiences come together to experience new, rare or unique films (often well before they make their way to theaters), and create lasting memories. Here are some of the best film festivals coming in 2025: March 21–23 Latin American Film Festival of Dallas Now entering its second year, LAFFD is a curated festival that celebrates the rich cinematic history of Latin American film and filmmakers. This event will be hosted at one of the most unique theaters in North Texas, the microcinema Spacy (1300 S. Polk St., suite. 60a), and tickets will be available at affd.com. April 23–27 USA Film Festival Certainly the longest-running festival on this list, USA Film Festival will be marking its 55th year at the Angelika Film Cen- The Angelika will host both the USa Film Fetival and Asian Film Fesitval. Courtesy of Angelika Film Center
