Opening Night features a Salute to Nancy Kwan, a Salute to Jon Avnet with THE LAST RODEO including appearances by stars Neal McDonough and Mykelti Williamson, and a 25th Anniversary screening of Christopher Nolan’s MEMENTO withStephen Tobolowsky in attendance.
Closing Night is highlighted by a 40th Anniversary screening ofBrigiette Berman’s Oscar-winning documentary ARTIE SHAW: TIME IS ALL YOU’VE GOT (New 4K Restoration)
THE KARATE KID/COBRA KAI baddie Martin Kove will be honored in concert with 50th Anniversary screening of the Corman Cult Classic DEATH RACE 2000
Dallas, TX (April 7, 2025) – The Dallas-based USA Film Festival announces the highly anticipated films and schedule of events for the film festival’s 55th edition taking place on April 23-27. Known for its celebration of new and classic films from the the U.S. and abroad, the Festival once again brings master artists and emerging talents to Dallas to present their works.
Among the highlights over the five-day film festival, will be a star-studded Opening Night including a salute to Hollywood legend Nancy Kwan, with a look at her career and signing of her memoir, “The World of Nancy Kwan,” a salute to filmmaker Jon Avnet, featuring a screening of his latest film, The Last Rodeo, with the film’s stars Neal McDonough and Mykelti Williamson in attendance, and a 25th Anniversary screening of Christopher Nolan’s classic crime-thriller Memento (2000), with actor Stephen Tobolowsky in person. Closing Night will feature a 40th Anniversary screening of Brigitte Berman’s Academy Award-winning documentary Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got (1985) and works from Texas artists and filmmakers. Also celebrated, will be veteran actor Martin Kove, with a 50th Anniversary screening of the Roger Corman cult classic, Death Race 2000 (1975).
All screenings and events will be held at the Angelika Film Center (5321 E. Mockingbird Lane), with the vast majority of the programming offered free-to-the public. Free parking available.
“We are pleased to once again celebrate Dallas Arts Month with our annual Spring Festival,” USAFF Managing Director Ann Alexander said, “We are honored to bring a number of distinguished Master Artists to our stage in Dallas -- including Nancy Kwan, Jon Avnet, Martin Kove, Neal McDonough, Mykelti Williamson, Stephen Tobolowsky and William Shockley -- and to celebrate so many talented filmmakers with new works as well as revisiting a few classic favorites. With support from our Sponsors, once again this year most of our programs will be presented as Free admission.”
Opening Night, Wednesday, April 23, will kick off the festival with a Salute to Nancy Kwan. The program will include a film clip compilation followed by an on-stage conversation with Nancy Kwan about her life and career, hosted by author and film historian Foster Hirsch. Kwan’s distinguished film and television career includes film classics and favorites such as The World of Suzie Wong, Flower Drum Song, The Wrecking Crew, Fate Is the Hunter, Arrivederci, Baby! and many more. Ms. Kwan will sign copies of her new memoir, "The World of Nancy Kwan."
The screening of Jon Avnet’s The Last Rodeo, about a retired rodeo legend who risks it all in a high-stakes bull-riding competition to save his grandson, will highlight the salute to Avnet’s career. Co-written by Avnet, Neal McDonough and Derek Presley, the inspiring film stars McDonough, Sarah Jones, Mykelti Williamson, Christopher McDonald, Ruvé McDonough and Daylon Swearingen. The film will be released by Angel Studios on May 23rd. In attendance will be Jon Avnet, Neal McDonough, Ruvé McDonough, and Mykelti Williamson.
Rounding out USAFF Opening Night will be a 25th Anniversary screening of Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending thriller Memento (2000). Dallas-born actor Stephen Tobolowsky (and SMU alumnus) will attend the festival and discuss his role in the film. The program will be presented with the Hamon Arts Library and G. William Jones Film & Video Collection, SMU Libraries.
Thursday, April 24 will feature Beth Lane’s powerful documentary UnBroken. The daughter of a Holocaust survivor, Lane embarks on an international quest to uncover answers about the plight of her mother and her six siblings who, as mere children, escaped Nazi Germany. Lane will participate in a post-screening Q&A. Preceding the feature film will be director Mitch Yapko’s short film, Watching Walter, starring Stephen Tobolowsky in the title role. Set in both 1995 Philadelphia and World War II Nazi occupied Poland, the film is based on the true story of Holocaust survivor-turned watchmaker Wladyslaw “Walter” Wojnas. Mitch Yapko, Stephen Tobolowsky, writer/executive producer Mark Dylan Brown and executive producer/actor Cynthia Gravinese-Brown will all be in attendance.
Saturday, April 26 will be highlighted by a Salute to Martin Kove in conjunction with a 50th Anniversary screening of Death Race 2000 (1975). Directed by Paul Bartel and produced by Roger Corman, the B movie cult classic is a no-holds-barred cross-country thrill-and-kill race where drivers garner points by trying to knock out their opponents along with as many pedestrians as possible. The film stars David Carradine, Sylvester Stallone, Roberta Collins, and Mary Woronov, alongside Kove as the drivers, each with a distinct, campy personae, in the outrageous, mindless joyride that continues to garner new fans five decades later. Kove will attend to talk about the film as well as his best known roles in The Karate Kid, Rambo: First Blood Part II and “Cobra Kai,” among others.
In addition, Saturday will spotlight William Shockley’s feature film directorial debut, Long Shadows. The period Western follows the journey of a young boy, whose parents are savagely murdered. Years later, after aging out of an orphanage, he is intent on revenge but is instead led down a mystifying path. The impressive cast includes Dermot Mulroney, Jacqueline Bisset, Dominic Monaghan, Blaine Maye, Sarah Cortez, Grainger Hines, David St. Louis, Chris Mulkey, Ronnie Gene Blevins and Mike Markoff. Among those attending to present the film include William Shockley, Grainger Hines, Sarah Cortez, Allen Gilmer, Riki Rushing, Tiiu Loigu and Tom Brady.
Also screening on Saturday will be Brandt Johnson’s highly entertaining documentary comedy Rebel with a Clause. The film follows a grammar guru who takes her pop-up grammar advice stand on a road trip across all 50 states to show that comma fights can bring us closer together in a divided time. Brandt Johnson and author/film subject Ellen Jovin will both be in attendance.
On Sunday, April 27, the Festival’s Closing Night line-up will include a 40th Anniversary screening of Brigitte Berman’s newly restored and remastered Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got (1985). The winner of the 1986 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Berman’s insightful documentary portrays the restless life and five-decade career of the gifted bandleader known as the “King of the Clarinet.” The film features interviews with notable jazz figures like Polly Haynes, John Wexley, Lee Castle, John Best, Helen Forrest, Buddy Rich, Mel Tormé, Mack Pierce, Frederic Morton, and Evelyn Keyes. This program will be presented in partnership with Sammons Jazz and the Sammons Center for the Arts in celebration of Dallas Jazz Appreciation Month (D'JAM).
Also on Closing Night, local filmmakers writer/director Derek Presley, editor/producer Jason Starne and producer Lola Lott will be on hand to present an USAFF encore screening of Presley’s soon-to-be-released drama-thriller Tonic, which was shot entirely in the Dallas Deep Ellum area. The film follows a washed-up jazz pianist (Billy Blair) whose journey over the course of one-night plunges him into the dark streets of Deep Ellum. The film's cast also includes Lori Petty, Richard Riehle, Ed Westwick and Vernon Davis.
Two more documentaries will also be spotlighted on Sunday, including writer/director/producer Olive Talley’s The Stones Are Speaking. The film chronicles the inspiring story of how archaeologist Mike Collins, at great risk and personal sacrifice, saved thirty acres of looted land deep in the heart of Texas and revealed it as one of the most significant archeological sites in the Americas. Olive Talley will be in attendance to talk about the film. Ken Mandel’s short documentary I Got This will also be featured. His latest production with Scottish Rite For Children showcases the life-changing work and 50-year career of Dr. Tony Herring, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who has been working with young children with amputations or born with missing limbs. Both Ken Mandel and Dr. Tony Herring will be at USAFF to participate in a post-screening Q&A.
Additional highlights among the narrative film selections include: director Daniel Minahan's stunning drama On Swift Horses. Based on Shannon Pufahl’s novel, adapted by Bryce Kass, the film follows Muriel and Lee – a young 1950s couple whose life is upended with the arrival of Lee’s charismatic brother, a wayward gambler with a secret past. The film stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Will Poulter, Jacob Elordi, Diego Calva, Sasha Calle, Kat Cunning and Don Swayze. In Jason Buxton's gripping psychological thriller Sharp Corner a man becomes obsessed with saving the lives of the victims of car accidents that take place in front of his house. The film stars Ben Foster, Cobie Smulders and Will Kosovic. In Amalia Ulman's absurdist comedy Magic Farm a media crew mistakenly end up in the wrong country while trying to profile a musician. The film stars Chloë Sevigny, Alex Wolff and Simon Rex. In Christina Beck’s clever drama Hancock Park, Ruby, an aged-out actress on the brink of homelessness, plays the role of her life when she goes to stay with her younger sister and suspicious husband. Christina Beck will be in attendance to discuss the film.
In Ricardo de Montreuil’s Mistura, a gorgeously filmed drama set against the rich cultural backdrop of 1960s Lima, a woman embarks on a culinary quest after being unceremoniously abandoned by her husband. In Marianna Palka's scorchingly intimate Love, Danielle, a woman (Devin Sidell, based on her true story) learns that she carries a BRCA gene mutation and faces the decision whether or not to undergo surgery to lessen her cancer risk. The film also stars Jaime King, Michael Roark, Lesley Ann Warren, Barry Bostwick, Marianna Palka and Ian Owens. In Karen Chapman's Village Keeper, a grieving widow, paralyzed by anxiety, struggles to protect her kids after having to move back to the community housing project where she grew up. Chapman’s directorial debut is a captivating, uplifting drama.
On the documentary front, Jenny Carchman's jaw-dropping true crime film Whatever It Takes follows a middle-aged couple who are subjected to cyberstalking and bizarre deliveries -- leading authorities to close in on a Silicon Valley giant. Ciaran Cassidy Housewife of the Year is the poignant story of a resilient generation of Irish women and how they changed a country. Niobe Thompson's Hunt for the Oldest DNA is the story of maverick gene hunter Eske Willerslev whose single-minded pursuit of an improbable scientific vision begins with a spoonful of dirt.
Short film programs include narrative shorts, Texas films and filmmakers, and student shorts. Jurors for this year’s USAFF International Short Film Competition include actress/director/educator Karen Allen, actor Jim Beaver, actor Jason Scott Lee, animator/director Bill Haller, actress/producer/documentarian/educator Diane Baker, manager/writer/producer/director Chris Roe, and artist/director/writer Rosson Crow. USAFF will also screen short films from Garland High School and Sachse High School.
For more details and to view the full schedule of programs, visit https://www.usafilmfestival.com/
Tickets range from Free - $10 (quantities are limited).
ADVANCE TICKETS will be available online beginning April 9th:
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/55th-annual-usa-film-festival-4150893
DAY-OF-SHOW TICKETS -- (Based on availability) Any unsold/unreserved tickets will be made available at the Angelika Film Center upstairs Sales Desk beginning ONE HOUR prior to EACH showtime.
The USA Film Festival is supported in part by the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture, the Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Presenting Sponsors include Sidley Austin LLP, Dave Perry Miller Real Estate, Gaedeke Group, Carol and Alan J. Bernon Family Charitable Foundation, Moody Fund for the Arts, Headington Company, Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District, Mary Fox and Laura Fox, Dallas Film Commission, Dallas Producers Association, SAG-AFTRA, SMU - Hamon Arts Library, Spracklen Film & Video and the Angelika Film Center.
The 2025 USA Film Festival Official Selections:
SPECIAL OPENING NIGHT SCREENINGS
The Last Rodeo
Director: Jon Avnet
Country: USA, Running Time: 118min
A retired rodeo legend risks it all to save his grandson. Facing his own painful past and the fears of his family, he enters a high-stakes bull-riding competition as the oldest contestant ever. Along the way, he reconciles old wounds with his estranged daughter and proves that true courage is found in the fight for family.
Memento (2000) 25th Anniversary Screening
Director: Christopher Nolan
Country: USA, Running Time: 113min
A landmark film from acclaimed director Christopher Nolan, Memento is a mind-bending thriller whose mesmerizing power grows with every viewing. Guy Pearce stars as Leonard, a man with a bizarre disorder: the inability to form new memories. Ever since that fateful night when his wife was murdered, anyone Leonard has met, or anything he has done, simply vanishes from his mind. Who are his friends? Who are his enemies? What is the truth? The answers change from second to second as Leonard seeks vengeance for his wife’s murder… and sinks into an abyss of uncertainty and danger.
SPECIAL CLOSING NIGHT SCREENINGS
Artie Shaw: Time Is All You’ve Got (1985) 40th Anniversary Screening
Director: Brigitte Berman
Country: USA, Running Time: 116min
Outspoken, manipulative, independent thinking and oftentimes controversial, Artie Shaw (1910-2004) was one of the most popular stars of the Swing Era, who famously broke the color barrier by hiring the legendary Billie Holiday, Hot Lips Page and Roy Eldridge for his bands. Shaw’s complex love-hate relationship with his own celebrity caused him to walk away from performing almost as many times as he walked away from his marriages. Winner of the 1986 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Brigitte Berman’s insightful documentary portrays the restless life and five-decade career of the gifted bandleader known as the “King of the Clarinet.”
Tonic
Director: Derek Presley
Country: USA, Running Time: 104min
Sebastian Poe (Billy Blair), a washed-up piano player, spends his days and nights performing low paying gigs in Jazz Clubs and dive bars. Sebastian is also in debt to a corrupt police detective Terry (Jason Coviello), who he owes eight-thousand dollars. When Terry asks for his debt to be paid and Sebastian can’t come up with the cash, he tasks Sebastian with killing someone that needs to be taken out. He gives him the rest of the night to complete the job. Over the course of the night, Sebastian’s plight plunges him into the dark streets of Deep Ellum where he comes across an odd assortment of characters all while battling with his conscience and his desire to just f-ing play the piano.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Death Race 2000 (1975) 50th Anniversary Screening
Director: Paul Bartel
Country: USA, Running Time: 84min
In the year 2000, hit-and-run has become the national sport. Paul Bartel directs the no-holds-barred cross-country thrill-and-kill race with gleeful aplomb where drivers garner points by trying to knock out their opponents along with as many pedestrians as possible, while a resistance group plans to kill the drivers using obstacles sedulously placed along the main course.
ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE FEATURES
