Not to alarm you, but I think Austin may be trying to steal your children. Until Saturday, August 1, the Austin Film Festival is accepting submissions for its Youth Filmmakers Competition. There’s no entry fee, but entrants must be between the ages of 13 and 18, and the fest recommends submitting films no longer than 39 minutes. Go to austinfilmfestival.com/new/yfc for more information and an entry form. The winning filmmaker receives two all-access producer badges to the October film festival, as well as two nights’ hotel accommodations and flight reimbursement. If it’s long been your child’s dream to fly first class from San Antonio to Austin on some film festival’s dime, I don’t want to tell you to discourage her, but don’t be surprised if she comes back demanding tofu barbacoa substitute.
Why not distract your little Sofia Coppola with the promise of a fairly dark and violent comic-book action film? On Thursday, July 30, Slab Cinema (slabcinema.com) will screen Tim Burton’s Batman at HemisFair Park. The film starts at dark. If that doesn’t work, just pony up the $12 per person suggested donation and disillusion your kid altogether by taking her to Texas Public Radio’s screening of Taxi Driver, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 4, at the Santikos Bijou (4522 Fredericksburg).