Written, directed, and produced by Austin filmmaker Richard Linklater, Slacker changed the independent film landscape. Shot relay-style, the film is composed of a series of loosely connected vignettes documenting youthful malaise. Linklater made the film with a budget of $23,000 and a cast of Austin locals. Slacker feels more like a mood-piece than a traditional film; its meandering structure prioritizes each character’s philosophy rather than the action of the world around them. Without Slacker there is no Clerks, no Reality Bites, no mumblecore. Linklater’s funny, intelligent, loping film helped define the voice of the 90s. (Richard Linklater, United State, 1990, 97min)
“A brilliant roundelay of idiosyncratic connections; it makes for a breezy comedy of casual wandering and easy chat.” –New Yorker
Both screenings will be introduced by Katie Cokinos: the first publicist for Slacker, the Managing Director of the Austin Film Society from 1990-1995, and Senior Programmer for Upstate Films! Expect to hear about the process of creating Slacker, from its journey beginning with film festivals to the foundational reputation in filmmaking it has today.
Presented by Kingston Film Foundation.
This project is made possible with funds from the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson.