This new parking solution will run side by side with our current validation with the Cosentinos Parking Garage offering FREE PARKING from Sunday to Wednesday! All-day parking from Thursday to Saturday is available for $2 with validation. Parking Validation is $2 during events at The Midland and The Sprint Center.

Along with this great news, we are excited to announce that we will be lowering our general admission price.  Monday - Thursday our matinee price will be $5 and our price at night will be $7. On the weekend, you'll be able to enjoy the Drafthouse for $7 during the day and $9.50 at night. 3D movies carry a $3 additional charge and special programming prices vary.

Join us for IRON MAN 3 on May 2nd and take advantage of our new ticket prices and free parking options!

Thursday, May 2 – 1:30pm
IRON MAN 3 MARATHON

Opening Thursday, May 2
IRON MAN 3 2D
IRON MAN 3 3D

PIETA, the latest release from Drafthouse Films, is the 18th film from acclaimed South Korean director Kim Ki-duk. At once both emotionally stirring and shockingly brutal, PIETA is further proof that few countries are as consistently solid with their cinematic exports as South Korea.

Lee Jung-jin stars as Lee Kang-do, a brutal and petty gangster who makes a living collecting money from loan sharks. When those in debt are unable to pay back their loan, Kang-do collects in a different way – crippling his victims and pocketing their insurance payouts. Kang-do’s life is pretty simple – sex, violence and food. Things get complicated, though, when a woman (played by Jo Min-su in a heartbreaking role) shows up claiming to be Kang-do’s long-lost mother.
As the two bond and Kang-do finally is given a chance to spend quality time with a mother who abandoned him as a child, the butcher begins to lose his edge – an edge he’ll be in severe need of when a forgotten victim resurfaces looking for revenge.

Kim Ki-duk is no stranger to controversy. Over the length of his career, the director has found much acclaim and critical accolades for films that are both beautiful in their askew look at the world and their strong, unwavering approach to the subject matter. With PIETA, Kim Ki-duk has created a movie that is unwavering in its message and never flinches from the violence or sexual taboos that the movie depicts. As the movie crawls to its inevitable ending – with a third act that will have audiences squirming in their seats – PIETA remains as gutsy and powerful a film as ever.

Don’t miss PIETA this week at Vintage Park. Advanced tickets can be purchased here. And don’t miss the next release from Drafthouse Films – A BAND CALLED DEATH – when it opens at Vintage Park this June.

Once you've seen PIETA, join the conversation at Drafthouse Cinephiles, a Facebook group administrated by the Drafthouse's programming team.

In celebration of Baz Luhrmann's spectacular adaptation, we threw a Speakeasy Party at our Slaughter Lane location, complete with live music from the era provided by The Hollywood Revue, delicious themed cocktails served up at 400 Rabbits and a dizzying array of guests in gorgeous costumes. We even had a flash mob show up and dazzle us with swing dancing!

It was a great time, old sport, and you can get a glimpse of the glamor in our recap video below. Plus, check out our Facebook photo gallery for the full splendor of flappers and gents!

Smack in the middle of that entertainment timeline is THE LAST STARFIGHTER.  Sandwiched between the optimism of TRON and the horror that's ... well, every game adaptation ever, it's undoubtedly the high point of video game cinema. (Not exactly a flush genre, but work with us here.) It's one of the last glimpses of a world where video games were just a youthful pursuit, and not a political hot button.  But most importantly, STARFIGHTER is the only video game film that fulfills the fantasy of gaming (every player dreams of stepping inside the screen, and living the battle) and while simultaneously defending it as a worthy hobby.  Losers don’t play video games … heroes do!

Not that poor Alex Logan (Lance Guest) shoulders the hero mantle very easily.   Struggling with trailer park poverty and dreaming of college, Alex’s sole escape is an arcade game called Starfighter.    He becomes the game’s highest scorer, which attracts the attention of the game’s designer, Centauri. (Robert Preston).  To the surprise of no one – except Alex – a guy named Centauri isn’t human, but a disguised alien from the planet Rylos.   He takes Alex to his home planet – handily replacing him with an android so no one notices – and reveals that Starfighter isn’t fiction.  It’s an actual conflict between the Rylan Star League and the Ko-Dan Empire, and the game was designed to find warriors.   Alex is offered the chance to become a Starfighter and a savior.  But pumping quarters into an arcade console is a long way from life-and-death space battles, and Alex isn't sure he has what it takes. Plus, he really misses his girlfriend.

STARFIGHTER is a classic to many, but a fresh discovery for a new generation of sci-fi nerds and video game devotees. That makes it the perfect movie to introduce our Zzang!!! signature series, and we're screening it on Monday, May 20 at 7:00 and Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00.

What exactly is Zzang!!!, you ask? It's a cinema series dreamed up by Drafthouse programmers Zack Carlson and Bryan Connolly that celebrates the unsung movies of the 1980s.   Zzang!!! is where you’ll find the scrappy '80s classics like THE LAST STARFIGHTER that haven’t been splashed all over Hot Topic t-shirts and Internet memes.   It’s the best combination of nostalgia and cultural revival, and we're excited to finally bring it to the Alamo Drafthouse Littleton.

Tickets for both our THE LAST STARFIGHTER screenings are on sale now. Are you interested? Because Centauri’s got a little proposition for you …

Tim and Karrie League opened their first theater in 1997 with no formal qualifications to do so -- except that they were devoted movie fans.  Turns out, this was really the most important qualification.  Alamo has since evolved into a national operation, furthering our mission to share the movies we love with as many people as possible.  If you want to hear the long story (it's a good one! And we're not open yet so you've got time, right?) check out this comprehensive profile on Tim and the Alamo published earlier this year.   And while we're on the subject, you can hear Tim describe us in his very own words:

Reserved Seating and Preshows

Seating in every Alamo location is similar to that found in traditional theaters - chairs are lined up in even rows, with each seat angled toward the screen for the optimum viewing angle. In front of the seats there's a long, narrow table that runs the length of the row.  Last year, we unveiled a reserved seating system that eliminates all of the seat-saving stress accompanied with a family trip to the movies. At the Alamo, you'll be able to pre-select your seats whether you buy them in advance, online or as a walk-up.  We still encourage you to come 30 minutes early -- and that's because we'll be treating you to a 30 minute preshow.  Please note: we never show advertisements before our films. Instead, the Alamo employs a full-time video editor and pop-culture sleuth to create custom montages of vintage clips, educational films, cartoons, Scopitones, Japanese game shows and more. The preshow is usually themed to the movie you are about to watch. 

Food and Beverage Service

Another benefit of arriving early is that you'll have some time to review the menu and chat with your server.   We are passionate about our beer (remember, we are also a drafthouse) and will always let you sample a taste before you order. Once the lights go down and the movie starts, the theater will be transformed into a no-talking zone -- but you can still order food! Here's how. 

No Talking, No Texting

We stick to our guns on this one! If you talk during a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse, we will kick you out without a refund. Last year, Anderson Cooper praised this video on his nightly program, calling Alamo founder Tim League an “American hero” and further suggested his nomination for the Nobel Prize.  You can look forward to a reminder to turn your phone off and stay silent by way of our ever growing collection of Public Service Announcements.   

Oh, and THE MOVIES

Our "feature presentations" range from first-run, new releases to repertory classics, and interactive events.  So in addition to all of the best blockbusters, we schedule a number of ongoing series throughout the month: Girle Night, Tough Guy Cinema, Horror Show, Broadway Brunch, Sing Alongs, Quote Alongs and more, yet! We believe that presentation is paramount. Sony 4K digital projectors are standard at all Alamo's, as is archival, reel-to-reel 35mm projection. 

Family Friendly

We believe wholeheartedly in building a youth and collegiate cinephile audience.  We show free movies during the summer and school holiday's and vacations known as Kids Camp, a perfect opportunity to get your kiddo's together for some quality time.  Our age policies do not allow unaccompanied patrons under 18, so children must always be accompanied by a parent. 

Believe it or not, there is still more to say! Stay tuned for more detailed information about our private events, community initiatives, beer selection and employment opportunities. 

"Gordon has been recognized around Houston for his broad culinary talent, we are extremely excited to have him take on the role of Market Chef for the our Houston Alamo Drafthouse Cinema locations," says Neil Billingsley-Michaelsen Triple Tap Ventures LLC CEO and President. Gordon Bassett is an award-winning chef and has been an integral member of the culinary team at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema since 2009. Gordon has led the culinary teams at each of the Houston Alamo locations and most recently opened the Company's new Vintage Park location. Gordon and his dishes have received a number of top honors in Houston including: ‘Top Five Favorite Restaurant Dishes of 2010’ by the Houston Press for the ‘Farkus Eye Soup’ and most recently Best Entrée for his ‘Braise of the Lambs’ dish featured in the Northwest Houston Chamber of Commerce Epicurean Evening at Sam Houston Race Park.

“I’m excited to be named as the Market Chef for the Houston Alamo Drafthouse Cinema theaters,” says Gordon Bassett, “and am ready to continue keeping Alamo Drafthouse Cinema food and film events a part of what keeps our guests having an awesome time and making them excited to come back.”

For Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Media Inquiries:
CONTACT: Lacy Smythe Edmondson
PHONE: 832.809.2900
E-MAIL: ledmondson@tripletapventures.com

Alamo Drafthouse social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/alamohouston
Twitter: twitter.com/houstonalamo
YouTube: youtube.com/alamodrafthouse
Website: drafthouse.com/houston

About Alamo Drafthouse
Alamo Drafthouse is an entertainment brand comprised of the acclaimed cinema-eatery chain, the largest genre film festival in the United States and a collectible art gallery. Named “the best theater ever” by Time Magazine, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has built a reputation as a movie lover’s oasis not only by combining food and drink service with the movie-going experience, but also introducing unique programming and highprofile, star studded special events. Alamo Drafthouse Founder & CEO, Tim League, created Fantastic Fest, a world renowned film festival dubbed “The Geek Telluride” by Variety. Fantastic Fest showcases eight days of offbeat cinema from independents, international filmmakers and major Hollywood studios. The Alamo Drafthouse’s collectible art gallery, Mondo, offers breathtaking, original products featuring designs from world-famous artists based on licenses for popular TV and Movie properties including Star Wars, Star Trek & Universal Monsters. The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is expanding its brand in new and exciting ways, including the launch of Drafthouse Films, a new film distribution label and plans to extend its theaters and unique programming philosophy to additional markets across the United States. More information about Alamo Drafthouse franchise opportunities are available on the official website www.drafthouse.com.

About Triple Tap Ventures LLC
Triple Tap Ventures LLC owns and operates the Houston metropolitan area Alamo Drafthouse Cinema locations as well as exclusive development rights for Houston and several other Texas cities. Triple Tap Ventures is currently developing Alamo Drafthouse Cinema locations in El Paso, Houston and Lubbock, with plans for additional locations in Texas. Triple Tap Ventures and its principals are focused on developing, owning, and operating strong regional and national hospitality and entertainment concepts. www.tripletapventures.com

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ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE ANNOUNCES BEFORE MIDNIGHT
AS LATEST DRAFTHOUSE RECOMMENDS TITLE

Austin, TX--- 13 May, 2013--- The Alamo Drafthouse is excited to announce Richard Linklater’s BEFORE MIDNIGHT as the second Drafthouse Recommends title. Drafthouse Recommends spotlights a first-run movie with the Alamo stamp of approval to indicate that we love it and want everyone to go see it. Our goal is to highlight groundbreaking, innovative and intelligent films we believe deserve to be seen by as many people as possible.

BEFORE MIDNIGHT opens in Austin Alamo Drafthouse locations on 5/31 and will follow at all other Alamo Drafthouses nationwide in the following weeks. To get ready for its release the Alamo will be screening its predecessors, BEFORE SUNRISE and BEFORE SUNSET leading up to the opening of BEFORE MIDNIGHT. And if you buy your ticket early for BEFORE MIDNIGHT at the Alamo Drafthouse you will also be able to receive a free ticket to an Alamo screening of BEFORE SUNRISE or BEFORE SUNSET.

BEFORE MIDNIGHT is the third installment, following BEFORE SUNRISE and BEFORE SUNSET, in Richard Linklater’s dramatic saga about fate and love told through the story of two lovers: Celine (Julie Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke). This time around we meet up with the couple in Greece. They are happily together, but the romantic idealism they harbored in their youth has all but disappeared.  Now they’re left facing the everyday universal problems and issues of modern day relationships.

Linklater, Hawke and Delpy have grown with these characters over the last 18 years and that’s the key to what makes their story and arc beautifully real and organic. What the three writers have done is quite astounding by making a film that, if you’re a fan of the first two, is a fully rewarding chapter of Jesse and Celine’s story while also being a great movie on its own. BEFORE MIDNIGHT doesn’t shy away from the hard realities of modern relationships. Instead it lingers in those emotional truths most films don’t even want to acknowledge. It counters this while simultaneously being full of humor and joy as well. The combination makes it an emotionally complex and fully satisfying work of art.

Tickets for BEFORE MIDNIGHT for Alamo Drafthouse Austin will go on sale Friday, May 17.

Austin, TX--- 13 May, 2013--- The Alamo Drafthouse is excited to announce Richard Linklater’s BEFORE MIDNIGHT as the second Drafthouse Recommends title. Drafthouse Recommends spotlights a first-run movie with the Alamo stamp of approval to indicate that we love it and want everyone to go see it. Our goal is to highlight groundbreaking, innovative and intelligent films we believe deserve to be seen by as many people as possible.

BEFORE MIDNIGHT is the third installment, following BEFORE SUNRISE and BEFORE SUNSET, in Richard Linklater’s dramatic saga about fate and love told through the story of two lovers: Celine (Julie Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke). This time around we meet up with the couple in Greece. They are happily together, but the romantic idealism they harbored in their youth has all but disappeared.  Now they’re left facing the everyday universal problems and issues of modern day relationships.

Linklater, Hawke and Delpy have grown with these characters over the last 18 years and that’s the key to what makes their story and arc beautifully real and organic. What the three writers have done is quite astounding by making a film that, if you’re a fan of the first two, is a fully rewarding chapter of Jesse and Celine’s story while also being a great movie on its own. BEFORE MIDNIGHT doesn’t shy away from the hard realities of modern relationships. Instead it lingers in those emotional truths most films don’t even want to acknowledge. It counters this while simultaneously being full of humor and joy as well. The combination makes it an emotionally complex and fully satisfying work of art.

Tickets for BEFORE MIDNIGHT for Alamo Drafthouse Austin will go on sale Friday, May 17. Visit www.drafthouse.com for sales dates in all other Alamo Drafthouse markets.

Drafthouse Films is also offering the opportunity to own your very own copy of My Life, My Dog, My Strength, the guide to canine telepathic connection written by William Fichtner's engimatic, pony-tailed, facial scarred character "Master Chang." The 226-paged hardcover book contains Quentin Dupieux's entire original script, pages of key art featured in the film and an introduction by actor/comedian Eric Wareheim. This book is limited to only 225 copies, each copy autographed by Dupieux and is available for pre-order here.

DVD & BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

• Phase 7: The Making of a Nonfilm
• The WRONG "Behind The Scenes"
• Memories of a Dog Turd
• Theatrical Trailers
• 20-Page Booklet
• 1.85:1
• Sound: DTS-MA 5.1 (Blu-ray), 2.0 Dolby Digital (DVD)
• Region A (Blu-ray), Region 1 (DVD)

All you need to do to attend is register to win here, bring your wolf pack, and prepare for the night of your life!

*Bring the pass and arrive early! While the Party is open to the public Advance Screening seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Passes do not guarantee seating. Theater is overbooked to ensure capacity.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Winners randomly selected. Limit one pass per entry. Pass admits two.*

CRAFTING A NATION sheds a light on a corner of the American economy few may have thought about:  the craft brewer.   As our nation struggles to foster homegrown industry, American craft brewers are already doing important and dynamic things  Kolicko's documentary focuses on a number of craft brewers, scattered all across the country, and follows their struggles and successes as they develop their business.

We caught up with Kolicko ahead of our Colorado premiere, and he graciously answered a few questions about his documentary.   If you would like to talk to Kolicko yourself, he'll be in attendence on Thursday night for CRAFTING A NATION, as will several craft brewers featured in the film.

You were originally a snow-sports man. What drew you to wanting to make a documentary about small brewers?

I left snow sports because I wanted to evolve and grow as a filmmaker. That type of filmmaking is all about creating a unique style and cinematography (which I brought to CRAFTING) but focuses little on storytelling, character and plot.  My goal for can was to push doc filmaking in character, story and the camera tools that are used. Think doc, think sitdown interview, talking head source footage like a thesis paper. Who wants to watch a thesis paper? Not me, so we rented helicopters, put a cable Camera through Odell, used Jib arms, but most of all captured an emotional story about the love of a dream pursued by two brothers.

How did you choose which craft brewers to focus on? Was narrowing it down a difficult process, or did the subjects just lend themselves to the film?

I love the story of craft beer. Again, I draw reference to typical docs. They often have a emotional reaction of sadness, hopelessness and tell audiences what to think rather than questioning the audience and respect an audience. Subjectivity over objectivity. I wants inspire and move our audience. Move them in a way to the emotional level to understand the passion and care that brewers have when creating craft beer. We wanted a nationwide story captured through several strings of a through-line. That hard work, passion, passion and determination pay off. And in the story of the film, it's paying off in the way that craft beer is greatly helping the US economy grow out of the Great Recession. New jobs, local sourcing, and the local economic distributions of revenue from one company thriving is huge. See the story in the film of Upslope and Wild Goose engineering.

We know a director isn’t supposed to play favorites with his subjects, but is there a story or moment in CRAFTING A NATION that really stands out as yours?

Favorites? The experience of making the film has changed from life and my philosophies. My favorite emotionally moving moment in during the process of the filmmaking was the day I couldn't put the wireless microphone  on Chad Miller, from BSB. [He's] our main character. Everything was going wrong, everything was breaking, including him, and they were out of money. It moved me because someone that is a great friend of mine was in such danger of losing his dream, [and] I couldn't do anything to help him. His only words to me that day was, "Want to help? Get this film done." That was the moment when I released this wasn't my film anymore, it was story that needs to told, and it was my job to tell it.

Someone says to you “I don’t like beer. Why would I want to watch this documentary?”, what would you say to convince them to check it out?

Don't like beer? We did a test screening to a group of underagers and not beer drinkers. They loved it and were moved by it.  This isn't a film about beer, it's just the subject matter. I wanted to talk about how the American dream isn't dead. Hard work, passion, and determination will pay off. So watch this film if you want to see how the underdog is winning.

Your documentary focuses a lot on what craft brewers are doing for the American economy.  Americans have often had a very puritanical attitude towards alcohol as opposed to Europe. Do you think this has changed? Do you think small brewers have played a part in this at all?

There has been a stigma in America toward alcohol. It exists because big beer promotes over consumption, consumerism, and demeans personal intelligence. Drink a 30 pack over the weekend, party with bikini clad women, and everyone will love you. Craft beer is gaining so much traction because it is the exact opposite.  "Americans are outgrowing lack of character and they have seen through that, and are tired of that," says Brian Hunt of Moonlight Brewing. What you see now is a beer culture that is about discovery, education, and wanting to support a local economy. Beer isn't a bad thing, it's a social catalyst that been around for centuries. We're overcoming that stigma, by in large across the country in small and local taprooms. Whens the last time you saw a bouncer at a taproom?  I've been to 150 breweries in the last year and haven't been one yet. Because craft beer is about enjoyment, socializing and above all understanding great beer.

For more about Thomas Kolicko and CRAFTING A NATION, visit the film's official website. Tickets for the Thursday, May 16 Colorado premiere of CRAFTING A NATION are on sale now!

This week we’re in the 3:40 PM timeslot. Alamo Drafthouse will have its lunch menu available. Come on down to the Drafthouse and join Film School for a great film, no exit papers required.

The screening is Saturday, May 18th at 3:40 p.m. All Film School Screenings are just $5.