AUSTIN, Texas —
An Austin-area film club is opening a new screening space Tuesday that will serve as a hub for filmmakers and film lovers to work together towards creating their art.
The Hyperreal Film Club's new space is located in Downtown East Austin at 301 Chicon St.
Whether they're already established or looking for a chance to get started, Hyperreal Film Club could be the opening credits for a filmmaker's next big project.
From the snacks to the right lights, the film club helps sets the mood.
"I think, you know, especially since the pandemic, people are really looking for ways to connect," Hyperreal Film Club, co-founder Jenni Kaye said.
The club started in 2016 and before getting the new building, the group only hosted pop-up screenings.
With refurbished seats and other new touches, they've transformed this warehouse space into their own.
"We thought like once we have our own spot, we will lose all limitations and can really cultivate the experience that we want to offer people," Kaye said.
The film club creates a genuine movie experience but also a networking opportunity.
"I think, you know, as a filmmaker myself, it's a really scary thing. And I think, especially as a woman, it's the world of creating a film is really daunting and you don't know what you don't know," Kaye said.
"And so I feel so grateful that we, you've created a community of filmmakers that can serve as mentors to young people."
The goal is to create a common place for filmmakers to network, find opportunities and mentor one another.
"I've seen a lot of people in my community move to other cities to find opportunities and find community in film. And we really want to keep people in Austin," Kaye said.
This includes people like Austin filmmaker Michael Zumaya.
"I think connections are important because whether, you know, it takes a village to make anything in film," Zumaya said.
He screened one of his first projects with Hyperreal.
"When I screened that music video that I did here, I got reached out by a now good friend who a stranger at the time, a good friend now um to work on some short that he was writing," he said.
Between sharing snacks and ideas, the new location gives everyone a chance to reach their full potential.
Hyperreal Film Club plays movies every Tuesday through Friday. Each Friday is their marquee night, where they pair a locally made short film with the main feature and then hold a question and answer session with the filmmaker after.
Their events are open to the public, not just film club members. If you're interested in getting a ticket, you can find out more information here.