A glance at the new movies coming from Texas artists

After years of locals bemoaning the flood of Californians into Austin, the tables were turned this past week as a handful of Austin filmmakers turned up on the West Coast for the Los Angeles Film Festival.

Richard Linklater's "Bernie" served as the fest's opening-night film and topped a list of local films that included Mike Akel's "An Ordinary Family" and multiple vehicles for Austin actor John Merriman.

The films in L.A. represent a busy period of film production from Austin artists over the past year, but with the exception of big names like Linklater and Robert Rodriguez's "Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World," most of the movies being made in Texas are of the microbudget variety.

While there has been a surge in production, with accomplished filmmakers such as Chris Eska ("August Evening") and Tim McCanlies ("When Angels Sing") working locally on their latest films, there has not been the type of economic boom that comes with big-budget productions.

"The environment is tougher than I've seen it in the 13 years I've been managing the film society," Austin Film Society Director Rebecca Campbell said recently by email. "I believe the community will continue its support, because the flow of funds to filmmakers contributes to Austin's economic vibrancy, and because creative filmmaking is woven into our identity and culture."

Below we take a look at movies with Austin ties that will (hopefully) be coming to a theater or festival near you in the coming months.

'Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World'

Writer-director: Robert Rodriguez

Cast: Jessica Alba, Antonio Banderas, Danny Trejo, Jeremy Piven, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara

Synopsis: A new era of kids help their step-mother, a retired spy, battle the sinister "Timekeeper" in an effort to save the world.

Filming: Shot in Austin last fall.

Next step: Set to open Aug. 19.

Background: After an eight-year hiatus from "Spy Kids," Rodriguez returns to the franchise, which has made more than $300 million at the domestic box office.

'Bernie'

Director: Richard Linklater

Writers: Linklater and Skip Hollandsworth

Cast: Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey and Shirley MacLaine

Synopsis: The film recounts the bizarre mystery involving Bernhardt "Bernie" Tiede, a beloved assistant funeral home director in Carthage who admitted to murdering eccentric widow Marjorie Nugent.

Filming: Shot last fall in Austin and Central Texas.

Next steps: Producers are looking for distribution for a possible fall release.

Background: The dark comedy is based on "Midnight in the Garden of East Texas," a Texas Monthly article written by Hollandsworth.

Untitled Terrence Malick project

Writer-director: Malick

Cast: Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Javier Bardem

Synopsis: The details of the script are secret, but it's reportedly a romance. Bardem reportedly plays a clergyman.

Filming: Shot last fall in Oklahoma, with various Austin crew members.

Next steps: Reportedly in post-production. Release date not set.

'September Morning' (tentative)

Writer-director: Chris Eska

Cast: Ashton Sanders and Tishuan Scott

Synopsis: It's a "Civil War era story of a fatherless boy sent to retrieve a wanted man under false pretense and the unexpected emotional bonds that form between them during their journey," producer Jason Wehling said.

Filming: Shot in January and February.

Next steps: Editing now, submitting to film fests in the fall and should premiere at some point in early 2012.

Background: "September Morning" is Eska's second feature after "August Evening," which won the John Cassavetes Award at the 2008 Independent Spirit Awards.

'Slacker 2011'

Directors: Multiple filmmakers include Bob Byington, PJ Raval, Karen Skloss and David and Nathan Zellner

Synopsis: Two dozen local filmmakers have teamed up with the Alamo Drafthouse and Austin Film Society to remake Richard Linklater's 1991 film "Slacker."