AFS CINEMA ANNOUNCES OPENING OF THE JOHN H. McCALL THEATER WITH PREMIERE OF PAPER TIGER JAMES GRAY AND RICHARD LINKLATER TO APPEAR
October 14, 2026– Austin Film Society (AFS) announces the expansion of the AFS Cinema; a third theater will open on October 24. The new theater will be named the John H. McCall Theater, thanks to a generous donation from Amy McCall in honor of her husband, a dedicated patron of the arts. John McCall (1947-2021) made a tremendous impact on the Texas film community through his direct involvement with filmmakers and his generous support of AFS through the years. The McCalls helped establish the AFS Cinema with their transformational gift in 2016 that allowed AFS to renovate and revitalize the shuttered Marchesa Theater. This was a crown jewel of John’s decades-long support for the Texas film industry. In 2018, John was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame.
To celebrate the Grand Opening, AFS Cinema is hosting several special screenings starting October 24, including the premiere of PAPER TIGER on October 27, with writer, director, producer James Gray in attendance. Starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller, this deeply felt, intense crime thriller follows two brothers who get caught up in a scheme that turns out to be too good to be true. As they try to navigate their way through the dangerous world of the Russian mafia, family bonds begin to fray with life-altering consequences. After the screening, Gray will be joined by AFS Founder and Artistic Director Richard Linklater for a discussion. NEON will release PAPER TIGER in select theaters on November 13, 2026, followed by a nationwide expansion Thanksgiving.
Other screenings for the grand opening of the McCall Theater include new 4K restorations of THE COLOR OF MONEY, UNZIPPED, and MARIE ANTOINETTE.
The new space will seat 169 people and feature 4K digital laser projection and 7.1 surround sound. The addition will mean more screenings, more titles, better showtimes, and upgraded seating for Austin audiences, creating an even more welcoming experience for all film lovers.
“The McCall Theater will allow us to expand our programming and better serve the filmmakers, festivals, and audiences who have made the theater their home,” said Richard Linklater, AFS Founder and Artistic Director. “It’s another step in the same journey we began four decades ago: creating a place where great films are discovered, filmmakers are supported, and a community gathers around the shared experience of cinema.”
Austin’s only nonprofit arthouse, AFS Cinema presents new releases, from international narratives to documentaries and independent films, as well as repertory classics. Open 364 days a year at The Linc, 6259 Middle Fiskville Rd, AFS Cinema also hosts filmmakers’ Q&As and special events, and the Lobby Bar serves signature cocktails, local craft beers, snacks, and more. The AFS Cinema is a beacon for all who value great cinema and global perspectives, and a hub for the creative community.
As one of the nation’s leading arthouses and often one of the first venues in the country to screen new restorations of rare classics, AFS Cinema sells more than 84,000 tickets a year, drawn by global cinema and firsthand conversations with filmmakers.
AFS Cinema’s community includes more than 2,500 members who support the organization annually, along with curatorial partnerships with more than 50 organizations each year. Together, these partnerships make AFS one-of-a-kind among theaters in the area, aiming to elevate exceptional film and build community. The third screen will strengthen its role as a vital cultural hub for Austin’s creative scene and carry forward the legacy Richard Linklater built in founding AFS in 1986 to show great films and support filmmakers.
ABOUT AUSTIN FILM SOCIETY
Founded in 1985 by filmmaker Richard Linklater, AFS creates life-changing opportunities for filmmakers, catalyzes Austin and Texas as a creative hub, and brings the community together around great film. AFS supports filmmakers from all backgrounds towards career leaps, encouraging exceptional artistic projects with grants and support services. AFS operates Austin Studios, a 20-acre production facility, to attract and grow the creative media ecosystem. Austin Public, a space for our city’s diverse mediamakers to train and collaborate, provides many points of access to filmmaking and film careers. The AFS Cinema is an ambitiously programmed repertory and first-run arthouse with broad community engagement. By hosting premieres, local and international industry events, and the Texas Film Awards, AFS shines the national spotlight on Texas filmmakers while connecting Austin and Texas to the wider film community. AFS is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. More at austinfilm.org.
Media Contact:
Maury Sullivan
maury@austinfilm.org
