Houston Cinema Arts Festival

HCAF 2024 will feature a wide variety of curated feature films with a focus on the diverse cultural community of Houston, Texas.

HCAF 2024 will also see the tenth Anniversary of CineSpace, our annual short film competition with NASA, as well as the fifth annual regional short film competition Borders - No Borders.

Our full festival lineup has been announced. Check out the schedule to discover the incredible films, performances, and special guests we have in store!

Schedule of Events:

7:30 pm: John Waters LIVE Commentary of Hairspray [All Access Passholders RSVP]

John Waters, The Pope of Trash, comes to Houston for his first ever live and in person director's commentary of his original HAIRSPRAY! A special pre-show trailer reel will kick things off, followed by the main event, the screening of Hairspray with live commentary by Waters, followed by a QandA. VIP ticket holders will join in a Group Therapy Experience with Waters afterwards.

Attendees also have the chance to sign up for the VIP Group Therapy Experience which includes: preferred seating, an autographed show poster, and a socially distanced selfie with John on stage with you in the foreground, in front of the stage (better safe than sorry!)

"Hairspray is the only really devious movie I ever made. The musical based on it is now being performed in practically every high school in America... Pink Flamingos was preaching to the converted. But Hairspray is a Trojan horse: It snuck into Middle America and never got caught." - John Waters

Hairspray

'Pleasantly plump' teenager Tracy Turnblad achieves her dream of becoming a regular on the Corny Collins Dance Show. Now a teen hero, she starts using her fame to speak out for the causes she believes in, most of all integration. In doing so, she earns the wrath of the show's former star, Amber Von Tussle, as well as Amber's manipulative, pro-segregation parents. The rivalry comes to a head as Amber and Tracy vie for the title of Miss Auto Show 1963.

Director: John Waters
Runtime: 92 minutes

7:30 pm: Their Hair Was Perfect, But The World Was A Mess: John Waters LIVE Commentary of Hairspray

John Waters, The Pope of Trash, comes to Houston for his first ever live and in person director's commentary of his original HAIRSPRAY! A special pre-show trailer reel will kick things off, followed by the main event, the screening of Hairspray with live commentary by Waters, followed by a QandA. VIP ticket holders will join in a Group Therapy Experience with Waters afterwards.

Director: John Waters
Runtime: 92 minutes