Dallas News Blog

Dana Wheeler-Nicholson will be among those attending Friday's Texas Day shindig in Victory Park.

Before touting today's AFI Dallas International Film Festival line-up, this heads-up: The Dallas Film Society just sent along the guest list for Friday's daylong Texas Day event, which kicks off with the free Texasville screening and Peter Bogdanovich Q&A at the Magnolia. Says the schedule we just received, Victory Park should be chock-a-block with familiar faces beginning, oh, 'round 6:30, as they start walking the red carpet outside the WFAA studios. Among those expected to attend: Bogdanovich, Powers Boothe (who still looks like he'd like to pour you a cool glass of Flavor-Aid), Barry Corbin and two of the stars of Fletch, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson and our old pal Burton Gilliam.

Just, please, do not ask Gail Stanwyck -- currently living in Austin and starring on Friday Night Lights -- if you can borrow a towel because your car just hit a water buffalo. Please. Because if she had a nickel for every time she's heard that one ... Oh, do pardon: Mayor Tom Leppert and Governor Rick Perry, whoever they are, will also attend a 7:15 declaration hoohah of some kind on Friday, followed by 30 minutes of "Great Texas Moments in Film" clips on the AT&T Plaza big screens. See, this is how you fill Victory Park. Perhaps next week, Michael O'Keefe, Tim Matheson and somebody from Stripes?

Now, on to today's highlights, which I'll keep brief. As I mentioner earlier, Keven McAlester has his homecoming at 4:30 p.m. at the Magnolia, as he debuts to friends, family and other comers his second doc, The Dungeon Masters. Big Fan, of which I am an unabashed big fan, screens at 7 p.m. at the NorthPark, with Patton Oswalt in attendence for a post-show Q&A. Iron Giant writer Tim McCanlies brings his low-budget id Software-inspired comedy The 2 Bobs to the Magnolia at 10:30 p.m. And for those craving the old-school, gentlemen will prefer blondes at 7:30 p.m. at NorthPark.

In a moment, Patrick Michels will pour some separate Sugar on a penultimate day highlight.