LOCAL

'Destination Marfa': Lubbock Premiere Cinema hosts screening of film with local ties

A-J Media Staff

Independent film "Destination Marfa," written and directed by Lockney native Andy Stapp, is scheduled to premiere at Lubbock Premiere Cinemas on Tuesday.

Tony Todd, left, as Mayor Henry, and Stelio Savante, as Vincent, the hitchhiker, are pictured in a scene from the locally produced film, "Destination Marfa," set to premiere on Tuesday at Lubbock's Premiere Cinemas.

Stapp presents his sci-fi feature and accompanying cast meet and greet following the screening. There will also be a Q&A on the creation and filming of the local movie.

According to information from imdb.com, the film was a winner of the Film Heals Award from the 2021 Manhattan Film Festival for Best Horror Picture and received honorable mention accolades from the 2021 Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival for Best Feature Film.

The film stars Tony Todd as Mayor Henry. Todd is perhaps best known for his chilling performance as "Candyman." The 6-foot, 5-inch actor has consistently turned in compelling performances since his debut in the fantasy film "Sleepwalk" in 1986, according to information from imdb.com

'Destination Marfa' makes its local debut on Tuesday at Lubbock's Premiere Cinemas and and IMAX.

Also starring are Stelio Savante as Vincent (The Hitchhiker); Cotton Center native Brittany Jo Alvarado as Eden Percell; Kyle Colton as Matthew Bench; Marcus Jahn as Erik Streett; Tracy Perez as Allie Holliwell; Kimberley Christann Pember as Donna (the waitress); Richard Riehle as Skeeter; Neil Sandilands as Norman; and Scot Scurlock as Wilmer.

The synopsis: "While on a road trip from a long weekend at the Terlingua cookoff, four lifelong friends decide to veer off road and venture into a small West Texas town known as Marfa. What attracted them to do so? Could it be the strange unexplained ghost lights that Marfa is known for?

"While on a fuel stop they meet two very strange employees of a secluded gas station. One of them offers them a chance to look into their future by pulling a ticket from his countertop 25-cent token fortune-telling machine. What does it say? Can they trust it?

"When they enter Marfa, Texas they realize almost immediately that something's off. Why is this town so odd? Why are very peculiar things happening?

Stelio Savante, left, as Vincent, the hitchhiker, and Kimberley Christann Pember as Donna, the waitress, are pictured in a scene from the locally produced film "Destination Marfa," making its debut on Tuesday at Lubbock's Premiere Cinemas and IMAX.

"Eden Percell, because of her desire to look into everything, begins convincing Erik that the town is full of practicing witchcraft and she even makes the statement 'And I think they have gotten dang good at it.' Can she convince Erik, and if so, should they risk telling the other two drama queens their thoughts.

"What is Marfa? Why are the townspeople so secretive? Will Matt, Erik, Allie, and Eden discover the truth behind the mystery of the Marfa lights?"

Produced by Stapp, the film was co-produced by Dean Andre, Starla Christian and Stelio Savante with original musical score by local musician Dustin Garrett.

The meet and greet with cast and crew is scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m. leading up to the 7 p.m. premiere with the in-theater Q&A with Stapp, immediately following the screening.

Stapp

Stapp, a 1993 graduate of Lockney, served in the Marine Corps as a nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare specialist running Marines through gas chambers on U.S., Japan, and Australian military bases, according to his biography on imdb.com

After his stint in the Marines, he returned home to help run a family auto-body repair shop. He ventured into airbrushing, which led him into doing artwork across the country for International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drag racing, and UGGS Boot company as lead artist.

Today, Stapp has taken on the adventure of writing screenplays.

"He continues to live in his small town he grew up in but reaches out to those peculiar callings of Hollywood and it's business," the imdb.com biography reads.

Encore screenings of the film will be shown later that evening at 9 p.m.

Special ticket packages for the event can be purchased at www.pccmovies.com or at Premiere’s Box Office.