Tim League, the new face of the film industry.
 
One of the highlights of last year’s Fantastic Fest was Michaël R. Roskam’s Bullhead, a riveting thriller that combines some of the real life nitty grittiness of the Dardennes brothers, the violent poetry of Martin Scorsese and Roskam’s own unique vision where evil intent lurks in chiaroscuro landscapes and behind locked metaphorical doors. Bullhead’s plot is a multi-layered psychological thriller, rich in detail and riveting in execution.

Young cattle farmer Jacky Vanmarsenille (Matthias Schoenaerts) is approached by an unscrupulous veterinarian to make a shady deal with a notorious beef trader. But the assassination of a federal policeman and an unexpected confrontation with a mysterious secret from Jacky’s past set in motion a chain of events with far-reaching consequences.

Bullhead is an emotionally driven tale of revenge, redemption and fate set against the backdrop of the Belgian bovine hormone mafia. It is an exciting tragedy about fate, lost innocence and friendship, about crime and punishment, but also about conflicting desires and the irreversibility of a man’s destiny.

Opening in selected cities on February 17, Bullhead, which has been nominated for a 2012 Academy Award for best foreign film, is the second release from Drafthouse Films, the distribution wing of Tim League’s expanding Alamo Drafthouse film community. Their first release was the critically acclaimed Four Lions and upcoming Drafthouse Films include…

[...] documentarian Mark Harley’s comprehensive feature on perhaps the most infamous ‘80s production outfit Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films, Mikkel Nørgaard’s internationally acclaimed comedy Clown, and SXSW ‘11 favorite The FP and The ABC’s Of Death - an anthology film featuring segments by 26 different directors that Fangoria calls, “a stunning roll call of some of the most exciting names in horror across the world.”

In addition to heading Drafthouse Films and America’s hippest film chain, League owns The Highball restaurant and bowling alley and is the founder of the preeminent genre film festival in the world, Fantastic Fest. The guy’s passion for film knows no bounds and, as his mini-empire grows like the unstoppable vegetation in The Triffids, this CEO is having a shitload of fun while keeping it real.

In the following interview conducted on February 17 at The Alamo Drafthouse’s South Lamar location in Austin, League discusses Bullhead, his plans for the future and the infamous Youtube video that made Alamo Drafthouse’s cell phone policy (turn em off during screenings) a viral sensation.

And please refrain from talking or text messaging during the video or we’ll kick your ass out!