SUMMER 2024 SEASON
A Community Film Screening
To celebrate the start of our Summer 2024 Season and the return of The Front Festival this August, we’re hosting a special screening of Erica’s First Holy Sh!t at The Future Front House.
Presented by film collective This Is Not A Cult, this feature-length film turned psycho-lesbian fever dream follows queer Austin icon Erica Nix, as she explores the existentialism of living and working as an independent artist in Austin.
Before the screening, come through for a whimsical and candid conversation between Erica Nix and Jessica Gardner on the film’s themes, too.
Scroll for details.
what to expect
✰ 7:00 PM — Settle in at The Future Front House with complimentary beverages from Topo Chico & Tito's Handmade Vodka.
✰ 7:30 PM — Join us for a conversation with This Is Not A Cult producers, Erica Nix and Jessica Gardner, and other independent filmmakers from The Front Festival.
✰ 8:15 PM — “Erica’s First Holy Sh!t” begins. (This film is rated X. Please plan accordingly.)
ABOUT THE FILM
In the wake of a divorce and reeling from the reality of the pandemic, very Austin famous queer fitness guru Erica Nix contemplates the changing tides of Austin's value system and the plight of bohemian artists like herself being priced out of the city. She embarks on an erotic and hallucinatory fever dream, seeking advice from the likes of her inner child, God, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mother Nature, and Satan.
what people have to say:
“It’s every bit as gloriously magical, beautifully bonkers, and highly relatable as I hoped it would be.” – Morbidly Beautiful
“Camp, colorful and sexy, Nix’s film uses humor to explore a serious issue.” – Queer Guru
“Nix's disarming ability to make her unique mid-pandemic midlife crisis - about relationships, jobs, destiny, her city - is accessible and engaging. That vivacity blossoms into the visual style, a dizzy mix of John Waters, Liam Kyle Sullivan, and the handmade avant-garde flair of early Sesame Street. It's a suitable mixture for a film with a serious message about never taking yourself too seriously.” – Austin Chronicle
“A weird unique labor of love and will be mind-baffling for some audiences but will soon become an instant cult classic.” – Infamous Horrors
“Erica’s First Holy S**t definitely pushes the envelope after licking the s**t out of it. Put this movie in your face and start screaming with delight.” – Film Threat
“The entire movie has a let’s-put-on-a-play-in-the barn creative spirit. A low-budget but high-concept romp that satirizes several levels of current thought. Think the spine of early John Waters films but with compassion. Nobody eats dog shit here.” – Screen Reflections
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Erica Nix is an Austin based filmmaker, performance artist, aerobics instructor, choreographer, and body positivity ambassador. Some of her notable works include This Is Not A Cult, a variety show performed on the side of the Austin Motel pool with the audience floating in the water, her short films Air Sex and Go Ahead, Pee which screened at Hump Fest, as well as multimedia workout-cum-performance pieces at Outsider Fest and Fusebox Festival.
Erica also has the distinguished honor of performing as a back-up dancer in Richard Simmons’ last workout DVD before he made his infamous transition into seclusion. She was awarded the Austin Critics Table for best independent project in 2016 and for Best Personal Trainer in 2017 and 2018. Her collaborations with her teams of dancers from her workout classes are a continual gift to promote self-esteem and community growth.
Jessica Gardner is a filmmaker and commercial videographer. She is a 20 year collaborative partner to Erica Nix, having shot and edited many of Erica's video projects including webseries, Workout with Erica Nix, A Full Body Workout with Erica Nix, and Go Ahead, Pee. Gardner has produced films screened at SXSW, Austin Film Festival, Dallas Videofest, Outsider Fest, Seattle True Independent Film Festival, Worldfest Houston, Texas Independent Film Festival, and more. She also has enjoyed backup dancing for Erica at countless performances in Austin, Los Angeles, New York, and Marfa.
how to attend
This film is rated X. 18+
Tickets are free or by donation. Any and all donations will be distributed directly to This Is Not A Cult for future productions.
PREPARE YOUR VISIT TO THE FUTURE FRONT HOUSE.
The Future Front House is located at 1900 E. 12th Street within the historic East 12th Street District.
WHERE TO PARK: The Future Front House has a large paid parking lot across the street and is directly accessible by bus line. There’s also free parking up and down the street and in surrounding neighborhoods. Carpool, if you can!
WHAT TO DO: The Future Front House is located within the historic East 12th Street District, which is home to many other creative spaces and businesses, as well as organizations like Six Square. Explore the District while you’re around.
AVAILABLE LANGUAGES — ASL interpreters can be provided upon request. Si necesita traducción al español para participar en este evento, envíenos un correo electrónico a hello@futurefronttexas.org.
IMPORTANT COMMUNITY NOTES + GUIDELINES —
All Future Front staff, volunteers and guests will be required to practice mutual respect, as well as demonstrate an alignment with Future Front’s guidelines and values: futurefronttexas.org/values.
All Future Front sessions are currently held online, outdoors or in open-air spaces where quality air flow is possible, ADA compliance is prioritized and assisted mobility devices can be utilized.
All Future Front sessions follow capacity limits to reduce crowding of any kind.
At Future Front events, all guests are expected to follow Austin-local health and safety guidelines for gatherings, as well as practice consideration with the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and any other legal, mind-altering substances.
Tobacco use and electronic smoking device use are not permitted at any time within Future Front properties and event spaces at least 15 ft from entrances, exits, operational windows, or ventilation system intake vents.
Littering of tobacco-related products on the grounds or parking lots is also prohibited.
GOT QUESTIONS? Shoot us a note at hello@futurefronttexas.org. We're happy to help and will get back to you!
behind FUTURE FRONT
Homegrown in Austin, Future Front is an award-winning culture space and exhibition series—with women and LGBTQ+ creatives at the front.
As an arts and culture nonprofit, we produce two community-led exhibitions, The Front Market and The Front Festival. Beyond our flagship showcases, we host year-round shows and workshops at our creative space in historic East Austin, welcoming 20,000+ visitors per year.
Everybody and every body are welcome. Learn more at futurefronttexas.org.
THE FUTURE FRONT HOUSE IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, TITO’S HANDMADE VODKA, TOPO CHICO, AS WELL AS FUTURE FRONT’S DONORS AND MEMBERS. THANK YOU!