Houston – A 25 year old piece of film history is finally seeing the light of day. Dreams in the Attic, the fantasy film starring the late Shelley Duvall, is having its premiere at the historic River Oaks Theatre in Houston on what would be the actress’ 76th birthday.
Filmed in 1999 across Houston and Galveston, the movie was originally shelved after being passed over by the Disney Channel. It remained unseen for over two decades until director Bob Willems decided now is the right time.
On Houston Life, director and Texas Southern University professor Bob Willems joined Houston Cinema Arts Society programmer Rachael Acosta to share how the screening came to be. “It’s just been sitting under lock and key for 25 years,” Willems said, revealing that Disney had called it “a nice film” but ultimately passed.
The movie’s rediscovery was sparked by Acosta, who learned about it from her partner and formers student of Willems’. Acosta then worked with the Houston Cinema Arts Society to organize the film’s first-ever public showing at River Oaks Theatre.
Dreams in the Attic is a whimsical, family-friendly story about a magical costume shop where dreams come to life far from Duvall’s chilling role in The Shining. The film features Haylie Duff, Mary McDonough, and Vanessa Lee Chester, and is considered a treasured piece of lost media by fans online.
Tonight’s premiere sold out almost immediately, but don’t worry additional screen times have been added. The film now has encore showings on July 10, 11, and 12 at River Oaks Theatre.
For tickets and more information, visit River Oaks Theatre or the Houston Cinema Arts Society