Local Web site Wows 'Cahiers du Cinema'

Austinite Todd Harbour wins praise from the esteemed French film publication Cahiers du Cinema for his film-and-video Web site, Mobius Home Video Forum.

While it's still probably one of the best-kept secrets in the local film scene, the Mobius Home Video Forum (www.mhvf.net) is getting plenty of attention elsewhere -- such as a glowing review from the esteemed French film journal Cahiers du Cinema in its November issue. In the notice, Tim Lucas calls Mobius the "busiest, best-designed and most enduring" of online film forums. Founder and webmaster Todd Harbour, based in Austin since his student days, boosts local events (such as the Alamo's Incredibly Strange Trailerthon) in addition to coordinating the site with six other moderators. The site features four discussion boards about cult and general topics, "special reports" from the field (event wrap-ups and interviews with the likes of William Lustig -- director-producer of splatter fave Maniac -- and Wicker Man helmer Robin Hardy), and a diary of Harbour's musings and industry news. The boards are the main attraction, with thoughtful discussions governed by a strict usage policy that fosters "honest discussions between real people" (no flames, no spam, no fake screen names). Yet there's no lack of fired-up cinefandom: Recently, posters on the Sci-Fi & Horror board discussed an obscure Indonesian flick -- Perawan Rimba, or Jungle Virgin Force, starring Lydia Kandou -- while members chatted about the Tai Seng DVD of Eternal Evil of Asia, a Category III (or soft-core) film, in Asian Cinema Discussion. Though he credits the "passionate, articulate, enthusiastic, and astute participants" for Mobius' success, Harbour says he intends to offer more essays and feature stories in addition to the popular discussion boards.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

Support the Chronicle  

READ MORE
More Screens
Austin Artist Brings Gamera to Vibrant Life in a New Box Set
Austin Artist Brings Gamera to Vibrant Life in a New Box Set
Matt Frank builds the perfect monster

Richard Whittaker, Aug. 28, 2020

SXSW Film
SXSW Film Reviews: 'TPB AFK: The Pirate Bay Away From Keyboard'
Daily Reviews and Interviews

Richard Whittaker, March 15, 2013

More by Marrit Ingman
Wonder Stories
Wonder Stories
Books

July 25, 2008

King Corn
The film’s light hand, appealing style, and simple exposition make it an eminently watchable inquiry into the politics of food, public health, and the reasons why corn has become an ingredient in virtually everything we eat.

Nov. 9, 2007

KEYWORDS FOR THIS STORY

Mobius Home Video Forum, Todd Harbour, Cahiers du Cinema

MORE IN THE ARCHIVES
One click gets you all the newsletters listed below

Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events

Keep up with happenings around town

Kevin Curtin's bimonthly cannabis musings

Austin's queerest news and events

Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news

Information is power. Support the free press, so we can support Austin.   Support the Chronicle