Austin and western Travis County will be part of a movie's red carpet premiere and innovative marketing program this week.[/caption]

On April 23, OnBuzz, a local film distribution and marketing firm, will host the premiere of "Little Boy," a full-length feature film depicting a young boy determined to bring his father home alive from World War II. However, the company hopes the film will also encourage viewers to perform philanthropic acts.

"The movie focuses on the power of faith, never giving up and doing good," OnBuzz founder and CEO Alan Elias said.

The theater will feature photo kiosks in its lobby for moviegoers to take selfies with a movie backdrop. The movie's main character, Little Boy, is then digitally inserted into the picture, and the patron can access the photo on a smartphone. He or she is directed to a website and prompted to accept Little Boy's challenge to perform seven acts of kindness. Social media is then available for the moviegoer to post evidence of his or her philanthropic success.

Elias said his business goal not only includes entertaining audiences but creating a movement that supports a cause.

"This social gateway strategy encourages people to do acts of kindness and share their experience," he said. "It turns a movie into a movement."

Four Points-area Moviehouse & Eatery eagerly accepted the opportunity to premiere the film, Marketing and Events Director Amy Dial said.

"Moviehouse & Eatery is such a family-friendly theater, and "Little Boy" is such a great family film," she said. "It just made sense for us to support them with a prescreening event."

Elias said his company is planning three Austin movie premieres this summer. Each film will have a cause-marketing component, he said.

"As a company we believe we can change culture through technology and entertainment," Elias said.

"Little Boy" is directed by Alejandro Monteverde and features actors Eduardo Verastegui and Jakob Salvati.

The first premiere showing of "Little Boy" begins at 5:30 p.m., and the last showing of the movie starts at 9 p.m. The screenings are being held at Moviehouse & Eatery, 8300 N. RR 620, Austin, and are open to the public. The film officially opens April 24. See https://themoviehouse.com/austin/events/little-boy-premiere/ for more details.