Mel Gibson continues to try to repair any damage done to his career after his drunken driving arrest and anti-Semitic remarks two months ago.The Oscar-winning director made a surprise appearance at Fantastic Fest, a film festival for new science fiction, horror and fantasy films in Austin, Texas, and was greeted with a standing ovation. Gibson screened a two-hour rough cut of his latest movie, the Mayan adventure film “Apocalypto,” which opens Dec. 8.

The “Passion of the Christ” director spoke to the audience, pointing out similarities between the decline of the Mayan civilization and our current government.