South by Southwest

When I worked at SXSW, I always grew tired of other festivals that gave what we were trying to do, a bad name. While regionally-based festivals like True/False, Atlanta, Sarasota, and Hamptons (among many others) try to do good work with good films, there was always something “off” about t...

In Winnebago Man, filmmaker Ben Steinbauer sets out to find him.” “Man” premiered at the SXSW Film Festival this March, where indieWIRE's Eric Kohn said it “brilliantly encapsulates the transformative power of the online video boom.” Winnebago Man Variety all 2 news articles

Folks from Lions Gate, IFC, Paramount, Magnolia, Miramax, Sony, Oscilloscope, Summit, Liberation and Arthouse, as well as numerous critics, journalists and bloggers, liken the event to SXSW in Austin. A place to work in a more casual environment. ...

What Zombies? Bruce McDonald's “Pontypool” by Eric Kohn (Updated 13 hours, ) EDITOR'S NOTE: This review was originally published as part of indieWIRE's coverage of the 2009 SXSW Film Festival. I'm in the minority thinking that Bruce McDonald's “The Tracey Fragments” made for one ...

By andy007 on SXSW Snapshot: Joe Swanberg's "Alexander The Last" Introducing SnagFilmsFAST our new "Festival-Approved Submissions Tool" making it easier for filmmakers to submit films for expedited review & distribution by SnagFilms. ...

By mattdentler(matt@sxsw.com) Rob VanAlkemade's SXSW 2007 premiere documentary, What Would Jesus Buy?, has become a solid grassroots hit during its limited theatrical release across the nation. This weekend, the holiday-consumerism documentary opens in Denver, San Diego, Sacramento, Indianapolis, and Norfol...

By mattdentler(matt@sxsw.com) In honor of Friday's totally, absolutely final SXSW submission deadline I wanted to perk things up with this lovely new ballad by Dan Bejar's project called Destroyer. Also a member of The New Pornographers, Bejar's next Destroyer record is due to hit stores in March. Right around SXSW 200...

By mattdentler(matt@sxsw.com) With the September 7 release of his new Sony Pictures comedy, The Brothers Solomon, I asked director Bob Odenkirk (Mr. Show) to answer some questions. Odenkirk has been a good friend of SXSW since 2003, when his feature directorial debut, Melvin Goes to Dinner, screened to enthusiastic re...

By mattdentler(matt@sxsw.com) Aaron Katz's SXSW 2007 premiere, Quiet City, opens in New York on Wednesday at the IFC Center. Only one year after bringing his debut feature (the powerful Dance Party, USA) to SXSW, Katz returned to Austin for the debut of his very different, but no less impressive, Quiet City. During SXSW,...

By mattdentler(matt@sxsw.com) From this month's SXSW email newsletter: COMING SOON TO DVD: a. Disturbia (SXSW 2007) hit stores August 7. For more information, click here. d. The Lookout (SXSW 2007) lands at DVD retailers on August 14. For more information, click here.

By mattdentler(matt@sxsw.com) At SXSW 2005, we premiered the emotional and heartbreaking documentary You're Gonna Miss Me (directed by Keven McAlester), a portrait of legendary (but troubled) psychedelic rocker Roky Erickson. The film received a very warm reception, helped by the fact that Roky has lived in Austin...

By mattdentler(matt@sxsw.com) The whole point of this post is to say that there is a very real and very good movement of new independent filmmaking happening just on the sidelines of this whole "mumblecore" madness. And, yes, you will only be able to see these films at festivals for the next few months (though, Great World...

By eug(ejh@indiewire.com) Among the biggest buzz acts at SXSW was UK soul and jazz artist Amy Winehouse who performed a few times in Austin, stirring increasing interest after a first showcase when she performed only a couple of songs. Chatter about her apparent refusal to do media interviews in light of a recent bre...

By Tamara Krinsky(tamara@crewcreative.com) Interviewing Mike Mills on an overcast Austin morning I spent the afternoon checking out some of the interactive panels, which I'll write about in more detail in a different post. HANNAH TAKES THE STAIRS I’ve been told Music is just a big ol' fiest…sadly, I don't get to stay for that...

By eug(ejh@indiewire.com) With an incredibly varied program offeatures put together by event producer Matt Dentler and panels and production manager Jarod Neece, one can easily find something to enjoy at the SXSW Film Festival. Obvious choices (and big ticket sellers) are films like the Morgan Spurlock produce...

By eug(ejh@indiewire.com) Sporting a bushy beard that helps him blend in a bit when shooting in places like the Middle East, Spurlock is at the SXSW Film Festival with "What Would Jesus Buy," a new doc that he produced -- directed by Rob VanAlkemade -- that debuted last night at an overflow Paramount Theater screenin...

By eug(ejh@indiewire.com) Filmmaker Richard Linklater (right) chatting with John Pierson at the SXSW Film Conference and Festival on Saturday in Austin. Photo by Eugene Hernandez/indieWIRE by Eugene Hernandez and Brian Brooks (March 10, 2007) Frank on "Lookout" Writer/director Scott Frank, whose "The Looko...

By eug(ejh@indiewire.com) Austin, TX, site of SXSW. Photo by indieWIRE compiled by Brian Brooks and Eugene Hernandez (March 9, 2007) DOWNTOWN Places to go in an around the downtown area, homebase for SXSW. AROUND AUSTIN: Places that are still in Austin, but a little off the beaten path. OUTSIDE AUSTIN:

By mattdentler(matt@sxsw.com) Last year's event featured more than 1,400 bands played at 60 venues in downtown Austin, Texas. This year proves to provide more action with appearences by Pete Townshend and Rachel Fuller, The Stooges (with Iggy Pop), David Byrne, Ozomatli, Taylor Hicks, Amy Winehouse, Buzzcocks, Int...

By mattdentler(matt@sxsw.com) We feel bad for Charlize Theron, especially because the photo cited in this lawsuit was taken at SXSW last year when she premiered her documentary, East of Havana (we're that "Austin film festival in March," though it was a panel and not a press conference, not that it matters).

By brian(bbrooks@indiewire.com) Max Minghella and Blake Lively in Will Geiger's "Elvis And Anabelle." Photo courtesy of Goldcrest. by Brian Brooks (February 6, 2007) Elvis and Anabelle Written and directed by Will Geiger. Featuring: Max Minghella, Blake Lively, Joe Mantegna, Mary Steenburgen, Keith Carradine.

By brian(bbrooks@indiewire.com) The world premiere of writer/director Scott Frank's "The Lookout" will open the the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference & Festival at the Paramount Theater in Austin March 9, the organization announced Tuesday. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Isla Fisher, Matthew Goode, a...