SXSW Film Conference
"Today, SXSW is a destination fest and mainstay of the independent film calendar." Variety, March 15, 2005
A big part of every SXSW Festival are the panels held at the Austin Convention Center. Leaders of the film industry meet to discuss the current issues of the business to an audience of badgeholders. There are also one-on-one mentor sessions and mini-meetings to offer even greater insight into select topics.
The panels at SXSW have been hailed as some of the most extensive and educational forums found in a festival setting. The business and art of making films come together in a unique environment only SXSW could provide. Register for your SXSW badge early, and save!
"With South by Southwest, you get a much better understanding of how the film is perceived by the industry and filmgoers." David Fenkel, VP of marketing at ThinkFilm quoted in the Ft Worth Star-Telegram, March 11, 2005
Film Panel News
Film Panel Schedule Now Online!
SXSW is pleased to announce the 2006 Film Panels Schedule. Browse the panel schedule and plan out your attack for the film conference portion of the festival. Check out all the action here
The iF! Trade Show
SAG Indie, Nevada Film Office, Indiepix.net, Vancouver Film School, Oregon Film Office, Iron Mountain, and Creative Commons are just handful of the exhibitors already onboard for the 2006 SXSW iF! Trade Show. Creating a bridge between businesses, film commissions, schools, and filmmakers, the Trade Show is a special chance for SXSW badgeholders to make connections and get information, as well enjoy the new technologies and trends of the film business.
Latin Filmmaking's Emerging Talent
The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) will host a special panel about the emerging talents in the world of Latin-American film. Filmmakers and film experts will explore the ways in which things are always developing in the nation's Hispanic community.
Blogging About Film
Not only are film blogs becoming one of the most-read sources for online movie news/reviews, but now many established print outlets have begun their own 'blogs sections'. Some of the film world's most-clicked bloggers plan to give you the inside scoop about how this new form of journalism has shaped itself within the traditional sphere of entertainment reporting.
SXSW Film 2006 Competition Winners
Jury Awards
REEL SHORTS
Winner: Hiro Dir. Matthew Swanson
Runner Up: Shortstop Dir. Risa Machuca & Fanny Veliz
ANIMATED SHORTS
Winner: The Wraith of Cobble Hill Dir. Adam Parrish King
Runner Up: Tall Tales & Other Big Lies Dir. Dano Johnson
EXPERIMENTAL SHORTS
Winner (TIE): Sea Change Dir. Joe King & Rosie Pedlow
Marion Dir. Ry Russo-Young
Runner Up: Stadtplan Dir. Reynold Reynolds
MUSIC VIDEOS
Winner: Ralfe Band Women Of Japan Dir. Nigel Coan & Ivana Zorn
Runner Up: The Sad Little Stars Don't Fuck With Love Dir. Rachel McIntosh & Jim Starace
TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION
Winner: Maikafer Dir. Chris Hergert
Runner Up: Weathered Dir. Elizabeth Mims
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Winner: Jam Dir. Mark Woollen
*Special Jury Award: Maxed Out Dir. James D. Scurlock
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Winner: Live Free or Die Dir. Andy Robin & Gregg Kavet
*Special Jury Prize - Outstanding Ensemble Cast: AMERICANese Dir. Eric Byler
*Special Jury Prize - Outstanding Visual Achievement: Inner Circle Line Dir. Eunhee Cho
Audience Awards
24 BEATS PER SECOND
Winner - Air Guitar Nation Dir. Alexandra Lipsitz
Runner Up - The Refugee All Stars Dir. Zach Niles & Banker White
EMERGING VISIONS
Winner - High Score Dir. Jeremy Mack
Runner Up - Manhattan, Kansas Dir. Tara Wray
LONE STAR STATES
Winner - State VS Reed Dir. Ryan Polomski & Frank Bustoz
Runner Up- - Slam Planet: War of the Words Dir. Mike Henry & Kyle Fuller
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Winner - Darkon Dir. Andrew Neel & Luke Meyer
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Winner - AMERICANese Dir. Eric Byler
Lone Star: 10 years later
John Sayles' 1996 Oscar-nominated film, Lone Star, exists as a modern independent classic. Chris Cooper, Matthew McConaughey, Kris Kristofferson, and Elizabeth Peña lead a stellar cast through a tale of bordertown politics and buried secrets. Writer/director Sayles, producer Maggie Renzi, and more from the film will discuss the making of the project, its release, and the impact it still has 10 years later.
Getting to know the Guilds
They are a very big part of the mainstream film business, and there is a lot of information about them everyone should know. It's the Guilds: Directors Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, and the Writers Guild of America. Representatives of each will come together at SXSW for a session to explain and discuss the different services they offer both veteran and novice filmmakers.
Doc Locally, think Globally
Documentaries are one of the few remaining genres where
independent filmmakers can break into network television. They have worldwide appeal - and the global appetite is still growing. At this year's festival, SXSW will launch a day of international television documentary panels.
International Documentary Co-Production
A survey of the ways in which different organizations from different countries work together for the best possible documentary film. Where do the funds come from and how can they be spent during the production process? This is just the very beginning of where this topic can go.
State of the North American Docs
Experts from the U.S. and Canada will be on hand to present new trends and methods taking the continent by storm. Both countries have strong documentary industries, and how can a working filmmaker utilize them?
Distribution - Broadband vs. TV vs. Theatrical
This is where the age of new technology and new documentary filmmaking collides. Now, you can stream short documentaries over the Web. Is that a better outlet than TV? What does that mean for theatrical distribution? Finding a home for your documentary is an important issue, and the crux of this discussion.
One-on-One Mentor Sessions
It's always easier when you can put a face to the name. That's the method behind the annual Mentor Sessions at the the SXSW Film Conference. Attendees are invited to sign up for 15-minute sessions with a series of industry experts. It's the perfect opportunity to get some hands-on advice about the film business. It will allow everyone a chance to network, make contacts, and gain practical advice about navigating the film business. Sign-up is available at the Panels Terrace at 11:00 a.m. on the day of your session.
A Conversation with Peter Bart at
Peter Bart has been the editor-in-chief of Variety since 1989. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was an integral part of Paramount Pictures, when the studio revolutionized the film industry with groundbreaking releases such as The Godfather, Harold and Maude, Rosemary's Baby, and Paper Moon. He also published seven popular books on a wide variety of issues related to the film business. Most recently, he's begun co-hosting the movie talk show, Sunday Morning Shootout. Join us, as Bart discusses his wide range of film experiences, and the state of the industry as he sees it.
