SXSW Film: March 12-20, 2010

Crawford director David Modigliani has just launched Flow Nonfiction, a commercial production arm with collaborators Matt Naylor and David Rice. For more info, check out the official site for flownonfiction.com. Crawford was a world premiere at SXSW 2008.

Anyone who saw 500 Days of Summer at SXSW 2009 may remember that Zooey Deschanel's apparent resemblance to a 'Jenny Beckman' is "purely accidental". Well, Cinematical has kindly lifted the lid on the enigma of Jenny Beckman, who it seems is very much a real person.

Meanwhile, Hollywood Reporter suggests that 500 Days of Summer is spearheading an an industry-wide foray into "smart, quirky movies for a sophisticated young audience."

"'Jesus Camp' meets 'Lost in La Mancha'"
Indeed. SXSW 2007 world premiere Audience of One is available next month on DVD. More details here.

We are excited to announce our unique partnership with the Roskilde Festival and Austin-based Sol Design Lab, in a mutual exchange that will explore both the artistic and practical applications of clean energy. At this year’s Roskilde Festival, (July 2 - 5, 2009) outside Copenhagen, Denmark, the SXSW sponsored SolarPump™ will make its debut. Incorporating cutting-edge solar technology and the adaptive re-use of a classic symbol of American fuel culture, this innovative Solar Charging station will power electric scooters that members of the media can use to travel back and forth from the Media Village (in the center of the festival grounds) to the Press Center about a mile away (where the media can use the facilities to file stories). The SolarPump™ will also serve as a practical and eye-catching tool to educate festival-goers about the possibilities of Solar Power, from both a technological and a creative point of view.

Designed by Austin-based Sol Design Lab, the SolarPump™ project is part art, part education and part practicality. It was created in February 2009, when Beth Ferguson, (a MFA candidate at the University of Texas at Austin), debuted it as her graduate project, with the intention of helping people re-imagine the future of transportation by showing solar powered mobility in action. Using the reclaimed body of a 1950’s gas station pump retrofitted with solar panels, she installed an innovative system to harness solar energy to charge electric scooters, laptops, cell phones, cameras, etc. (any item that uses a standard electric plug). In consultation with SXSW staff, Ferguson redesigned and modified the Pump to be truly portable, temporary and suitable for outdoor events. The Pump was fabricated and assembled by Ferguson’s Sol Design Lab in consultation with Austin Energy, Lighthouse Solar and with assistance from the University of Texas Department of Art. The batteries and electric scooters are being supplied locally in Denmark, and Roskilde is providing space and other support for the assembly on-site.

SXSW would like to thank the following for their support: Austin Energy, Department of Art & Art History at the University of Texas at Austin, Lighthouse Solar and Maverick Solar.

From left to right - Designer Beth Ferguson and Lula Marcondes, of Sol Design Lab, and Rick Mansfield from the University of Texas at Austin Art Department surround the SolarPump™ produced for the 2009 Roskilde Festival.

Oscilloscope Laboratories have teamed with Warner Bros for a new foray into digital distribution. The partnership will bring a number of films to VOD and download, including SXSW premieres Frontrunners and Dear Zachary: A Letter To A Son About His Father (both SXSW 2008). More info here, here, and here.

Over at their blog, the folks behind another SXSW film from the Oscilloscope slate, Burma VJ, discuss their partnership with the UK's Co-operative bank.

Variety has just posted a review of SXSW 2009 world premiere Modern Love Is Automatic.
Meanwhile, another of this year's SXSW world premieres, Winnebago Man, is reviewed at Gordon and the Whale.

Cary Fukunaga has been named as one of the directors of the new Levi's campaign, which kicks off July 4th. Fukunaga's Sin Nombre screened as a spotlight premiere at SXSW 2009.

Check out the trailer for Andrew Bujalski's Beeswax, recently posted by the New York Times. The film received its North American premiere at SXSW 2009.

A world premiere at SXSW 2007, Bob Ray's roller derby doc Hell On Wheels is now available for free streaming at SnagFilms.

Gary Hustwit's Objectified gets another airing next week, thanks to the AIGA design series and the Alamo Drafthouse. The film was a popular world premiere at SXSW 2009 so get tickets while you can!

The Hot Blog has posted a video interview with Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, whose doc Soul Power received its US premiere in the 24 Beats Per Second section of SXSW 2009.

The LA Times takes a peek behind the scenes of Brüno, as Universal releases production notes ahead of next week's release. Also, if you're one of the few people who didn't see it, check out the Austrian fashionista's appearance on The Tonight Show. A Brüno sneak peek screened at SXSW 2009.

Big things ahead for Moon director Duncan Jones, as news emerges of follow-up projects.

We know the SXSW community abounds with intelligence, enthusiasm and creativity, and is brimming with new ideas on the future of music, film and new media, so listen up! If you have a brainstorm for a great panel (or a great solo presentation) at the event next spring, then we want to hear from you soon! Don't delay, as the deadline for submitting proposals to the 2010 Panelpicker interface is Friday, July 10.

Keep in mind that as a new initiative for 2010, the Panelpicker interface will now be used to help slot programming for SXSW Music and SXSW Film (in addition to SXSW Interactive).

Wondering how to increase your odds of getting picked? Here's a tip - at present, we have received a lot more programming ideas for the geek portion of the event than SXSW Music or Film, so don't be shy about submitting ideas for those events as well (as there is less competition for slots).

So get going, and be sure to read the FAQ for extra tips and guidelines before you submit!

New film and music distribution outfit Factory 25 has acquired rights to SXSW 2007 world premiere Frownland. The label has also picked up High School Record from SXSW 2005. More info at SpoutBlog and IndieWIRE.

Check out this intriguing video essay in response to Kathryn Bigelow's SXSW 2009 spotlight premiere The Hurt Locker. Be warned - there's a slight spoiler. Also, head to his blog to check out Glenn Kenny's review of this "damn good movie".

Following an earlier interview back in February, Military blog YouServed takes another look at Aron Gaudet's SXSW 2009 world premiere The Way We Get By.

British viewers should look out for the TV premiere of Jocelyn Cammack’s The Time of Their Lives. The doc received its North American Premiere at SXSW 2009, and features as part of BBC4’s Grey Expectations season.

Today sees the NYC and LA release of Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker, triggering a flurry of online activity. Check out features and reviews from any number of sources including Slate, more Slate, Cinematical, IFC, and JoBlo. The film was a spotlight premiere at SXSW 2009, and look out for a wider release on July 10.

Burma VJ, a special screening at SXSW 2009, has received the honor of being "The first film ever to be screened at No. 10 Downing Street". Head to The Independent for more info.

A great week for SXSW 2009 world premiere All Tomorrow's Parties, with successful screenings that included the film's UK premiere. Read some of the glowing reports here, here, here and here.

Tonight sees the opening of Bare Knuckle Brawlers, a special poster exhibition in conjunction with Died Young, Stayed Pretty, a US premiere at SXSW 2009.

It would seem like an oversight to omit to mention the deaths of two entertainment icons, so we'll leave it to David Hudson's ever-thorough IFC Daily round-ups on Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett.

As mentioned last week Austin Film Society is today hosting a community forum to discuss recent events. Get there quick, it starts at 11am CST at AFS. More info here.

Eileen Yaghoobian's Died Young, Stayed Pretty receives its NYC premiere at IFC center, July 17-23, but she's also revealed the intriguingly named Bare-Knuckle Brawlers poster show ahead of a screening at MFA Boston from July 31-August 7.

DVD Talk reviews the DVD release of RiP: A Remix Manifesto, available from next Tuesday.

The Hollywood Reporter reveals that the screenwriting honors for the Lake Mungo remake go to one David Leslie Johnson. The original film receive its US Premiere at SXSW 2009.

Check out this interview with filmmaker Bruce McDonald. His film Pontypool received its US Premiere as part of SXSW Presents: Fantastic Fest @ Midnight at this year's festival.

Check out this awesome interview with Eileen Yaghoobian, director of Died Young, Stayed Pretty, a US Premiere at SXSW 2009.

All Today's Parties
If you're in Scotland (or able to transcend time and space), head to Edinburgh tonight for a "Secret Gig From A Major Scottish Band" in support of the UK premiere of All Tomorrow's Parties, which world premiered at SXSW 2009.

Austinites, meanwhile, should check out a special screening of SXSW 2009's RiP: A Remix Manifesto, featuring a Car Stereo (Wars) pre-show. Events kick off tonight at Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek, 7:30pm. Oh, and did we mention this is a FREE event? More info here and here.

Congratulations to SXSW alum David Russo, who's just been named to direct the untitled Blue Man Group movie (in Imax 3D, no less). Russo's latest, The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle screened at SXSW 2009.

Washington City Paper talks to Aron Gaudet, director of SXSW 2009 world premiere The Way We Get By.

British company Protagonist Pictures has just picked up international sales rights for All Tomorrow's Parties. The film was a world premiere at SXSW 2009, and receives its UK premiere tomorrow, Wednesday, June 24.

The IFC podcast features a conversation with The Hurt locker director Kathryn Bigelow. The film has also features in a new article at Movieline.
While you're at that site, check out last week's interview with Ondi Timoner, director of SXSW 2009 special screening We Live In Public.

Fresh from the success of his harrowing feature debut, Sin Nombre, Cary Fukunada has revealed that his next project will be a musical for Focus Features. Yes, a musical: The Playlist has the lowdown. Sin Nombre screened at SXSW 2009 as a Spotlight Premiere.

The Guardian offers thoughts on SXSW alumni Harry Knowles and Gerald Peary, and the age of "do-it-yourself film criticism". Peary's doc, For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism features Knowles and world premiered at SXSW 2009