South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival - For the Working Filmmaker, Industry Pro and Film Fan Alike
“... The SXSW Film Festival solidified itself in the top tier of U.S. film events ... SXSW’s not-so-secret trump card may be its overlapping music and tech-centric Interactive events. The throngs of people who attend all three big events ... have developed a creative dynamic that is rarely matched. And clearly so-called Indiewood and beyond have embraced the festival.”
- Deadline, March 9, 2012
Film and Austin In March of 1987, the SXSW Music Conference and Festival kicked off its first year in downtown Austin. While SXSW Film was officially launched in 1994 (as the then titled SXSW Film and Multimedia Conference), the spirit behind it was born much earlier than that, as the prolific and passionate Austin film community built a solid momentum on which SXSW Film was founded and continues to flourish. Since its inception, SXSW has maintained a steady agenda - to provide a forum for new voices in filmmaking, a community where filmmakers can celebrate and support one another and a source of discovery for the future landscape of film. Establishing itself as the destination for game-changing buzz that every filmmaker dreams of, SXSW has hit its stride with a distinct identity that sets it apart from other film festivals.
"...Like one of those hipsters who dresses ahead of the curve, SXSW has become the place to watch what independent cinema will be doing two years down the road ... A film fest wrapped in an interactive fest wrapped in a music fest, SXSW is like the hearty three-meat Turducken of the festival world. Biting into it, you'd be impressed if SXSW could do any one of those things well, but the nice surprise is that all three have become leading events in their respective spheres.”
- Variety, March 8, February 18, & March 18, 2012
The Film Conference & Festival The SXSW Film Conference portion of SXSW Film has been described as a five-day crash course on guerrilla filmmaking and marketing for every level of filmmaker from novice to veteran. Panels, workshops and interviews are peopled with knowledgeable experts and entertaining speakers offering unique access to the best and the brightest of the industry. Specialized sessions such as hands on workshops, mini-meetings and one-on-one meetings in the Mentor Program distinguish the SXSW experience.
Simultaneously, the internationally acclaimed Film Festival program celebrates raw innovation and emerging talent, featuring provocative documentaries, comedies, genre standouts and more.
The prestigious Film Awards take place on the final night of the conference, and honor films selected by Special Jury and by audience ballot. Recent years have seen the introduction of the SXSW Film Design Awards, honoring Excellence in Poster and Title Design.
"With its mix of outsider indies and smartly chosen studio films, South by Southwest has carved out a unique space in the festival landscape, with a bigger presence than smaller regional fests yet still apart from the industry-driven markets at the film festivals in Cannes, Toronto or even Sundance. “
- Los Angeles Times, March 8, 2012
It Doesn't Stop There! In addition to presenting the best in new independent films, providing informative panels, workshops, and mentor sessions, SXSW provides an industry trade show exhibition; a unique, four-day exhibition connecting leaders in the Music, Film and Interactive industries with the companies and agencies needed to succeed in modern media.
“There's something inherently cool about Austin's annual South by Southwest film festival. For starters, it has a fun acronym and a decidedly casual vibe, but what sets SXSW apart from the other big film fests is that it caters to actual film fans. And there's something for everyone, from a few mainstream studio-made crowd-pleasers to the genre-tastic Midnighters series to eclectic documentaries and shorts.”
- MTV, March 9, 2012
