Save the Date:
SXSW FILM
March 13-21, 2009

Relive your SXSW Experience...

We’ve recorded more than 100 panels, keynotes and interviews, performances and more. Watch or listen to things you missed or want to see again.

2008 Film Coverage

Starting in 2004 with the sleeper hit, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, a different kind of studio comedy was born. Not only were the two leads refreshingly diverse but they were able to comment on social/racial issues while injecting laughs aplenty about stoners and road trips. It all goes up a notch with the highly-anticipated sequel, screening at this year's SXSW.

Race, Politics, and Drugs: a Harold and Kumar Panel, Part One

Race, Politics, and Drugs: a Harold and Kumar Panel, Part Two

SXSW Launches - The Greenlight Awards

The search to discover the Best Original Digital TV Series is in motion. SXSW along with ON Networks (www.onnetworks.com) is recognizing this new category by introducing The Greenlight AwardsTM. The Greenlight Awards will honor the Best Original Digital Production and the Best Original Series Idea with prizes of up to $10,000. Finalists will be reviewed by a panel of prominent industry and new media judges including actor Luke Wilson, indie writer/director Richard Linklater, HD pioneer Randall Dark, TV Week’s Daisy Whitney and founder of Smashface Productions Zadi Diaz. Winning content will be celebrated at an exclusive event held during SXSW. Submissions are free and must be received by February 15, 2008. Go to www.thegreenlightawards.com for more information.

FOUR DAY FILM SCHOOL @ SXSW

Whether you went to film school or not, SXSW has created a four-day explosion of information that should be essential and valuable to various members of the filmmaking scene. It’s called "Four-Day Film School," and it will occur as part of the annual SXSW Film Conference panel programs. On each of the four days of the SXSW Film Conference, badgeholders are invited to attend workshop sessions geared towards the specific details of getting a film from pre-production to post-production, and beyond. It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-time filmmaker or veteran, there are sessions included for every case. These are some of the topics that serve as the backbone for any film production, short or feature. Speakers to be announced in coming months, but here is the tentative schedule of the "Four-Day Film School" includes:

SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2008
What Has the Writers Strike Taught Us? Mini-Meeting
Producing Mentor Session
Do I Really Want to Make My Movie? Mini-Meeting
Distributor Mentor Session
"Directing Actors" Mini-Meeting
Casting Director Mentor Session

SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 2008
So You Want to Be an Entertainment Attorney Mini-Meetings
"Legal Issues Facing Filmmakers" Mini-Meeting
Festival Programmer Mentor Session
Epic Music for your Film on a Not So Epic Budget Mini-Meetings
Sales Agents Mentor Session

MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2008
"Editing for Docs and Narratives" Mini-Meeting
Press Mentor Session
"Publicity 101" Mini-Meeting
Sound in Film Mini-Meeting
Distributors Mentor Session

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2008
"The Morning After" Mini-Meeting
Texas Filmmaker Production Fund Mini-Meeting
Publicity Mentor Session

SXSW Film Festival Blog

SXSW Announces 5th SXSWclick Festival

The SXSW Film Conference & Festival is pleased to announce the call for entries for its 5th annual SXSWclick Festival. SXSWclick is a summertime, digital shorts event hosted at: http://sxswclick.com. Winners in each of the five categories will automatically be invited to screen at the next SXSW Film Festival, scheduled for March 13-21, 2009 in Austin, TX.

The call for entries has started, and the final submission deadline is June 13, 2008. Submissions can be entered here: http://sxswclick.com/enter/ and projects cannot exceed 10 minutes in length. Fifteen finalists will be announced in five categories on June 24, with the winners announced on July 15. There will be audience votes and jury prizes. Some of the jurors already confirmed, include: actor Jeffrey Tambor, comedians Eugene Mirman and Doug Benson, filmmakers Ron Mann, Anish Savjani, Mary Sweeney, and many more. Companies that have already donated prizes for the winners, include: Productiontrax.com, Gear Software, Mariner Software, Eye Scream Factory, and Movie Outline Software.

Posted 05/05/08 in Latest News +

The News Reel - Monday, April 28, 2008

SXSWclick Call for Entries!
Send in your 2008 submissions now for a chance to win prizes and a slot at the 2009 SXSW Film Festival.

The Return of Harmony
Acclaimed filmmaker returns from hiatus with new ‘Mister Lonely.’

DISH Testing Mobile TV
Company testing new equipment to enable TV to mobile.

Roadshow Rolls to Spain
Austin’s Alamo Drafthouse to take the Rolling Roadshow on Leone tour in Spain.

Jamie Lee Curtis on Miley Cyrus
Actress on the current Vanity Fair scandal over Disney entertainer.

Judge and Bateman ‘Extract’
‘Office Space’ creator announces upcoming comedy feature.

Posted 04/28/08 in The News Reel +

The News Reel - Wednesday, April 23, 2008

61st Cannes Announces Competition
Dardennes, Egoyan, Eastwood, and Wenders Among Filmmakers.

TBS Streaming ‘Seinfeld’
TBS showcasing full episodes of legendary sitcom online.

SXSWclick Call for Entries!
Send in your 2008 submissions, starting next week.

Hill and Brand Back with Apatow and Stoller
It’s a ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ reunion, with this next comedy offering.

Miller’s ‘Spirit’
Frank Miller answers some questions about his upcoming Will Eisner adaptation.

Posted 04/23/08 in The News Reel +

An Austin Benefit for Benh Zeitlin

Thanks to the generosity of the Alamo Drafthouse, SXSW is hosting two benefit screenings on April 29, for ailing filmmaker Benh Zeitlin. Why?

“Short filmmaker Benh Zietlin was in Austin, Texas March 9th, 2008 to World Premiere his film GLORY AT SEA. Unbelievably and unfortunately, Benh got in a serious car accident just hours before his screening. He shattered his hip (which has been replaced), broke his pelvis, and sprained both his ankles. While his film was showing to an enthusiastic crowd, Benh was in surgery. His medical bills have added up to about $80,000!”

The SXSW staff could not be more upset and impacted by what happened to Benh. So, we wanna help out by screening some of Benh’s shorts, and other acclaimed shorts by some of his friends, to raise cash for his medical bills. Click here for details on the screenings. Spread the word, and we hope to see you there!!

Posted 04/21/08 in Latest News +