2007 SXSW Film Press Releases
February 27, 2007
February 26, 2007
February 6, 2007
January 18, 2007
January 17, 2007
January 3, 2007
November 6, 2006
July 5, 2006
For Immediate Release For more information, contact Elizabeth Derczo 512/467-7979 ext. 209
‘Reign Over Me,’ Blunt, LeBeouf, Britton Added to SXSW 2007
Austin, TX – February 27, 2007 – The 2007 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference & Festival is happy to announce a few late-breaking additions to the lineup, as well as news on some of the actors and actresses scheduled to attend the festival.
On Wednesday, March 14, the festival will host a special screening of Mike Binder’s Reign Over Me, starring Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler. Some cast and crew are expected to attend. Pop superstar James Blunt will attend the March 10 world premiere of Steven Cantor’s documentary, James Blunt: Return to Kosovo, which chronicles Blunt’s trip to the battlefields where he served as a British soldier before finding success in music. Actor Shia LeBeouf and director D.J. Caruso are scheduled to attend a special screening of their film, Disturbia, on March 9. Co-star of NBC series Friday Night Lights, Connie Britton, is scheduled to attend a screening of her film with director Sarah Kelly, The Lather Effect, on Wednesday, March 14.
SXSW has also added a special panel entitled “A Conversation with Elizabeth Avellan,” to be held March 12 at the Austin Convention Center. Avellan, the acclaimed producer of such films as Sin City and Grindhouse, will share stories and insight from her successful career walking the line between Hollywood and indie film. Meanwhile, the “South By Bookstore” at the iF! Trade Show has scheduled book and DVD signings with the likes of John Sayles (Lone Star), and John Cameron Mitchell (Shortbus), for the afternoon of Tuesday, March 13.
The 2007 SXSW Film Festival begins on March 9 with the Opening Night Film, Scott Frank’s The Lookout, and closes on March 17 with the Closing Night Film, Chanwook Park’s I’m a Cyborg, but That’s OK. Updates and schedules can be found online at: http://www.sxsw.com/film.
SXSW Film is sponsored by IFC (Independent Film Channel), Miller Lite, Verizon Wireless, Yaris and The Austin Chronicle.
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For Immediate Release: For more information, contact Elizabeth Derczo 512/467-7979 ext. 209
Blunt, Hitchcock, Phillips Among Musicians Attending SXSW Film Festival
Austin, TX - February 26, 2007 - The 14th annual South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival has announced a slate of notable musicians attending various film festival screenings. They include singer/songwriters James Blunt and Robyn Hitchcock, as well as Mamas and the Papas singer Michelle Phillips, and Primus leader Les Claypool, among others.
Blunt will be in attendance for the March 10 world premiere of Steven Cantor's documentary, "James Blunt: Return to Kosovo," while Hitchcock will attend the March 16 world premiere of John Edginton's film "Robyn Hitchcock: Sex, Food, Death, and Insects." Les Claypool is scheduled to attend a March 16 screening of his directorial effort, a mockumentary entitled "Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo." Meanwhile, Michelle Phillips is scheduled to attend a special March 17 retrospective screening of D.A. Pennebaker's landmark concert film, "Monterey Pop."
"With the hugely influential SXSW Music Festival happening the same week as the Film Festival, we've always done our best to bridge these two industries and artforms," says SXSW Film Festival Producer Matt Dentler.
This year's SXSW Film Festival will include the annual "24 Beats Per Second" sidebar, which includes a myriad of new music documentaries. For SXSW 2007, the sidebar includes the aforementioned Blunt and Hitchcock docs, as well as: Shauna Garr"s "1 More Hit" (about drug-addled former Pharcyde producer J Swift), Elizabeth Massie and Matthew Buzzell's "Companeras" (about the first all-female mariachi band), Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher's "Dirty Country" (about the industry of "dirty" songwriting), Kerri O'Kane's "The Gits" (about the rise and fall of the Seattle rock band), Lauren Lazin's "The Last Day Of Left Eye" (about the final month in Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes' life), Stephen Kijak's "Scott Walker: 30 Century Man" (following the reclusive singer/songwriter), Michael Tully's "Silver Jew" (a document of the indie-rock band's first world tour), and Dean Budnick's "Wetlands Preserved: the Story of an Activist Rock Club" (about the environmentally-friendly rock venue). The full lineup of films can be found on the SXSW Web site: www.sxsw.com/film.
SXSW Film is sponsored by IFC (Independent Film Channel), Miller Lite, Verizon Wireless, Yaris and The Austin Chronicle.
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For Immediate Release For more information, contact Elizabeth Derczo 512/467-7979 ext. 209
SXSW Announces Complete Feature Lineup for 2007 Film Festival
Austin, TX – February 6, 2007 – The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival is thrilled to announce its complete lineup of features, for the 14th edition to be held in Austin, TX on March 9-17, 2007. The festival is scheduled to screen 110 feature films, in various sections and sidebars, over those nine days. Of those 110 features, there are 61 World Premieres, nine North American Premieres, and seven U.S. Premieres. The festival will open with the previously announced World Premiere of Scott Frank’s The Lookout, on March 9.
“This year, we received a record number of submissions and thankfully that also means the quality was higher than ever,” says SXSW Film Festival Producer Matt Dentler about the approximately 3100 submissions. “People will probably look for themes in the program, but no theme rings more true than just a great batch of films we’re eager to screen for our audiences. It’s going to be a fun ride.”
The newly announced additions to the “Spotlight Premieres” section of the festival include: Judd Apatow’s Knocked Up, Katy Chevigny’s Election Day, Jonathan Levine’s All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, Mike Mills’ Does Your Soul Have a Cold?, Michele Ohayon’s Steal a Pencil For Me, Doug Pray’s Big Rig, and David Wain’s The Ten. In both the Narrative and Documentary Feature Competitions, SXSW announced eight films each, including new work from acclaimed filmmakers. They include, in the Narrative Feature Competition: Jamie Babbitt (Itty Bitty Titty Committee), Ryan Eslinger (When a Man Falls in the Forest), Michael Lehmann (Flakes), and Adam Rapp (Blackbird). In the Documentary Feature Competition, audiences will see new work by acclaimed nonfiction filmmakers including: Macky Alston (Hard Road Home), Andrew Berends (When Adnan Comes Home), and Marlo Poras (Run Granny Run).
The full lineup of features can be accessed at http://2007.sxsw.com/film/festival/ or email press@sxsw.com
SXSW Film is sponsored by IFC (Independent Film Channel), Miller Lite, Verizon Wireless and The Austin Chronicle.
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For Immediate Release: For more information, contact Elizabeth Derczo 512/467-7979 ext. 209
SXSW GOES CARBON NEUTRAL
Austin, Texas - January 18, 2007 - South by Southwest Music, Film & Interactive Conferences (SXSW) in Austin, Texas has announced that it is partnering with Green Mountain Energy Company, an Austin-based renewable energy market leader, to offset 100% of carbon emissions arising from SXSW business activities. SXSW is now a Carbon Neutral company and intends to reduce carbon emissions where it can and purchase carbon offsets where it cannot.
SXSW has offset 100% of 250 metric tons of carbon emissions by purchasing 376MW of Texas wind energy carbon credits from Green Mountain Energy Company. In addition, the company has given a $5000 donation to the Austin Parks Department for the purchase and maintenance of native trees.
“Once we set the goal for SXSW to achieve carbon neutral status, our staff took a very active hand in gathering all the pertinent information about our activities which generate carbon emissions,” said Managing Director Roland Swenson. “An important lesson we learned was that any business can achieve this goal with some work and a willingness to invest in new activity. While the amount of carbon emissions generated by SXSW alone is relatively small, if every business took similar steps, it would make a profound difference to our planet’s future.”
“SXSW recognizes that environmental issues are now an important measuring stick that distinguish one event from another and one company from another,” noted Una Johnston, SXSW’s UK & Ireland Manager and now its Environmental Consultant. She used the standards, guidelines and tools contained in the World Resources Institute’s GHG Protocol to calculate the carbon emissions for the year September 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006. SXSW agreed that this 12-month period would be designated as the baseline year in order to use it as the benchmark against which future reductions in carbon emissions can be measured.
“This base line analysis was much easier to do than I had anticipated,” said Operating Director Eve McArthur. “We had great cooperation in data collection from the City of Austin, the Convention Center and Austin Energy. SXSW wants to take responsibility for its own carbon emissions first and to work for positive change on the environment among all of our stakeholders. The increased awareness has already resulted in our staff making steps to reduce their own emissions.”
Johnston calculated that SXSW carbon emissions arise from gas and electricity usage in its offices (18%), from electricity usage in the Austin Convention Center and all the showcase, movie and party venues that it contracts with during SXSW each year (55%), and also from business travel (27%).
“It’s important to say that SXSW is not simply offsetting its carbon emissions,” explained Johnston, “we are preparing an emission reduction strategy for the next four years as part of an environmental policy initiative. Roland and Eve have already taken steps to reduce our footprint by replacing the inefficient heating and cooling system in the office and adding insulation to the building. When SXSW takes place in March, the Festival will be working with Ecology Action of Austin to recycle all waste from our outdoor parties and events and will use biodiesel in generators and production trucks."
"Climate change is a global challenge with serious consequences for our social and economic infrastructure as well as the natural environment. However we all realize that long-term solutions require emission reduction efforts by the entire economy,” continued Johnston.
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Additional information
South by Southwest, Austin Texas March 9-18, 2007
o SXSW Music & Media Conference (March 14-18 2007) showcases hundreds of musical acts from around the globe on sixty stages in downtown Austin. By day, 10,800 delegates do business in the SXSW Trade Show in the Austin Convention Center.
o At SXSW Film Conference and Festival (March 9-17 2007) new filmmakers and veteran audiences come together with veteran filmmakers and new audiences for a one of a kind festival and conference attended by 4,900 delegates.
o An incubator of new, cutting edge technology, the SXSW Interactive Festival (March 9-13 2007) is ground zero for 5,000 of the world’s most creative web developers, designers, bloggers, wireless innovators and new media entrepreneurs.
o SXSW is the largest annual conference held in the City of Austin. The economic impact in Austin from SXSW in 2006 is estimated at $38 million.
USA Emissions
o In 2002, the USA & Canada together represented the world’s largest economic unit, but also the most energy and carbon intensive on a per capita basis. This means that the US faces a dual challenge as significant reductions in both energy intensity and carbon intensity will be required in a carbon-constrained future.
o The total carbon dioxide emissions per head for the USA in 2002 was 19.7 tons. This compares with 8.9 tons per head for the UK, and 8.4 for the EU-15. The world’s CO2 emissions per head in 2002 were 3.9 tons. (International Energy Agency)
o There is an estimated 380 pm of CO2 in the atmosphere compared with 280ppm a hundred years ago. This level is currently increasing at the rate of 20pmm every decade, which means that if these trends continue, by 2025 the ppm of CO2 will pass the 400ppm threshold above which many scientists believe that climate change is irreversible.
Impacts of Climate Change
o Negative economic impacts – the global insurance industry has lost billions in recent years as a result of extreme weather.
o Depletion of Natural Resources – for some ecosystems like coral reefs, the combined effects of climate change and other stresses are likely to bring wide scale irreversible impacts.
o Flooding – A rise in sea level from climate change will threaten buildings, roads and other infrastructure in vulnerable places (e.g. in Florida and Alaska).
o Disease – Climate change could increase the prevalence of some infectious diseases if warmer weather allows these insects to travel further north.
o Water Shortages – Climate change will cause further water shortages in regions where summer water supplies are dependent on winter snowfall.
o Habitat Destruction – Some major mammals (whales, polar bears) may be seriously threatened by reductions of sea ice from warming over next century.
o Glacial Melting – Experts predict that under current rates of warming, all the glaciers in Montana’s Glacier National Park will melt by 2030.
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For Immediate Release: For more information, contact Elizabeth Derczo 512/467-7979 ext. 209; For Dimension Films publicity, contact: Julie Cloutier, 646-862-3825, julie.cloutier@weinsteinco.com
SXSW and Robert Rodriguez Want ‘Grindhouse Trailers’ for 2007
SXSW and Robert Rodriguez Want ‘Grindhouse Trailers’ for 2007 Austin, TX - January 17, 2007 - The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival is putting out a call to filmmakers who would like to submit their best "grindhouse trailer," in honor of the April release from Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, 'Grindhouse.' A sample of the best submissions will be judged by Rodriguez himself, and presented during SXSW, on March 11, 2007.
Filmmakers have a deadline of February 12 to submit their “grindhouse trailer” (no longer than two minutes in length) to SXSW. The trailer should be made for a fictional feature-film, just like those being made by celebrity directors Eli Roth and Rob Zombie for 'Grindhouse.' From those submissions, Rodriguez will determine the best of the bunch, and it will screen during a special presentation entitled “Robert Rodriguez’s Grindhouse 101” on Sunday, March 11. During the presentation, Rodriguez will share stories and footage from the making of the upcoming Dimension Films release.
“We really want filmmakers to come up with something fun, scary, freaky, and out-of-this-world for the competition,” says SXSW Festival Producer Matt Dentler. “This competition, like 'Grindhouse' itself, is in the true spirit of innovative and fast-paced filmmaking.”
Submissions must arrive no later than February 12, to: “SXSW Grindhouse Trailers,” P.O. Box 4999, Austin, TX 78765. There is no application fee, but the trailers must be under two minutes in length, and made within the last 12 months. Films that have already been submitted to SXSW for 2007 consideration, are not eligible. The 2007 SXSW Film Festival occurs March 9-17 throughout downtown Austin, TX. 'Grindhouse' will open nationwide on April 6, 2007.
SXSW Film is sponsored by IFC (Independent Film Channel), Miller Lite, Verizon Wireless and The Austin Chronicle.
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For Immediate Release: For more information, contact Elizabeth Derczo 512/467-7979 ext. 209
SXSW 2007 To Open with ‘The Lookout,’ Other Premieres Announced
Austin, TX – January 3, 2007 - The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference & Festival is happy to announce its Opening Night Film for the 2007 festival, occurring March 9-17 in Austin, TX. On March 9, SXSW will host the World Premiere of The Lookout, written and directed by Oscar-nominated (Out Of Sight) screenwriter Scott Frank. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Isla Fisher, Matthew Goode, and Jeff Daniels, the new film is a crime thriller with a twist. Gordon-Levitt stars as a small-town athlete who becomes the unlikely and unpredictable addition to a bank heist after he suffers a haunting physical debilitation. The Lookout will have its World Premiere at the Paramount Theater in downtown Austin on Friday, March 9, 2007. Miramax is scheduled to release the film nationally, on March 23.
“We’ve been big fans of Scott Frank’s screenwriting for years, so it’s a true pleasure to launch his impressive and gripping debut as a director,” says SXSW Film Festival Producer Matt Dentler “The Lookout is the kind of film that packs a punch and should get audiences excited for the films that will be unveiled at this year’s festival.”
The festival will announce its full selection of feature films on February 6, 2007 and the full selection of short films on February 13, 2007. In the meantime, SXSW is thrilled to share a sample of some selections that will be presented at this year’s film festival. They include:
638 WAYS TO KILL CASTRO Dir: Dollan Cannell. This documentary examines the incredible and controversial story of 638 alleged plots to kill Cuban leader Fidel Castro. From CIA agents to Cuban exiles, exploding cigars to femme fatales, the film also provides a startling glimpse into the evolution of Cuban politics. (North American Premiere)
BLACK SHEEP Written and directed by Jonathan King. Starring: Nathan Meister, Danielle Mason, Tammy Davis. Peter Jackson’s Weta Workshop injects dazzling effects in this New Zealand black comedy about a herd of mutant sheep on the rampage in a quest for human blood. (US Premiere)
HANNAH TAKES THE STAIRS Directed by Joe Swanberg. Written by Swanberg, Greta Gerwig, and Kent Osborne. Starring: Greta Gerwig, Kent Osborne, Andrew Bujalski, Mark Duplass, Ry Russo-Young, Todd Rohal. Acclaimed filmmaker Swanberg returns to SXSW with his most accomplished feature yet. A group of Chicago writers are e mbedded in a tempestuous love triangle when Hannah inadvertently steals the hearts and minds of two close friends. (World Premiere)
THE LAST DAYS OF LEFT EYE Directed by Lauren Lazin Oscar-nominated filmmaker Lazin delivers her latest documentary story with the sad tale of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, from platinum-selling pop act TLC. Weaving video-diary footage of Lopes’ last days before dying in an automobile accident, with the story of her personal and professional roller-coaster ride, this new film is both a memorable music doc and a personal account of the fragilities in fame. (North American Premiere)
MANUFACTURING DISSENT Dir: Debbie Melnyk & Rick Caine. Featuring: Noam Chomsky, Janeane Garofalo, Ben Hamper, Christopher Hitchens, Harlan Jacobson, Dave Marsh, Albert Maysles, Michael Moore, Errol Morris, Ralph Nader, John Pierson, Roger Smith. A documentary that seeks to separate fact, fiction and legend tracks Michael Moore on tour during the release of the explosive Fahrenheit 9/11, all the while chronicling the politically supercharged climate in America that has fueled Moore’s transition from mere filmmaker to icon of the political left. (World Premiere)
SUFFERING MAN’S CHARITY Directed by Alan Cumming. Written by Thomas Gallagher. Starring: Alan Cumming, David Boreanaz, Henry Thomas, Anne Heche. Alan Cumming’s latest directorial effort features a stellar cast in this darkly funny portrayal of unrequited love and unfulfilled artistic ambition. (World Premiere)
WHAT WOULD JESUS BUY? Directed by Rob Vanalkemade. From producer Morgan Spurlock comes this entertaining and enlightening documentary look at the commercialization of the Christmas season. The famous Reverend Billy and his Church of Stop Shopping serve as the anchor for a disturbing and humorous portrayal of the way Christmas has evolved over centuries in America.(World Premiere)
The 2007 South by Southwest Film Conference & Festival will occur March 9-17, throughout Austin, TX. For more information, and updates, visit: www.sxsw.com/film.
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For Immediate Release: For more information, contact Elizabeth Derczo 512/467-7979 ext. 209
SXSW Film Adds Lonelygirl15 Creators, Linklater, and More to 2007 Panels
Austin, TX - November 6, 2006 - The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference & Festival is happy to announce additional panels and guest speakers for the 2007 edition of the event, March 9-17, in Austin, TX. Among the highlights announced, is the first public festival appearance from the three creators of the popular 'Lonelygirl15' online short video phenomenon. Created by three Los Angeles-based artists, 'Lonelygirl15' was an instant success around the world, and recently made waves in the media when it was revealed to be a work of fiction. The three creators - Miles Beckett, Mesh Flinders, and Greg Goodfried - will attend SXSW for a 'Lonelygirl15 Case Study' on March 11, 2007.
" 'Lonelygirl15' already has, and will continue to change the way we look at online video and filmmaking. The 'Lonelygirl15' creators are an exciting example of old-fashioned filmmaking ingenuity combined with new media technology,” says SXSW Festival Producer Matt Dentler. “We’re just as eager as our attendees to hear the story of how they did what they did and what it has produced for their filmmaking futures.”
The 'Lonelygirl15 Case Study' will be one of many new media sessions at SXSW 2007. Others include: 'The Pros and Cons of Mobile Video,' 'New Media Goes to the Movies,' 'Building an Online Fan Base,' and much more. These sessions will be joint panels with the SXSW Interactive Conference.
In addition, SXSW has announced 'A Conversation with Richard Linklater,' in which the Oscar-nominated filmmaker will discuss his past, present, and future as one of the world's leading independent writer/directors. Linklater has two films in theaters this year, the acclaimed 'A Scanner Darkly' and the upcoming release 'Fast Food Nation.' He will be interviewed by John Pierson of Grainy Pictures, who helped shepherd Linklater’s first feature, 'Slacker,' to international acclaim.
Other SXSW Film Panel updates include:
- Karina Longworth (Netscape) will moderate Eamonn Bowles (Magnolia Pictures), Jim Miller (Brave New Foundation) and Chris Hyams (Bside Entertainment) for a session called 'Which Niche is Which?: Finding the Target Audience,' scheduled for March 10, 2007.
- Harry Knowles of 'Ain’t It Cool News,' will moderate a session entitled 'Panel of the Dead: Horror Films of Today,' in which horror filmmakers and members of the industry will chat about current and upcoming trends in the ever-successful genre. This panel will take place on March 11, 2007.
SXSW 2007 Film Panels occur in the Austin Convention Center from March 10 to March 13, and are open to all SXSW Film, Gold, and Platinum registrants. To register for a badge or for more information, attendees should access the festival's official Web site, www.sxsw.com.
SXSW Film is sponsored by Miller Lite, the Austin Chronicle, and Verizon Wireless.
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For Immediate Release: For more information, contact Elizabeth Derczo 512/467-7979 ext. 209
SXSWclick Festival Announces Finalists, Opens Audience Voting
Austin, TX – July 5, 2006 – The South by Southwest (SXSW) Conferences and Festivals is happy to announce the finalists for the 2006 SXSWclick online media festival. Culled from hundreds of entries, the 15 finalists are divided into five different categories. Online users are invited to view the finalists and submit their votes for the 'Popularity Contest' portion of SXSWclick. A panel of jurors will also select their picks for the 'Jury Contest.' Finalists can now be viewed and voted on, via www.sxswclick.com.
"Interestingly, there's a theme of deconstructing the filmmaking process in many of the finalists audiences will see,” says SXSW Film Festival Producer Matt Dentler, adding, "We’re really happy with the finalists and the fest. This is really a great chance to watch exciting new short filmmaking on your computer or mobile device."
The winners of both the 'Popularity Contest' and the 'Jury Contest' will be announced on July 28, 2006. Both winners will receive various prize packages, as well as be automatically accepted into the next SXSW Film Festival, March 9-17, 2007, in Austin, TX. The finalists in each category are:
OLD SCHOOL SHORTS
'Embedded' by Greg O’Bryant, 'Following Abraham' by Jacob Waxler, 'Playing Chicken: The Movie' by Bradley Jackson
REALLY REAL SHORTS
'Art/Work” by Avram Dodson, 'Cherchez La Femme' by Anna Cherkashina, 'Some Analog Lines' by David Lowery
ANIMATE-IT
'Animation vs. Animator' by Alan Becker, 'Time Birthed Spilled Blood' by James Sumner, 'Two Guys and A Battle-ax' by David Marchesani
SOUND CHECKS
'Clinically Dead' by Chad Van Gaalen, 'Foothills' by Robert Becraft, 'Resurrection' by Tiller Russell
WHAT THE F*#!?
'Moving Picture Makers' by Andy Fisher, 'Radiation in Moderation' by Sarah Lipstate, 'Snail' by Sharad Patel
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