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The
SXSW (South by Southwest) Festival is in March in Austin,
Texas. The festival has a threefold agenda with music being
the most focal point of the event. As the festival has grown,
the addition of a film festival and a cyber festival have
made the event a behemoth. All too often in mentioning SXSW
to people I hear negative comments.
I have a feeling the locals don't like it much either. A friend
of mine, who was a festival volunteer in a previous year,
says that he got a pass to go to any screening but was far
too busy working to see anything. He also said that if he
wore his badge outside his shirt, those waiting in line for
screenings would spit on him. It doesn't sound very pleasant
does it.
I have also heard that SXSW will be nothing like Park City
(Sundance/Slamdance/etc...) There is no hype machine working
overtime and there is not the overabundance of promotion and
flyer proliferation as in the Utah megafest. Austin is a pretty
laid-back city and I imagine the festival will be no exception
to this.
I am looking forward to SXSW but after the massive industry
onslaught of Park City and all the negative vibes I get from
those who have attended the fest in years past, I am cautious.
Like all film festivals, all one can do is walk in, and play
it by ear.
I assume that some of the venues will be the typical film
fest sites. Here is a brief glimpse at some:
The Alamo Drafthouse -
local one screen that is also a restaurant. Seats about 300
people or so. 4th and Colorado. There is not much "waiting"
space, so expect to line up outside or cramped into the tiny
foyer. Luckily, February weather in Austin is generally quite
mild and not too cold. The food at the Alamo and their fine
staff are it's biggest attraction. This will be great for
evening screenings as you can actually eat while you watch
the film. The food is, generally, pizza and burgers and the
drinks are of the beer and wine variety. Try the "Blue Hawaii"
(Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza) and the Hardcore Cider
(kinda like an apple Zima)
The Paramount - restored
art deco theater from the 40's. One screen. Probably seats
around 600-700 people. 7th and Congress. Again, the lobby
is tiny, so expect to wait outside at times. The theater is
beautiful and has a balcony so you (i.e. those of us who are
older) can recall your early movie going days by sitting in
the front row up there. The Paramount features typical movie
house snacks as well as mini bar that serves mixed drinks,
wine and beer.
The Dobie - owned by the
Landmark chain. 4 screens. Largest house is probably about
250 seats. 20th and Guadalupe in the Dobie Mall. Each "house"
has a different theme. The largest, the Egyptian, has off-kilter
seating and is really uncomfortable. This facility is, in
my opinion, rather poorly run and only is utilized by festivals
because of it's location and the fact that it is considered
an "art house." If you have a car, park in the Dobie mall
garage and get your parking ticket validated by the theater
cashier. The mall, during "normal" hours, has a food court
right by the theater, so you can grab a bite while you wait
in line (indoors) for the film.
Austin Convention Center
- All Panels and Trade Show events will be held here. I've
never been to this venue, so I don't know much about it. It
looks to be pretty big but not enormous, if that's any help.
Below are some of the press "clippings" from e-mails I have
received and websites I have visited about SXSW and it's related
goings-on...
SXSW Film Festival: March 10-18
The SXSW Film Festival presents the best new independent films
from the United States and the world. We'll announce our complete
list in February 2000. A few highlights of this year's festival
include: "High Fidelity" (starring John Cusack), "Grass,"
"George Wallace: Settin' the Woods on Fire" (Sundance award
winning, Texas made documentary), and "American Pimp."
Film Conference: March 10-14
The Film Conference features panels, workshops and one-on-one
meetings and is presented in five essential tracks: digital
filmmaking, production 101, hands-on workshops, documentary
filmmaking, and current issues confronting the film industry.
The Conference also features in-depth interviews with directors,
writers, and actors. Among this year's confirmed participants
are Janeane Garofalo, Allen and Albert Hughes, Robert Rodriguez,
Richard Linklater, Guillermo Del Toro, and Harry Knowles.
(Rodriguez, Linklater, Del Toro and Knowles all live in Austin
so this is no surprise for us locals. Del Toro is an awesome
speaker and I encourage you to see him speak whenever possible.)
Trade Show (Interactive Festival):
March 11-14
Visit the Film and Interactive Trade Show, a one-stop shopping
hall for film and video production, website design, and the
latest in digital technologies, software, and editing systems.
The online Trade Show section contains a list of exhibitors,
trade show floormap, rates and more.
Music and Media Conference: March
15-19.
Information
on screenings at the Alamo Draft House in Austin for SXSW:
SXSW FILM FESTIVAL
MAR 10-18
The Alamo Drafthouse and SXSW will present several film showcases
and premieres, including a special midnight world premiere
of Shafted, in which a white mental patient believes he's
70's blaxploitation hero "John Shat". Shat leads his foxy,
feisty female sidekicks and band of hired assassins (which
includes Gary Coleman) on a series of misadventures to fight
crime. Also at the Alamo, South by Southwest's four film tribute
to Monte Hellman (Two-Lane Blacktop, Cockfight) hosted by
the man himself.
SXSW
and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Present
Silent Film / Alternative Score
METROPOLIS
Live Music by ST37
SAT, MAR 18: MIDNIGHT
The print we will be screening on March 18 is an archive 35mm
restored, tinted Giorgio Moroder version of Metropolis. By
adding live musical accompaniment, we are avoiding the Moroder
horror (1984 soundtrack by Pat Benetar, Adam Ant and others)
and retaining the Moroder beauty (beautifully restored imagery
and a modern, swift pace). Moroder converted all of the title
cards to subtitles and the action keeps pace much better.
Advance tickets available for all SXSW badge and wristband
holders will be available at the Alamo starting Wednesday,
March 15. Remaining tickets will be available to the general
public starting March 17. Tickets are $10, passes are not
valid.
SXSW and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Present
Silent Film with Live Alternative Scores
THIEF OF BAGDAD
with live musical accompaniment
SUN, MAR 19 3:00
Local artist Kamran Hooshmand will lead the band through this
timeless classic with an original Arabian Nights score that
garnered a "Best of Austin" Award for 1999.
Advance tickets available for all SXSW badge and wristband
holders will be available at the Alamo starting Wednesday,
March 15. Remaining tickets will be available to the general
public starting March 17. Tickets are $15, passes are not
valid.
Information
on ZXZW, an alternative festival:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AD&D PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS: THE RETURN OF ZXZW
LOCAL INDIE FILM FESTIVAL BATTLES THE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST JUGGERNAUT
In a feat that parallels the match up of the sling-carrying
David against the mighty Goliath, the founders of The Zombie
by Zombwest (ZXZW) Undead Film Fest have announced their plans
to return for a second year of their festival to be held on
March 11, 2000 in Austin, Texas.
"Last year we really did things at the last minute," says
Fest Director Nathan McGinty. "This year we're a little better
organized - we're doing things at the last hour instead."
Despite the surprising torrential rains and uncharacteristic
bad weather
that drenched Austin last March, the 1999 ZXZW, held at the
now-defunct Club M, was judged to be a success by all. This,
despite the fact that the festival was the target of various
threats of litigation and legal harassment by the SXSW (South
by Southwest), INC. behemoth.
"It was absurd," McGinty explains. "Any number of other clubs
in town hold their own South By [Fill-in-the-Blank] spin-offs
this time of year, yet, because our festival rocks, they pick
on us. Fortunately, after consulting with our legal team,
we decided to call them on their bluff. And ultimately we
won." Details about the attempted lawsuit can be found at
http://www.flojo.com/undeadfest/sue.html
Because of the intense scrutiny from SXSW, Inc., this year
ZXZW Festival
organizers have decided to keep the club's location secret
until the last minute - admitting only that the festival will
be held on March 10, 2000 somewhere in Austin.
Another difference in this years festival is the addition
of numerous sponsors, including the web 'zine "Ain't It Harry
News" (http://www.flojo.com/aint-it-harry.html)
and the newly redesigned
Austin magazine Apathy, Drugs and Driving.
Once again, the focus at this year's fest will be on films
with a rock n'roll/horror angle. The entry fee is set at $15,
and all entries are limited to 25 minutes in length and must
contain either a member of the undead or some other form of
monster, with special consideration being given to those films
displaying unspecified 'rock' value - although all entries
are welcome.
Previous year's screenings included U.S. Super 8mm Grand Prize
winner, "The Collegians are Go!!", "Rock n'Roll Frankenstein",
and a special Director's Cut screening of "The Fish That Saved
Pittsburgh".
AD&D Productions
5313 Peacedale Lane
Austin, TX 78723
512-929-0605
http://www.flojo.com/undeadfest
"Loaves
and Fishes" accepted into SXSW. This dramatic short film was
produced by an almost entirely female crew!
Directed by RW member and UT professor, Nancy Schiesari, written
Amparo Garcia, with Sarah Carlson as editor, plus Melanie
Galus was production manager, and Mirelle Forengo (AC) and
Monica Hoenig (Focus puller). Debbie Haber (another RW) was
Production Coordinator and Kristen Lea was script supervisor.
Carmen Valera (another RW) was photographer and wardrobe was
Sara Medina-Page Jackie Lawton and Angela Mirabella. With
gratitude for the support of Liz Lambert who lent them her
motel, The San Jose.
That's
it: More news coming soon!
lodger2000
DAY ONE
DAY TWO
PREVIEW PAGE
DAY THREE
DAY FOUR
DAY FIVE
DAY SIX
FILMS
DAY 7
DAY EIGHT
DAY 9
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