SXSW 2013: THE SPECTACULAR NOW, THE EAST Among Added Films

The final film lineup announcement for SXSW just hit and 14 additional features have been added to the fest. The most notable additions are Zal Batmanglij's Sound of My Voice follow-up and closing night film, The East (our Sundance review) and Sundance fave The Spectacular Now by James Ponsoldt (our Sundance review).

The fest has also released the details of the film conference panels which include conversations with Danny Boyle, Joss Whedon, and Harmony Korine. Full details follow in the press release below.

ADDITIONAL FILMS

 

HEADLINERS

 

The East

Director: Zal Batmanglij, Screenwriters: Zal Batmanglij, Brit Marling

An operative for a private intelligence firm goes undercover to infiltrate a mysterious anarchist collective attacking major corporations.  Bent on apprehending these fugitives, her loyalty is tested as her feelings grow for their charismatic leader. Cast: Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgård, Ellen Page, Toby Kebbell, Shiloh Fernandez, Julia Ormond, Patricia Clarkson

 

 

DOCUMENTARY SPOTLIGHT

 

Fall and Winter

Director: Matt Anderson

FALL AND WINTER is a voyage into the heart of our global crisis. Epic and stunningly photographed, the film draws on past wisdom and uncovers new, ingenious strategies for the future. It is a psycho-spiritual survival guide for the 21st century. (World Premiere)

 

Xmas Without China

Director: Alicia Dwyer

A documentary comedy about serious issues we have with our stuff, Xmas Without China follows Chinese immigrant Tom Xia as he challenges his American neighbors to survive the Christmas season without any Chinese products. (World Premiere)

 

 

24 BEATS PER SECOND

 

Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker

Director: Lily Keber

"Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker" explores the life, times and music of James Booker, the legendary New Orleans performer who Dr. John proclaimed "the best black, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced." (World Premiere)

 

GIMME THE POWER

Director: Olallo Rubio

A rockumentary about the Mexican band Molotov and the political, social and financial context where the band was born and developed.

 

The Great Hip Hop Hoax (UK)

Director: Jeanie Finlay

Californian hip-hop duo Silibil n' Brains were going to be massive. No one knew the pair were really Scottish, with fake American accents and made up identities. A film about truth, lies and the legacy of faking everything in the pursuit of fame. (World Premiere)

 

In Your Dreams - Stevie Nicks

Directors: Stevie Nicks, Dave Stewart

In 2010 Stevie Nicks embarked on the recording of a new solo album, In Your Dreams, produced by former Eurythmics mastermind Dave Stewart. With cameras in tow, the two set up shop in her home studio to reveal their collaborative creative process.

 

Muscle Shoals

Director: Greg 'Freddy' Camalier

Located alongside the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals became the unlikely breeding ground for some of America's most creative and defiant music inspiring and luring artists as diverse as Keith Richards and Alicia Keys.

 

Pete and Toshi got a Camera

Director: William Eigen

In 1963, blacklisted by the McCarthy hearings and under surveillance by the FBI, Pete Seeger buys a movie camera and takes his family on an adventure of a lifetime, filming gifted musicians in exotic locations around the world. (World Premiere)

 

 

FESTIVAL FAVORITES

 

At Any Price

Director: Ramin Bahrani, Screenwriters: Hallie Elizabeth Newton, Ramin Bahrani

In the competitive world of modern agriculture, ambitious HENRY WHIPPLE (Dennis Quaid) wants his rebellious son DEAN (Zac Efron) to help expand his family's farming empire. However, Dean has his sights set on becoming a professional race car driver. When a high-stakes investigation into their business is exposed, father and son are pushed into an unexpected crisis that threatens the family's entire livelihood. Cast: Dennis Quaid, Zac Efron, Kim Dickens, Heather Graham, Clancy Brown, Chelchie Ross, Maika Monroe, Red West, Ben Marten, Dan Waller

 

The Crash Reel

Director: Lucy Walker

The dramatic story of one unforgettable athlete, Kevin Pearce; one eye-popping sport, snowboarding; and one explosive issue, Traumatic Brain Injury. A comeback story with a difference.

 

Linsanity

Director: Evan Jackson Leong

Jeremy Lin came from a humble background to make an unbelievable run in the NBA. State high school champion, all-Ivy League at Harvard, undrafted by the NBA and unwanted there: his story started long before he landed on Broadway.

 

Pussy Riot - A Punk Prayer (UK)

Directors: Mike Lerner, Maxim Pozdorovkin

Three young women face seven years in a Russian prison for a satirical performance in a Moscow cathedral. But who is really on trial in a case that has gripped the nation and the world beyond, three young artists or the society they live in?

 

The Spectacular Now

Director: James Ponsoldt, Screenwriters: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber

A high school romance between an alcoholic, party boy and a more reserved, shy, girl. Cast: Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Brie Larson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kyle Chandler

 

 

SPECIAL EVENTS

 

Asleep at the Wheel Then and Now (Short)

Director: Dan Karlok

Ray Benson's whirlwind romp through the four-decade history of the post-modern kings of western swing.

 

Mabon "Teenie" Hodges - A Portrait of a Memphis Soul Original (Short)

Director: Susanna Vapnek

You may know such famous songs as "Take Me To The River" and "Love and Happiness", but you probably do not know Mabon "Teenie" Hodges - the legendary Memphis guitarist who co-wrote these songs with Al Green. (World Premiere)

 

A Year in the Life of Wayne's Phone

Director: Wayne Coyne

Compiled from over 28 hours of personal videos shot by The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne on his iPhone, A Year in the Life of Wayne's Phone, is the world's first vertical iPhone movie. (World Premiere)

Featured Sessions announced for the 2013 SXSW Film Conference include:

 

·         A Conversation with Danny Boyle

Join Danny Boyle in a thought-provoking discussion about his groundbreaking work in film production and how he brings his unique vision to audiences around the world. As part of the conversation, Boyle will present footage from his upcoming release Trance.

(Saturday March 9 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM -- Vimeo Theatre, Austin Convention Center)

 

·         A Conversation with Rob Zombie

An auteur filmmaker with unlimited vision, join Rob Zombie in Conversation about how he has established a unique voice that has gained him unparalleled recognition across the mediums of film, music and publishing.

(Tuesday March 12 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM -- Room 16AB, Austin Convention Center)

 

·         Break it Down: Harmony Korine & His Spring Breakers

From visionary director Harmony Korine, comes a bold new vision of the seasonal American ritual known as spring break. Korine, joined by his cast, will discuss what it was to film amidst real-life revelers and create one of the most unique cinematic experiences in years.

(Monday March 11 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM -- Vimeo Theatre, Austin Convention Center)

 

·         Much Ado About Much Ado

Directly following the SXSW U.S. Premiere of Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing in the Vimeo Theatre, join cast members Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion, Clark Gregg, and the director himself as they discuss the unconventional process of shooting the film in 12(!) days and the challenges and excitement of bringing Shakespeare to the screen for a modern audience.

(Saturday March 9 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM -- Vimeo Theatre, Austin Convention Center)

 

·         JASH: A Comedy Platform with Full Creative Autonomy (Convergence Session)

Sarah Silverman, Tim & Eric, Michael Cera, and Reggie Watts discuss working with the YouTube platform and the artistic freedom that comes with this new frontier.

(Sunday March 10 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM -- Dell Hall, Long Center)

 

·         State Of Creative Independence

Kickstarter Co-Founder and Head of Community Yancey Strickler leads a conversation on the state of creativity: what brought us here, and where will we go next.

(Monday March 11 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM -- Room 16AB, Austin Convention Center)

 

·         Vimeo Presents:  It's Such a Beautiful Day by Don Hertzfeldt +

SPECIAL VIMEO ANNOUNCEMENT

Vimeo is thrilled to present the newly remastered and expanded version of It's Such a Beautiful Day, which brings together the entire tragicomic story of a troubled man named Bill by Academy Award-nominated animator and self-distribution pioneer Don Hertzfeldt. Following the screening, join Don and the Vimeo Staff for a discussion of what it means to be both a filmmaker and your own distributor. Vimeo will also make a very special announcement, so make sure you stay until the end!

(Tuesday March 12 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM -- Vimeo Theatre, Austin Convention Center)

 

 

The panels released today join over 40 previously announced sessions for the 2013 SXSW Film Conference, including A Conversation with Matthew McConaughey, Downloaded: The Digital Revolution, Humanizing Heroes: Storytelling Beyond Sports, Bates Motel: Story to Screen with Carlton Cuse, SXSW Presents: The New York Times's Op-Docs and the return of Jeffrey Tambor's Acting Workshop among others. For full panel descriptions and participants, browse the schedule at schedule.sxsw.com.

FILM CONFERENCE LINEUP BY DAY:

(Moderators listed in parentheses)

 

Friday March 8

A Beginner's Guide to SXSW Film (Agnes Varnum, The Texas Tribune)

An Insider's Preview to the SXSW Film Festival (Dave Karger, Fandango)

 

Saturday March 9

After Effects: Festivals & Your Film's Future (Aaron Hillis, Video Free Brooklyn)

A Conversation with Danny Boyle

Business of Film: Int'l Distribution & Sales (Andy Whittaker, dogwoof)

Changing Rules for Women and Sex on TV (Alyssa Rosenberg, ThinkProgress)

Determining Where to Produce Your Film (Ginger Sledge, Zenzero)

Digital Marketing Law for Filmmakers (Anne Moebes, Law Office of Anne Moebes)

DIY: How Crowdsourcing Has Saved Independent Film (Dan Parnes, TUGG)

The Future of Film Distribution (Keith Calder, Snoot Entertainment)

Mentors: Funding / Financing

Mentors: Legal

Mentors: Publicity

Mentors: Sales and Acquisitions

Much Ado About Much Ado

New Grass Roots: Digital Age Movie Marketing (Krista Smith, Vanity Fair)

Not So Short Story: Short Form to Feature (Neil Miller, Film School Rejects)

Online Marketplaces: What Filmmakers Need To Know (Marc Schiller, BOND Strategy & Influence)

Reality Bites: Surviving the Film Biz in Your 20s (Sara Kiener, Film Presence)

Studio + Independent Producing (Lisa Muskat, Prince Avalanche)

*Plus Convergence, Come & Capture Film Factory and Digital Domain programming

 

Sunday March 10

A Conversation with Matthew McConaughey

Jeffrey Tambor's Acting Workshop

The Future of TV Coverage in the Post-Recap World (Dan Kois, Slate)

Mentors: Digital Media

Mentors: International

Mentors: Programming: Documentary

Mentors: Programming: Narrative

SXSW Presents: The New York Times's Op-Docs (Jason Spingarn-Koff, New York Times)

This Panel is Not Yet Rated

*Plus Startup Alley, Convergence, Come & Capture Film Factory and Digital Domain programming

 

Monday March 11

Animation Evolution: Bringing Story to Life

Bates Motel: Story to Screen with Carlton Cuse (Guy Slattery, A&E)

Break it Down: Harmony Korine & his Spring Breakers

Case Study: Vagina Puppets and Fair Use (Lucas Leyva, Borscht Corporation)

Color Story: Adding Character in Post (Parke Gregg, Stuck On On)

Dangerous Docs! When the Subject Bites Back (Patricia Aufderheide, Documentary)

Film Critic's vs. the World (Eric Kohn, Indiewire)

Filmmaking as User Experience Design (Jason Brush, Possible Worldwide)

Finding the Dough: Navigating the Digital Market (Richard Lorber, Kino Lorber Inc)

Humanizing Heroes: Storytelling Beyond Sports (Michael Hogan, The Huffington Post)

Monday March 11 (Cont'd)

The Life of a Trailer (Evelyn Brady, Golden Trailer Awards)

Mentors: Distribution: Documentary

Mentors: Distribution: Narrative

Mentors: Filmmakers: Documentary

Mentors: Filmmakers: Narrative

Spotlight: Lighting in Film

State Of Creative Independence (Yancey Strickler, Kickstarter)

Sustaining a Career in Indie Film (Megan Gilbride, The Bounceback)

Visual Conversation: Being at The Center of Social (Mark Borden, CBSinteractive)

*Plus Convergence, Come & Capture Film Factory and Digital Domain programming

 

Tuesday March 12

Acquisitions: Digital Age Evolution (Bret Berg, Cinefamily)

Actors: Create Your Brand & Corner Your Market! (Caroline O'Connor, Screen Actors Guild Foundation)

A Conversation with Rob Zombie

Democratization of Content, Check. So What's Next? (Bill Rosenblatt, Giantsteps Media Technology Strategies)

Mentors: Artist Development

Mentors: Press & Bloggers

Mentors: Producers / Production 1

Mentors: Producers / Production 2

Music as Financing for Independent Film

Outside In: Challenges of Transnational Filmmaking

Post-Production: Sound Off! (Chris Keyland, Keyland Sound)

The Power of Film (To Change the World) (Turk Pipkin, The Nobelity Project)

Representation Workshop

Songs In Your Head: Randall Poster Master Class (Randall Poster, Search Party Music)

Tour Your Film Like A Band: Micro & Self Distribution (Hadrian Belove, Cinefamily)

Using Archival & Found Footage in Film (Elizabeth Hansen, Texas Archive of the Moving Image)

Vimeo Presents:  It's Such a Beautiful Day by Don Hertzfeldt + SPECIAL VIMEO ANNOUNCEMENT

CLE Sessions:

Crowdfunding 2.0 - The Game Changer

Fair Use: Now More than Ever

*Plus Convergence, Come & Capture Film Factory and Digital Domain programming

 

 

CONVERGENCE SESSIONS (BY VENUE):

Open to all Film, Interactive, Gold and Platinum Badge holders.

 

The Long Center

Chuck Lorre: In Conversation with Neil Gaiman

Downloaded: The Digital Revolution

Forbes 30 Under 30: Meet Spotify's Daniel Ek

JASH: A Comedy Platform with Full Creative Autonomy

Kim Dotcom Speaks! A Skype Panel

Shaq Goes Social: The Big Interview

Style Goes Viral: The Future of Fashion

 

 

18ABCD

#catvidfest: Is This the End of Art?

Comedy Tech: How Funny Stuff Shapes Our Future

A Conversation with Nick Cave

Death of the Couch Potato: The Future of Social TV

Designing for the Ears

Fast Food & Fact-Checking: Lessons from PolitiFact

Fresh Prince + Downton Abbey: A Perfect Engagement

From Coral Reefs to the Light Field: Making Waves

How to Rank Better in Google & Bing

How Tech Companies Should Pitch Hollywood

How TV & the Internet Are Converging on TMZ

How Twitter Has Changed How We Watch TV

iCritics: Showrunners Friends or Worst Enemies?

Mythbusting: Engineering a Viral Video

A Robot in Your Pocket: AI Powered Applications

Shooting, Producing, Selling: Secrets of Web TV

The Sports Tightrope: Balancing Your Content

Transitioning Alternative Comedy to TV

Version Controlling the News. How We Can Archive.

 

 

MEET THE INSIDERS

An offshoot of our popular Mentors Program and new for 2013, Meet the Insiders is an opportunity to participate in vital discussions on the innovations and developments within the world of Film. Each hour-long session will feature two industry insiders: Moderators will start with a 10-minute Q&A, followed by 20 minutes of open discussion and questions with each. Connect with the film community, and gain insight and understanding of the industry from the insiders at the forefront of their respective fields.

 

Saturday, March 9

Meet the Insiders: Film Festivals

Meet the Insiders: Film Distribution

Meet the Insiders: Producers

Meet the Insiders: Filmmaker Resources

 

Monday, March 11

Meet the Insiders: Storytelling + Interactive

Meet the Insiders: Collaborative Platforms

Meet the Insiders: Casting for Film

Meet the Insiders: Screenwriting

 

Tuesday, March 12

Meet the Insiders: Filmmakers: Narrative

Meet the Insiders: Filmmakers: Documentary

Meet the Insiders: Film Marketing

Meet the Insiders: Film Financing

 

STARTUP ALLEY - Sunday March 10: 11:00AM - 6:00PM in the Austin Convention Center

Meet the entrepreneurs and investors shaping the future of the entertainment industry at SXSW Film's Startup Alley. This new programming track features a day of engaging Sessions, intimate Meet the Insiders discussions, demos with trailblazing entertainment startups in the Launchpad, a Fastball Speed Pitch event and a networking Reception with complimentary refreshments to round out the day.

 

Panels:

Starting Up: From Founding to Funding

Gain insights into founding and funding an entertainment startup from the CEO and cofounder of the indie film distributor and digital pioneer SnagFilms and its investors from NEA and Comcast Ventures.

 

Funding Your Entertainment Startup: Secrets of Top Investors

Learn tips to getting investment from top VCs and angels with a record of funding entertainment companies like Flingo, Movieclips, Fanhattan, Tivli and Maker Studios.

 

Next Gen Entertainment Entrepreneurs

Learn from the founders of VHX, Slated, Tugg and The Black List how their startups are disrupting traditional means of funding, creating, distributing, viewing and sharing content in the entertainment world.

 

Inside Track with Roku's Anthony Wood

Seven-time entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Roku, Anthony Wood, will share his experiences launching and helming a startup that has revolutionized the content viewing experience for millions of Americans.

 

Meet the Insiders:

Meet the Insiders: Startup Alley Edition, Venture Capitalists

Meet the Insiders: Startup Alley Edition, Filmmaker Entrepreneurs

Meet the Insiders: Startup Alley Edition, Entertainment Tech Marketing

 

Events:

Startup Alley: Fastball Speed Pitches

Hosted by Huffington Post Live's Jacob Soboroff, entertainment startups will have one-minute with the microphone to give their best elevator pitch to the tastemakers and investors at SXSW at this fast paced speed pitch event.

Sign up day-of from 12:30-3:00PM, in Startup Alley's Launchpad (13AB).

 

Startup Launchpad

Featuring exhibitor tables and demos from the most innovative startups in the business, the Launchpad is the place to discover the companies that will change the face of entertainment.

Room 13AB 12:30PM - 6:00PM.

 

Reception

The culmination of Film Startup Alley, top entertainment entrepreneurs and techies will mix and mingle with investors over drinks at this casual, uniquely SXSW un-networking event.

Room 13AB 4:00PM - 6:00PM.

COME & CAPTURE FILM FACTORY

The Come & Capture Film Factory allows participants to explore and interact with the newest tools for capturing and creating content. Located at the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel, Saturday, March 10 - Tuesday, March 12, each day will feature panel discussions and workshops and round out with the opportunity for registrants to tinker with a pavilion of products.

 

Panels:

Easy as 1, 2, 3: Point, Shoot and Share

With the increase in smartphone movie making and sharing content, this panel will discuss the best ways to use your smartphone and share your content as an amateur or professional filmmaker.

 

The Social Video Race

Social video will pave the way for how a new generation of smart, phone toting-youth will view and share the world. Which service in the space has the best formula for success? Find out at SXSW Film's Panel "Who Will Win the Social Video Race?"

 

Changing Lives Through Collaborative Video Storytelling

Video is a powerful way to tell and share stories. Organizations around the globe are finding innovative ways to use collaborative video storytelling to make a difference in the world. In this session you'll learn about specific tools and techniques for doing this on a small budget, with limited infrastructure.

 

Innovation & Filmmaking: Capture & Shape Content

Join filmmakers, developers and equipment representatives as they discuss the future and changing landscape of filmmaking tools.

 

Workshops:

Sony in 4K: Right Camera for the Right Project

With so many format and quality options, how do you know what the best path will be for your project? Is it 4K or HD? Learn about Sony's highly-flexible camera lineup and how you won't always have to choose because you can have BOTH.

 

Finding Your Audience with Open Web Technologies

A discussion about the ways Open Web technologies and DIY marketing can help indie filmmakers retain more rights to their work while still reaching a mass audience, the tools for controlling the distribution and monetization of their projects, all the while simultaneously creating and enabling new forms of creativity. (LUNCH PROVIDED)

 

DSLR's & Beyond: Professional Filmmaking on the Go

Join the Bui Brothers as they dissect the pros and cons of DSLR's and show the best ways to shoot on the go.

 

Collaborative Filmmaking using Mobile Technology

Over 1 billion HD video phones connected through social networks could make for an explosion of collaborative filmmaking. Experience the technology making it all possible. (LUNCH PROVIDED!)

 

Events:

Demo Pavilion each day from 2:00 - 6:00 PM featuring: Action Life Media, Blackmagic Design, Clinch, Digital Bolex, Equilibrium, Jumpercut, Mozilla Firefox, Olloclip, Takes, WeVideo

 

DIGITAL DOMAIN:

The Digital Domain was introduced in 2012 to address the exciting and unpredictable new directions taken by storytellers in a constantly mutating web environment. With an eye on the future, the section will explore web series, interactive documentaries, apps, rich media projects, data visualization and infographics, web generated content and many more possibilities.

 

Saturday March 9

The MIT Open Documentary Lab (Sarah Wolozin, the MIT Open Documentary Lab)

Armed Response: Producing Action for the Web (Thomas Bannister, SXM)

Exploring Place with Cross-Platform Storytelling (Liz Nord, N/A)

Impossible Things on a Shoestring (Josh Ruben, Click 3x/J+V Films)

 

Sunday March 10

The Future of Video; The Post Youtube Apocalypse (Maker Studios)

BBC Presents: Science of Storytelling (Matthew Danzico, BBC)

Creating Films for Computers (Vincent Morisset, AATOAA)

IDFA DocLab: Interactive Documentary Showcase (Caspar Sonnen, IDFA DocLab)

 

Monday March 11

Wastelander Panda: Story Worlds & Online Strategy (Kirsty Stark, Epic Films)

Journey from Feature Film to Internet Fiction (Riina Zachariassen, Investigate North & Windelov/Lassen)

Shooting for Impact: Online Doc Shorts Now (Beth Levinson, Etsy)

The 94 Elements Project (Mike Paterson, PFILM)

 

Tuesday March 12

Storytelling Devices in Interactive Documentary (Karen Kocher, UT Austin)

Visual Bites: Culinary & the Web (Christian Remde, Rightfrog Films)

How to build an Interactive Documentary (Ann Shin, Fathom Film Group)

The Playful Viewer: Gamification of a Documentary (Suvi Helmninen, Knapnok Games)