I think I'm finally over SXSW, the film festival and conference that attempts to be all things to all people. If you look at my posts from earlier in the year you can see how excited I was and how much I was looking forward to the next installment of the party in Austin. Then, after working with the festival organizers, I began to understand the money making machine that is behind the SXSW name. They've spread the SXSW name to an online film festival that only put six movies online and a conference that is essentially funded by the speakers that appear. All of this for the low, low price of $1,145.
Did anyone tell these guys there's a recession going on?
Filmmakers face some pretty rough treatment in this business, but usually no one wants to talk about it. I've been holding this story for the past month, but now I think it's finally time to publish it. This all started with a subtly worded threat I received from SXSW (specifically from whomever sends email as film@sxsw.com).
The countdown to SXSW 2009 continues. Today I received confirmation that two sessions I proposed will be included in the SXSW Panel Picker. The Panel Picker is an online voting application that allows you, the filmmaker, to decide which panels will be included in the SXSW 2009 line-up. The Panel Picker goes live one month from today, so when the times comes I hope I can count on your vote. Maybe we can build a bridge in your district or something. Isn't that how politicians get elected?
Here is the confirmation I received from the SXSW team:
