Here's Why

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A big-city film critic friend told me tonight why he doesn't do South by Southwest any more:

1. "No press screenings, or none that I recall from when I was there from 2003-07, or maybe just a handful. They think it's more 'democratic' to have the press line up with the public for almost every movie, which can take literally hours for popular screenings.

2. "The movies mostly suck. We started doing SXSW because we figured it was the new Sundance -- and it was, like the way Sundance was 20 years ago (or so I've been told). But most movies SXSW takes have been tossed into the delete bin by Toronto and/or Sundance. The few good ones it runs tend to be Sundance hits making their next festival stop. There is rarely a premiere of note -- Knocked Up in 2007 was the only SXSW premiere I recall that made any kind of impact out of that fest.

3. "The press office is a joke. Beyond a joke. Nobody knows anything, the pass they give you is almost useless, and they will kick you out of the press office once the much bigger SXSW Music Festival starts -- which it does smack-dab in the middle of the film festival, thus turning the film festival into a complete waste of time. Oh, and the film press office won't help you if you want to check out a couple of the music events. You're on your own, and on your own dime.

"Have I succeeded in changing your mind?"

"May Have Made?"<< previous | next >>Deciders

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 2, 2009 at 9:30 PM

comment #1

nouvelle_vague says ...

yeah, the movies suck, but there's always one or two gems hidden in the rough. Plus, any excuse I can get to go to Austin makes it worthwhile to me.

Posted by nouvelle_vague at February 2, 2009 9:45 PM

comment #2

berg says ...

I am not swilling for sxsw but the comments regarding the press room are exaggerated ... there are plenty of available Macs for interenet access and in that room without incident i've done interviews with J Demme, O Wilson, Michael Tucker, a couple of others I can't even remember ... of course you want to split when the music part of the convention starts but at that point the film part is five days old and has run its course ... just sayin'

Posted by berg at February 2, 2009 10:20 PM

comment #3

Moises Chiullan says ...

No, there aren't really press screenings to speak of. The Press suite is fine, and you only find yourself in the Convention Center for the first couple days anyway. I found myself doing most of my writeups at the Starbucks on Congress Ave. When Music kicks up, most Film folks will have already ditched town or started camping out at the Alamo South Lamar to avoid the crush of Music moving in downtown. The description of "hours" in line is completely off-base. What were you in line for? Opening Night or one of the other big studio movies? The only things I had trouble getting in to were movies I arrived 5-10 minutes early for rather than 20-30 minutes. Plan your day and don't act like a prima donna because you get paid to write. "Big city film critic" is someone with a different agenda than 95% of the people there, who just want to see interesting new stuff.

Experiencing Austin's film scene at its best is what I like about SXSW. If you've never been to an Alamo Drafthouse (not a similar "style" of theater, but the real deal) this is a great excuse.

As for programming, the past is the past, and if you look at the lineup I posted, it's really, really solid this year. I've been attending regularly since 2003 myself, and I can tell you that whoever sent this to you is a passive print person who wants advance screenings of the stuff he/she writes about and that's it. Every year, there are plenty of interesting, worthwhile movies you've never heard of, you just have to seek them out.

Posted by Moises Chiullan at February 3, 2009 3:07 AM

comment #4

Josh Massey says ...

Want some cheese with that whine?

Posted by Josh Massey at February 3, 2009 4:25 AM

comment #5

Noel Murray says ...

I've attended SXSW three times with a press pass and had a great time each time. (I'd love to go this year, but my wife's work schedule conflicts.) Yes, the movies are generally weaker, and scheduled in such a way that all the "hot" titles are up against each other at night while the daytime is loaded up with the dregs. (Which is fine, because it means you can sleep in and have a leisurely lunch.) But Austin in March is gorgeous, the food is amazing, and I've never had any trouble getting into any screening. (As I recall, the press lines up separately from the public.) Arrive on opening day and leave before the music festival starts and you should have a great time.

Posted by Noel Murray at February 3, 2009 5:38 AM

comment #6

shawn says ...

This year's film fest also overlaps with the interactive fest, which seems equally compelling for a day or two's alternative coverage/education.

Posted by shawn at February 3, 2009 6:32 AM

comment #7

DonLewis says ...

That's ridiculous and totally, totally wrong. Every festival has it's share of "bad" movies but there's a broader selection at SXSW than any other fest I've been to. And the press office is outstanding considering the HUGENESS of the festival-it's 3 in one. Film, interactive and music.

As for waiting in lines for hours...also wrong. Any press person worth their salt knows to find the theater manager or press agent to scoot in a little early. Hours in line...pishaw.

This person sounds like someone who's annoyed SXSW doesn't comp press rooms and travel to me. His/her complaints are just silly and trivial.

Posted by DonLewis at February 3, 2009 8:04 AM

comment #8

Hans Watson says ...

If you are working for a reputable publication or site then just spring for the platinum badge as a business expense. With that badge you rarely end up waiting in any sort of line for interactive, film or music.

The real strength of SXSW is that it supports all three genres and while they are fairly disparate there is enough overlap that it can be really enjoyable to experience some of the items from another genre.

One of the funniest videos from last year was iJustine going around the music festival interviewing the bands as though they were at the interactive festival. http://www.viddler.com/explore/ijustine/videos/278/

Posted by Hans Watson at February 3, 2009 5:42 PM

comment #9