SXSW Film . . . Rocks (?)

I have had only two experiences with the film festival this year because of my reduced abilities. The first was on Saturday when I headed to the Dobie to introduce a film I championed, The Ostrich Testimonies.

I was on Day 3 of chemo and typical of the SXSW season and furor, I had not eaten. Nor had I taken my anti-emetic. By the time I got there I felt like I had the worst hangover in history and couldn't figure out why. Duh. I could barely speak. I felt so stupid. I didn't get a chance to catch up with the filmmakers at all during the rest of the week to find out how they did.

Yesterday I was in much better shape and went to introduce another film I love, Dancing Alfonso. The filmmaker, Barak Heymann, was able to be in attendance because the Israeli consulate in Houston arranged for his travel from Tel Aviv. What a sweetheart. He seemed so genuinely pleased to be here, I enjoyed him immensely. And I got teary (again) at the end of his film.

The "rockin" part of this was, I also met the filmmaker of the short film that preceded the feature, Will Hartmann. His film is The Art of Karaoke, and it went so well with the feature. He works on his films, works at an LA ad agency, and is generally trying to be productive and creative in his chosen form. Like many other filmmakers, he shows his work during Slamdance and Sundance, but he feels that most festivalgoers never see his, or anyone else's work.

"All anyone does is go to parties," he told me. "And the filmmakers aren't invited to those parties. You can't get in unless you're a celebrity or in an entourage." So, the actual artists head back to their rented condos and wonder what the hell they are doing there in the first place.

Will said he felt like our event was a place to really get connected with others and that filmmakers' work was actually seen by people. I have heard this many times from (mostly) grateful filmmakers and it makes me insanely proud of our event. Does SXSW Film rock? Until we find a better term, I'm gonna say yes.