What happens when you put Ryan Gosling and Guillermo del Toro together for an hour? You’ll find out at the SXSW Film Festival next month.
Organizers have just announced the Conference Lineup, and easily the highlight is the aforementioned actor and director sitting down for a talk about Gosling’s "Lost River." Even after the film’s poor reception at Cannes last spring, it’ll be interesting to hear Gosling’s take, as well as del Toro’s thoughts on the movie.
Elsewhere, veteran producer Christine Vachon ("Still Alice," "Boys Don’t Cry," numerous films with Todd Haynes) will deliver a keynote speech, pals Michael Shannon and Jeff Nichols will give a chat (and maybe show off some of "Midnight Special"?), and Amy Schumer will stop by with her "Trainwreck" set to debut at the fest.
Check out all the details in the press release below. SXSW runs from March 13th to 21st.
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Austin, Texas – February 17, 2015 – The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival revealed its fourth keynote, producer Christine Vachon, as well as the complete conference lineup including Conversations with Ryan Gosling, Sally Field, Amy Schumer, Jeff Nichols & Michael Shannon, Henry Rollins and more Convergence sessions. Also announced were additional features and Special Events. Marking its 22nd year, SXSW Film kicks off on Friday, March 13, 2015 with the world premiere of BRAND: A Second Coming and runs through Saturday, March 21 in Austin, Texas. The schedule, complete with both screening and conference dates and times is now available at schedule.sxsw.com
Additional features, including the world premiere of Antoine Bardou-Jacquet’s Moonwalkers, have been announced with descriptions listed below. With these additions, the 2015 SXSW Film Festival will screen a total of 150 features, consisting of 102 World Premieres, 14 North American Premieres and 11 U.S. Premieres with 62 first-time directors. 106 shorts will screen as part of 10 curated shorts programs. The 256 films were selected from a record number of overall submissions, nearly 7500, comprised of approximately 2426 features and 4935 shorts, with an overall increase of 13% over 2014. For more information and the complete SXSW Film Lineup, go to sxsw.com/film/screenings/2015-lineup
In addition to nine full days of film screenings, the SXSW Film Conference (Friday, March 13 – Tuesday, March 17), will feature over 240 enlightening, inspirational and entertaining sessions including many designated as Convergence. The panels announced today are in addition to over 100 previously announced sessions for the 2015 Film Conference, including keynote speakers Ava DuVernay, Mark Duplass and RZA, and Conversations with Gina Prince-Bythewood and iJustine & Lizzie Velasquez. For complete Conference programming information on Digital Domain, Featured Sessions, Future15s, Future of TV, Keynotes, Meet the Insiders, Meet Ups, Mentors, Panels, SXsports and Workshops, browse the schedule at schedule.sxsw.com.
Curated by Film, Interactive and Music, our Convergence Programming exists throughout the event, and features a range of topics that straddle the cultural and technological intersection at the heart of SXSW. All of these sessions, screenings and activities are open to more than one badge type, and encompass issues that are relevant and interesting to attendees from more than one of the core industry events (Interactive, Film and Music). Additionally, from Friday, March 13 – Tuesday, March 17, all Featured Sessions in Ballroom D of the Austin Convention Center (ACC), along with Entertainment & Immersion content in Room 18ABCD of the ACC, will have convergent access. On March 17, Convergence Day offers Film, Interactive and Music attendees a taste of the complete SXSW package with all sessions on the 4th floor of The Austin Convention Center open to all badgeholders. Plus, new for 2015, all films screening in the 24 Beats Per Second category will be open to Music badgeholders, starting Monday, March 16. For more information: sxsw.com/convergence.
Announced Today:
Christine Vachon Keynote
Christine Vachon is an Independent Spirit Award and Gotham Award winner who founded indie powerhouse Killer Films with partner Pamela Koffler in 1995. Over the past twenty years, the two have produced some of the most celebrated American indie features including Boys Don’t Cry (Academy Award Winner), Far From Heaven (nominated for 4 Academy Awards), One Hour Photo, I’m Not There, Hedwig And The Angry Inch, Happiness, Velvet Goldmine and Safe. In television, Vachon executive produced Mildred Pierce for HBO (winner of 5 Emmys and a Golden Globe). Her most recent work includes Nasty Baby (Sundance 2015) and current Oscar-nominee Still Alice.
Additional Featured Sessions announced for the 2015 SXSW Film Conference include:
- A Conversation with Ryan Gosling
Join Ryan Gosling in discussion with Guillermo del Toro as he prepares for the release of his most recent project, Lost River. In a candid conversation, Gosling will discuss the transition from actor to filmmaker, the road to discovering his own unique style that is depicted onscreen, and the genesis of Lost River, a dark fairy tale set in a dying town.
(Friday, March 13, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM – Room 16AB, Austin Convention Center)
- A Conversation with Sally Field
Two-time Academy Award®-winner Sally Field will participate in a conversation about her extraordinary career spanning over 50 years. Through pivotal roles in films such as Norma Rae, Places in the Heart, Steel Magnolias, Mrs. Doubtfire, Lincoln and Hello, My Name Is Doris (world premiering at SXSW), Field has proven to be a force in the industry. The discussion will cover choice in roles and how she continues to find projects that inspire her.
(Sunday, March 15, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM – Room 16AB, Austin Convention Center)
- A Conversation with Amy Schumer
Join writer/actress/producer Amy Schumer in a candid conversation with Entertainment Weekly’s Danielle Nussbaum. From her early days on the road as a stand-up to her transition from the stage to television as the creator of the Emmy-nominated Inside Amy Schumer—and fresh off a SXSW screening of her new film, Trainwreck — Amy will talk about working with Judd Apatow to bring her story to the screen.
(Monday, March 16, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM – Room 16AB, Austin Convention Center)
- A Conversation with Jeff Nichols and Michael Shannon
Writer/director Jeff Nichols and actor Michael Shannon discuss their successful creative partnership, beginning with Shotgun Stories, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Austin and Seattle Film Festivals, and the International Jury Prize at the 2007 Viennale. The pair have since collaborated on Take Shelter and Mud. Take Shelter won the Critics Week Grand Prize and the SACD Award for Best Feature at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and also earned Nichols the Austin Film Award and Shannon the Best Actor Award from the Austin Film Critics Association. Mud was the recipient of the Film Independent Robert Altman Spirit Award and was one of the highest grossing independent films of 2013.
(Saturday, March 14, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM – Room 16AB, Austin Convention Center)
- A Conversation with Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins has been involved in music, radio, voice-over, film, scripted television, documentary, spoken word and print journalism for over three decades. He’s traveled to nearly 90 countries including, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Iran. He’s written and published over 25 books through his own publishing company, 2.13.61 Publications that he started in 1983. In his Conversation, he will talk about his work including his starring role inthe film, He Never Died, a SXSW World Premiere.
(Tuesday, March 17, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM – Room 18ABCD, Austin Convention Center)
FILM CONFERENCE LINEUP BY DAY
Open to Film, Gold and Platinum badgeholders
Friday, March 13
A Conversation with Ryan Gosling
Ain’t It Cool with Harry Knowles Session
An Insider’s Guide to SXSW
USA/Europe Co-Production and Funding Opportunities
Saturday, March 14
A Conversation with Jeff Nichols and Michael Shannon
A Guide to Live Action 360 VR Filmmaking
A Tribute to Kit Carson
Ava DuVernay Keynote
Deliverables Today
Every Artist Insured
The Future of Film Criticism: Diversify or Die
Future15s: Education
Future15s: Keeping The Dream Alive
Future15s: Social Media
Hacking Technology For Your Indie Film Release
Is This Normal? A Look at Success in Indie Film.
Meet the Insiders I
Meet the Insiders II
Meet the Insiders III
Mentors: Artist Support
Mentors: Funding
Mentors: Programming I
Production Designers Meet Up
Saturday, March 14 (cont’d)
Salem Season 2: Presented by WGN America
Secret is Out! Distributors Reveal Their Numbers
Studio Star Power – How Casting Really Works
Underage @ SXSW: No Parties? No Problem!
Sunday, March 15
10 Lessons From a Decade Behind the Scenes at Pixar
A Conversation with Sally Field
Ex Machina: Alex Garland & the Seductive Enigma of A.I.
The Film Score Workshop
Finding Big Power in the Small Moments
The Future of Viewing
Future15s: Animation
Future15s: Creators
Future15s: Hollywood Trends
House of Cards from Page to Screen
International Filmmakers Meet Up
Latino Filmmaker Meet Up & Quick Pitch
Mark Duplass Keynote
Meet the Insiders IV
Meet the Insiders V
Meet the Insiders VI
Mentors: Distribution I
Mentors: Producers/Production
Mentors: Sales and Acquisitions I
Mentors: Screenwriting
So You Want to Make a Midnight Movie
To Window Or Not To Window: Film Release Strategies
Monday, March 16
A Conversation with Amy Schumer
A Conversation with Gina Prince-Bythewood
Always Talk to Strangers: Telling True Stories
Art of Amazing: 4K Film from Conception to Viewing
Black Filmmakers: Make/Distribute Global Content
Canon Spotlight: A Conversation on Creativity
Creating the Shows That We Like
DIY Theatrical Distribution for Independent Films
Film Finance and Distribution in 2015
For Those About to Lock: The Editing Workshop
How New Technology is Changing War Zone Filmmaking
Independent Directors on Working with Actors
Meet the Creative Game Changers
Meet the Insiders IX
Meet the Insiders VII
Meet the Insiders VIII
Mentors: Documentary Filmmakers
Mentors: International
Mentors: Narrative Filmmakers
Mentors: Publicity and Marketing II
RZA Keynote
Sound Designing Authenticity in Documentary
Stronger Together: Film Fatales
Tuesday, March 17
Casting Meet Up
Christine Vachon Keynote
Doc Distribution: Get up to speed with PBS Indies
Intellectual Property in Film and Interactive Media
Mentors: Agents and Managers
Mentors: Distribution II
Mentors: Programming II
Mentors: Sales and Acquisitions II
Other People’s Money: Investors and Crowdfunding
Pro Bono Legal Services for Filmmakers
Shorts Filmmaker Meet Up
Something From Nothing – the No-Budget Way
What’s the Value of Your Digital Rights?
CONVERGENCE SESSIONS (BY VENUE)
Open to all Film, Interactive, Gold & Platinum badgeholders // Friday, 3/13–Tuesday, 3/17
Austin Convention Center
Austin Suite: Digital Domain
19 Reinos – A Game of Thrones immersive experience
AN INTERNET ODYSSEY: The Next Gen Of Webseries
Behind the Blue Screen: Video Stories from Iran
Cinematic Virtual Reality: Immersive Storytelling
From Alien to Alien: Isolation
How "High Maintenance" is Redefining Storytelling
How to Play with VR, Physical Spaces and Ink
Marioneta: Puppeteer experience with Kinect v2
Meet Your New Mass Audience-Collaborating with CNÉ
Movies in My Head: Audiodrama & Film
New Frontiers for VR and Interactive NonFiction
Neymar: from Brazil Soccer Star to Youtube Creator
Spiritually, Through Interactive Technology
Stories Asunder: Tales for the Internet of Things
Tool-Kit for Crafting an Interactive Documentary
Ballroom D: Featured Sessions
A Curious Mind: Inspiration for a Creative Life
Back to the Future of Media
Confronting Injustice
Creator Activism: A Discussion with Robert Kirkman
Defining the Next Generation Retail Experience
Everything Eric Ries Has Learned Since 2011
The Future Role of Tech in Dining and Food
Ballroom D: Featured Sessions (cont’d)
How to Remain Relevant in Today’s Digital Age
The VEEP Speaks
UFC: Women Breaking Ground Inside the Octagon
#YesWeCode: From The ‘Hood To Silicon Valley
Next Stage
AJ+ Presents the Future of Engagement
BedPost Confessions: True Tales of Sex and Tech
Hamburger Helper Is My Bae: Weird Brand Twitter
How Next-Gen Filmmakers are Changing Hollywood
How Potato Salad Killed/Saved Crowdfunding
mi.mu Gloves: Wearable Tech for Music Making
No Underdogs Here: Changing the Female Narrative
S E E T H E U N S E E N
SmART Campaigns: Art and Music Driving Social Change
Tale of Two Outsiders: How We Made it in Media
Virtual Reality: Video Reinvented
We Are Family: Reaching Your Audience
What Does An Art and Design Incubator Look Like?
YouMake ReMake: YouTube Meets Stage
18ABCD: Entertainment and Immersion
A Conversation with YouTube Celebrities iJustine and Lizzie Velasquez
Analog and Digital: Synching an Engagement Campaign
Forget Screens: Immersive Content Lives Everywhere
Hyper-Reality TV and Online Video Are a Perfect Fit
Infinity and Beyond: Pixar and 20 Years Since Toy Story
Storming The Gates of the Digital Frontier
Storytelling Superheroes
Streams, Shuffles and Statutes: Congress and Music
Trailblazers in VR Domain
Unlock Revenue Streams with Digital Asset Rights
Worlds Without Boundaries: Books, Games, Films
Four Seasons
SXsports // Friday, 3/13 – Sunday, 3/15
Future of TV // Monday, 3/16 – Tuesday, 3/17
Ballroom AB
The 12-Month Sports Season
The Art, Joy and Power of Creating Musical Programs
The Athlete Slash Entrepreneur
The Business of Preparing Potential NFL Draftees
Coaching Fast and Fearlessly
Competitive Advantage: Mental Health in Athletics
Developing Character in High Performers
Does Playing Sports Equal Brain Damage?
Exploring Storytelling in the Digital Age
Fantasy Sports: Changing the Fan Experience Daily
Ballroom AB (cont’d)
Finding A TV Partner in A Digital World
Game of Thrones: Creating Immersive Entertainment
Hit a Home Run with Content Creation and Streaming
Hollywood to Silicon Valley: Making a Megahit
How Serialized Fiction is Rewriting the Book
How the Data Era Will Build High Performing Humans
Millennials and Sports: Reaching Next Gen Fans
MLBAM and NASCAR: Sports and Technology Converge
The New Cathedral: Sports Stadiums
The New TV Star: How to Build an Audience Online
Old Game, New Tricks: What’s the Future of Golf?
Online Success Without Cat Videos or Crotch Hits
Out on the Field: LGBT Pro Athletes in 2015
Punch Drunk: Hockey Fighting at a Crossroads
Should You Develop Your Film Into a TV Series?
Social Media Playbook: Activating Fans on Gameday
Streaming Is Creating A Better Music Experience
Ballroom CD
Acing the Sports Game with the Oculus Rift
Athletes and Musicians Direct-To-Consumer Media
The Basketball Tournament: A New Model for Sports?
Beyond the Bar Graph: Insights Over Info
Can Sports Help End a Culture of Violence?
The Democratization of Sports Commentary
El Nuevo Latino: Fusing Cultures and Values
The Evolution of Audio in the 21st Century
The Future of Doping and PEDs
The In-Stadium Fan Experience in MLS
The Near-Future of Sports TV
Now Athletes are Funny: Power of Comedy and Sports
Play Good, Look Better: Athletes and Fashion
Sport for Development: Affecting Societal Change
Start The Presses: The Rise of Indie Sports Mags
Tech That’s Changing Sports and Building Empathy
San Jacinto
3D Printing in the Movies
A Drama Nirvana: How to Create a Multiplatform Hit
AR and VR: Moving Beyond the Square Screen
Battling Tradition to Reinvent Youth Sports
Bike Attraction: Urban Bicycling Gets a Makeover
Breaking the Fourth Wall: Audience participation in the Digital Age
Can MLB Data Solve Arm Injuries in Youth Pitchers?
The Changing Face of Action Sports Media
Crowdfunding Competitive Athletes
Drones and the Texas 500: A Broadcast Challenge
Filmmaking Cues from Top Sports Cinematographers
The Future of Concerts on TV
Gameday 2025: What’s In Your Living Room?
San Jacinto (cont’d)
Genius or Narcissist: Challenges of Self-Producing
Live Podcast: Grantland Sports Podcast
Live Podcast: His & Hers
Live Podcast: The Solid Verbal
Love & Sex – A Provocative New Transmedia Series
Problem Solvers: Compensating College Athletes for Their Likeness
Science Over Tradition: The New Edge in Sports
She-Runners Hulu’s Funny Women Creating Today’s TV
Sports Mega-Events: Do They Have a Future?
Tech + Youth Sports = Universal Access
Tech My Mind: The Age of Instant Gratification
Top Ten Sports Moments of the Year As Told By Cousin Sal Iacono
Who’s Going To Fund Your Web Series?
CONVERGENCE DAY // Tuesday, 3/17
Open to ALL SXSW badges
Austin Convention Center
Level 4 of the Austin Convention Center
Ballroom D
Russell Brand’s Revolution Will Be Televised
Room 12
Live Music Streaming as Means for Brand Engagement
Making Music Physical Again
Music UX: Connecting Technology and Experience for Fans
Room 13AB
Meet the Insiders X
Meet the Insiders XI
Meet the Insiders XII
Room 15
Content Creation in the Cloud
Data and Spoon Benders: Hacked Music and Design
Online Distribution: Set The Trend!
Web Influence on the Future of Music Documentaries
Room 16AB
Boyhood Post-Production: 13th Year of a 12 Year Movie
Music Makes Movies with Randall Poster
Room 17B
Making Art While Entertaining the Internet
Music as Personalized Medicine: Experiment at SXSW
Science of Social Funding: 247 Campaign Patterns
Why Top Artists Today Need Spy Tools
18 ABCD
A Conversation with Henry Rollins
Astrophysics Goes Hollywood: Cinematic Science
Beyond Live, Why the L+3 Social TV Convo Matters
Convergence Sessions
Open to Film, Music, Gold, Platinum Badges // Wednesday, March 18 – Saturday March 21
Austin Convention Center
Breaking a Monster: Unlocking the Truth
Commercial TV/Film Placements Aren’t Just for the Big Kids Anymore
Foreign Exchange: How to Break a Song by a Foreign Artist
JACO
Music Supervisor Pitch Session 1
Music Supervisor Pitch Session 2
Music Supervisor + Film Makers Meet Up
The (Real) Market Value of a Music Placement
That Sync-ing Feeling!
The Truth About Music Supervision
ADDITIONAL FILMS
NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT
Moonwalkers (France)
Director: Antoine Bardou-Jacquet, Screenwriter: Dean Craig
From Michel Gondry’s acclaimed producer comes a hilarious, high-concept action comedy, directed by the ad world’s boy genius Antoine Bardou-Jacquet (holder of the Guinness World Record for "Most Awarded Commercial). Cast: Ron Perlman, Rupert Grint, Robert Sheehan (World Premiere)
SXGLOBAL
Kings of Nowhere (Mexico)
Director/Screenwriter: Betzabé García
Three families live in a village partially submerged by water in Northwestern Mexico. Despite their loneliness and fear, they refuse to leave. (North American Premiere)
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Doug Loves Movies
Director: Doug Benson
Comedian Doug Benson (Super High Me, Last Comic Standing) invites his friends to sit down and discuss his first love: movies! (Live Podcast Recording)
Human Highway (Director’s Cut)
Directors: Dean Stockwell, Neil Young, Screenwriters: Neil Young, Jeanne Field, Dean Stockwell, Russ Tamblyn, James Beshears
The owner of a roadside diner, stuck in a town built around a nuclear power plant, plans to torch the place to collect insurance. However, an assortment of bizarre characters and weird events gets in his way. Cast: Neil Young, Russ Tamblyn, Dean Stockwell, Dennis Hopper, Charlotte Stewardt, Sally Kirkland, Geraldine Baron, Gerald V. Casale, Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Casale
NASA New Initiatives in Imagery for Public Use
Presenting NASA initiatives in the film festival world; new technology and imagery opportunities in space; and new archives to open NASA imagery to the public for viewing, downloading and use.
Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation
Director: Eric Zala, Screenwriter: Lawrence Kasdan
Heralded as the greatest fan film ever made, Raiders: The Adaptation is a shot-for-shot remake of the Indiana Jones adventure film Raiders of the Lost Ark made by teenagers in Mississippi in the 1980s. Cast: Chris Strompolos, Eric Zala, Angela Rodriguez, Allan Stenum, Kurt Zala