SXSW Narrative Competition
Written by: FFT Webmaster | March 6th, 2012
Over the course of nine days, 130 features will screen at SXSW 2012. The program features 51 films from first-time filmmakers, and consists of 65 World Premieres, 17 North American Premieres and 10 U.S. Premieres. These films were selected from a record 1,957 feature-length film submissions, composed of 1,387 U.S. and 570 international feature-length films. This year SXSW saw a 7% increase in its overall submissions over 2011, with a record number of 5,243 total.
The important competition category is the Narrative Feature Competition which introduces new talents, some of which are lucky enough to be picked up for distribution, while others become fixtures on the U.S. and international festival circuit. Last year’s winner, TINY FURNITURE, has launched the career of its writer/director Lena Dunham, who has several features in development as well as being the star and producer of a new HBO cable television series. This year’s Narrative Feature Competition consists of 8 titles vying for the Grand Jury Prize, and also eligible for the Audience Award. The films in the section include: BOOSTER, directed by Matt Ruskin; EDEN, directed by Megan Griffiths; GAYBY. directed by Jonathan Lisecki; GIMME THE LOOT, directed by Adam Leon; LOS CHIDOS, directed by Omar Rodriguez Lopez; PILGRIM SONG, directed by Martha Stephens; STARLET, directed by Sean Baker, and THE TAIWAN OYSTER, directed by Mark Jarrett. To get full descriptions of these titles, visit: www.sxsw.com/film
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