SXSW Film: March 13-21, 2009

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"Picture Of A Contemporary Rebel"
SXSW alum Ry-Russo Young on her Sundance premiere You Won't Miss Me.

Laughing Through The Pain
An optimistic start to Sundance 09.

Wii Will Watch You
YouTube rolls out their "TV Website" for the two big gaming platforms.

Gallic Charm
A healthy French box office reveals a renewed interest in homegrown talent.

The second installment of our podcast series features a conversation between SXSW veterans Gary Hustwit (Helvetica, 2007) and Doug Pray (Big Rig, 2007). This year's festival sees the world premiere of Gary's latest film, Objectified, a documentary that aims to do for industrial design what Helvetica did for the humble typeface. Meanwhile, Doug's film, Art & Copy prepares to take the Sundance Documentary Competition by storm with a detailed look at the weird and wonderful world of advertising.

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In the podcast, the two discuss the common ground between their latest films, including the art in the everyday, the genius of 'Got Milk?', and the strangeness and power of sitting in the dark and staring at a screen.

Sundance Lineup Got You Beat?
No problem. When you've finished checking out our alumni try here, here, here, or even here .

Over The Hump And Far Away
SXSW alum Lynn Shelton treks to Park City with her Sundance debut, Humpday.

Going Global
Focus and Universal join forces to launch an international offensive.

The Other Academy
Oscars bellwether BAFTA announces a patriotic bevy of nominations.

Eyes On The Prize
A bountiful crop of SXSW alumni on the Cinema Eye 2009 shortlist.

Down With The Medicine
Barry Jenkins interviewed on his SXSW 08 hit Medicine For Melancholy.

It's Always Sunny In Park City
Sundance learns to look on the bright side.

The Big O
A star-spangled lineup for the President-elect's big screen inauguration.

State Of The Independents
Sundance director Geoff Gilmore on festivals and the future of indie.

Against The Clock
Interviewing Tommy Davis, director of SXSW 08's devastating One Minute To Nine.

Clear As Mud
Confused about DTV? Don't worry; we're here to help!

Presidents Elect To Use YouTube...
...But is it receiving preferential treatment?

Seth Rogen Returns to SXSW!  The Warner Bros. Pictures film Observe and Report will premiere in the Centerpiece slot on Monday, March 16th.  The Legendary Pictures comedy, written and directed by Jody Hill (Foot Fist Way) stars Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express, Knocked Up), Anna Faris (House Bunny,Smiley Face), Michael Peña (The Lucky Ones, Crash) and Ray Liotta (Goodfellas).   The story follows Ronnie Barnhardt (Rogen), head of security at the Forest Ridge Mall, who patrols his jurisdiction with an iron fist, combating skateboarders, shoplifters and the occasional unruly customer while dreaming of the day when he can swap his flashlight for a badge and a gun.  His delusions of grandeur are put to the test when the mall is struck by a flasher.  Driven to protect and serve the mall and its patrons, Ronnie seizes the opportunity to showcase his underappreciated law enforcement talents on a grand scale, hoping his solution of this crime will earn a coveted spot at the police academy and the heart of his elusive dream girl Brandi (Faris), the hot make-up counter clerk who won’t give him the time of day.  But his single-minded pursuit of glory launches a turf war with the equally competitive Detective Harrison of the Conway Police (Liotta), and Ronnie is confronted with the challenge of not only catching the flasher, but getting him before the real cops do.  Rogen attended the 2007 Festival with the world premiere of Knocked Up, which went on to gross nearly $150 million in its domestic release.  The film opens wide on April 10, 2009.

In addition to Observe and Report, here's a bigger taste of the 2009 SXSW Film Conference and Festival to whet your whistle!  New panelists include filmmakers Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Thirteen), Robert Rodriguez ( Sin City, Spy Kids) and Mike Judge (pictured) (Office Space, King of the Hill), SXSW alum and Mumblecore pioneer Joe Swanberg (Nights and Weekends, Hannah Takes the Stairs) and Mark Woollen, the award-winning creator of many memorable trailers ( Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).

Long known as a banner destination for compelling documentary films, the lineup for the 2009 SXSW Film Conference & Festival will include:
 Objectified – From acclaimed SXSW alum Gary Hustwit (Helvetica) comes a new film that documents the creative processes of some of the world’s most influential industrial designers, and looks at how the things they make impact our lives. What can we learn about who we are, and who we want to be, from the objects with which we surround ourselves?
 New World Order – Co-directed by SXSW alums Andrew Neel & Luke Meyer, this documentary about conspiracy theorists is a behind the scenes look at the underground anti-globalist movement. The film chronicles celebrity radio host and underground cult hero Alex Jones, (of Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly), and other conspiracy theorists on their ceaseless quests to expose the 'massive global conspiracy' that they believe threatens the future of humanity.
Winnebago Man – Jack Rebney is the most famous man you've never heard of – after cursing his way through a Winnebago sales video, Rebney’s outtakes became an underground sensation and an online phenomenon seen by millions. Filmmaker Ben Steinbauer climbs to the top of a mountain and goes deep into the woods to find the recluse who unwittingly became an Internet superstar.

RiP: A Remix Manifesto – Web activist and filmmaker Brett Gaylor explores issues of copyright in the information age, mashing up the media landscape of the 20th century and shattering the wall between users and producers.  Gaylor's documentary features artists like Girl Talk (pictured), who employ mash-up techniques, mixing samples of existing music into new songs.  Interviews with additional artists, lawmakers, companies and consumers are interspersed with animation, archive footage and collages. 

RiP: A Remix Manifesto photo credit: Andrew Strasser