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Agnes Varnum is a freelance writer, film programmer and communications manager for the Austin Film Society. She is the primary contributor to doc it out and Tribeca Film Institute's Resources.

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SXSW: Blogs, Buzz, and Buddy Lists

October 16th, 2007 • Related Posts • Tags

First, community members suggested and voted on panel topics, and now, the programmers have waived their magic wand over some 600 + suggestions to come up with initial panels for their March extravaganza here in . In other words, get ready, get set, here come the panels. And in true community form, they have asked those of us who are participating to help get the word out by announcing them. You’ll have to go on a blog scavenger hunt to find more panels but here is my contribution to the roll-out:

 

Blogs, Buzz, and Buddy Lists (Sunday, March 9)
Use the Internet before the Internet uses you. Thanks to blogs, web-video, and social networking sites, the online universe is a valuable (but no less intimidating) landscape for artists. How do you get the best out of blogs and other sites, to maximize your potential for an audience? Or, how do you get yourself introduced to the booming industry of online journalism and video sharing? These experts will dig deep into these ever-changing trends.

Stay tuned to the SXSW Film Conference site for updates on panels and confirmed speakers. You can also still submit your film for consideration (late deadline is December 7), and of course, you can get your badge to attend with deep discounts. My couch is already reserved, so book your hotel early too ;)

UPDATE: More panels: Film Miss-takes at GreenCine; Deal or No Deal: The Road to Self-Distribution at All These Wonderful Things; Digital Cinema for Indies at Variety’s The Circuit; Animation and Digital Effects on a Budget at Drifting.

There Are 6 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by James McNally on 16 October 2007:

    Awesome. I’ll be there. I’m getting excited already about SXSW. Any idea when the film list will be revealed? I’m sure not until just before the festival, but now that you’re an Austin insider, any early confirmations about what will be showing?

  2. Comment by Dan on 16 October 2007:

    Wonderful! Can’t wait for SXSW. Its programmers are selecting some brave material that other “top” festivals tend to overlook. There’s some real gems every year in Austin during March!

  3. Comment by agnes on 17 October 2007:

    So cool that we are all excited about SXSW! I don’t know exactly when the film line-up will be out but my guess is early Feb. Keep me bookmarked! I promise to send it out hot off the presses.

  4. Comment by Mark Schoneveld on 17 October 2007:

    Hope I can make it!!

  5. Comment by Bob Alexander on 19 October 2007:

    The Digital Distribution panel looks interesting, but from prior panels at SXSW, I think the topic suffers from vague terminology. Is this about the physical distribution techniques? Is this about DIY efforts to use digital? Is this about the growth of digital presentation systems?

    We are tracking 20 web sites on a weekly basis in terms of their audience appeal and estimated traffic. And all of them have a different interpretation of what Digital Distribution looks like. At some point it would be useful to put some structure on the discussion.

  6. Comment by agnes on 25 October 2007:

    I can’t speak for SXSW but I would venture to say that most panel descriptions are vague and then the discussion is defined by the panelists and by the amount of time (or not) that those attending have to engage them. I agree that “digital distribution” could mean a lot of different things… we shall see.