[The following post contains spoilers for “The Green Knight.”]
Ten years ago, David Lowery was a virtually unknown Texan filmmaker pushing his short film “Pioneer” at Sundance. Since then, he has gone on to work on studio projects like Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon” and the upcoming “Peter Pan and Wendy,” as well as the Robert Redford romance “The Old Man and the Gun.” Through it all, Lowery has remained an innovative and unpredictable storyteller whose work is steeped in awe-inspiring moments that retain an intimate quality irrespective of their scale. Having made the lo-fi hit “A Ghost Story” after “Pete’s Dragon,” Lowery continues to build a body of work that tips in and out of big-budget filmmaking as his signature blend of sensitivity and enigmatic storytelling deepens each time out.
That trajectory continues with “The Green Knight,” his most ambitious project to date, and an adaption of the 14th-century poem of the same name. The A...
Ten years ago, David Lowery was a virtually unknown Texan filmmaker pushing his short film “Pioneer” at Sundance. Since then, he has gone on to work on studio projects like Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon” and the upcoming “Peter Pan and Wendy,” as well as the Robert Redford romance “The Old Man and the Gun.” Through it all, Lowery has remained an innovative and unpredictable storyteller whose work is steeped in awe-inspiring moments that retain an intimate quality irrespective of their scale. Having made the lo-fi hit “A Ghost Story” after “Pete’s Dragon,” Lowery continues to build a body of work that tips in and out of big-budget filmmaking as his signature blend of sensitivity and enigmatic storytelling deepens each time out.
That trajectory continues with “The Green Knight,” his most ambitious project to date, and an adaption of the 14th-century poem of the same name. The A...
- 7/31/2021
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
It’s a rare privilege to see a contemporary American film as ambitious, emotionally honest, and just-plain-breathtaking as David Lowery’s Sundance entry A Ghost Story. Even from his microbudget beginnings, Lowery’s work has displayed a consistent fascination with American folklore and mythmaking. His films, whether big-budget Disney blockbusters like last year’s Pete’s Dragon, 2013’s love story Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, or his masterful 2011 short Pioneer, concern themselves with the notion of storytelling, its allure and its limitations. With A Ghost Story, Lowery continues to explore this fascination, now through the lens of the haunting genre, a tradition that stretches from […]...
- 1/24/2017
- by Dan Schoenbrun
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The main special effect in “A Ghost Story” is older than the movies: After a young Dallas musician (Casey Affleck) dies in a car crash, he returns as a ghost to the home he shared with his wife (Rooney Mara), and he’s draped in a sheet with hastily made cutout eyeholes, like some misbegotten Halloween costume.
Yet writer-director David Lowery channels the absurdity of this setup into an extraordinary mood piece that amounts to his best movie yet. Lowery has quickly developed a filmography that mines for awe in solitude, and here delivers a cosmic variation on that theme, exploring the ineffable relationship between people and the meaning they give to the places that have value in their lives. Both formally ambitious and emotionally accessible, “A Ghost Story” transforms its main stunt into a savvy dose of minimalism with existential possibilities that cut deep.
That’s unsurprising for a...
Yet writer-director David Lowery channels the absurdity of this setup into an extraordinary mood piece that amounts to his best movie yet. Lowery has quickly developed a filmography that mines for awe in solitude, and here delivers a cosmic variation on that theme, exploring the ineffable relationship between people and the meaning they give to the places that have value in their lives. Both formally ambitious and emotionally accessible, “A Ghost Story” transforms its main stunt into a savvy dose of minimalism with existential possibilities that cut deep.
That’s unsurprising for a...
- 1/22/2017
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Each year, the Sundance Film Festival rolls out an enviable lineup of jury members — billed as “experts in film, art, culture and science” — to dole out awards to the feature-length works shown at the festival. In total, 28 prizes (and sometimes more!) will be announced at a ceremony on January 28 (as ever, Short Film Awards will be announced at a separate ceremony on January 24). The festival has now announced this year’s various jury members, including actors, filmmakers, producers, writers and other luminaries (and, yes, plenty of Sundance alums pop up amongst their ranks).
Additionally, the festival has also announced that actress, comedian, correspondent and podcast host Jessica Williams will host the annual awards. Jones seems poised to have a very busy Sundance indeed, as she also toplines James Strouse’s premiere “The Incredible Jessica James,” which will close out the festival the night before.
The awards, which recognize standout artistic and story elements,...
Additionally, the festival has also announced that actress, comedian, correspondent and podcast host Jessica Williams will host the annual awards. Jones seems poised to have a very busy Sundance indeed, as she also toplines James Strouse’s premiere “The Incredible Jessica James,” which will close out the festival the night before.
The awards, which recognize standout artistic and story elements,...
- 1/11/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
2016 is nearly over and most people can’t wait to reach the finish line, so the Sundance Film Festival lineup couldn’t arrive at a better moment to give us something to anticipate for the new year.
Read More: Sundance 2017 Announces Competition and Next Lineups, Including Returning Favorites and Major Contenders
With the announcement of the U.S. and World Competition sections as well as the ever-tantalizing Next category of edgier fare, the first set of Sundance announcements kick off a wave of expectations from new talent and veterans alike. There will be much to dig through, from potential sales titles to breakthrough talent, and more announcements to come (the midnight section, short films, and forward-thinking New Frontiers section are all around the corner). In the meantime, we’ve dug through the initial Sundance blast to unearth a few standouts worthy of anticipation.
David Lowery’s Secret Movie Isn’t...
Read More: Sundance 2017 Announces Competition and Next Lineups, Including Returning Favorites and Major Contenders
With the announcement of the U.S. and World Competition sections as well as the ever-tantalizing Next category of edgier fare, the first set of Sundance announcements kick off a wave of expectations from new talent and veterans alike. There will be much to dig through, from potential sales titles to breakthrough talent, and more announcements to come (the midnight section, short films, and forward-thinking New Frontiers section are all around the corner). In the meantime, we’ve dug through the initial Sundance blast to unearth a few standouts worthy of anticipation.
David Lowery’s Secret Movie Isn’t...
- 11/30/2016
- by Eric Kohn and David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Nine years before he completed production on the multi-million dollar Disney remake of “Pete’s Dragon,” David Lowery was living out of the back of his car, editing corporate videos. The Dallas native directed his first feature, the little-seen “Lullaby,” at age 19. The ensuing years found him collaborating with a close-knit group of local film-savvy friends, but little in the way of upward mobility. “I never put a premium on making a living,” he told me in a recent phone conversation. “It was never one of those things that was important to me.”
Lowery’s work at the time suggests as much — it’s anything but commercial — and yet it provided him with an ideal platform for a massive career move as one of Disney’s newest secret weapons. “Pete’s Dragon,” a $60 million re-imagining of the 1977 live-action-animated musical film, has all the hallmarks of Lowery’s earlier work: a serene,...
Lowery’s work at the time suggests as much — it’s anything but commercial — and yet it provided him with an ideal platform for a massive career move as one of Disney’s newest secret weapons. “Pete’s Dragon,” a $60 million re-imagining of the 1977 live-action-animated musical film, has all the hallmarks of Lowery’s earlier work: a serene,...
- 8/9/2016
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Technically speaking, not much happens in Pioneer, David Lowery’s 2011 short about a man who tells his son a bedtime story. The action is confined to one room as it cuts between the two actors, but the yarn spun by Will Oldham’s character, and the subtle inflections in the pair’s performance along with a textured sound design, make the film as charged as any meticulously choreographed exchange. Listen closely, and you can even discern some early seeds of Ain’t Them Bodies Saints in the mix.
- 4/22/2015
- by Sarah Salovaara
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Technically speaking, not much happens in Pioneer, David Lowery’s 2011 short about a man who tells his son a bedtime story. The action is confined to one room as it cuts between the two actors, but the yarn spun by Will Oldham’s character, and the subtle inflections in the pair’s performance along with a textured sound design, make the film as charged as any meticulously choreographed exchange. Listen closely, and you can even discern some early seeds of Ain’t Them Bodies Saints in the mix.
- 4/22/2015
- by Sarah Salovaara
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Read More: 'Ain't Them Bodies Saints' Director David Lowery Singles Out Short Films at Maryland Film Festival Opening Thanks to Short of the Week, David Lowery's gorgeous short film "Pioneer" is now available to stream online for free. The Texas-born filmmaker earned loads of acclaim in 2013 for his romantic crime drama "Ain't Them Bodies Saints," starring Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara, but that film would not have been made had it not been for the success of "Pioneer" at various film festivals throughout 2011. The short received numerous accolades, including a Grand Jury Prize at the SXSW Film Festival. Consisting mainly of dialogue and set entirely in a single bedroom, "Pioneer" is a short about a father who, in a hushed storybook voice, recounts the story of how he met his young son's mother and became his father. Punctuated by an emotional score and atmospheric gold lighting, the...
- 4/15/2015
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Two Texas-based short films that were in competition at Sundance 2014 are making their Texas debuts at the SXSW Film Festival: writer/director Todd Rohal's Rat Pack Rat and Dig, by Dallas-based filmmaker Toby Halbrooks.
Halbrooks is an integral member of the filmmakers at Sailor Bear, a Dallas-based production company that includes David Lowery, James Johnston, Shaun Gish and Richard Krause. Last year's Sailor Bear feature Ain't Them Bodies Saints received an award for cinematography at Sundance, and this year's festival featured Alex Ross Perry's Listen Up Philip, also produced by the Sailor Bear team.
Dig stars Austinite Jonny Mars and newcomer Mallory Mahoney, who plays a young girl intrigued by the large hole her father (Mars) is digging in their backyard.
I spoke with Halbrooks in Park City during Sundance about Dig as well as other Sailor Bear projects, including the short film Pioneer. Here's what he had to say.
Halbrooks is an integral member of the filmmakers at Sailor Bear, a Dallas-based production company that includes David Lowery, James Johnston, Shaun Gish and Richard Krause. Last year's Sailor Bear feature Ain't Them Bodies Saints received an award for cinematography at Sundance, and this year's festival featured Alex Ross Perry's Listen Up Philip, also produced by the Sailor Bear team.
Dig stars Austinite Jonny Mars and newcomer Mallory Mahoney, who plays a young girl intrigued by the large hole her father (Mars) is digging in their backyard.
I spoke with Halbrooks in Park City during Sundance about Dig as well as other Sailor Bear projects, including the short film Pioneer. Here's what he had to say.
- 3/5/2014
- by Debbie Cerda
- Slackerwood
Writer-director David Lowery has been putting in his 10,000 hours over the past few years, working as an editor and cinematographer on many of his friends' micro-budget projects, as part of the growing multi-tasking barter indie culture. He's helped many of the geographically disparate friends he's met on the festival circuit with their films; he edited with director Shane Carruth the much-talked-about "Upstream Color." SXSW has championed the Texas filmmaker, playing his shorts and features; "Saint Nick" showed promise on a meager $12,000 budget. Lowery's 2011 Sundance short "Pioneer" was a ramp-up to his exquisitely crafted neo-noir western, "Ain't Them Bodies Saints," which was picked up by IFC Films after its rapturous reception at Sundance, and played during the Cannes Film Festival's Critics Week. IFC releases the film August 16. See my video interview with Lowery below. What's more -- the filmmaker is attached to direct "The Old Man and the Gun," starring Robert Redford,...
- 8/15/2013
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
This is one of those weekends where I've been actively creating an evolving list for myself to try and figure out how many movies I can realisically fit in over the next few days. While not much is happening in terms of new releases, there is a true embarrasment of riches when it comes to local classic film screenings.
Do you want to see A Clockwork Orange in 35mm at the Alamo Ritz on Saturday? Maybe you'd prefer a Keith Coogan double feature at the Ritz with Adventures In Babysitting and Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead tomorrow evening? How about catching Back To The Future and The Karate Kid in 35mm at the Paramount on Sunday? Those picks alone would fill up your weekend, but then you could try to squeeze in a double feature of digitally restored titles from the new Shintoho Mindwarp series followed by a 35mm...
Do you want to see A Clockwork Orange in 35mm at the Alamo Ritz on Saturday? Maybe you'd prefer a Keith Coogan double feature at the Ritz with Adventures In Babysitting and Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead tomorrow evening? How about catching Back To The Future and The Karate Kid in 35mm at the Paramount on Sunday? Those picks alone would fill up your weekend, but then you could try to squeeze in a double feature of digitally restored titles from the new Shintoho Mindwarp series followed by a 35mm...
- 8/2/2013
- by Matt Shiverdecker
- Slackerwood
Here's the latest in Austin film news.
Disney has hired Dfw-area filmmaker (and former Austinite) David Lowery and producer Toby Halbrooks, whose film Ain't Them Bodies Saints premiered at Sundance this year, to script a remake of the animated movie Pete's Dragon. If this sounds unlikely, bear in mind that Lowery's first feature, St. Nick, was about two children who run away from home. And don't forget his short Pioneer, about a father and son. (Jette adds: Now, someone please release St. Nick on DVD? Finally?)Austin-based filmmaker Elizabeth Mims' documentary Only the Young (Elizabeth's Aff review), which follows three Southern California teenagers, will air July 15 on PBS's award-winning TV series Pov, according to Austin Movie Blog.In festival news, the Hill Country Film Festival announced its lineup last week, which includes the feature-length thriller The Iceman, starring James Franco, and the 2013 Academy Award-winning short Curfew. The festivities take place May 2-5 in Fredericksburg.
Disney has hired Dfw-area filmmaker (and former Austinite) David Lowery and producer Toby Halbrooks, whose film Ain't Them Bodies Saints premiered at Sundance this year, to script a remake of the animated movie Pete's Dragon. If this sounds unlikely, bear in mind that Lowery's first feature, St. Nick, was about two children who run away from home. And don't forget his short Pioneer, about a father and son. (Jette adds: Now, someone please release St. Nick on DVD? Finally?)Austin-based filmmaker Elizabeth Mims' documentary Only the Young (Elizabeth's Aff review), which follows three Southern California teenagers, will air July 15 on PBS's award-winning TV series Pov, according to Austin Movie Blog.In festival news, the Hill Country Film Festival announced its lineup last week, which includes the feature-length thriller The Iceman, starring James Franco, and the 2013 Academy Award-winning short Curfew. The festivities take place May 2-5 in Fredericksburg.
- 3/25/2013
- by Jordan Gass-Poore'
- Slackerwood
David Lowery went from being a relative unknown to having one of the heavily anticipated films of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, the outlaw drama, “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints.” Though his most recent short film “Pioneer” picked up acclaim at the festival in 2011, not many saw his previous micro budgeted feature “St. Nick,” a dreamy brother-sister tale which cast only non-professional actors. And yet the anticipation for this film was off the charts thanks in part to the casting of Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara, Ben Foster, Keith Carradine and Nate Parker for this “Bonnie & Clyde”-like tale of criminals determined to reunite with each other at whatever cost. Our review from Sundance called, “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints” a “wholly engrossing and impressive piece of work that the movie world will be talking about all year long” and in a recent Indiewire Critics Poll, Lowery and the film.
- 2/1/2013
- by Cory Everett
- The Playlist
Day 3 of Sundance brought realised expectations and disappointments as I caught David Lowery's Ain't Them Bodies Saints, Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling's The East and Park Chan-Wook's Stoker.
Lowery's second feature was one of the films I was most looking forward to going into the festival. His debut feature St Nick and award-winning short Pioneer both have a haunting quality. Pioneer - which sees a man telling his child a bedtime story of epic proportions - also has a mythical sweep and is drenched in an amber colourscape that are both replicated here.
The quality of the light - beautifully captured by DoP Bradford Young - somehow matches the warm glow of the film's central relationship between Bob (Casey Affleck) and Ruthie (Rooney Mara). They are at the point of love where much of what goes on between them passes in unspoken understanding and, with a baby on the way,...
Lowery's second feature was one of the films I was most looking forward to going into the festival. His debut feature St Nick and award-winning short Pioneer both have a haunting quality. Pioneer - which sees a man telling his child a bedtime story of epic proportions - also has a mythical sweep and is drenched in an amber colourscape that are both replicated here.
The quality of the light - beautifully captured by DoP Bradford Young - somehow matches the warm glow of the film's central relationship between Bob (Casey Affleck) and Ruthie (Rooney Mara). They are at the point of love where much of what goes on between them passes in unspoken understanding and, with a baby on the way,...
- 1/23/2013
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Writer-director David Lowery has been putting in his 10,000 hours over the past few years, working as an editor and cinematographer for hire on many micro-indie projects, as part of the growing multi-tasking barter indie culture. SXSW has championed the Texas filmmaker, playing his shorts and features; "Saint Nick" showed promise on a meager $6000 budget. His 2011 Sundance short "Pioneer" was a ramp-up to this feature film. Now he has collected all his chits and ideas in one exquisitely crafted neo-noir western, "Ain't Them Bodies Saints." The title was a misreading of an old American folk song; Lowery felt that it captured the right "classical, regional" feel, he said at the Saturday premiere press conference. While it's easy to compare this movie to Terrence Malick's "Badlands" in terms of its content-- two young bank robbers trying to grab happiness as their future disappears--and its magic hour photography...
- 1/21/2013
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Texas-based filmmaker David Lowery has been at the center of the indie scene for some time now, and not just because of his excellent 2009 directorial debut St. Nick and that film’s much lauded follow-up, the 2011 short Pioneer. Check out Lowery’s IMDb page and you’ll discover that he has worked extensively on dozens of other projects over the past few years – as editor on Amy Seimetz’s Sun Don’t Shine and Dustin Guy Defa’s Bad Fever, as cinematographer on Frank Ross’ Audrey the Trainwreck, even as sound recordist for Kentucker Audley’s Open Five. With Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, Lowery’s …...
- 1/20/2013
- by Dan Schoenbrun
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Here's the latest in Austin and Texas film news.
Former Austinite Elizabeth Mims' film Only the Young made the National Board of Review's Top 5 Documentaries, IndieWire reports. Austinite Richard Linklater's Bernie and Texas native Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom were on the group's Top 10 Independent Films.In distribution news, Tribeca Films has acquired the North American rights to sometimes-Austinite actor/filmmaker Alex Karpovsky's films Rubberneck and Red Flag, with plans to release both in select theatrical and VOD platforms this February.Following the success of Boneboys, Texas filmmakers Duane Graves and Justin Meeks are back in the saddle again with a dark Western, Red on Yella, Kill a Fella, according to The Austin Chronicle. Joe O'Connell visited and took photos on the film's set. The six-week shoot took place at various locations in Texas, including the Northeast Austin living history site Pioneer Farms. Inspired by true events,...
Former Austinite Elizabeth Mims' film Only the Young made the National Board of Review's Top 5 Documentaries, IndieWire reports. Austinite Richard Linklater's Bernie and Texas native Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom were on the group's Top 10 Independent Films.In distribution news, Tribeca Films has acquired the North American rights to sometimes-Austinite actor/filmmaker Alex Karpovsky's films Rubberneck and Red Flag, with plans to release both in select theatrical and VOD platforms this February.Following the success of Boneboys, Texas filmmakers Duane Graves and Justin Meeks are back in the saddle again with a dark Western, Red on Yella, Kill a Fella, according to The Austin Chronicle. Joe O'Connell visited and took photos on the film's set. The six-week shoot took place at various locations in Texas, including the Northeast Austin living history site Pioneer Farms. Inspired by true events,...
- 12/10/2012
- by Jordan Gass-Poore'
- Slackerwood
Rooney Mara, Ben Foster and Casey Affleck. Those three names tied to one movie should be enough reason alone for you to go see it, but in a "Bonnie & Clyde"-esque, '70s set drama? Yeah, we're definitely in. The trio are starring in "Ain't Them Bodies Saints," which shot over the summer and is gearing up to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Janaury. The project comes from writer and director David Lowery, whose short film "Pioneer" won the 2011 Grand Jury Award at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival. 'Saints' is something he developed as part of the Creative Producing Labs and Creative Producing Summit at Sundance, and he has certainly taken it over the finish line in a pretty spectactular way. Here's the official synopsis: In the tradition of Badlands and Bonnie & Clyde, Ain't Them Bodies Saints tells the story of Bob Muldoon and Ruth Guthrie, two young outlaws...
- 11/28/2012
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
He premiered his much talked about award-winning short film Pioneer at Sundance and SXSW in 2011, but film (all aspects of it) has been running in David Lowery’s veins for more than a decade now – its worth checking out his IMDb credits). Among Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film of 2011, the filmmaker has been on the fast track with his latest project – commencing 2012 at January Sundance Screenwriters Lab, picking up a slew of experienced indie producers (see impressive list below) and he began filming in the summer. Ain’t Them Bodies Saints has been in post since August (see tweet pic from the filmmaker above). Also worth noting: along with the brilliant technical folk behind the camera in Cinematographer Bradford Young and Production Designer Jade Healy, the pic includes such actors as Rooney Mara, Ben Foster and Casey Affleck – not a bad trio for a first film.
Gist:...
Gist:...
- 11/19/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
“In Production” is a regular column which focuses on notable independent films that are currently shooting.
Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford), Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Ben Foster (Here) are among the impressive cast members assembled for newcomer David Lowery’s second feature, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints. Currently shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, the drama-thriller has been described as a modern day Bonnie and Clyde. Coming off the success of his short film Pioneer (which got him on Filmmaker‘s “25 New Faces” list in 2011), Lowery developed Ain’t Them Bodies Saints at the Sundance Labs – always an indication of a promising film. Having a slew of successful indie producers involved doesn’t hurt either. Parts and Labor’s Jay Van Hoy and Lars Knudsen (Beginners) are producing along with Primary Productions’ Amy Kaufman (Sin Nombre), Sailor Bear’s Toby...
Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford), Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Ben Foster (Here) are among the impressive cast members assembled for newcomer David Lowery’s second feature, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints. Currently shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, the drama-thriller has been described as a modern day Bonnie and Clyde. Coming off the success of his short film Pioneer (which got him on Filmmaker‘s “25 New Faces” list in 2011), Lowery developed Ain’t Them Bodies Saints at the Sundance Labs – always an indication of a promising film. Having a slew of successful indie producers involved doesn’t hurt either. Parts and Labor’s Jay Van Hoy and Lars Knudsen (Beginners) are producing along with Primary Productions’ Amy Kaufman (Sin Nombre), Sailor Bear’s Toby...
- 8/7/2012
- by Byron Camacho
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Evolution Independent, Lagniappe and Paradox Entertainment announce today that principal photography has begun on the new dramatic thriller Ain.T Them Bodies Saints, which was written and is being directed by David Lowery (.Pioneer.) and stars Academy Award-nominees Rooney Mara (.The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.) and Casey Affleck (.The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.), and multiple award-winner Ben Foster (.3:10 To Yuma.). The film tells the story of Bob Muldoon (Affleck) and Ruth Guthrie (Mara), two young outlaws who are brought down by the law in the hills of Texas.
The financing of the picture was split three ways between Evolution Independent, Paradox Entertainment and Lagniappe, and was executive produced by Mark Burg (.Saw.) and Mike Menchel for Evolution Independent, Daniel Wagner (.Broken City.) and Fredrik Malmberg (.Let Me In.) for Paradox, and Logan Levy (.A Case of You.) and Jesse Kennedy (.Brooklyn.s Finest.) for Lagniappe.
The financing of the picture was split three ways between Evolution Independent, Paradox Entertainment and Lagniappe, and was executive produced by Mark Burg (.Saw.) and Mike Menchel for Evolution Independent, Daniel Wagner (.Broken City.) and Fredrik Malmberg (.Let Me In.) for Paradox, and Logan Levy (.A Case of You.) and Jesse Kennedy (.Brooklyn.s Finest.) for Lagniappe.
- 7/23/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Principal photography has officially begun on David Lowery's dramatic thriller, Ain't Them Bodies Saints , Evolution Independent, Lagniappe and Paradox Entertainment announced today. Already announced to star Rooney Mara ( The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ), Casey Affleck ( The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford ) and Ben Foster ( 3:10 To Yuma ), the production has announced the addition of Nate Parker ( Red Tails ) and Keith Carradine ( Cowboys and Aliens ). The film tells the story of Bob Muldoon (Affleck) and Ruth Guthrie (Mara), two young outlaws who are brought down by the law in the hills of Texas. The film began shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana on July 9th and is produced by James Johnston ( St. Nick ) and Toby Halbrook ( Pioneer ) for Sailor Bear;...
- 7/23/2012
- Comingsoon.net
A number of our favorite independent films of the year are screening this week at the Northside Festival, a Brooklyn-based film and music event that gathers a number of film organizations, includuing Filmmaker, to guest curate some of its programming. Filmmaker‘s night is Wednesday, when we screen in its New York premiere Andrew Neel’s wickedly funny King Kelly (pictured) and Jeremiah Zagar & Nathan Caswell’s haunting short, Remains, but there are a number of other favorites dotted throughout the schedule. For example, tonight there’s one of the best documentaries of the year, Ashley Sabin and David Redmon’s Girl Model (presented by Pov) as well Ryan O’Nan’s warm and spirited Ifp Lab project, The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best (presented by Oscilloscope and Rooftop Films). Also tonight is the Cuban artist doc Unfinished Spaces, which you’ll read about in the next issue of the magazine,...
- 6/18/2012
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Texas filmmaker James M. Johnston is quite up-and-coming! In just a few years several of his short films have been featured at dozens of festivals including his latest project Knife, which premiered at the 2011 Sarasota Film Festival and screened in his home state during the 2012 SXSW.
Johnston also produced the short film Pioneer, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival, and was recently selected as a Sundance Institute Feature Film Creative Producing Fellow.
Dread Central had the opportunity to sit down for an extensive chat with Johnston about his latest directorial effort, Knife, and learned more about his atmospheric rural Texas tale centered around an unnamed man (Charles Baker) who must face the dangerous consequences of the rising anger inside of him.
During our interview we heard from Johnston about his blossoming career as an independent filmmaker as well as more about his latest short film...
Johnston also produced the short film Pioneer, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival, and was recently selected as a Sundance Institute Feature Film Creative Producing Fellow.
Dread Central had the opportunity to sit down for an extensive chat with Johnston about his latest directorial effort, Knife, and learned more about his atmospheric rural Texas tale centered around an unnamed man (Charles Baker) who must face the dangerous consequences of the rising anger inside of him.
During our interview we heard from Johnston about his blossoming career as an independent filmmaker as well as more about his latest short film...
- 5/2/2012
- by thehorrorchick
- DreadCentral.com
Here's the latest in Austin and Texas film news.
Austin-based director Richard Linklater's latest film Bernie opened on Friday in limited runs in New York, L.A. and Austin (at Violet Crown). The Austin Chronicle reported the result: the best opening weekend ever for a Linklater feature. Needless to say, Bernie killed at the box office with more than $30,000 estimated per screen ($90,400 total).IndieWIRE reported that Dallas filmmaker David Lowery is set to write and direct the Rooney Mara (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Ben Foster, Casey Affleck flick Ain't Them Bodies Saints. Lowery's short film Pioneer (Jette's article) won the Grand Jury Award at SXSW 2011 and his feature debut, St. Nick (Jette's article), was a 2007 Texas Filmmakers Production Fund recipient. Ain't Them Bodies Saints, a project of the 2011 Creative Producing Labs and Creative Producing Summit at Sundance, tells the story of a 1970s outlaw who escapes from prison...
Austin-based director Richard Linklater's latest film Bernie opened on Friday in limited runs in New York, L.A. and Austin (at Violet Crown). The Austin Chronicle reported the result: the best opening weekend ever for a Linklater feature. Needless to say, Bernie killed at the box office with more than $30,000 estimated per screen ($90,400 total).IndieWIRE reported that Dallas filmmaker David Lowery is set to write and direct the Rooney Mara (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Ben Foster, Casey Affleck flick Ain't Them Bodies Saints. Lowery's short film Pioneer (Jette's article) won the Grand Jury Award at SXSW 2011 and his feature debut, St. Nick (Jette's article), was a 2007 Texas Filmmakers Production Fund recipient. Ain't Them Bodies Saints, a project of the 2011 Creative Producing Labs and Creative Producing Summit at Sundance, tells the story of a 1970s outlaw who escapes from prison...
- 5/1/2012
- by Jordan Gass-Poore'
- Slackerwood
David Lowery, one of Filmmaker’s 2011 “25 New Faces,” is set to direct a new, “contemporary western” that teams him with three others from our annual talent survey. As announced by Deadline, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints is set to star Rooney Mara (picked for our 2009 list) and will be produced by a team including Jay Van Hoy and Lars Knudsen (from our 2006 list). Ben Foster and Casey Affleck are also attached; James Johnston, Toby Halbrooks, Amy Kaufman also produce; and the pic is repped by Wme Global. Evolution Independent’s Cassian Elwes is putting together the financing.
Lowery’s Pioneer was one of my two favorite shorts from last year, and Lowery is also an Ifp Narrative Lab alumni. Fellow director James Ponsoldt interviewed Lowery for Filmmaker about the short here. Lowery, who also edits and makes music videos, also keeps an excellent blog.
Takeaway for filmmakers: make something great.
Lowery’s Pioneer was one of my two favorite shorts from last year, and Lowery is also an Ifp Narrative Lab alumni. Fellow director James Ponsoldt interviewed Lowery for Filmmaker about the short here. Lowery, who also edits and makes music videos, also keeps an excellent blog.
Takeaway for filmmakers: make something great.
- 4/30/2012
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Rooney Mara, Ben Foster and Casey Affleck are attached to star in the feature "Ain't Them Bodies Saints" reports Deadline.
David Lowery has written and will direct this expansion of his own award-winning 16-minute short "Pioneer" which screened at Sundance and SXSW last year.
That short starred Will Oldham as a father who tells his little boy the most epic bedtime story ever. James Johnson, Toby Halbrooks, Amy Kaufman, Lars Knudsen and Jay Van Hoy are producing.
David Lowery has written and will direct this expansion of his own award-winning 16-minute short "Pioneer" which screened at Sundance and SXSW last year.
That short starred Will Oldham as a father who tells his little boy the most epic bedtime story ever. James Johnson, Toby Halbrooks, Amy Kaufman, Lars Knudsen and Jay Van Hoy are producing.
- 4/28/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
After a busy week, you'll excuse Rooney Mara's agents if they turn off their cell phones and have a much earned nap. In the last few days the actress has signed on to replace Carey Mulligan in Spike Jonze's upcoming film and taken a lead role in the upcoming adaptation of Colm Toibin's "Brooklyn." And now to close off the week, she's landed another gig that will see her star opposite two of our favorite actors.
Deadline reports that Mara will join Ben Foster and Casey Affleck in "Ain't Them Bodies Saints." Set to be written and directed by David Lowery, the project was part of last summer's Creative Producing Labs and Creative Producing Summit at Sundance, and it boasts a pretty great premise. Set in the 1970s, the film tells the story of an outlaw who escapes from prison and sets out across the Texas countryside...
Deadline reports that Mara will join Ben Foster and Casey Affleck in "Ain't Them Bodies Saints." Set to be written and directed by David Lowery, the project was part of last summer's Creative Producing Labs and Creative Producing Summit at Sundance, and it boasts a pretty great premise. Set in the 1970s, the film tells the story of an outlaw who escapes from prison and sets out across the Texas countryside...
- 4/28/2012
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
At SXSW a panel titled “The Great Cinematography Shootout” gathered a group of directors and cinematographers to discuss independent film lensing in an age of proliferating formats and lower-cost, high-quality cameras, like the Canon 5D. The directors of photography were Jody Lee Lipes (Girls, Tiny Furniture, and also the director of Opus Jazz), James Laxton (Medicine for Melancholy, Leave Me Like You Found Me), Clay Lifford (Gayby, and also the director of such films as Wuss and Earthling), Pj Raval (Trouble the Water, Sunset Stories, and also the director of Trinidad); and filmmaker, editor and d.p. David Lowery (Pioneer, and, as d.p. Audrey the Trainwreck). Here, from the d.p.’s, are ten tips for those looking to shoot smart-looking films on a low budget.
1. Let the camera create the atmosphere. The small form factor of the Dslr “changes everything, including the mood on the set and the performances,...
1. Let the camera create the atmosphere. The small form factor of the Dslr “changes everything, including the mood on the set and the performances,...
- 3/14/2012
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
This second part of my SXSW shorts coverage takes a marked musical turn, including a number of music videos, a short with no dialogue, and an adaptation starring Luther Campbell of 2 Live Crew. In case you missed it, you can go back and read Part One.
Christeene: African Mayonnaise (Music Videos)
If you're not familiar with Christeene Vale, this latest music video from the outrageous Texan drag queen is a great introduction. Performing first in the mall, she is chased out by a mall cop on a Segway and then moves on to other recognizable Austin locations. This is the most in-your-face drag queen you're likely to find, and I only hope I'm fortunate enough to witness a live performance at some point. Directed by Austin filmmaker and cinematographer Pj Raval.
Knife (Texas Shorts)
Rich, immersive sound mixing is integral to this short, which tells a story without the use of dialogue.
Christeene: African Mayonnaise (Music Videos)
If you're not familiar with Christeene Vale, this latest music video from the outrageous Texan drag queen is a great introduction. Performing first in the mall, she is chased out by a mall cop on a Segway and then moves on to other recognizable Austin locations. This is the most in-your-face drag queen you're likely to find, and I only hope I'm fortunate enough to witness a live performance at some point. Directed by Austin filmmaker and cinematographer Pj Raval.
Knife (Texas Shorts)
Rich, immersive sound mixing is integral to this short, which tells a story without the use of dialogue.
- 3/8/2012
- by Mike Saulters
- Slackerwood
Here's the latest Austin and Central Texas movie news.
Drafthouse Films, the distribution arm of the Alamo Drafthouse franchise, recently announced the company has entered a U.S. distribution deal with Image Entertainment, Inc. This will make it easier for Drafthouse Films to release new movies and repertory films via a number of platforms (home video, TV, etc.). The California-based company is considered a leading licensee and distributor of North American independent entertainment programming. Image Entertainment's library of licensed movie titles includes the Criterion Collection, various horror movies (they're releasing SXSW 2011 selection Little Deaths soon) and classic films like 12 Angry Men and Design for Living.In addition, Drafthouse Films has acquired the North American rights to a pair of movies that played Fantastic Fest this year: the Oscar-nominated Belgian drama, Bullhead (Debbie's review), and the international hit comedy, Clown: The Movie. While Bullhead concerns itself with a shady deal...
Drafthouse Films, the distribution arm of the Alamo Drafthouse franchise, recently announced the company has entered a U.S. distribution deal with Image Entertainment, Inc. This will make it easier for Drafthouse Films to release new movies and repertory films via a number of platforms (home video, TV, etc.). The California-based company is considered a leading licensee and distributor of North American independent entertainment programming. Image Entertainment's library of licensed movie titles includes the Criterion Collection, various horror movies (they're releasing SXSW 2011 selection Little Deaths soon) and classic films like 12 Angry Men and Design for Living.In addition, Drafthouse Films has acquired the North American rights to a pair of movies that played Fantastic Fest this year: the Oscar-nominated Belgian drama, Bullhead (Debbie's review), and the international hit comedy, Clown: The Movie. While Bullhead concerns itself with a shady deal...
- 11/10/2011
- by Jordan Gass-Poore'
- Slackerwood
Filmmaker David Lowery (Pioneer, St. Nick) has an interesting piece on his blog today comparing the storytelling engines in Sean Durkin’s Martha Marcy May Marlene and Julia Leigh’s Sleeping Beauty. Martha, he argues, deliberately builds tension by withholding key information, while Sleeping Beauty lays everything on the table up front in an attempt to diffuse tension and focus deeper on story, theme, and character.
In the article, Lowery also defends Martha against Richard Brody’s recent New Yorker blog post (a response in itself to Anthony Lane’s review of the film) in which Brody argued that the film’s flashback-heavy narrative structure was little more than an excuse to mine cheap thrills from the viewer. Lowery counters by arguing that Durkin’s storytelling is quite precise, even masterful. He writes:
“(Brody’s) assessment is basically correct, except that the trade-off Brody suggests Durkin made is not for a better film,...
In the article, Lowery also defends Martha against Richard Brody’s recent New Yorker blog post (a response in itself to Anthony Lane’s review of the film) in which Brody argued that the film’s flashback-heavy narrative structure was little more than an excuse to mine cheap thrills from the viewer. Lowery counters by arguing that Durkin’s storytelling is quite precise, even masterful. He writes:
“(Brody’s) assessment is basically correct, except that the trade-off Brody suggests Durkin made is not for a better film,...
- 11/7/2011
- by Dan Schoenbrun
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
With The Turin Horse opening in France on November 30 and the Béla Tarr retrospective at the Centre Pompidou running from December 3 through January 2, Capricci will be releasing Jacques Rancière's Béla Tarr, le temps d'après on November 29.
David Lynch's new album, Crazy Clown Time (which, again, you can listen to in full at NPR for the time being), has the Guardian building an annex to its special section on Lynch, "David Lynch's Film&Music," wherein you'll find Xan Brooks's interview, Cath Clarke on the newly rediscovered 50 minutes of never-before-seen footage from Blue Velvet (they'll be "re-edited — supervised by Lynch — into an extra on a new DVD celebrating the film's 25th anniversary (available early next year in the UK)," Michael Hann listening in while Lynch and Zz Top's Billy Gibbons discuss "the beauty and power of industry" and more. Related listening: Lynch and 'Big' Dean Hurley's mixtape at Pitchfork.
David Lynch's new album, Crazy Clown Time (which, again, you can listen to in full at NPR for the time being), has the Guardian building an annex to its special section on Lynch, "David Lynch's Film&Music," wherein you'll find Xan Brooks's interview, Cath Clarke on the newly rediscovered 50 minutes of never-before-seen footage from Blue Velvet (they'll be "re-edited — supervised by Lynch — into an extra on a new DVD celebrating the film's 25th anniversary (available early next year in the UK)," Michael Hann listening in while Lynch and Zz Top's Billy Gibbons discuss "the beauty and power of industry" and more. Related listening: Lynch and 'Big' Dean Hurley's mixtape at Pitchfork.
- 11/4/2011
- MUBI
Liv Mjönes, Ruth Vega Fernandez, With Every Heartbeat Breakthrough Selections Expecting: In Chile, a young girl and her boyfriend wait for a black-market drug to take effect in this tense and insightful examination of teen pregnancy. Dir/Scr Francisca Fuenzalida. Chile. U.S. Premiere. Light Of Mine: Rapidly going blind, photographer Owen and his wife Laura take a life-changing trip to Yellowstone National Park where they experience a beauty that rivals their tragedy. Dir Brett Eichenberger. Scr Jill Remensnyder. USA. Three And A Half: Three women risk everything and travel to the northwest Iranian border in hopes of escaping prison and reuniting with their comrades. Dir/Scr Naghi Nemati. Cast Samaneh Vafaiezadeh, Shooka Karimi, Negar Hassanzadeh, Mehdi Poormoosa. Iran. U.S. Premiere. With Every Heartbeat: In this Swedish romantic drama, uptight Mia attends her father’s engagement party and not only gains a stepmother, but also a new lover,...
- 10/23/2011
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
The 11th annual Nevada City Film Festival, running Aug. 18-21, is four nights crammed full with short films, several feature-length documentaries, one dramatic feature, stand-up comedy performances and more surprises, all nestled within the rolling hills of Northern California.
The fest opens with the feature documentary Someplace With a Mountain, directed by Steve Goodall and narrated by Chevy Chase. The film tells the story of the embattled people of the Puluwat atoll who are besieged by the Pacific Ocean itself. Rising waters due to global warming are making their land slowly disappear beneath the waves.
Other feature docs include music-based films We Are Wizards, directed by Josh Koury, about the oddball phenomenon of rock bands that only craft songs about the world of Harry Potter; and Everyday Sunshine, directed by Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler, which profiles the legendary ska punk band Fishbone that continues to bring their enthusiastic music to the masses.
The fest opens with the feature documentary Someplace With a Mountain, directed by Steve Goodall and narrated by Chevy Chase. The film tells the story of the embattled people of the Puluwat atoll who are besieged by the Pacific Ocean itself. Rising waters due to global warming are making their land slowly disappear beneath the waves.
Other feature docs include music-based films We Are Wizards, directed by Josh Koury, about the oddball phenomenon of rock bands that only craft songs about the world of Harry Potter; and Everyday Sunshine, directed by Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler, which profiles the legendary ska punk band Fishbone that continues to bring their enthusiastic music to the masses.
- 8/17/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Here's the latest Austin film news.
Filmmaker Magazine has named this year's "25 New Faces of Independent Film," and a couple of those faces are very familiar here in Austin. Local filmmaker Joe Nicolosi is the mastermind behind the very funny bumpers at this year's SXSW Film Festival, and Dfw-area filmmaker David Lowery was also at SXSW 2011 this year with his short film Pioneer. Speaking of SXSW 2011, local feature Natural Selection (Debbie's review), which won several awards at the fest, has been picked up for U.S. theatrical and DVD distribution by Cinema Guild. The release date is set as "this fall," and I'll let you know when more info is available about an Austin release date.And have we mentioned yet that Richard Linklater's latest film, Bernie, has found distribution? Millenium Films picked up the dark comedy, which was shot in Central Texas and stars Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine.
Filmmaker Magazine has named this year's "25 New Faces of Independent Film," and a couple of those faces are very familiar here in Austin. Local filmmaker Joe Nicolosi is the mastermind behind the very funny bumpers at this year's SXSW Film Festival, and Dfw-area filmmaker David Lowery was also at SXSW 2011 this year with his short film Pioneer. Speaking of SXSW 2011, local feature Natural Selection (Debbie's review), which won several awards at the fest, has been picked up for U.S. theatrical and DVD distribution by Cinema Guild. The release date is set as "this fall," and I'll let you know when more info is available about an Austin release date.And have we mentioned yet that Richard Linklater's latest film, Bernie, has found distribution? Millenium Films picked up the dark comedy, which was shot in Central Texas and stars Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine.
- 7/26/2011
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
"The indie Texan filmmaker David Lowery receives a double bill at the reRun Gastropub Theater in Dumbo, Brooklyn, and while Pioneer, a 16-minute short, and St Nick, an 86-minute feature, don't provide hard answers to their mysteries, both are deeply intriguing," writes Andy Webster in the New York Times. Regarding St Nick, a "potentially stifling ambience is deflected by quiet suspense and the awe-inspiring compositions of the cinematographer, Clay Liford. Decaying rustic interiors evoke Andrew Wyeth still lifes; pastoral long shots suggest a Southwestern walkabout. And Mr Lowery seems ready for a bigger canvas."
"Obliquely charting the terror, loneliness, and liberation of navigating a cold, callous grown-up world, St Nick follows nameless brother and sister runaways (played by real-life siblings Tucker and Savanna Sears) who take up impermanent residence in an empty Texas house," writes Nick Schager in Slant. "David Lowery's debut feature is long on silence and laden...
"Obliquely charting the terror, loneliness, and liberation of navigating a cold, callous grown-up world, St Nick follows nameless brother and sister runaways (played by real-life siblings Tucker and Savanna Sears) who take up impermanent residence in an empty Texas house," writes Nick Schager in Slant. "David Lowery's debut feature is long on silence and laden...
- 4/23/2011
- MUBI
I didn't get to see many SXSW short films this year, but I made sure to find time for Pioneer, the latest from Dallas-area filmmaker David Lowery, which won the Narrative Shorts Jury Award at SXSW. Lowery did most of the SXSW 2010 bumpers (the micro-shorts promoting the fest that play before each film), and also directed one of my favorite features of SXSW 2009, St. Nick.
Pioneer premiered at Sundance this year. It's minimalist in setup -- theoretically, a simple bedtime story scene between a father and son. But the film is beautifully shot by David Blood, and the outcome of the short itself will have you thinking for awhile afterward. Myles Brooks plays the little boy, and Will Oldham the dad. It's Brooks's first time onscreen, but Oldham has acted in a number of indie films (Wendy and Lucy, The Guatamalan Handshake) but is also a musician under the name Bonnie Prince Billy.
Pioneer premiered at Sundance this year. It's minimalist in setup -- theoretically, a simple bedtime story scene between a father and son. But the film is beautifully shot by David Blood, and the outcome of the short itself will have you thinking for awhile afterward. Myles Brooks plays the little boy, and Will Oldham the dad. It's Brooks's first time onscreen, but Oldham has acted in a number of indie films (Wendy and Lucy, The Guatamalan Handshake) but is also a musician under the name Bonnie Prince Billy.
- 4/4/2011
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
The Independent Film Festival of Boston [1] recently released their full line-up and it's a doozy. Sundance favorites such as The Future [2] and Submarine [3] will be there, along with awesome documentaries like Being Elmo [4] (With Elmo In Attendance!!!) and Page One: A Year Inside the New York Times [5]. I'm looking forward to films I wasn't able to catch at Sundance and SXSW, such as the legal documentary Hot Coffee, the heartbreaking How to Die in Oregon, and the new fascinating Conan O'Brien film. Takashi Miike's 13 Assassins [6] also looks like it will rock the house. The full line-up is below. The festival is April 27th through May 4th, and it's one of my favorite movie events of the year. If you live anywhere in New England, I invite you to come and check it out. You can follow IFFBoston on Facebook for updates [7] or buy your passes now [8]! Narrative Features 13 Assassins...
- 3/25/2011
- by David Chen
- Slash Film
Jury and Audience Award winners were announced this evening at the South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival.
Robbie Pickering‘s look at a Texas woman’s journey to self-discovery, Natural Selection, won the Grand Jury prize in the Narrative Feature competition (it also won the Audience Award) while Tristan Patterson‘s film on skateboarders in the California suburbs, Dragonslayer, won the prize on the doc side.
New for 2011, films in competition were also eligible for jury awards for Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Score/Music, and Best Screenplay and Breakthrough Performance for narrative films (all going to Natural Selection except for Best Cinematography which was won by Elliot Davis for A Year in Mooring. Evan Ross of 96 Minutes was also recognized in Breakthrough Performance).
Read Lone Star States, 24 Beats Per Second and Midnighters Audience Awards winners.
The compete list of 2011 SXSW Film Festival award winners are below. Read our...
Robbie Pickering‘s look at a Texas woman’s journey to self-discovery, Natural Selection, won the Grand Jury prize in the Narrative Feature competition (it also won the Audience Award) while Tristan Patterson‘s film on skateboarders in the California suburbs, Dragonslayer, won the prize on the doc side.
New for 2011, films in competition were also eligible for jury awards for Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Score/Music, and Best Screenplay and Breakthrough Performance for narrative films (all going to Natural Selection except for Best Cinematography which was won by Elliot Davis for A Year in Mooring. Evan Ross of 96 Minutes was also recognized in Breakthrough Performance).
Read Lone Star States, 24 Beats Per Second and Midnighters Audience Awards winners.
The compete list of 2011 SXSW Film Festival award winners are below. Read our...
- 3/19/2011
- by Jason Guerrasio
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Last night (even though SXSW runs into the weekend) the Jury and Audience Award-winners were announced during the award's ceremony which was hosted by comedian Owen Egerton. We've got the full list of all the winners from the festival, but filmmaker Robbie Pickering won big with his Natural Selection taking home both the Audience and Grand Jury Awards.
Documentary Feature Competition
Grand Jury Winner: Dragonslayer
Director: Tristan Patterson
Best Editing: Where Soldiers Come From
Editors: Kyle Henry & Heather Courtney
Best Cinematography: Dragonslayer
Director of Photography: Eric Koretz
Best Score/Music: The City Dark
Music by: The Fishermen Three, Ben Fries
Narrative Feature Competition
Grand Jury Winner: Natural Selection
Director: Robbie Pickering
Breakthrough Performances:
Evan Ross – 96 Minutes
Rachael Harris – Natural Selection
Matt O’Leary – Natural Selection
Best Screenplay: Natural Selection
Writer: Robbie Pickering
Best Editing: Natural Selection
Editor: Michelle Tesoro
Best Cinematography: A Year in Mooring
Director of Photography: Elliot Davis...
Documentary Feature Competition
Grand Jury Winner: Dragonslayer
Director: Tristan Patterson
Best Editing: Where Soldiers Come From
Editors: Kyle Henry & Heather Courtney
Best Cinematography: Dragonslayer
Director of Photography: Eric Koretz
Best Score/Music: The City Dark
Music by: The Fishermen Three, Ben Fries
Narrative Feature Competition
Grand Jury Winner: Natural Selection
Director: Robbie Pickering
Breakthrough Performances:
Evan Ross – 96 Minutes
Rachael Harris – Natural Selection
Matt O’Leary – Natural Selection
Best Screenplay: Natural Selection
Writer: Robbie Pickering
Best Editing: Natural Selection
Editor: Michelle Tesoro
Best Cinematography: A Year in Mooring
Director of Photography: Elliot Davis...
- 3/16/2011
- Cinelinx
Austin, Texas, filmmaker Robbie Pickering’s “Natural Selection” was named Best Narrative Feature by both jurors and the audience and took home a total of seven honors at the annual South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival awards ceremony Tuesday night at the Vimeo Theater in the Austin Convention Center. (Pickering writes for Moving Pictures about the making of “Natural Selection” here.)
Meanwhile, director Tristan Patterson’s “Dragonslayer” was chosen as the Best Documentary Feature, while Vikram Gandhi’s “Kumaré” was the audience’s pick in the Documentary Feature category.
“Natural Selection” is the story of Linda White (Rachael Harris), a barren Christian housewife, whose world is turned upside-down when she discovers that her dying husband, Abe (John Diehl), has a 23-year old illegitimate son named Raymond (Matt O’Leary) living in Florida. On the edge of guilt and loneliness, Linda grants Abe’s final wish and sets off on...
Meanwhile, director Tristan Patterson’s “Dragonslayer” was chosen as the Best Documentary Feature, while Vikram Gandhi’s “Kumaré” was the audience’s pick in the Documentary Feature category.
“Natural Selection” is the story of Linda White (Rachael Harris), a barren Christian housewife, whose world is turned upside-down when she discovers that her dying husband, Abe (John Diehl), has a 23-year old illegitimate son named Raymond (Matt O’Leary) living in Florida. On the edge of guilt and loneliness, Linda grants Abe’s final wish and sets off on...
- 3/16/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Magazine
Austin, Texas, filmmaker Robbie Pickering’s “Natural Selection” was named Best Narrative Feature by both jurors and the audience and took home a total of seven honors at the annual South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival awards ceremony Tuesday night at the Vimeo Theater in the Austin Convention Center. (Pickering writes for Moving Pictures about the making of “Natural Selection” here.)
Meanwhile, director Tristan Patterson’s “Dragonslayer” was chosen as the Best Documentary Feature, while Vikram Gandhi’s “Kumaré” was the audience’s pick in the Documentary Feature category.
“Natural Selection” is the story of Linda White (Rachael Harris), a barren Christian housewife, whose world is turned upside-down when she discovers that her dying husband, Abe (John Diehl), has a 23-year old illegitimate son named Raymond (Matt O’Leary) living in Florida. On the edge of guilt and loneliness, Linda grants Abe’s final wish and sets off on...
Meanwhile, director Tristan Patterson’s “Dragonslayer” was chosen as the Best Documentary Feature, while Vikram Gandhi’s “Kumaré” was the audience’s pick in the Documentary Feature category.
“Natural Selection” is the story of Linda White (Rachael Harris), a barren Christian housewife, whose world is turned upside-down when she discovers that her dying husband, Abe (John Diehl), has a 23-year old illegitimate son named Raymond (Matt O’Leary) living in Florida. On the edge of guilt and loneliness, Linda grants Abe’s final wish and sets off on...
- 3/16/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Network
Last night, the SXSW Film Festival presented most of its awards, except for a few audience awards. It's a pleasure to see Austin-connected films all over the list. Natural Selection, shot in nearby Smithville, practically swept the Narrative Feature categories, including the Audience Award; while former/sometimes Austinites Kyle Henry and Heather Courtney won the Best Editing award in the Documentary Feature category for Where Soldiers Come From. (I agree that the editing in that film is absolutely amazing.) The Narrative Shorts jury award went to Pioneer from Dallas filmmaker David Lowery, a short that premiered at Sundance this year.
In the Texas-specific awards categories, Steve Mims and Joe Bailey's documentary Incendiary: The Willingham Case (pictured above) won the Louis Black Lone Star Award. The Texas Shorts jury award winner was 8, directed by Julie Gould and Daniel Laabs, which Don Clinchy says was "the most poignant and bittersweet film...
In the Texas-specific awards categories, Steve Mims and Joe Bailey's documentary Incendiary: The Willingham Case (pictured above) won the Louis Black Lone Star Award. The Texas Shorts jury award winner was 8, directed by Julie Gould and Daniel Laabs, which Don Clinchy says was "the most poignant and bittersweet film...
- 3/16/2011
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
Still from Natural Selection which took home the Grand Jury Award, Audience Award and other awards in the Narrative Feature category
The Jury and Audience Award-winners of the 2011 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival were announced tonight at the Festival’s Awards Ceremony, hosted by comedian Owen Egerton in Austin, Texas. Feature Films receiving Jury Awards were selected from the Narrative Feature and Documentary Feature categories. New for 2011, films in competition were also eligible for Jury Awards for Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Score/Music, Best Screenplay (narratives) and Breakthrough Performance (narratives). Films in these categories, as well as Spotlight Premieres, Emerging Visions, Midnighters, Lone Star States and 24 Beats Per Second, were also eligible for 2011 SXSW Film Festival Audience Awards. Only Narrative and Documentary Feature, Spotlight Premieres and Emerging Visions Audience Awards were announced tonight. Lone Star States, 24 Beats Per Second and Midnighters Audience Awards will be announced separately on Saturday,...
The Jury and Audience Award-winners of the 2011 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival were announced tonight at the Festival’s Awards Ceremony, hosted by comedian Owen Egerton in Austin, Texas. Feature Films receiving Jury Awards were selected from the Narrative Feature and Documentary Feature categories. New for 2011, films in competition were also eligible for Jury Awards for Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Score/Music, Best Screenplay (narratives) and Breakthrough Performance (narratives). Films in these categories, as well as Spotlight Premieres, Emerging Visions, Midnighters, Lone Star States and 24 Beats Per Second, were also eligible for 2011 SXSW Film Festival Audience Awards. Only Narrative and Documentary Feature, Spotlight Premieres and Emerging Visions Audience Awards were announced tonight. Lone Star States, 24 Beats Per Second and Midnighters Audience Awards will be announced separately on Saturday,...
- 3/16/2011
- by Alice Gray
- SoundOnSight
The big winner at SXSW Film 2011 was Rachel Harris comedy Natural Selection, which took prizes for screenplay, editing, score and the grand jury prize in the narrative film competition, announced last night. While the Interactive events have come to a close in Austin, music is just starting and film will continue with several encore screenings, The Film Stage will continue its South By Southwest coverage including interviews and reviews. Signaling the festival’s shift to music, two rock documentaries bowed last night – Foo Fighters: Back and Forth and Hit So Hard, at events which included a Foo Fighters secret show at legendary Stubbs following the screening. (As soon as they took the stage, Dave Grohl announced “We’re movie stars now”).
“It’s been completely exciting to witness the overwhelming appreciation and acclaim for the 2011 SXSW Film lineup,” said Film Conference and Festival Producer Janet Pierson. “The unique combination creative talents from music,...
“It’s been completely exciting to witness the overwhelming appreciation and acclaim for the 2011 SXSW Film lineup,” said Film Conference and Festival Producer Janet Pierson. “The unique combination creative talents from music,...
- 3/16/2011
- by John Fink
- The Film Stage
"Natural Selection," an unusual road trip comedy about a woman who fulfills her dying husband's wish to find his long estranged son, was the clear winner at this year's SXSW Film Awards, where it picked up both the Grand Jury Prize for best narrative feature and audience award, in addition to four other awards for breakthrough performances (Rachael Harris and Matt O' Leary), best editing and best score. The narrative features jury was led by Roger Ebert, New York magazine's Logan Hill and Sundance Institute's Michelle Satter. Evan Ross, awarded for breakthrough performance for his turn in the thriller "96 Minutes," and "A Year in Mooring" cinematographer Elliot Davis were the only ones honored to keep "Natural Selection" from a clean sweep.
In the documentary category, Tristan Patterson's coming-of-age documentary "Dragonslayer" took home the top prize and a nod for best cinematography (Eric Koretz) while the more controversial "Kumaré," about...
In the documentary category, Tristan Patterson's coming-of-age documentary "Dragonslayer" took home the top prize and a nod for best cinematography (Eric Koretz) while the more controversial "Kumaré," about...
- 3/16/2011
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
SXSW Film Festival Announces Midnight Features & Shorts
Austin, TX – Today the SXSW Film Festival revealed their Midnight Features & Shorts program.
The Midnighters section of SXSW is known for premiering the work future stars of the horror genre. Filmmakers Eli Roth, and Ti West, are a few notable directors who have had their films screened during the Midnight Features.
”Our midnight programs are the bloody, beating heart of SXSW,” said SXSW Film Conference & Festival Producer Janet Pierson. “Since the beginning, midnight films have been an essential ingredient to what makes SXSW so exciting and fun, and this year’s selections are no exception.”
Out of over 3000 short films submitted, only 150 were chosen, and will screen as part of twelve overall shorts programs.
“After months of reviewing a record number of submissions, we’re tremendously happy to share the final program,” said Shorts Programmers Claudette Godfrey and Stephanie Noone, “The short films...
Austin, TX – Today the SXSW Film Festival revealed their Midnight Features & Shorts program.
The Midnighters section of SXSW is known for premiering the work future stars of the horror genre. Filmmakers Eli Roth, and Ti West, are a few notable directors who have had their films screened during the Midnight Features.
”Our midnight programs are the bloody, beating heart of SXSW,” said SXSW Film Conference & Festival Producer Janet Pierson. “Since the beginning, midnight films have been an essential ingredient to what makes SXSW so exciting and fun, and this year’s selections are no exception.”
Out of over 3000 short films submitted, only 150 were chosen, and will screen as part of twelve overall shorts programs.
“After months of reviewing a record number of submissions, we’re tremendously happy to share the final program,” said Shorts Programmers Claudette Godfrey and Stephanie Noone, “The short films...
- 2/11/2011
- by Albert Art
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Last week, SXSW rolled out its walloping features lineup, and today the festival has announced another round: the Midnighters and SXFantastic sections and so many shorts that they're divided into eight categories. You can explore those categories and the individual titles within them from the announcement, which serves as a sort of portal onto the lot. The one I spotted right off is David Lowery's Pioneer, which I look forward to catching when the festival runs from March 11 through 19. On to the new features…...
- 2/10/2011
- MUBI
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