Austin offers breakers films, experts
by Tina Sanchez, reporter

    Sun, sand and water is where most students head for on spring break, but this year students could start a tradition by taking a short drive to Austin for the South by Southwest (SXSW) 2001 Film Conference and Festival beginning March 9.

    SXSW includes a four-day film conference and a nine-day film festival that rates as the second most important film festival in the United States and fifth in the world.

    The conference and festival are designed for both the independent film community and independent film lover. Registrations are $255 with access to panels, one-on-one mentor sessions and hands-on workshops with film professionals, priority access to the film festival and parties.

    Confirmed panelists include documentarians Alan Berliner, Michael Moore, Penelope Spheeris, D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Smith. Featured panels include a conversation with Rick Linklater, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino.

    Workshops are scheduled with Ruby Lerner, Creative Capital; Larry Estes, Search Party Films; Elvis Mitchell, host of Independent Focus; and Sharon Osbourne, producer.

    The independent film lover can attend screenings of a large number of world and U.S. premieres of some of the best U.S. and international independent films.

    SXSW also features a film/interactive trade show with the latest in film equipment and the hottest companies in new media. The trade show runs Sunday, March 11-Tuesday, March 13.

    Trade show booths include the Screen Actor’s Guild, Cirrus Logic, A to Z Music Services, Dell, Adobe, Business 2.0, 24/7 Media, Bexel, Epoch Internet and Nextel Communications.

    An award ceremony Tuesday, March 13, 8-9:30 p.m., will bring the film festival and conference to a close.

    Awards will be given for best narrative and documentary features and shorts, best animated short, best experimental short, best music video, the audience award for best documentary and narrative feature and the first international competition.

    SXSW.com features trailers for films showing at the festival. The website also offers contact information on attendees. Registrants can search the list by name, city, country, company or occupation.

For a complete list of panels, panelists and films, visit the website at www.sxsw.com.