Every year, thousands of people flock to Austin to network, enjoy the BBQ and watch some of the best new indie films of the year. If you’ve never been, SXSW has something for just about everyone – music, industry-led panels, great food and award winning films. We will be attending SXSW for the tenth year in a row to proudly cheer on the 7 Indiegogo alums featured and to talk about our new initiatives that are helping filmmakers bring their concepts to the big screen.
This year, we are excited to lead a panel that discusses how equity crowdfunding is helping filmmakers access the funds they need. The first equity crowdfunded film in the U.S., The Field Guide to Evil, has already hit its goal and is still going strong. In addition to new funding opportunities, we also launched our new partnership with Morgan Spurlock’s production company, Warrior Poets. With this new partnership, Warrior Poets will identify, develop and produce select documentary films funded through Indiegogo.
Whether you’re attending as a filmmaker to meet others in the industry or just want to see the newest films, here is the complete rundown of the SXSW Film Festival’s 2017 Indiegogo Film lineup:
Documentary Feature Competition:
Bill Frisell, A Portrait
A character portrait of anti-archetype guitar hero, Bill Frisell, this nuanced film traces the ideas and processes that shaped Frisell’s music, and provides rare insight into the mind and personality of one of the significant musicians of recent decades. Full of live music, revealing stories, and intimate access to the normally reclusive Frisell, various collaborations are followed from development to fruition, including the last ever performance of the Paul Motian Trio with Frisell and Joe Lovano. Bill Frisell, A Portrait is still raising funds on Indiegogo, so if you miss it at SXSW, you can still find ways to support it.
Dealt
Sixty-two year old Richard Turner is renowned as one of the world’s greatest card magicians, yet he is completely blind. In this documentary, Richard traces his journey from his troubled childhood, when he began losing his vision, to present day as he relentlessly pursues perfection while struggling with the reality that his biggest weakness might also be his greatest strength. Check it out at SXSW first.
Dear White People (Netflix Series)
“Dear White People” is set against the backdrop of a predominantly white Ivy League university where racial tensions bubble just below the surface. The comedy is a new Netflix series which picks up where the acclaimed 2014 Indiegogo-funded film left off and follows a group of college students of color as they navigate a landscape of social injustice, cultural bias, political correctness and activism in the millennial age. Through an absurdist lens, “Dear White People” uses biting irony, self-deprecation and brutal honesty to hold up a mirror to the issues plaguing society today. This is a must-see at SXSW.
Narrative Competition:
La Barracuda
A young British woman named Sinaloa comes to Texas to find Merle, her half-sister by way of their dead country musician father in the film La Barracuda. Full of family drama, music and mystery, La Barracuda will leave an impression long after SXSW.
Visions
Signature Move
Comedy, wrestling and family secrets – what more can you ask for in a film? Signature Move is a comedic and heartfelt look at modern families and the complexities of love in its many forms. When a Pakistani daughter takes up wrestling and tries to hide it from her recently widowed mother, chaos unfolds. This film is directed by a woman, written by women and about women of color. This is an American story that everyone can enjoy and relate to, see it here at SXSW.
Documentary Spotlight
Walk With Me
With unprecedented access, “Walk With Me” goes deep inside a Zen Buddhist community who practice the art of mindfulness with their world-famous teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh. Filmed over three years in their monastery in rural France and on the road in the USA, this visceral film is a meditation on a community grappling with existential questions and the everyday routine of monastic life. Reflect with the crowd at SXSW.
Narrative Shorts Competition
Submarine
Set at the backdrop of Lebanon’s current garbage crisis and its sociopolitical context, Submarine takes a look at those who find themselves forced to leave their home, and everything it represents. The film follows Hala, who refuses to leave a trash buried Lebanon, works to make change within her own community. Through its colorful characters and lack of leader figure, Hala and this town serve as a microcosm of a country that has lost its glory, and its leaderless generation. Follow her journey at SXSW.
In addition to these incredible films, be sure to check out our great panels by Indiegogo staffers here.
Can’t make it to Austin this year? Don’t worry – there are tons of great films to catch here on Indiegogo.
