SXSW presents the best in new independent films and provides informative panels, workshops, mentor sessions, parties and an industry trade show. Highlights include the premiere of the new film by director Stephen Frears based on the novel by Nick Hornby, High Fidelity, starring John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Lili Taylor, Joan Cusack, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Also being screened is Grass, the U.S. premiere (European premiere at Berlin 2000) of the new documentary from acclaimed Canadian documentarian Ron Mann, narrated by Woody Harrelson; George Wallace: Setting the Woods on FIre, the new documentary about the controversial politician from award winning directors Paul Stekler and Daniel McCabe; Noriega, the world premiere of the new feature film by director Roger Spottiswoode starring Bob Hoskins; American Pimp, the revealing documentary by the Hughes Brothers profiling the dark underworld of prostitution; and the Monte Hellman Retrospective, featuring Two Lane Blacktop, China 9, and other classics.
The four-day Film Conference offers panels and workshops covering a range of issues for today¹s independent filmmakers. Highlights are Robert Rodriguez's Guerrilla Filmmaking panel; the National Association of Latino Independent Producers panel with participants Guillermo del Toro (Cronos), Miguel Arteta (Chuck and Buck) and Carlos Avila ("Foto Novelas" series); a discussion between Chicago Reader film writer Jonathan Rosenbaum and director Richard Linklater...

The winners were announced on Tuesday, March 14, at the State Theatre:
Narrative Feature: tie between Rollercoaster - Dir/scr: Scott Smith and Wildflowers - Dir/Scr: Melissa Painter
Documentary Feature: The Target Shoots First - Dir/Scr/Prod/Ed: Christopher Wilcha
Narrative Short: Five Feet High and Rising - Dir/Scr/DP: Peter Sollett
Documentary Short: Kingdom of Poet O - Dir/Prod: Dennis Karsten
Animated Short: When the Day Breaks - Dir: Wendy Tilby; Amanda Forbis
Experimental Short:The Drowning Room - Dir/Prod: Reynold Reynolds
Music video: Lamb: -- B-line -- Dir: Hammer & Tongs

Audience Award Winners
Narrative Feature: Loving Jezebel -Dir/Scr: Kwyn Bader
Documentary Feature: The Target Shoots First - Dir/Scr/Prod/Ed: Christopher Wilcha

First Films
Narrative: The Woman Chaser - Dir: Robinson Devos
Documentary: Beyond the Mat - Dir/Scr/Prod: Barry W. Blaustein

Senior Programmers' Pick (Special Mention): Dark Days - Dir/DP/Prod: Marc Singer

SXSW présente les meilleurs films indépendants et propose un marché pour les professionnels, des ateliers de travail, des sessions de discussion, et des fêtes bien entendu. Au programme :
La première mondiale du dernier Stephen Frears, High Fidelity, d'après un roman de Nick Hornby, avec John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Lili Taylor, Joan Cusack, et Catherine Zeta-Jones. Pour sa première projection aux Etats-Unis, ( première européenne à Berlin 2000) le dernier documentaire de Ron Mann, Grass, raconté par Woody Harrelson; George Wallace: Setting the Woods on FIre, le nouveau documentaire des réalisateurs Paul Stekler et Daniel McCabe; Noriega, de Roger Spottiswoode avec Bob Hoskins; American Pimp, le documentaire des Frères Hughes, qui nous présentent le sombre univers de la prostitution, et la Retrospective Monte Hellman avec Two Lane Blacktop, China 9, et d'autres classiques.
Les 4 journées de conférences offriront aux réalisateurs indépendants l'occasion de nombreux débats.
Les moments forts : le forum Guerrilla Filmmaking de Robert Rodriguez; celui de la National Association of Latino Independent Producers avec la participation de Guillermo del Toro (Cronos), Miguel Arteta (Chuck and Buck) et Carlos Avila ("Foto Novelas" ); et un débat entre l'auteur Jonathan Rosenbaum et le réalisateur Richard Linklater...