Congratulations to Housebound, What We Do in the Shadows, PULP and short film Queenie (pictured), which have all been selected for the prestigious South By Southwest festival.
New Zealand is building something of a stellar history with the Austin. Texas based festival. Last year New Zealand short Ellen is Leaving won the Narrative Shorts section, with director Michelle Savill there to pick up the award.
This year also marks a return for Luke Sharpe, Gerard Johnson who have attended before with 48 Hour films. 48 Hours' Ant Timpson will also attend.
Animated Fresh Short Queenie (director Paul Neason, writers Sam Burt and Jeremy Liss, producer Melissa Donald and executive producer Michelle Savill) has been selected for the Animated Shorts programme.
Escalator film Housebound, written and directed by Gerard Johnson, produced by Luke Sharpe, and executive produced by Ant Timpson and Dan Story, has been selected for the Visions section of the festival.
"We're thrilled about being accepted into SXSW!" says Gerard Johnson. "Wes Anderson's going to be there, along with Jon Favreau, Jarvis Cocker, Blondie and Jimmy Kimmel - it seems like the hippest film festival in the world. Luke and I aren't really sure what we're going to wear. The NZ Film Commission may want to consider introducing a clothing grant."
Jarvis Cocker will be there as a member of PULP featured in Florian Habicht’s independently made documentary of the same name. PULP has been selected to screen in the 24 Beats Per Second section of the festival, which showcases the sounds, culture and influence of music and musicians with an emphasis on documentary.
What We Do in the Shadows also has three screenings in South By Southwest following on from its success in Sundance and Berlin. What We Do in the Shadows is a vampire mockumentary written, directed and staring Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement and produced by Waititi, Chelsea Winstanley and Emanuel Michael. It has received post production funding from the NZFC.