This was the first year I didn’t stay for the music at SXSW but I had a great and busy time at both the Film and Interactive Festivals. It’s tricky to try to do both because there isn’t really enough time to do either one justice but the Interactive panels are fascinating and cover all sorts of topics that filmmakers need to be thinking about these days: audience, marketing, copyright, new technology. I saw some great films, particularly Aron Gaudet’s The Way We Get By, Ben Steinbauer’s Winnebago Man, Gary Hustwit’s Objectified, Bradley Beesley’s Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo and finally Michael Paul Stephensen’s hilarious Best Worst Movie.

I also ate a LOT of great Austin food but more about that later.

Some photos from my Austin (I love that town!) adventures.

At the party after the fantastic premiere of Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo: Malcolm Pullinger (Editor and Producer of Winnebago Man), Bradley Beesley (Director of Sweethearts), James Payne (Producer of Sweethearts)

Winnebago Man Producer Joel Heller whispers into the very cool, very weird ear broach of Sweethearts Producer (and IFP Deputy Director) Amy Dotson

Malcolm and Joel on the Winnebago right before the sold out premiere of Winnebago Man

Winnebago Man Director Ben Steinbauer with Jack “Do me a Kindness” Rebney himself after the premiere

Winnebago celebrations at the IFP Festival Direct party on Saturday night: Malcolm, Joel and Ben

Standing in the Convention Center, Matt Golding is persuaded to see Jamie Jay Johnson’s Sounds Like Teen Spirit

At the party before Sounds Like Teen Spirit (which involved a Euro pub-quiz and an egg throwing competition): Gary Hustwit (at SXSW with Objectified) with James Lees (at SXSW with his short film Pockets)

BRITDOC’s Jess Search holds up one of the many strange and wonderfully European prizes at the Sounds Like Teen Spirit quiz with Director Jamie Jay Johnson

Three very lovely people: Michael Palmieri (who was at True/False earlier in the month with October Country), Malcolm Pullinger and Donal Mosher (co-director of October Country)

It turns out Mike is a total pro (and winner) at the egg throwing competition – the style! the perfect form!

AJ Schnack (All These Wonderful Things) and Karina Longworth (Spout)

Basil Tsiokos (who was on the Documentary Competition Jury) and Sky Sitney (Silverdocs) – Sky is proudly showing off her rosette for participating in the egg throwing competition!

Q&A after the gently powerful The Way We Get By: Aron Gaudet (Director), Gita Pullapilly (Producer) and Dan Ferrigan (Cinematographer)

After an incredible dinner at Polvos we got a ride back into town on a very crowded Winnebago! Me, Mark Rosenberg (Rooftop Films) and Lina Srivastava (social change strategist and my lovely roommate during SXSW along with the equally lovely Katrin Verclas)

This fine lady was giving out buttons that said I AM LOVED in lots of different languages

Esther Robinson (a Swami here this year), with Sky Sitney (Silverdocs)

Stephanie Skaff, AJ Schnack, Mark Rosenberg (Rooftop Films) and David Wilson (True/False – whoo hoo!!!) – apologies to all for my over-enthusiastic flash

Natalie Difford (Chicken & Egg), Brent Hoff (Wholphin), and me

The legendary Exene Cervenka busks before Sounds Like Teen Spirit (I was too awestruck to get close enough to take a proper picture)

Me, Jess Search (BRITDOC) and Jamie Jay Johnson after Jamie’s packed screening of Sounds Like Teen Spirit. I’m utterly biased but I enjoyed the screening immensely and I think everyone else did too. Hooray!