Here is Zak’s video from SXSW:

These were my favorite places this year:

BBQ: Stubbs

Mexican: Polvos

Cupcakes: Hey Cupcake

Breakfast: Magnolia Cafe (Everybody Knows, Everybody Goes), 1886 Cafe &  Bakery at the Driskill (an old favorite) and the lovely Bouldin Creek Cafe (a new and really fantastic discovery)

Sunday brunch: Moonshine

These pictures are not exactly appetizing, they’re more Martin Parr-eque terrifying. BBQ and Mexican food tastes better than it looks I think, especially when it’s me taking the photos with my little digital camera.

And this was the Texas Carne Asada Massacre at Polvos with Jamie Jay Johnson, Mike Palmieri and Donal Mosher – tortillas have never looked so disturbing!

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)

Here’s the trailer for Objectified.

But don’t stop there digital citizens! Filmmakers who go to non-filmmaking panels at SXSW always seem to learn the most and get really inspired so have a look at everything on offer and start getting excited about SXSW 2009. It’s only 6 and a half months away after all!

A creator, such as an artist, musician, photographer, craftsperson, performer, animator, designer, videomaker, or author – in other words, anyone producing works of art – needs to acquire only 1,000 True Fans to make a living.

A True Fan is defined as someone who will purchase anything and everything you produce. They will drive 200 miles to see you sing. They will buy the super deluxe re-issued hi-res box set of your stuff even though they have the low-res version. They have a Google Alert set for your name. They bookmark the eBay page where your out-of-print editions show up. They come to your openings. They have you sign their copies. They buy the t-shirt, and the mug, and the hat. They can’t wait till you issue your next work. They are true fans.

Scott Kirsner feels like the term “fan” is too passive and discusses alternative words that better suggest the possibilities for creativity and collaboration.