2014 Schedule
Interactive: March 7–11  •  Film: March 7–15  •  Music: March 11–16

Mentors: Programming Narrative

#sxsw #FilmMentor

Festivals and markets are as vital as ever in today's filmmaking scene. Learn what to do - and more importantly, what not to do - when it comes to festival submissions, festival attendance, and beyond for narrative films.

Sign Up Here: http://mentor.sxsw.com.

Mentor session signup is open to all Film, Gold and Platinum badge holders at a first-come, first-served basis. Registrants who signed up online must check-in 30 minutes before your mentor time slot to guarantee your spot. Limited on-site signup is also available for a small number of mentor sessions spots and will begin 30 minutes before the first time slot of each session.

Presenters

65694

Alonso Aguilar-Castillo

Dir

Cabos International Film Festival

Writer, producer and cultural promoter, Alonso Aguilar-Castillo began his career in the theater scene of Barcelona. Born in México City and majored in Media Communication and Hispanic Literature, led him to a Master in Writing for Film & TV in Vancouver.

As head-writer of MTV News Latin America, he produced and wrote more than a dozen shows that aired in several Spanish-speaking countries. He was the Coordinator of the International Festival of Contemporary Cinema of Mexico City (FICCO), director of the Spanish Cinema Week in Vancouver, and contributor to the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) and the Canadian documentary festival (DOXA).

His work as a writer has earned him awards and invitations to film meetings in Copenhagen and Los Angeles. Back in Mexico, he worked as a television content analyst, and started teaching Directing, Writing and Narrative, at one of the most renowned universities in Mexico.

Currently, Aguilar-Castillo directs Los Cabos International Film Festival 3rd edition, which will take place from November 11th to 16th, 2014 at Los Cabos, Baja California Sur

29559

Carl Spence

Artistic & Co-Dir

Seattle FF/Palm Springs FF

Carl Spence is the Artistic Director of SIFF (organizers of the Seattle International Film Festival, SIFF Cinema, and SIFF Education) and has been curating film exhibitions, festivals and programs for more than 20 years. Previously, he held the positions of Director of Programming at the Palm Springs International Film Festival; Director of Programming at the San Francisco International Film Festival; and Associate Director at SIFF. He also worked in field publicity and promotions as a representative for Disney, MGM, and other major studios. He curated films, concerts and live performances at the University of Washington where he received his Bachelors degree in theatre with an additional emphasis in Japanese language and cultural studies. Additionally, he studied Film at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in New York City. Carl continues to consult for the Palm Springs International Film Festival as their lead programmer.

21821

Dosin Pak

Programmer

Busan International Film Festival

Dosin Pak graduated from Columbia University in Chicago majoring in filmmaking. He started working for the Busan International Film Festival(BIFF) in 2001 as a foreign press coordinator. He also worked for another film festival in Korea, Jeonju International Film Festival in 2002. The same year, he came back to BIFF for Korean Cinema Coordinator. In 2005, he became a head manager of programming department for the festival. Two years later, he was in charge of one of the festival’s section called MIDNIGHT PASSION specializing in genre or commercial films for the festival. Now, he is a programmer for North American regions and also in charge of Asian Film Academy (AFA), the educational program for new talents in Asia run by the festival.

Heather Rae

Producer

I Believe in Unicorns

47051

Jeff Ross

Founder/Dir

SF IndieFest

Founder/Director of SF IndieFest which this year will present the 16th San Francisco Independent Film Festival, the 13th San Francisco Documentary Festival and the 11th Another Hole in the Head Genre Film Fest plus live plays, live music, art shows and general merriment for the benefit of San Francisco Bay Area fans of art/music/film/fun.

45171

Landon Zakheim

Programmer

Sundance Institute/AFI Fest

Landon Zakheim is a Short Film Programmer for the Sundance Film Festival, a Programmer for AFI FEST and an Associate Programmer for Los Angeles Film Festival. His two short films played SXSW in 2010 and 2012 respectively before going to play festivals all over the world. In his spare time, Landon enjoys sending mixed messages. Or does he?

63164

Linda Olszewski

VP, Global Acquisitions

ShortsHD/Shorts Intl

Linda O. is a recognizable face on the global fest circuit known for her involvement on the Oscar Shorts releases since its inception in 2006. Her dedication for short films & docs and indie filmmakers, and her passion for supporting notable and obscure international film festivals as a jury member and panelist, has helped her to ascertain how to best help filmmakers with their fest and distribution strategy. She has recently launched a side venture, MOVIES THAT MATTER, in which she runs workshops at festivals on how to help filmmakers get their good film to a "great" film. She believes in following your heart and is a great photographer.

43128

Stuart Brown

Head of Events & Prod

BFI

Stuart Brown, Head of Events and Production, BFI

Stuart Brown is a Goldsmiths graduate of Fine Art at degree level and Cultural Studies at MA level. He has been working for the BFI since 1998. He leads the team responsible for the programming and production of events at BFI Southbank and the BFI London Film Festival, and is a key member of the core programming and management team for both.

His team produces the BFI’s internationally respected programme of on stage interviews and film-maker masterclasses, including the Guardian Interviews and Times Screen Talks series. Stuart specialises in music and youth- orientated programming and has developed a portfolio of both self-generated and partnership events designed to drive new audiences to the BFI. These include Resfest, Noise of Art, Bird’s Eye View, The Disability Film Festival, Reality Film, Blacktronica, onedotzero and AV club event Dark Fibre – all events or festivals that approach cinema from non traditional perspectives, and /or involve some kind of cross disciplinary performance.

In 2005, Stuart Co-established, programmed and produced ‘Optronica’, (with AV artists Addictive TV), London’s first festival dedicated to live audiovisual performance or ‘visual music’, supported by the Arts Council England. In 2006 Stuart programmed a major, two month season of popular music on screen, ‘Access All Areas’, incorporating over 60 screenings and events including World and UK Premieres. In 2007, Stuart programmed and produced the 2nd ‘Optronica festival of visual music, and managed the launch strategy for the opening of BFI Southbank. In 2010 Stuart programmed a two month season of films and events that explored the ways in which film makers and artists have examined the human condition in the future. ‘Future Human’ tied into the 350th anniversary of the Royal Society, and for its launch Stuart programmed and produced the first ever live orchestral performance of Stanley Kubrick’s ‘2001: A Space Odyssey, working the South Bank Centre and conductor Andre De Ridder. In 2012 Stuart took a lead role in the BFI’s Hithcock project, which saw 9 of Hitchcock’s silent films restored and new scores commissioned for each. Stuart lead upon the delivery of premieres of these, working with composers such as Nitin Sawhney, Neil Brand, Mira Calix, Soweto Kinch and Shlomo.

He has also programmes film and live AV performance for the Big Chill music festival and worked collaboratively with the South Bank Centre on the Meltdown festival, most recently with Massive Attack and Yoko Ono.

His current projects at BFI include BUG: The Evolution of Music Video with comedian Adam Buxton, and the popular music / cinema crossover night Sonic Cinema, and James Lavelle’s Meltdown.

Twitter: @brownstu

Thanks to our sponsors

Miller Lite Monster Energy Esurance Chevrolet AT&T IFC Subway Austin Chronicle

Music sponsor

Sonic Bids

Interactive sponsors

Deloitte American Express Pennzoil