During SXSW Film Week, more than 200 filmmakers had the opportunity to share their films and documentaries. So many of the participants were first time writers, directors and editors, and it was exciting to see them carry on the tradition of using Avid’s industry leading technologies used to create the most beloved movies and documentaries in the world.
Here are the five must-see films created with Avid solutions from the 2013 SXSW Film week:
1. Hawking: Hawking, edited by Timothy Lovell, is the story of the world’s most famous living scientist, told for the first time in his own words and by those closest to him. Made with unique access to Hawking’s private life, this is an intimate and moving journey into Stephen's world, both past and present. Hawking shares his incredible personal journey from boyhood under-achiever, to PhD genius, to being diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease and given just two years to live. Despite the constant threat of death, Hawking manages to make many remarkable scientific discoveries and rises to fame and super-stardom. Lovell cut the film on Avid Media Composer.
2. Mobile Homes: Mobile Homes follows Ali, a young mother trapped in human trafficking. Constantly moving from city to city, she is transported with her 7-year-old son Alex. As she survives day to day, Alex explores mobile home sales-lots in the hopes of establishing a permanent home. Vladimir de Fontenay, writer, director and editor of the film, cut the film with Avid solutions. Sound Editor Scott Hirsch mixed the sound for the film with Pro Tools.
3. Downloaded: In 1998 Shawn Fanning, a teenage hacker and programmer, created the code that would become the basis for all peer-to-peer file sharing. In 1999, Fanning and his business partner, fellow teenager Sean Parker, launched the file-sharing service Napster. And what began as a largely unknown underground distribution medium erupted into a full-blown global revolution. Downloaded explores this revolution from its genesis to its peak, and explains Napster's downfall. Editor Jacob Craycroft, who worked with director Alex Winter, said that Avid is the only editing solution he used for this documentary.
4. Dotty: Sitting on her bed in a run-down rest home, Dotty is desperate to send a text message to her daughter. When her morning cup of tea arrives, Dotty manages to rope someone else into her long battle with technology. Editor Tim Eagle, who worked with directors Mick Andrews and Brett O'Gorman, said that Avid was his preferred tool to create this short because of its “fluid and intuitive interface.”
5. This is Where We Live: Lee Salevan used Pro Tools to edit the sound for This is Where We Live, a portrait of the Texas Hill Country-based Sutton family. Diane, while ignoring her own health issues, is caregiver to her son August, who has cerebral palsy, and her husband, who is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Overburdened, she hires Noah, a local handyman, to build a wheelchair ramp up the front steps to the family home. August observes Noah working, and through dinner with the family. Diane notices their connection, and stops Noah as he leaves to ask if he could use some money helping out with August. The friendship that Noah and August forge has a ripple effect; life makes unexpected turns for those around them, and forces Noah to confront his past.
Next week we’ll share some insights about Avid’s experience at SXSW Music week. For now, we leave you with a Vimeo playlist with trailers from these films. Have a great weekend!
Sara
@SaraGriggsMedia