AUSTIN, TX – A documentary chronicling the origin, and struggles of the the SXSW Music Festival, will be premiering this year in time for the 25th Anniversary of SXSW.

“Outside Industry: The Story of SXSW” will screen during the film festival (24 Beats Category), on Wednesday, 3/16 at 4:30 PM at The Paramount (World Premiere) and on Saturday, 3/19 at NOON at Vimeo theater. The film is 15 years in the making, and follows the four founders as they deal with the growth of the popular music festival.

The documentary features  rare footage of Johnny Cash, Iggy Pop, and many other musicisns from the festival’s history. The film is directed by Emmy award winner Alan Berg of  Arts+Labor, whose previous work includes  the documentary short South by Southwest: The Business of Music in 1994.

“Roland Swenson, Co-Founder/Managing Director of SXSW says, “Alan Berg and his crew found footage we didn’t know existed. The story they tell about the people involved with the birth and growth of SXSW as a cultural phenomenon is complex, nuanced and entertaining.”
It’s a love story to Austin, Texas, and all of the factors that make it the hub of the indie music lifestyle; the film captures the outsider communities, the bohemian creativity, the passion, and the individuality of the people that populate it.
Berg and his team at Arts+Labor have had unprecedented access to the SXSW archives. In conjunction with the Austin History Center, the film’s producers mined the SXSW vaults to uncover two-and-a-half decades of archival film, video, and print coverage about the conference. The resulting project tells the complete story of the SXSW music festival, from its creation and struggles to becoming the gold standard of independent music festivals.
This seems like the quintessential film for Music Festival goers at SXSW. View the trailer below.
http://www.outsideindustrymovie.com/

PRESS RELEASE

SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 25TH ANNIVERSARY DOCUMENTARY
WORLD PREMIERE AT SXSW FILM FESTIVAL 2011
“Outside Industry: The Story of SXSW” captures the defining moments of
the biggest music industry event in the world
Austin, TX—Thursday, February 17, 2011— Arts+Labor announced that their new film, Outside Industry: The Story of SXSW, will have its World Premiere at its natural home, the 2011 South by Southwest Film Festival. Outside Industry: The Story of SXSW chronicles the origins and early evolution of the SXSW Music Festival, from breakthrough performances to fights over how to handle growth.  It follows the four founders as they navigate through the successes, backlash, criticism and even arson to become the biggest music industry event in the world.  The film will play in the 24 Beats Per Second Category on the following dates/times:

Wednesday, 3/16 at 4:30 PM at The Paramount (World Premiere)
Saturday, 3/19 at NOON at Vimeo theater

Outside Industry: The Story of SXSW has been over 15 years in the making.  Alan Berg, co-founder of Arts+Labor, started the project as a short film, the Emmy® Award winning South by Southwest: The Business of Music in 1994.  Since then, Berg and his team at Arts+Labor have had unprecedented access to the SXSW archives. In conjunction with the Austin History Center, the film’s producers mined the SXSW vaults to uncover two-and-a-half decades of archival film, video, and print coverage about the conference. The resulting project tells the complete story of the SXSW music festival, from its creation and struggles to becoming the gold standard of independent music festivals.

Roland Swenson, Co-Founder/Managing Director of SXSW says, “Alan Berg and his crew found footage we didn’t know existed. The story they tell about the people involved with the birth and growth of SXSW as a cultural phenomenon is complex, nuanced and entertaining.”

The documentary tells the story of the art-driven, non-commercial movement and the challenges faced by its founders. Outside Industry: The Story of SXSW showcases rare footage of legends including Johnny Cash, Iggy Pop and dozens of others.  It’s a love story to Austin, Texas, and all of the factors that make it the hub of the indie music lifestyle; the film captures the outsider communities, the bohemian creativity, the passion, and the individuality of the people that populate it.