AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Arts+Labor, Austin-based creative content company, announced today that it is in production on the definitive documentary chronicling the 25-year history of South by Southwest—the largest festival of its type in the world. The film will be completed in March 2011.
The SXSW organization has opened its vault of archived footage, and the film’s producers have joined forces with the Austin History Center to uncover two-and-a-half decades of film, video, and print coverage about the conference.
The documentary tells the story of the art-driven, non-commercial movement and the challenges faced by the four founders. The film will showcase raw, previously unseen footage of legends including Johnny Cash, Pete Townsend, Iggy Pop and dozens of others.
Alan Berg, co-founder of Arts+Labor, is the film’s director. Berg won his first Emmy for a 30-minute documentary called South by Southwest: The Business of Music in 1994, and he directed two additional feature-length documentaries that were distributed nationally by PBS. On this latest film, Berg leads a creative team that collectively has won international industry awards and screened at major festivals including Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, LA Film Festival, Tribeca, and Sundance.
Joining Berg as Producer is Jason Wehling, winner of the John Cassavetes Independent Spirit Award for August Evening. Erik Horn, creative director at Arts+Labor, who recently co-produced the TV series Dinner with the Band for IFC, will lead art direction. Cinematographers include principal photographer Yuta Yamaguchi (who shot 4 films selected for SXSW 2010 and the Oscar-eligible short “Katrina’s Son”), and the award-winning Tod Campbell (work includes Friday Night Lights, My Generation).
About Arts+Labor
Founded in 1999 by Alan Berg and Kristin Johansen-Berg, Arts+Labor specializes in film, video, motion graphics and documentaries. Craig Parks joined the firm as Partner in 2009. The company has experienced significant growth over the past two years, and has produced a wide range of videos, films, online content and TV commercials. To learn more about Arts+Labor and view recent work, please visit www.arts-and-labor.com.