Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Matt Dentler Leaving SXSW

Matt Dentler, the director of the SXSW Film Festival since 2003, is moving on. As of May 1st, Matt will take up a new post as head of marketing and programming operations within the new Cinetic Rights Management unit at Cinetic Media. Though it will involve a move to New York, here’s hoping he’ll be back next year and able to actually enjoy himself for a few days in March.

Taking over for Matt will be Janet Pierson, a fellow board member from the Austin Film Society. Along with her husband John, she has more than 20 years of experience helping independent films find audiences. Janet and John and their children were the subjects of a film themselves in 2005’s Reel Paradise, in which they move to Fiji for a year to operate a cinema. Having seen that film, I would suggest that Janet Pierson is more than capable of handling a challenge. I look forward to seeing what next year’s festival will bring.

Congratulations and good luck to both Matt and Janet!