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SXSW 2013 Wrap: Best in Show, Disappointments and Four Takeaways from a Festival First-Timer

Festivals

I got the chance to attend the SXSW Film Festival for my first time this year, and was impressed with the enthusiastic and respectful vibe of the festival, the warm reception from Austin locals and out-of-town festival goers alike, and -- importantly! -- the films. Below, my four takeaways from covering SXSW, and my rundown of best of the fest, buzzy titles I missed, and disappointments.

By Beth Hanna
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March 19, 2013 1:27 PM
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2 Comments

Reviews

Chris Eska’s beautifully made Civil War drama “The Retrieval,” which was awarded the SXSW Grand Jury Prize for lead actor Tishuan Scott’s performance, is a quietly stirring journey into America’s ravaged heartland of 1864. It follows three black men, two fully grown and one barely on the cusp of adolescence, as they walk North and navigate the complexities of survival, self-interest and slowly emerging friendship.

By Beth Hanna
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March 13, 2013 4:15 PM
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Festivals

The Grand Jury and Special Award winners of the 2013 SXSW Film Festival were revealed Tuesday in Austin. Destin Cretton's "Short Term 12," starring Brie Larson and John Gallagher Jr. as foster care workers dealing with their own troubled pasts, has taken the Narrative Feature prize, while Ben Nabors' "William and the Windmill," focusing on the author and subject of "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind," has been awarded the Documentary prize.