We Came, We SXSW, We Queso'd

Team FKF has returned home to Brooklyn from the salsa-lined streets of Austin, which we might as well call a descent from cloud nine. Our world premiere at South by Southwest 2007 was nothing short of incredible, from our nearly sold-out first and second screenings, to all the great films we saw (Hannah Takes the Stairs, Quiet City, Silver Jew, Kamp Katrina... too many to list here!), and new friends we've made. We're so grateful for the invite, and feel pretty blessed that both local and national press found our little film in a sea of buzz titles, then scribbled some kind words, too:

"One of SXSW's pleasant surprises! FISH KILL FLEA has a great, early Errol Morris feel for American weirdness."
- PREMIERE [link #1] [link #2]

"An unanticipated delight..."
- SALON.com [link]

"A wistful, thought-provoking rumination on the cost of progress."
- FILM THREAT [link]

"**** (FOUR STARS)! Sad, funny and astute..."
- AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN [link]

"Compelling! FISH KILL FLEA whispers its concern for our disposable culture as it captures a subculture losing its battle for survival."
- AUSTIN CHRONICLE [link]

We also did a few interviews for the Austin press, including the aforementioned Chronicle, Statesman, and the cool kids over at Austinist.

Aaron took a few cameraphone photos during the trip, including this single-shot bootleg of the film during our tech check on Saturday. If you squint, you can see Brian under the screen, setting up the HDcam to film our first live Q&A.


Minutes before the premier screening, Aaron calmed his nerves in the restroom stall, where he tore the appropriate notch on his FKF audience award ballot.


Hannah Takes the Stairs auteur (and the first-ever recipient of SXSW's Eagle Pennell award) Joe Swanberg shoots Kevin Bewersdorf outside of the Alamo Drafthouse theater. Joe co-starred in so many films at this year's fest that we started joking about how he played three of the vendors in FKF.


SXSW Film Festival director Matt Dentler called this super-pairing weeks back.


We hit it off with Orphans director and special jury prize winner Ry Russo-Young right away, so much so that she let us shut her in the trunk of our rental car to accommodate more passengers.


Helvetica director and founding partner of the Plexifilm DVD label, Gary Hustwit. We like him a whole lot, and you can't stop us.


Aaron and Silver Jew director Michael Tully, two film critics turned filmmakers. Note Aaron's stone-faced professionalism.


Just as SXSW began, Brian became an old man as he celebrated three decades of life. Fortunately, 30 is the new 15, so now he has puberty to look forward to all over again.


Thanks to everyone who helped support the film... See y'all at the next fest!