Dentler Sets Sail & The Chronicle Breaks a Bottle of Champagne Across His Bow

Via Eugene, a send-off from the Austin Chronicle as Matt Dentler officially hangs up his badge:

"He likes to say he came of age alongside SXSW Film (when he moves to New York in June for the Cinetic job, he'll still be well shy of 30). When Dentler took the reins, SXSW Film was considered something of an afterthought in the crowded festival landscape – larky and "Austin weird." Dentler made sure to retain those elements that drew people in the first place but to also hustle hard – what he calls 'getting the vote out.'

'I [would go] door to door with all the distributors, all the agents, all the press, all these people, and just be like: 'Hey! Please pay attention to us.''"

The article goes on to credit Matt with the mumblecore phenomenon and the career of Eli Roth, which some might think are fairly dubious distinctions.

So let me add the third:  Matt played the major role in making SXSW one of the most important festivals for documentary film in the world.

As I noted in my film festival survey in February:

"One could watch the doc lineups from Sundance and SXSW and get a pretty comprehensive idea of what's happening in the world of nonfiction filmmaking.  But whereas Sundance may weigh more heavily on the side of serious topics, SXSW lets its hair down with what is probably the most diverse line-up of all the major full spectrum festivals."

With Janet Pierson taking the reins now in Austin, the festival is in good hands, as is it's nonfiction future.  But it's worth taking a moment to man the rails for Dentler as he sets sail for NYC and our collective digital future.

Comments

[Dentler]

Thanks, AJ. You'll always be part of the important documentary class of SXSW 2002.