SXSW 2010 Guide: Free Film Events During SXSW Week

In conjunction with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, SXSW returns to the George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center with several events open to the general public. This year's evening events include:

• "Blacks in Technology" on Friday, March 12 (6 pm-9 pm) and
• "Latinos in Technology" Sunday, March 14 (6 pm-9 pm)

Carver will also host the Texas High School Shorts on Saturday, March 13 at 5 pm. This showcase serves as a preview of the next filmmaking generation, as Texas high school students present shorts of 5 minutes or less.

Also screening for free at Carver is The Work of Alan Govenar: Part 1, Sunday, March 14 at 2 pm, featuring:

• Little Willie Eason and His Talking Gospel Guitar (2005) takes the stage of the street and a House of God Church south of Miami to highlight the man who introduced the pedal steel guitar as an instrument to express his deep-seeded faith.
• The Hard Ride (1996) is a journey into the little known world of the black ranch rodeo culture of southeast Texas. 
• Cigarette Blues (1985), co-directed with Les Blank, features Sonny Rhodes and the Texas Twisters performing at Eli’s Mile High Club in Oakland, California.
• The Microtones of Simon Shaheen (2010) focuses on a virtuoso of the Arabic oud and violin and the Palestinian community of Brooklyn.

The Carver Center is located at 1165 Angelina Street, and all programming takes place in the Boyd Vance Theater.

This is not an official SXSW event, but an upcoming free screening will take place as part of What By What-Ever, featuring music, film, books, zines and arts. Hosted by Domy Books (913 E Cesar Chavez), this free event will be held March 16 - 21. On Tuesday, March 16 at 8 pm, two films will be screened -- Thurible by Rusty Kelley and The The The by Ryan Beltrán and Ben Aqua. After spending time in front of the camera in Dear Pillow, Cabin Fever 2, and the Cassidy Kids, Rusty takes on filmmaking with Thurible, a 23 minute film shot on Super 16mm. Set in rural Texas, this story follows a young girl through her preparation and performane of an ancient family ritual. The The The is the feature film debut for Austin filmmaker Ryan Beltran, and documents two young women's travels as they hitchhike, couch surf and camp across America.

Check our event calendar for other movies and film-related events during SXSW, some of which are free.

[Photo Credit: George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, courtesy of SXSW]