Catching Up on Slackery News Tidbits, March 30

To be frank, SXSW is still kicking our butts here at Slackerwood. We still have more reviews and features for you and we're trying to get them finished and published in the next few days. It's all wonderful stuff and you'll love it, but in the meantime, actual non-SXSW-related film news has been happening here in Austin, and for Austin movies. Some of this news is a little stale by now, but maybe you were caught up with SXSW too and missed it.

So here's a nice bundle of Austin film news, much of it good news related to distribution.

• The locally shot film Artois the Goat, which premiered at SXSW 2009 and won awards at several film festivals last year, will be appearing on DVD in April. IndiePix will be distributing the charming movie about a young man pursuing love and the perfect cheese. Read Jenn's review for more info.
• Another SXSW 2009 film, Winnebago Man, landed U.S. theatrical and DVD distribution this month from Kino International. The documentary will be released this summer and fall, starting in July in New York. No word on when it'll hit Austin, but since director Ben Steinbauer and producer Joel Heller live here, hopefully we won't have to wait too long.
• We're not done yet. I haven't mentioned the distribution deal for Best Worst Movie, the documentary about the cult success of Troll 2 that also premiered at SXSW 2009 ... remember Zack Carlson's tattoo? New distribution company Area23a will start touring the movie in cities in April, and the first city will naturally be Austin, Texas. Alamo Drafthouse and The Highball will host a gala opening-night screening and party on Friday, April 23, and then will run here for at least a week before it hits New York and LA.
• Hey, guess which Austin-area musician is starting his own film production company? Gotta be Willie Nelson. Luck Films will produce three to five movies a year, most of which will feature either the musician or his music. For some reason, this tickles me. Can't wait to see what they come up with.
• Still more distribution news: Magnet snapped up theatrical distribution for SXSW 2010 midnight-movie Monsters during the festival (which may be a first). Debbie reviewed the film. They also acquired the U.S. distribution rights to Fantastic Fest 2009 film [REC] 2 this week, which they plan to release through VOD this summer. 
• Finally, courtesy of Vulture, actor Bill Murray was in town during SXSW for the film Get Low, in which he stars with Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek. What did he do while he was here? Tend bar. Yes, there's video.