First Austin Music Video Festival to Highlight Local Talent

Guest article by Ben Snyder

Austin has long been known for its live music and indie film scene, and the Austin Music Video Festival succeeds in combining the two to present an impressive collection of music video screenings over four days. The inaugural Austin Music Video Festival will run September 16-­19, 2015 in various venues across downtown Austin.

During the festival this year, the focus is on music videos made in Austin, Texas from 1984­-2015, which will showcase the rich history of Austin-based music videos. The schedule includes a kickoff on Wednesday with the Austin Film Society’s Texas Premiere of Okkervil River’s Down Down the Deep River. The film will be preceded by a selection of vintage Okkervil River videos, curated by Will Sheff, and by Will’s acoustic performance of songs related to the film. There will be a Q&A with Will and Director of Photography Johnny North following the screening.

On Friday, festival goers will enjoy The Black Angels: Retrospective, a look back at the band’s body of incredible music videos, followed by a live show of Austin psych rock.

Saturday will feature panels about producing a compelling music video and a premiere of animator Eric Power’s Path of Blood (a film created entirely with construction paper cut-outs), presented by the Austin School of Film.

Festival judges include film composer Graham Reynolds and Austin Film Society’s Rebecca Campbell. Winners will receive 3D Printed trophies, including the Alright, Alright, Alright Award for most Austin­centric music video, and the Keepin’ It Weird Award for most experimental music video.

There will be many other surprises and parties over the festival’s four days. Find more information on the idea behind the festival here and purchase your tickets online.

 

@theAustinot wants to know:

What is your favorite Austin-made music video?

 

Since forming The Show! Austin in 2011, Ben Snyder has produced multiple web series and films, many of which have found success on the festival circuit. He currently writes for several projects for Spiderwood Studios in Austin, including the 1960s comic acquired by Charlton Comics titled “Mercury Man.”