SXSW Taps Former Variety Critic Peter Debruge as Director of Film & TV Festival
Peter Debruge, former chief film critic at Variety, has been tapped to serve as director of the SXSW Film & TV Festival.
Beginning on April 6, he takes over the Austin festival’s film and television programming from Claudette Godfrey, who has stepped down as vice president following nearly two decades at SXSW.
Debruge worked at Variety for 20 years, serving as the third-ever chief film critic in the magazine’s 120-year history. He wrote more than 2,000 reviews during his tenure and covered countless film festivals in the U.S. and abroad, including many visits to SXSW. He has served on festival juries in Cannes, São Paulo and Reykjavik, and is a co-founder of the Animation is Film festival, which takes place annually in Los Angeles.
Debruge is also a native Texan, having grown up in Waco before studying film at the University of Texas at Austin. There, he was co-editor of the Daily Texan’s entertainment section alongside Matt Dentler, who later went on to lead SXSW’s film programming for several years.
In a statement, SXSW director in charge Jenny Connelly said, “Peter brings a unique perspective and a deep passion for storytelling that aligns closely with SXSW’s mission. We’re excited for him to build on the strong foundation that Claudette established and lead the festival into its next chapter.”
“There’s a certain poetry to this appointment, which brings me back to the festival that is nearest and dearest to my heart, in the place I spent my formative years,” said Debruge. “I’ve been attending SXSW for nearly three decades during which time, I’ve seen SXSW grow and evolve into a world-class film festival. I’m in awe and admiration of the groundbreaking creative work done by Matt Dentler, Janet Pierson and Claudette Godfrey, and am honored to be joining the team to carry forward SXSW’s legacy of championing visionary voices. I will be eternally grateful to Variety for 20 incredible years, which taught me so much about the film industry and allowed me to travel the world, from Tokyo to Cannes, discovering all the great filmmakers (and festivals) the world has to offer.”
More to come…
Beginning on April 6, he takes over the Austin festival’s film and television programming from Claudette Godfrey, who has stepped down as vice president following nearly two decades at SXSW.
Debruge worked at Variety for 20 years, serving as the third-ever chief film critic in the magazine’s 120-year history. He wrote more than 2,000 reviews during his tenure and covered countless film festivals in the U.S. and abroad, including many visits to SXSW. He has served on festival juries in Cannes, São Paulo and Reykjavik, and is a co-founder of the Animation is Film festival, which takes place annually in Los Angeles.
Debruge is also a native Texan, having grown up in Waco before studying film at the University of Texas at Austin. There, he was co-editor of the Daily Texan’s entertainment section alongside Matt Dentler, who later went on to lead SXSW’s film programming for several years.
In a statement, SXSW director in charge Jenny Connelly said, “Peter brings a unique perspective and a deep passion for storytelling that aligns closely with SXSW’s mission. We’re excited for him to build on the strong foundation that Claudette established and lead the festival into its next chapter.”
“There’s a certain poetry to this appointment, which brings me back to the festival that is nearest and dearest to my heart, in the place I spent my formative years,” said Debruge. “I’ve been attending SXSW for nearly three decades during which time, I’ve seen SXSW grow and evolve into a world-class film festival. I’m in awe and admiration of the groundbreaking creative work done by Matt Dentler, Janet Pierson and Claudette Godfrey, and am honored to be joining the team to carry forward SXSW’s legacy of championing visionary voices. I will be eternally grateful to Variety for 20 incredible years, which taught me so much about the film industry and allowed me to travel the world, from Tokyo to Cannes, discovering all the great filmmakers (and festivals) the world has to offer.”
More to come…