I didn't sleep well Friday night but still found myself able to rise at a little before noon to head to the Paramount for "The Journeyman." Bob Ray, director of "Rock Opera," had introduced me to the director of the film, James Crowley at an Austin film Festival "Variety" party a few months ago.

There were some folks outside waiting for the film but I walked towards the front door just to make sure badges people had not already gone in. The door was closed. There are 1,400 seats in the Paramount, so there's hardly any reason to wait in line. I was loitering near the entrance when my friend Kelly, who works for the venue came out and said hello. We talked a bit and then he invited me in.

They were having technical difficulties with the film and it was well after 12:00 when the crowd finally got to come in. Meanwhile, I got to sip Coke and chat with Kelly while they waited outside in the chilly Austin morning air. Kelly looked really fucking hot too in a tight black t-shirt. Why they didn't let the crowd in, even though there was a chance that the film would not play, is beyond me. Kelly and I chatted about "Blow" and "Memento" and "Pollock" among other things. He, like me, sees a ton of films.

Inside, I ran into my friend J of guerrilla-films.com. J and I discussed "Blow" and the upcoming screening of Robert Rodriguez's "Spy Kids" at the Paramount next week. J has already busted out $25 for a ticket. I guess a lot of the cast will be in attendance, but that's still way out of my price range.

Crowley was in attendance at this screening but since the film started late there was no time for a Q&A after the show. He did get up and introduce some of the folks who worked on the film with him. (Seen Pictured Left) Of course, by now, we are in the last minutes of the Festival. It's a surprise when anyone with a film shows up. Crowley also told the crowd that they would do a Q&A over at Stubbs Bar-BQ if anyone wanted to attend. I said my goodbyes to J and Kelly and headed back to the pad. When the film started, the didn't even run the SXSW trailer.

My plan was to go to "Tillsammans" and "A Constant Forge" at the Paramount later that evening. J was thinking of taking in the "We Sold Our Souls" screening at the Alamo. Ozzy was supposed to be there.

And I carried out my plans in a rather uneventful final night to SXSW. At the Paramount, I ran into my pal Allan Campbell between shows and we chatted a bit. The last film I saw, a documentary about John Cassavettes, was long and laborious, putting the final kibosh on my SXSW2001 experience.

So, without further ado, here are the Lodger Awards for SXSW 2001.

Remember, there were over 150 films (shorts, features, narratives, documentaries, foreign films, music videos, etc) of which I saw only 20 "features" and 20 music videos. I saw no shorts programs and no shorts were shown prior to any of the film's I screened. This is by no means a comprehensive look at what went on at SXSW. Rather, of the things I was able to see during the 9 day event, these are what struck me as "the best!" The toughest of these by the way was Best Film as I saw several I really liked. How do you compare "The Slow Business of Going" to "Memento" or "Blow" or "Ladyporn?" There are all interesting and unique films with much merit. Here is what I finally decides upon:

Best Film: "Tillsammans" (AKA "Together")

Worst Film: "Low Self-esteem Girl"

Funniest Film: "Super Troopers"

Best Austin Film: "Ladyporn"

Best Music Video: "Godless" by The Dandy Warhols

Best Actor: Johnny Depp in "Blow"

Best Actress: Jill Clayburgh in "Never Again"

Best Q&A: Ladyporn

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