Peter Baxter (filmmaker)

Peter Baxter is President and co-founder of Slamdance[1] and a filmmaker.

In 1995 Baxter co-founded Slamdance as an independent alternative to the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. Since its inception, Baxter has been responsible for developing and managing all areas of Slamdance that includes its showcase for the discovery of the new and emerging talent. Filmmakers who first gained notice at the festival include Christopher Nolan, Oren Peli, Marc Forester, Jared Hess, Lena Dunham, Behn Zeitlin, Anthony and Joe Russo, Andrew Huang, Seth Gordon and Lynn Shelton. When the Festival began it received 48 submissions. Slamdance now receives over 7,500 submissions per annum. Baxter created Slamdance's mantra "by filmmakers, for filmmakers." No other festival is fully programmed by filmmakers. In addition to the festival, Baxter began a Slamdance screenplay competition, year-round traveling screening events called On The Road and a film distribution venture called Slamdance Studios. Speaking about the organization Baxter has said "Slamdance is an ongoing experiment that has proven year after year really that when it comes to recognizing talent and launching careers, the independent and grass-roots film communities can really do it themselves."[2]

Baxter's recent film work includes Wild In The Streets,[3] a documentary feature about an ancient football game and I Want To Be an American,[4] an experimental documentary feature film based on the surrealist parlor game Exquisite Corpse and the new DIY documentary about the do-it-yourself filmmaking movement.

Personal life

Baxter was born in England and grew up in Gloucestershire. He now lives in California with his wife and two daughters.

References

  1. ↑ McNary, Dave (2012-01-19). "Slamdance has history of indie finds - Entertainment News, Film Festivals, Media". Variety. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  2. ↑ Truitt, Brian (2013-01-25). "Slamdance film festival continues to make its DIY mark". USA Today. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  3. ↑ Kaufman, Alexander (2013-01-21). "Sundance 2013: Gravitas Ventures Acquires Three Films from Slamdance". The Wrap. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  4. ↑ Truitt, Brian (2013-01-25). "Slamdance film festival continues to make its DIY mark". USA Today. Retrieved 2013-03-19.

External links