SXSW, IFC to simul-preem "Alexander the Last"
IFC Films and the SXSW Film Festival will simultaneously world preem Joe Swamberg's "Alexander the Last" on March 14.
Produced by Noah Baumbach, pic explores the highs and lows of a young marriage. IFC will broadcast the film on their Festival Direct VOD label.
Other SXSW film are also involved in the deal. Javor Gardev's neo-noir "Zift" and Matthew Newton's dark comedy "Three Blind Mice" will also have their simul-preem on the channel and fest. And in a fest rewind, SXSW 2008 pics "Medicine for Melancholy" and "Paper Covers Rock" will be broadcast.
IFC Films prexy Jonathan Sehring said they will look to expand the program to other festivals -- "It's a natural leap for us."
"At a time when the U.S. marketplace for truly American independent and foreign films is rapidly changing, and many films are having difficulty getting exposure, IFC Films has created opportunities for a wide range of films to find an audience," said Sehring.
IFC also announced the formation of IFC Midnight, a new genre label, for their VOD platform. It will include horror, sci-fi, thriller, and... "erotic arthouse." New titles included Duane Graves and Justin Meeks' horror pic "Wild Man of Navidad" and Laurence Trillings' "Group Sex."
Photo: SXSW's Janet Pierson and IFC's Jonathan Sehring
Michael Jones is the film festival editor at Variety.com. 
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