What Filmmakers Lost When SXSW Was Cancelled

This year’s edition of the SXSW festival was among the first major American events to be canceled “in an abundance of caution” amid growing fears of the coronavirus pandemic. This short documentary explores the effect that the festival’s cancellation had on filmmakers who had so much at stake. Although all of the interviewees agree that canceling the festival was the right thing to do, they admit to feeling a sense of loss that one of the filmmakers describes as “devastating.”

“The thing you’ve been working on in the dark for years is finally about to come into the light,” Sarah Brennan Kolb says in the film. Her feature debut "Good Ol’ Girl" was slated to premiere at the festival this year.

“I feel like a boyfriend has broken up with me—I have that sad pit in my stomach,” says another director, Jessica Wolfson, who is interviewed in the film.

While specifically about filmmakers, "The Rush" speaks to a complicated feeling of loss that many can relate to as we cancel weddings and vacations or lose job opportunities in an effort to slow the spread of the pandemic.

“There's a real sadness in what we—as a community of filmmakers and as a nation—haven't had the chance to do and experience because of the pandemic,” Stern said. “I'd like audiences to take that pause and feel allowed to be sad about what this disease has taken away from all of us, even as we continue to do our part to make sure it doesn't take more lives.”

"The Rush" was directed by Rebecca Stern (). It is part of The Atlantic Selects, an online series of short documentaries from independent creators, curated by The Atlantic.

Subscribe to The Atlantic on YouTube