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The SXSW Film and TV Festival in Austin has announced the appointment of Peter Debruge, former chief film critic at Variety magazine, as the new director of the festival effective April 6, 2024. This change follows the resignation of Claudette Godfrey, SXSW's Vice President of Film and TV, who led the festival for twenty years.
Debruge's Career and Connection to the Festival
Peter Debruge is one of the most prominent film critics in the United States, having spent nearly a decade as the head of film criticism at Variety magazine, during which he wrote over two thousand film reviews. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and has a long-standing relationship with the SXSW festival, having attended since the 1990s and witnessed its evolution into a prestigious global event.
A New Vision for SXSW
Debruge expressed his happiness at taking on this role, stating that the appointment holds special significance as it brings him back to a festival that holds a great place in his heart and to the city where he grew up. He praised the creative efforts of his predecessors and expressed pride in joining the team to continue supporting leading and innovative artistic voices at the festival.
It is worth noting that SXSW recently concluded its 2026 edition, which featured premieres of notable films such as "I Love Boosters" directed by Boots Riley and "Ready or Not 2," in addition to the screening of the series "Margoโs Got Money Troubles" and a keynote conversation with the renowned director Steven Spielberg.
This news has been re-edited based on a report published on hollywoodreporter.com, while preserving the core facts presented in the source.
