Gilbert Shelton's The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers

So what does an irreverent former Austinite and underground comic artist have in common with an Oscar-winning Argentine composers who could water a lawn or two from the tears shed to his music? Four little letters: SXSW.

They – that’d be Gilbert Shelton (The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers) and Gustavo Santaoalla (Brokeback Mountain, Babel) – are also the first speakers to be announced for the SXSW Film Festival this March. Presumably not on the same panel, though.

More news on SXSW Film to come in coming weeks. Below, the annoucement, posted earlier today on SXSW’s blog:

First Speakers for SXSW Film 2010 – Gustavo Santaolalla and Gilbert Shelton

We’re excited to announce the first of our many speakers for the SXSW 2010 Film Conference, two legendary, long established artists at the very top of their game – Gustavo Santaolalla and Gilbert Shelton.

Award-winning Argentine composer, solo artist and producer Gustavo Santaolalla has scored films as diverse as Babel, Brokeback Mountain and Amores Perros. He has also produced acclaimed albums for the likes of Cafe Tacuba and The Kronos Quartet. Santaolalla’s iconic ‘electrotango’ band Bajofondo, meanwhile, draws from a huge, eclectic sonic palette, and gained an army of fans worldwide. SXSW is delighted to bring you this featured conversation with Gustavo Santaolalla and BMI’s Doreen Ringer Ross.

Comics legend Gilbert Shelton has earned a rabid cult following as creator of characters like Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, selling over 40 million comic books in 15 languages. Shelton was a fixture of Austin’s 60s psych scene as art director at Vulcan Gas Company, host venue to acts like Janis Joplin. He is currently involved in an animated adaptation of Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, Grass Roots; The Movie. Join us in welcoming Gilbert for his Austin homecoming, in conversation with Harry Knowles.

This article appears in October 9 • 2009.

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A graduate of the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas, Kimberley has written about film, books, and pop culture for The Austin Chronicle since 2000. She was named Editor of the Chronicle in 2016; she previously served as the paper’s Managing Editor, Screens Editor, Books Editor, and proofreader. Her work has been awarded by the Association of Alternative Newsmedia for excellence in arts criticism, team reporting, and special section (Best of Austin). The Austin Alliance for Women...