Peter Baxter (filmmaker)

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

Peter Baxter
Born
England
NationalityBritish
OccupationFilmmaker and Film Executive
Known forFilmmaker and President and co-founder of Slamdance

Career

Slamdance Film Festival

In 1995 Baxter co-founded Slamdance Film Festival as an independent alternative to Sundance Film Festival in Utah. Since its inception, Baxter has been responsible for developing Slamdance into a showcase for the discovery of new talent. Filmmakers who first gained notice at the festival include Christopher Nolan, Oren Peli, Marc Forester, Jared Hess, Lena Dunham, Bong Joon-ho, Behn Zeitlin, Anthony and Joe Russo, Andrew Huang, Seth Gordon, Matt Johnson and Lynn Shelton.

When the festival began it received 48 submissions. Slamdance now receives around 10,000 submissions every year. Baxter created Slamdance's mantra "by filmmakers, for filmmakers" based on the fact the organization is fully programmed by filmmakers. After helping launch the festival, Baxter then started a screenplay competition for new writers. He then guided Slamdance into a year-round support system for emerging artists with national theatrical exhibition of independent film and a film distribution venture called Slamdance Presents. 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]

In January, 2019 Baxter summed up Slamance's 25th anniversary by saying "Slamdance has created a community of emerging and established filmmakers over the past 25 years. The goal is for experienced filmmakers to nurture and help new filmmakers build sustainable careers." [3]

Film Work

Baxter's film work includes Wild In The Streets,[4] a documentary feature about an ancient football game and I Want To Be an American,[5] an experimental feature film based on the surrealist parlor game Exquisite Corpse and DIY, a documentary about the do-it-yourself filmmaking movement. In 2017 Baxter directed the documentary film Spirit Game,[6] about lacrosse and the Haudenosaunee that was theatrically released to positive reviews[7][8][9] in July, 2017.

Personal life

Baxter was born in England and grew up in Gloucestershire. He is a graduate of St. Catherine's College, Oxford University. Baxter lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two daughters.

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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. Iwasaki, Scott (2019-01-23). "Slamdance celebrates 25 years of independent filmmaking". The Park Record. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  4. Kaufman, Alexander (2013-01-21). "Sundance 2013: Gravitas Ventures Acquires Three Films from Slamdance". The Wrap. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  5. Truitt, Brian (2013-01-25). "Slamdance film festival continues to make its DIY mark". USA Today. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  6. Sneider, Jeff (2015-11-09). "XLrator Media Acquires Native American Lacrosse Documentary 'Spirit Game: Pride of a Nation'". The Wrap. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  7. "Spirit Game: Pride of a Nation". Retrieved 2018-06-10.
  8. Turan, Kenneth (2017-05-25). "'Spirit Game,' about the Iroquois roots of lacrosse, is no ordinary sports documentary". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  9. "Film Review: Spirit Game: Pride of a Nation | Film Journal International". www.filmjournal.com. Retrieved 2017-10-10.


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