Janet Pierson
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Janet Pierson | |
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| Born | 1957 New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Film producer, curator |
Notable work | SXSW Film & TV Festival |
| Spouse(s) | John Pierson (m. 1983) |
Janet Pierson (born 1957) is an American film producer, programmer, and curator. She served as the Director of the SXSW Film & TV Festival from 2008 to 2022, after which she transitioned into the role of Director Emeritus.[1][2]
Early life and education
Janet Pierson was born in New Jersey in 1957. She studied at Hampshire College from 1973 to 1975 and graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1977.[3]
Career
Pierson began working in independent film exhibition, production, and representation in the late 1970s. She became Director of the Canyon Cinema Distribution Cooperative and worked with the San Francisco Repertory Company and Film Forum in New York City.[3]
From the mid-1980s onward, she collaborated with her husband, John Pierson, working as a producer's representative and advocate on seminal independent films including She's Gotta Have It (1986), Roger & Me (1989), Slacker (1990), and Clerks (1994).[3]
She was a co-creator and executive producer of the Independent Film Channel (IFC) television series Split Screen (1997–2000).[3] From 2002 to 2003, she lived on the island of Taveuni in Fiji, where her family operated a local movie theater. This period was documented in the 2005 film Reel Paradise.[3]
SXSW Film & TV Festival
In 2008, Pierson was appointed Director of the SXSW Film Festival, succeeding Matt Dentler.[1] During her 15-year tenure heading the festival, she expanded its scope, introduced a dedicated episodic television section in 2014, and grew its focus on emerging voices.[4]
Notable films premiered during her directorship include Short Term 12 (2013), Ex Machina (2014), Bridesmaids (2011), Booksmart (2019), and Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022).[1][2] In October 2022, Pierson stepped into the role of Director Emeritus, with Claudette Godfrey taking over as festival director.[1]
Personal life
Pierson has lived in Austin, Texas, since 2004. She married independent film advocate John Pierson in 1983. They have two children.[3]
Filmography
- Split Screen (1997–2000) – Executive producer, segment director
- Reel Paradise (2005) – Executive producer; subject
- Beeswax (2009) – Actress
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Yamato, Jen (2022-10-05). "The SXSW Film & TV Festival has a new head as Janet Pierson passes the baton". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Whittaker, Richard (2022-10-05). "Longtime SXSW Film & TV Festival Head, Indie Film Icon Janet Pierson Transitions to New Role". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Whittaker, Richard (2023-03-03). "Love and Cinema: Janet and John Pierson". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- ↑ Canfield, David (2018-03-09). "Janet Pierson on Curating SXSW and the Importance of Discovery". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
External links
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