MELVILLE, N.Y. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — March 11, 2015 — Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced today it will return to Austin, Texas, as a sponsor at South by Southwest (SXSW) 2015 (Interactive: March 13-17; Film: March 13-21; Music: 17-22). The multi-disciplinary festival attracts more than 72,000 attendees connected to the film, interactive, and music industries. To serve these creative minds converging in Austin, Canon will be the official presenter of the SXSW Filmmakers Lounge and Press Suite, as well as host a special panel session.

“We are honored to be a sponsor at this year’s South by Southwest festival, a festival unlike any other, which fully connects the conjoined worlds of film, music, and technology,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Canon is excited to show attending festival storytellers how Canon supports various aspects of filmmaking – no matter the genre or platform.”

Filmmakers Lounge Hosted by Canon
From March 13-20, Canon will welcome eligible festival goers* to relax, refresh, and learn more about Canon products at the SXSW Filmmakers Lounge. The Lounge, centrally located in the Austin Convention Center (500 E Cesar Chavez St, Meeting Room 2) will feature light snacks and drinks provided by SXSW, and a hands-on display of some of Canon’s latest products. Attendees can see the new EOS C100 Mark II Digital Video Camera and EOS 7D Mark II digital SLR camera, as well as other EOS and Cinema EOS cameras and lenses that can help creators tell their stories.

Filmmakers Lounge Hours:
Friday, March 13: 12pm-6pm
Saturday, March 14 - Thursday, March 19: 9am-6pm
Friday, March 20: 9am-1pm

*Filmmakers badge required for entry between 9am-1pm; Film, Gold, or Platinum badges required from 1pm-6pm.

Canon will also curate a program of intimate talks with several festival filmmakers and storytellers, taking place in the Filmmakers Lounge at 2pm daily from March 14-16. These programs are open to Film, Gold, or Platinum badge holders and are subject to room capacity.

Saturday, March 14:
Join Sneakerheadz directors David T. Friendly and Mick Partridge in a conversation about the passionate collecting culture they profile in their film and the Cinema EOS C300 camera they used to capture it.

Sunday, March 15:
Justine Ezarik, also known as iJustine, served as an executive producer on festival film A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story. Joined by the film’s cinematographer Ben Powell, she will chat about the filmmaking process and how they used the EOS C300 and EOS C100 cameras to capture Lizzie’s inspiring story.

Monday, March 16:
Alternative means of transportation meet alternative forms of film distribution when director Fedrik Gertten and cinematographer Kiki Allegier discuss their festival selection Bikes vs. Cars alongside Nick Gonda, the founder of Tugg.

Press Suite Hosted by Canon
In the SXSW Press Suite, Canon will support the many registered, accredited media with a SXSW Press Badge** of the festival by offering a workspace and retreat, featuring computers with Internet access, Wi-Fi® hot spot, and comfortable furnishings. Canon will also offer registered, accredited members of the media with a SXSW Press Badge free on-site clean and checks, on a first-come, first-serve basis, for up-to-two items of current Canon equipment (excluding Cinema digital video cameras or lenses)***, serviced by Canon Professional Service (CPS) technicians. The technical representatives will also be available in the Press Suite, located in the Austin Convention Center (500 E Cesar Chavez St, Meeting Room 14), to answer product questions that may arise.

Press Suite Hours:
Friday, March 13: 12pm-6pm
Saturday, March 14 - Tuesday, March 17: 9am-6pm
Wednesday, March 18 - Friday, March 20: 10am-6pm
Saturday, March 21: 11am-4pm

**SXSW Press badge required for entry at all times.

Canon Spotlight: The Cinematography of Comedy Panel
Canon also invites Film, Gold, and Platinum badge holders to participate in a special panel discussion and Q&A as part of the SXSW program****. Celebrated filmmakers Ondi Timoner (Director, BRAND: A Second Coming, The Last Mile), J.M. Logan (Producer, Manson Family Vacation), and Abe Epperson (Cinematographer and Director of Original Series, Cracked.com) will participate in a conversation moderated by Tim Smith (Sr. Film and Television Advisor, Canon U.S.A.) on the craft of cinematography. Just like the SXSW community, these experts create all types of content, from documentaries to narrative features to web series. Panelists will share anecdotes from their most recent productions, delve into the cinematic devices and visual cues that enhance laughs on screen, and discuss why the small size and reliability of Canon Cinema EOS cameras make them a standout for the comedy genre.

Canon Spotlight Date and Location:
Monday, March 16: 11am-12pm
Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel
Capital Ballroom B
701 Congress Avenue