Last Saturday, Killer Films head Christine Vachon gave a producer lesson during Les  Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois’ much sought lesson series. The veteran NY-based indie producer talked about her experiences and where she was at in her career. But didn’t mince words to provoke the crowd into thinking about the future of independent film.  

When asked how she got to finance most of her films, her formula is the same: equity source, foreign sales and North American distribution. With another one of her trademark comments, she wondered whether Canada produced better films with its state-funded industry.

With the economy as it is and increasing access to new technologies, she encouraged young, emerging filmmakers to continue to consider independent film as a genuine alternative. Because the very idea of indie film still holds. It must hinge on original ideas and original methods of production. She reaffirmed the mainstay of indie film: singularity of vision. The idea is to find the perfect vehicle for the new paradigm.

While her yearly travels take her to the world’s most obvious film festivals and markets, she did say that South by Southwest is clearly on the rise.