Winnipeg’s ‘Indie Game: The Movie’ takes the stage at SXSW

In the realm of feature films, "video game movie" is a phrase that fills both moviegoers and gamers with fear. Movie audiences typically end up with a disjointed and hacky excuse for a blockbuster, while gamers often end up with an adaptation that takes numerous liberties with dearly loved source material.

Video game-themed documentaries, on the other hand, have proven time and again to be interesting and worthwhile ventures, with films like "King of Kong" and "Second Skin" enjoying both financial success and critical acclaim. Now, Winnipeg-based filmmakers James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot hope to add "Indie Game: The Movie" to the growing pantheon of great game docs, and they're already off to a great start.

"Indie Game: The Movie" follows a several indie game designers, including Montreal's Phil Fish (designer of "FEZ"), "Super Meat Boy" designer Edmund McMillen and programmer Tommy Refenes, and "Braid" developer Jonathan Blow. The film offers a in-depth look at the (sometimes literal) blood, sweat, and tears that go into making an independent video game. As it turns out, making games is hard work, and the stories make for a compelling film. Juno-nominated musician Jim Guthrie (who also scored the award-winning iOS game "Sword & Sworcery") composed the music for the movie.

After an impressive showing at Sundance earlier this year that included a TV deal with HBO and a best-editing award, first-time filmmakers Swirsky and Pajot decided to forgo a distribution deal and are instead taking their doc on the road. It's a bold move for the duo, especially after the buzz the film created at Sundance, but it's a decision in keeping with the true indie spirit of their film. One of their first major stops on their road tour will be SXSW Festival in Austin, which kicks off today.

"Indie Game: The Movie" will screen at SXSW on Tuesday, March 13, and will be hitting cities across the U.S. and Canada in the coming months.