Meet the 2013 SXSW Filmmakers #10: John Sayles Tells an Untold Story in ‘Go for Sisters’

Oscar-nominee John Sayles (“Amigo”), the filmmaker behind “Go for Sisters,” also sidelines as a novelist, screenwriter and occasional actor.  He describes his latest drama “Go for Sisters” as a story people haven’t seen before and full of terrific performances. 

What it’s about: Two women who were so tight growing up they could ‘go for sisters’ are reunited after 20 years when one is assigned as parole officer for the other.

What he hopes audiences will take away: “I always want the audience to think both about the characters they’ve met in the movie and about how the story relates to their own lives.”

On his inspiration: “I was thinking of some of Fred Wiseman’s early films when I started writing this.”

On the challenges while creating the film: “As usual, money and time. We had 19 days to shoot over 70 locations in two countries.”

Upcoming projects: “I have several screenplays written that I’ve been trying to raise money for–- one about the Rosenberg spy case, one set in the Tasmanian penal colony in 1830, one epic that starts at the battle of Culloden and ends at the battle of Quebec– and I continue to make a living as a writer-for-hire on features and for TV.”

Indiewire invited SXSW Film Festival directors to tell us about their films, including what inspired them, the challenges they faced and what they’re doing next. We’ll be publishing their responses leading up to the 2013 festival.

Keep checking HERE every day up to the launch of the festival on March 8 for the latest profiles.