Neil Young made a surprise appearance at South By South West yesterday [March 19].

He attended a screening of his film, Human Highway: The Director’s Cut, and took part in a Q&A session with the audience afterwards.

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Young previously promoted his new Director’s Cut of the 1982 film at last year’s Toronto Film Festival.

Speaking to the audience at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas, Young said, “It has a life of it’s own. It refuses to die – we tried to kill it a couple of times. It was never satisfying to look at, because I knew there was more than what we were seeing… I always wanted to make it what it could be.”

Click here to read Neil Young on the making of his best songs

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Young explained that that the Director’s Cut will tour film festivals throughout the year before receiving a DVD release.

Speaking about his projects outside music, he commented: “You’ve got to do other things, because just music is not enough.

“I like people to look at it in the theatre – I like people to look at it with other people. I’m not a fan of the solitary art. I like to hear people react.”

Last year, Young unveiled his Pono audio system at SXSW.