South by Southwest returns for another year, announcing its full film line-up and intention to run in hybrid mode. Running from 11-20 March, the multi-platform festival returns to in-person events in Austin, Texas with online options for many of the films. It follows a 2021 edition that was purely online.
The massive line-up includes 76 World Premieres, 4 International Premieres, 4 North American Premieres, 2 U.S. Premieres, 13 Texas Premieres, and 111 Short Films, including films from directors Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Richard Linklater, Gillian Jacobs and Ti West.
With so many great titles to go through, here’s some that jumped out at us. Full program and tickets from sxsw.com.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
One of the most anticipated films of the year, or any year for that matter. After a string of increasingly insane characters, Nicolas Cage plays the most unpredictable one of them all: himself. It concerns a superfan (The Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal) who spends $1 million to get Cage to appear at a birthday party – then things go wrong. This one might be unmissable.
Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood
Richard Linklater returns to animation with a nostalgia look back at the moon landing of 1969. Told from two interwoven perspectives, it’s partly inspired by Linklater’s own childhood. Given that it stars folks like Jack Black, Zachary Levi, and Glen Powell, this will be one worth watching.
Everything Everywhere All At Once
The latest from Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Swiss Army Man) has us very excited. Michelle Yeoh stars as an “ageing Chinese immigrant…swept up in an insane adventure, where she alone can save the world by exploring other universes connecting with the lives she could have led.” It also stars Stephanie Hsu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and the triumphant screen return of Ke Huy Quan (known to a generation as Short Round from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom).
The Lost City
There’s massive buzz around this already, thanks in part to a cast that includes Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe and SNL’s Bowen Yang. Formerly known as The Lost City of D (before they made the unsexy decision to drop the D), directors Adam Nee and Aaron Nee tell the tale of an author (Bullock) who is kidnapped by a fan (Radcliffe) who wants to find the lost city of treasures from her books. It’s up to cover model Alan (Tatum) to come to the rescue. Bring it on.
Seriously Red
Following the debut of Leah Purcell’s The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson at last year’s SXSW, it’s great to see more Australian representation at the fest. Gracie Otto, who debuted Under the Volcano at SXSW as well, helms the musical comedy written by and starring Krew Boylan as a redhead who trades her job in real estate for a new career as a Dolly Parton impersonator. It also stars Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale and Daniel Webber, with music from Parton, Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond and David Bowie.
Sissy
Still in Australia, co-writer and directors Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes (For Now) brings this horror flick to the Midnighters strand of the festival. Invited away on a bachelorette weekend, Cecilia is stuck in a remote cabin with her high school bully…and a taste for revenge. Stars The Bold Type’s Aisha Dee.
Kids In The Hall: Comedy Punks
The seminal sketch comedy show, featuring Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson, finally gets its story told. Starting in the 1980s, it follows their journey over the course of 40 years, leading up to their Amazon Prime reboot. Not everyone who misses this documentary deserves to have their head crushed, just 99.99999% of them.
Mickey: The Story of a Mouse
You may have heard of this character. Appearing at the festival ahead of its Disney+ launch, Jeff Malmberg takes a look back at the 94 year history of Disney’s most iconic figure. It isn’t known as the House of Mouse for nothing. Expect a hard-hitting expose of his rough life on the streets before finding fame. Either that, or a glossy exploration through Disney’s rich stock of archival footage.
Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off
The name that launched scores of video games and aspirational skaters gets his life story told. Sam Jones, who directed the terrific Wilco documentary I Am Trying To Break Your Heart and more recently some Ted Lasso episodes, turns his lens to a career-spanning examination of the world’s most famous skateboarder.
This Much I Know To Be True
Andrew Dominik (Killing Them Softly, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford) reuinites with Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, documenting the process of them creating the albums Ghosteen and Carnage before taking them on tour. Look out for a special appearance by Marianne Faithfull.
Bodies Bodies Bodies
How do you fill Carnegie Hall? Following her critically acclaimed debut, Halina Reijn brings a massive cast together as 20-somethings plan a hurricane party at a remote family mansion, and party game turns deadly. The cast includes Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Pete Davidson, Rachel Sennott, Myha’la Herrold, Chase Sui Wonders, and Lee Pace.
