There's something that makes a film particularly suited to the South by Southwest Film and Television Festival. It's a feeling, maybe. A certain ruckus, where the laughs are a little louder, the action hits a little harder. Think of it as movies increasing.
“When you see it, you know it,” said Claudette Godfrey, SXSW vice president of film and television, now in her second year leading the festival. “It's very difficult to describe. I think they have a unique flavor in storytelling.”
Even if it's hard to pinpoint exactly, there will be plenty of upcoming examples of what makes a movie do well at the annual Austin, Texas, showcase. The festival begins Friday with the world premiere of Doug Liman's remake of 1989's “Road House,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a former MMA fighter who finds work as a bar bouncer in the Florida Keys.
That screening, at the historic Paramount Theatre, will be directly followed by the premiere of “3 Body Problem,” the highly anticipated new science fiction series from David Benioff and DB Weiss, creators of “Game of Thrones.”
Also among the festival's high-profile premieres are “Monkey Man,” a stylish action film starring, directed and co-written by Dev Patel; “The Fall Guy,” David Leitch’s anarchic and outrageous adaptation of the 1980s TV show with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt; and “Civil War,” Alex Garland’s grim fable about an America in violent crisis, with Kirsten Dunst and Cailee Spaeny.
Among other titles screening on television are “Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show,” a documentary about the comedian's personal life, and the premiere of the third season of “Hacks.”
Kirsten Dunst in the film “Civil War,” which will have its world premiere at SXSW.
(A24)
Excitement has also grown around the title “My Dead Friend Zoe,” a semi-autobiographical story of a veteran from writer-director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, making his feature film debut. It's a heartfelt drama that counts Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce among its executive producers.
While the host city, a place with the famous motto “Keep Austin Weird,” is seen as a bastion of tolerant values, it is still in Texas, with all the social and political baggage that entails. Simply premiering at the festival can have unintended consequences for some films.
The documentary “The Truth Against Alex Jones” examines trials in Texas and Connecticut in which Alex Jones, an Austin-based media personality, was ordered to pay around $1 billion in damages to families of the children murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School, years later. of Jones' incendiary conspiracy-laden stories about the shooting. The film is scheduled to air shortly after SXSW on HBO.
Director Dan Reed had extensive access to the Austin courtroom during the Texas trial, resulting in gripping footage of a true legal drama.
“Austin is a city that I learned to love during the time we spent there preparing for and concluding after the trial,” Reed said. “But does it make me nervous that this is Alex Jones' hometown? The movie tells the truth and I think a lot of people might conclude that he lied a lot and probably wouldn't like to hear that. So he would get angry and come organize a demonstration and shout '1776' outside the cinema? Well I hope so.”
An image from the documentary “The Truth Against Alex Jones”, directed by Dan Reed.
(HBO)
At the time of our interview earlier this week, Reed had yet to contact Jones regarding the SXSW screenings.
“I guess he knows,” Reed said. “I exchanged many text messages with Mr. Jones and he told me that he was not interested in attending an interview and that he was not going to see the movie when it came out. So I'll let you know (just as a courtesy, of course), but I can't imagine you'll be at the Zach Theater on Monday the 11th.”
Other notable documentary releases include David Altrogge's “Clemente,” a tribute to baseball player Roberto Clemente; Jeremy Workman's unexpectedly inspiring “Secret Mall Apartment,” produced by Jesse Eisenberg, about a group of artists who build an apartment inside a mall; and “Stormy,” by Sarah Gibson, about Stormy Daniels.
“I Wish You All the Best” is a heartfelt and tender adaptation of Mason Deaver's novel about a young man's struggle to identify as non-binary, starring Corey Fogelmanis, Cole Sprouse and Alexandra Daddario. It is the directorial and screenwriting debut of Tommy Dorfman, best known as the star of the series “13 Reasons Why.”
In 2023, more than 140 bills affecting the LGBTQ+ community were introduced in the Texas legislature. For Dorfman, a trans woman, the decision to simply attend the festival comes with potential difficulties.
“I think my film is not particularly political, and yet queer people have no choice but to live a kind of politicized life,” Dorfman said of his film's Texas premiere. “It would be naive of me to say that I have no fear. But at the same time, I can't think of a better place to premiere this film, in the heart of the conflict. As a community, it is inevitable.”
From left to right, Cole Sprouse, Corey Fogelmanis and Alexandra Daddario in the film “I Wish You All The Best.”
(ACE Entertainment)
Dorfman's project arrives at the festival looking for distribution. The filmmaker, who grew up in Georgia, believes in the importance of showing up.
“Frankly, existing as a trans filmmaker in Texas is scary, as a human being,” Dorfman said. “But at the same time, I understand the complexities of rural areas, just real America, not America of coastal cities, not New York, America of blinders. So I know what it's like to be afraid of it, but I also know what it's like to stay in it without fear. As divisive as the world is, I still think it's a minority that doesn't believe queer people belong here.”
Other notable premieres at the festival include Michael Mohan's “Immaculate,” an intense horror story set in an Italian convent starring Sydney Sweeney; “Omni Loop” by Bernardo Britto, a time loop story starring Mary-Louise Parker and Ayo Edebiri; Sara Zandieh's comedy “Doin' It,” with Lily Singh; and EL Katz's survival tale, “Azrael,” with Samara Weaving.
Written by and starring “Broad City’s” Ilana Glazer, “Babes” follows a single woman who becomes pregnant and turns to her best friend (Michelle Buteau), a married mother of two, for help. The film will be released by Neon in May.
“Babes” also marks Pamela Adlon’s feature directorial debut, following her semi-autobiographical FX series “Better Things.” Adlon said she was preparing for production in New York City when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and it was not lost on her how the film touches on issues of women's reproductive rights.
“I thought, Oh my God, we're making a movie about the election,” Adlon said. “And hopefully the way I like to do things is not to hit you over the head. It's for everyone. I want everyone to see it and everyone to have their ears and hearts open. So I'm not trying to be too strict about anything. And that's why I think it's very symbolic that it premieres at a festival that takes place in Texas.”
Michelle Buteau, left, and Ilana Glazer in “Babes,” directed by Pamela Adlon.
(Neon)
Adlon was previously at SXSW in 2019 to launch season 3 of “Better Things” and appeared in two films that were part of the 2020 festival, an edition whose in-person events were canceled at the beginning of the pandemic. He can't control his excitement about returning to Austin.
“South-by is a raw, punk-rock, all-forms-of-entertainment experience,” he said, referring to the festival by its commonly abbreviated name among those who attend. “And Austin is the bastard stepchild of Texas and it's just a place that I love. “I pinch myself because all this is coming together like this.”
For the festival's Godfrey, knowing that there may be a disconnect between people's preconceptions about Austin and Texas and the realities of the event is something she is conscious to recognize.
“I think it's more of a challenge to make sure that the people who participate in our event feel good about it. Have a really open dialogue with them and say, 'What are your concerns? How do you feel? This is what we're thinking.' And we do it every year.”
The festival's closing night selection is the world premiere of “The Idea of You,” an adaptation of Robinne Lee's romance novel directed and co-written by Michael Showalter and starring Anne Hathaway as a divorced mother beginning a whirlwind adventure with a much younger international pop star.
One of Showalter's first directing credits, “Hello, My Name Is Doris,” premiered at SXSW in 2015.
“I think it's a more festive atmosphere,” Showalter said, distinguishing it from other film festivals. “Sundance is also a big festival and there is seriousness and gravity to it, whereas at South-by there are more genre films, more comedies and more sense of fun. There is a popcorn quality. To me, it seems like it takes itself a little less seriously.”
Nicholas Galitzine and Anne Hathaway in the film “The Idea of You.”
(Amazon MGM Studios)
“Road House” director Liman, whose previous films include “The Bourne Identity” and “Edge of Tomorrow,” has said he will not attend the SXSW premiere in protest of the fact that his film will stream directly on Amazon Prime . Video from March 21 without a proper theatrical release. “Road House” has also been hit by other controversies: R. Lance Hill, screenwriter of the original film, has sued Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Amazon Studios for copyright infringement, also alleging that AI was used to simulate the voices of the actors.
“The Idea of You” will also stream directly on Prime Video on May 2.
“We made the movie knowing that in all likelihood it would be streamed,” said Showalter, whose previous films also include the Oscar-winning “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” “The film will be screened at festivals and there will be screenings in many cities. And while the movie will be released as a streaming movie, which I think is great, there will be plenty of opportunities for people to see the movie in theaters as well. And that's why, when making the film, I didn't differentiate between the two.”
Once again this year, the SXSW festival overlaps with the Academy Awards. Last year, when this first happened, a film that premiered at SXSW, “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” won best picture.
A frequently asked question is why the festival doesn't officially recognize the Oscars in some way with a viewing party or similar event.
“We're focused on the experience of our filmmakers and their screenings selling out,” Godfrey said. “So, it doesn't really make sense for us to host a viewing party for something that isn't part of our event while our event is taking place.”
Given the upstart vibes that SXSW so often traffics, perhaps it's fitting that the festival takes on one of the film world's most venerable institutions. And continue finding your own way.
