SXSW 2021 Review: ‘Kid Candidate’ is Exhilarating, Eye-Opening, and Surprisingly Funny

Not being a huge fan of documentaries myself, a film about a kid from Amarillo, Texas running for City Council wouldn’t normally have me interested. But when I saw it as one of the front runners for the ‘Documentary Feature’ section at the SXSW film festival this year, I knew I had to check it out. 

“Kid Candidate,” a Gunpowder and Sky production, follows a 24-year-old musician and filmmaker named Hayden Pedigo in the town of Amarillo, Texas, who decides to run for City Council after making a viral video jokingly announcing his candidacy. Right away, we see how high-quality the documentary is. The editing is fast-paced and quick, and extremely hyper-stylized for a setting that normally isn’t. Seeing this kid who makes funny videos start seriously running for office is purely comedic at first, seeming straight out of a “Parks and Recreation” episode. 

As we dive deeper into the story, we realize the true stakes of the situation, and the fact that Hayden isn’t messing around. Although the viral video was a satire, this inspired him to actually change his corrupt city. Texas is known to be run exclusively by the elite, and the same stands for his town. The Mayor and all of the City Council members are part of the same group called ‘Amarillo Matters.’ They’re the richest of the rich, and they essentially control Amarillo. They refuse to help entire towns in poverty experiencing food deserts in favor of pouring millions into a new scoreboard. 

Hayden wants to change that. His campaign emphasizes the notion that all voices should be heard, not just the ones on top. I was expecting him to continue his satire schtick, joking his way through the election, but he was extremely passionate and determined to help the people of Amarillo.

As the days get closer to the election, Hayden tries to hear the communities that have been kept quiet for so long. A particularly touching example of this is when he visits a South Sudanese part of the city, one that has been neglected by the city leaders throughout the years. He truly listens to what they’re saying, and you can tell he genuinely cares. 

Generally, “Kid Candidate” balances comedy and reality very well. Jeff Blackburn, a civil rights activist and mentor for Hayden utters some truly hilarious lines. Sure, it’s possible that a few of them have been taken out of context, but if anything that’s a testament to the skill of the editors. Another great comedic aspect is in the beginning when we catch a glimpse of Hayden’s videos: they’re hilarious and creative, and I’m glad the documentary showcased them. 

The documentary doesn’t shy away from depressing elements, either. The situation in Amarillo showcases a reality that is virtually unknown in my city: food deserts, poverty, and government monopolies. Many people, including myself, simply weren’t aware that this was happening. If there was one simple goal of this documentary, it was to raise awareness about the circumstance, and how anyone can rise up and try to stop it. It seemed like Hayden was hardly ever into politics, but after the viral video he realized that he needed to step up. Because who else would? It’s inspiring to see such a young person be a leader, because anyone can see themselves in him, and think, maybe I can make a difference in my community. 

Now, despite all the praise, there are still some minor problems with the documentary. Despite its short runtime, the film comes to a halt towards the middle of his campaign. It’s only a couple of days until the election, and yet the momentum comes to a grinding halt. Still, such a minor blemish hardly takes away from the story filled with such heart, comedy, and inspiration. 

“Kid Candidate” manages to build an enticing story within the first minutes with its delightful comedic elements. But where the film really shines is the light that it displays on the youth of Amarillo, really trying to make a difference. It balances comedy, reality, and hope in such an exquisite way, one that is rare to find in many documentaries.

*”Kid Candidate” is screening at SXSW on March 17th at 11 AM CST.