After a massively-successful virtual-only film festival last year, SXSW returns to a hybrid model, featuring a multitude of in-person events this year. Film lovers, critics, and more will get to enjoy the fruits that the festival has to offer back in person, as many rely on year to year.
The festival, which runs from March 11th-20th, encompasses more than just film, stretching to include conferences, music, mentor sessions, keynotes, networking, creative industries, and comedy. Back in person this year, SXSW has expanded their festival access to the following categories: Platinum Badge (all events; $1,925), SXSW EDU Badge ($675), Interactive Badge (Interactive and Convergence Events, $1,670), Film Badge ($1,595), Music Badge ($1,595), Online Registration (all online events, $519), and SXSW EDU Online ($219). For more information about purchasing festival badges, click here.
At The Movie Buff, this is our second year covering SXSW, and we’re pleased to bring readers festival coverage over the ten-day run. Continuous, live festival coverage will be provided on our platform throughout the festival, including feature films, reviews of the short programs, documentaries, interviews, and more.
Below are our top ten most anticipated films of the festival. Note: we have not watched the trailers for any of the listed movies. If you have any questions or comments, use the ‘contact us’ link at the top of our website. For more information about SXSW, visit www.sxsw.com. Some films/events may be only available in-person and not online; see https://schedule.sxsw.com/2022/films for more info.
Daniel Prinn
‘X’
A scene from the film “X.” (Photo: courtesy of SXSW).
Some of my favourite films from last year’s SXSW festival were featured in the Midnighters section, so of course I have to highlight one of my most anticipated films of this year in general, and that’s Ti West’s “X,” premiering in the Midnighters section this year. It’s a film set in the 1970s about a group of filmmakers making an adult film, as they’re caught in the act by their hosts, and they’re put in a fight for their lives. I’m generally a fan of West’s work and his premise sounds great, but the cast is a big draw for me. It’s great to see Jenna Ortega’s star continuously on the rise, I’ve been a fan of Brittany Snow’s for a long time, and Owen Campbell (“My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To”) seems to choose his roles very well.
‘Skate Dreams’
A scene from “Skate Dreams.” (Photo: Courtesy SXSW).
Premiering as part of the Documentary Spotlight, Jessica Edwards’ documentary “Skate Dreams” has some of my favourite elements of documentary—sports and inspiring stories. That’s especially the case with this one as the first doc about the rise of women’s skateboarding, as the documentaries I’ve seen where women break into a male-dominated sport—like the documentaries “Girls Can’t Surf” and sailing doc “Maiden”–have both been great. This film looks like it will feature some great stories, as well as some exciting skateboarding.
‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’
‘Nick Cage’ greets ‘Javi Gutierrez’ with a ‘Palm Hold Fist’ salute as he arrives in Mallorca, Spain. | (Credit: Katalin Vermes).
Always a perplexing figure, Nicolas Cage is here to play his most interesting role yet… Nicolas Cage. In “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” playing as part of the Headliners section, he plays a fictionalized version of himself where he takes $1 million to make an appearance at the birthday party of a superfan, which leads to Cage becoming an informant for the CIA. With Cage playing himself, this could literally be about anything and I’d watch it.
‘Seriously Red’
Bobby Cannavale & Krew Boylan | (Credit: Kane Skennar).
Playing as part of the Narrative Feature Competition, “Seriously Red” is Gracie Otto’s narrative feature film—after showing a great documentary at last year’s SXSW, “Under the Volcano”—and it sounds like a lot of fun. The film’s about Raylene ‘Red’ Delaney (Krew Boylan), who gives up her day job to become a Dolly Parton impersonator. For the music and just for that premise alone, I’m in for this one, too.
‘The Pez Outlaw’
A scene from “The Pez Outlaw.” (Photo: courtesy of SXSW).
I love human interest stories and toys, so just looking at the premise for “The Pez Outlaw,” where a man sets out to find a factory which holds some of the rarest PEZ dispensers in the world, I knew I was in for a treat (pun sort-of intended). This is also a hybrid film featuring some narrative and more traditional comedy, so that mix makes it sound even more interesting.
Mark Ziobro
Last year was my first time covering SXSW, and it was a unique experience, being totally virtual. Some of my favorite selections took place while covering the shorts competitions; films such as the docs “Plant Heist” and “The Box” were insightful, while narratives like “Play it Safe” and “The Mohel” were both entertaining and rewarding. The narrative features were great as well. Films such as “Executive Order” were dystopian and heavy-handed, and provided much-needed commentary on our world.
While I won’t be in Austin, this year I will be covering the virtual/online offerings of the festival, and look forward to bringing our readers the best the festival has to offer. Like last year, I will be focusing on the many short programs that SXSW has to offer, as well as selections from the Midnighters, Documentary, and Headliners. Below I list my five most anticipated films as I prepare for this year’s festival.
‘Women Do Cry’
Sonja (Maria Bakalova) and Lora (Ralitsa Stoyanova) in “Women Do Cry” | (Credit: © Dimitar KOSTOV / ACTIVIST38 – ICI ET LÀ PRODUCTIONS – ARTE FRANCE CINÉMA – 2021).
“Women Do Cry” is a film that definitely caught my attention. It premiered at last year at Cannes, and stars Academy Award Nominee Maria Bakalova (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm“) and is described as “feminist critique of modern Bulgarian society” by the film’s press materials. Detailing HIV, homophobia, and misogyny, “Women Do Cry” looks like a needed and important film. The film is directed by Mina Mileva and Vesela Kazakova.
‘What We Leave Behind’
Julián visits the grave of his departed wife, Lidia. | (Credit: Monica Wise).
This looks like a nice—and sad—film. “What We Leave Behind” is a documentary and an indie, two of my favorite genres, and takes a look at family, homeland, aging, and more. There are several reasons why I am looking forward to this film. First, I love documentaries that take a look at a single subject, rather than focusing on world problems or large, complex social issues. Second, the film is billed as a love letter to the director, Iliana Sosa’s grandfather and his work, and looks to be a very personal film, which will hopefully show in its emotion. It also seeks to explore the ties of homeland with a look at the bridge between Mexico and Texas, and how this invisible line can create barriers just as great as age.
‘Radical Honesty’
A scene from the short “Radical Honesty.” (Credit: Corey C. Waters).
I love short films, as they can be some of the freest and most powerful pieces of cinema. While it is billed as a comedy, I am immediately drawn to the short “Radical Honesty.” The film describes it as a couple who has a good date and then decide to “deconstruct” traditional relationship structures. You can see where a film like this could go; we’ve seen it many times before in feature film romantic comedies. However, if the film goes where I think it might, I think audiences are in for treat. There aren’t that many films apart the hysterical “Liar Liar” that take a look at complete honesty, and definitely not ones dealing with romantic coupling. Count me in.
‘Swimming with Sharks’
Kiernan Shipka in Roku Original “Swimming with Sharks.” | (Credit: The Roku Channel).
“Swimming with Sharks” looks like a fun film that promises lots of drama, and also deconstructs the cutthroat business of Hollywood in a way we don’t usually see. The film stars Kiernan Shipka as a new, Hollywood intern Lou and Diane Kruger as the studio’s “notorious” CEO. We learn that landing the internship was no accident, and that Lou’s intentions may be less than honorable as she longs to get close to her idol. The film has that same vibe as stalker-type films like the wonderful “Notes on a Scandal,” and is definitely something I want to check out. It also stars Donald Sutherland, which just gives me another reason to watch it.
‘Clare’
Director Lauren Minnerath. (Credit: Russell Peborde).
The final film for this list, “Clare” is another short that caught my attention with its interesting premise. In the film a 17-year-old girl sneaks away at school to the bathroom to vape, and accidentally sees her teacher has also visited the bathroom to sneak away to cry. It looks like this short film, at 12 minutes, will encapsulate more than just the surface, especially in the ways that it seeks to connect Clare and the teacher. The film is directed by Lauren Minnerath, who has a history in short film editing (and in fact does this film’s writing and editing as well), and is definitely one on my radar.
*Article completed by Mark Ziobro and Daniel Prinn.
