I’m on my way to Austin for SXSW25, wearing a number of different hats. I’ll be screening films to potentially bring to Mississippi later this year and to write about for my site over at poptheology.com, connecting with industry professionals around a film I’m trying to set up, and attending panels and workshops for some of the work I’m doing with the Mississippi Film Office. Of course, it’ll be great to reconnect with my good friend Benjamin PowerGriffin, who also writes for Pop Theology and lives in Austin. We’ll also be connecting with our former classmate and colleague, Alexander Carpenter of Spectrum Magazine, to check out as many screenings, panels, shows, and, of course, parties/receptions as possible.
Planning the upcoming Stranger Than Fiction Film Festival has been a bit overwhelming, but I’ve managed to find some time to browse the films on offer this coming week and a few stand out. Here are five films I’m looking forward to…in no particular order:
Death of a Unicorn: yes, it already has distribution, and, yes, it’ll be in theaters across the country very soon. But if you’ve seen this trailer and have ever attended a SXSW premiere screening of a highly-anticipated, totally bonkers film, then you know this film is perfect for a packed out Paramount Theater.
Hallow Road: Rosamund Pike and Matthew Rhys in a Midnight Section thriller playing parents racing against time to save their daughter? Yes, please.
Make it Look Real: I’m a fan of any behind-the-scenes documentaries that focus on singular aspects of filmmaking that often go unnoticed by general audiences. I really loved Tom Donahue’s Casting By (2012), which gave some long overdue love to casting directors. The perfectly-titled Make It Look Real, which is having its international premiere here at SXSW, follows the work of Claire Warden, a “trailblazing intimacy coordinator, helping directors and actors craft convincing on-screen intimacy while safeguarding personal boundaries.” Depictions of sex and sexuality and nudity in film are always such hot-button issues. It should be interesting to see what types of conversations and work take place before these images are captured.
Good Boy: Huge dog person here. I miss my dogs when I’m traveling for work. I wonder what they’re up to when they’re home alone (likely napping). My dogs also freak me out when, late at night, something that I can’t see (or hear) seems to catch their attention. I wonder if this was part of the motivation for Good Boy, which takes the haunted house film genre and makes the family dog (Indy) the main character…and the only one who can see the forces that haunt the house. I reallyhope this works…and that Indy makes it out ok.
Friendship: Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd…hard to get more excited about a comedic duo playing the roles of two middle-aged men trying to become new friends.
Activations and Events:
SXSW has never only about the films though. I’m really looking forward to these following activations and events:
Holey Moley: I love golf. I wish I could play more. A Top Golf just opened up about 15 minutes from my house. This is a dangerous development. So when I recently learned about Holey Moley mini-golf in Austin, I knew Alexander (also an avid golfer) and I would likely need to skip a panel to get a round (or two) in. If any of you reading this are planning on being in Austin between now and Wednesday morning, March 12, let me know, so we can go play some mini-golf at Holey Moley. If you show any SXSW badge between now and Saturday, March 15, all mini-golf games are 2-for-1.
The Criterion Mobile Closet: yes, the line will likely be interminably long, but how am I going to pass up the chance to make my own Criterion Closet Video?
FX’s Alien: Earth Activation: see above re: line, but, nevertheless, Alien: Romulus really brought the franchise back for me (like many others) thanks to Fede Álvarez’s sharp direction and stellar performances from virtually the entire cast. If anyone can keep this momentum going, Noah Hawley surely can. Hopefully this activation provides some good glimpses into what he and the rest of the team have in store.
