‘The Serpent’s Skin’ (2026) The sixth spooky and spellbinding film from Alice Maio Mackay.

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The Serpent’s Skin

The Serpent's Skin poster

Alice Maio Mackay has established herself as a powerhouse in indie filmmaking, cranking out stylized horror films that capture your attention from the very first frame. In her 6th feature film, the 21-year-old trans director tackles queer horror romance. The Serpent’s Skin follows Anna, a young trans woman who finally left her judgmental parents and moved in with her sister in the city. But Anna’s meek exterior hides secret supernatural abilities she shares with her new lover and tattoo artist, Gen. Their passion accidentally summons a demon, making relationship building way more complicated.

Jordan Dulieu (Danny) gives us an emo rocker heartthrob and villainous mayhem with equal fire. He is genuinely mesmerizing. Avalon Fast (Gen) is great. Her delivery is so natural, you might think she’s in a documentary. Alexandra McVicker (Anna) brings innocent ingénue energy. The three have stellar chemistry. I not-so-secretly wanted a threesome scene between them. Shout out to Intimacy Coordinator, Zoe Taylor, for the overall hotness.

The Serpent's Skin 2MacKay has a neon-saturated visual calling card and always provides a kick-ass soundtrack. Another genius collab with The Adams Family in H6LLB6ND6ER. Iris Mcerlean‘s costumes are all effortless cool girl. Mackay tackles self-harm, identity, sex, and magic; it’s a lot to balance. If I’m being nitpicky, the film’s pacing slows slightly in the second act, making it feel a bit long before the momentum picks up again in the final Act, which cooks. High five to my girl, Vera Drew, for her editing. Can we discuss the connection between power and orgasm? Yes. The final two lines of The Serpent’s Skin are smirkworthy perfection.

The Serpent’s Skin Trailer:

Opening in: 
New York, March 27 | Los Angeles, April 3
** With filmmaker and special guests in attendance **
More dates below & to be announced

85 mins / Australia / 2025
Directed by: Alice Maio Mackay
Written by: Alice Maio Mackay, Benjamin Pahl Robinson
Produced by: Alice Maio Mackay, Louise Weard
Starring: Alexandra McVicker, Avalon Fast, Jordan Dulieu, Scott Major, Charlotte Chimes
Edited by: Vera Drew
Cinematography by: Aaron Schuppan
Composers: Alexander Taylor, Eduardo Daniel Victoria
Music by: H6LLB6ND6ER

Festivals: Beyond Fest, BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival, Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, Fantasia Film Festival, Frameline: San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival, Frightfest, Melbourne Queer Film Festival, NewFest – The New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival, SXSW Sydney, and more

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Dark Star Pictures has released the new theatrical trailer for Alice Maio Mackay’s The Serpent’s Skin ahead of its upcoming North American theatrical release, which kicks off on March 27 in New York City and on April 3 in Los Angeles. 

At only 21-years-old, the trans Australian filmmaker has announced herself as a talent to watch, and her latest film had a celebrated world premiere at San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ film festival Frameline and enjoyed a buzzy run with stops at Beyond Fest, Fantasia Film Festival, London’s Frightfest, NewFest, and more.

The Serpent’s Skin is Maio Mackay’s most ambitious film to date, combining her distinct filmmaking voice—known for channeling genre tropes through a trans lens, her innovative approach to aesthetics, and a unique wit—with a larger scope that leans into a darker storyline and a loving influence of 90s cult television like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed. 

The film will open in New York at the Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn on March 27 and in Los Angeles at the Alamo Drafthouse DTLA on April 3—as part of a special Fantastic Fest Presents showcase—with Mackay and special guests in attendance for opening nights.

Additional screenings with director Q&As include the Roxie Theater in San Francisco on April 2 and Vidiots in Los Angeles on 4/4, with further cities and dates to be announced.

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‘Seekers of Infinite Love’ (SXSW 2026) Unresolved sibling trauma on the road.

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sxsw 2026 cartoon vectorSeekers of Infinite Love

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Products of wealthy narcissistic novelist parents, three siblings set out on a mission to rescue their sister from a woo-woo cult. Filmmaker Victoria Strouse delivers an oddball road movie in Seekers of Infinite Love.

Kayla is an anxiety-ridden writer. Wes is a gambling graphic novelist. Zack is a lawyer and aspiring songwriter. The fourth sibling, Scarlett, has joined a cult. Mom and Dad hired a deprogrammer to assist them. Following Kayla freaking out while boarding their flight, this eclectic group must drive halfway across the country to track down their missing sister before things get worse.

The Bachman siblings face absurd challenges along the way. Think The Hangover. As circumstances become more complicated, everyone’s insecurities are compounded by Rich’s extreme problem-solving suggestions. Three emotionally inept adults and one questionable weirdo must deal with their issues before they can approach Scarlett.

Justin Theroux plays our deprogrammer, Rich, a complex former cult member who now retrieves current victims for hire. His guru aura perfectly counters The Bachman’s manic energy, until his suspicious past changes the dynamic. Theroux is hilarious in this borderline caricature performance. Hannah Einbeinder, Griffin Gluck, and John Reynolds have an authentically charming chemistry.

Act Three features a surprising cameo as our cult leader. The script takes pages out of history’s doomsday cults, which is genuinely funny if they’re not happening to you. The overall tone of the film is goofy, and that’s the intent. The title serves as a clever double entendre in true dramedy fashion. At its heart, Seekers of Infinite Love is a story about the consequences of unresolved childhood trauma, the power of unconditional love, and proves that humor is the ultimate defense mechanism.

Seekers of Infinite Love
Director:Victoria Strouse
Executive Producer:Hannah Einbinder, Alexa Faigen, Nicole Flores, Hal Sadoff, Patrick Gogerchin, Tyler Zacharia, Gabby Zemer
Producer:Dylan Sellers, Chris Parker, Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey
Screenwriter:Victoria Strouse
Cinematographer:Tim Suhrstedt
Editor:Kheireddine El-Helou, Jess Brunetto, ACE
Production Designer:Rusty Smith
Cast:Hannah Einbinder, Justin Theroux, John Paul Reynolds, Griffin Gluck, Justine Lupe, Greg Kinnear
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‘I Got Bombed At Harvey’s’ (SXSW2026) A truly explosive heist

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i got bombed at Harvey'sSXSW 2026 true-crime doc I Got Bombed at Harvey’s tells the off-the-wall tale of a casino, a ransom note, a homemade bomb with 1000 pounds of dynamite, and 24 hrs. Your jaw will drop as one absolute narcissistic lunatic’s spiral brings his kids down with him.
 
The film follows the 1980 story of a giant bomb appearing inside a very busy Lake Tahoe casino office. With local law enforcement and nationwide news media coverage, the perpetrators were doomed, but not from the start. The film’s structure consists of archival reels, sit-down interviews with the bomb squad members, photographs, blueprints, physical evidence, and reenactments. Oh, and one of the men involved. The only crystal clear aspect of this crazy endeavor is the mastermind. The absolute havoc and ripple effect of one man’s ego is diabolical.
 
The footage is genuinely shocking. I jumped out of my seat at one point. The number of times I audibly exclaimed WTF should be outlawed. Without spoiling the outcome, I will say that the complexities of this case will have you shaking your head. This entire scheme sounds like a movie script. Motivated by spite, revenge, mental illness, addiction, trauma, and fear, I Got Bombed at Harvey’s gets wilder by the minute. Just when you think the story could not possibly get any nuttier, think again.
 
I Got Bombed at Harvey’s is a romp through madness, money, and mayhem worth your eyeballs.

I Got Bombed at Harvey’s

Director:
Amy Bandlien Storkel, Bryan Storkel
Executive Producer:
Chris Smith, Andrew Corkin, Howard Owens, Ben Silverman, Theo Love, Michael Driscoll, Robert Marshall, Brian Lazarte, James Lee Hernandez
Producer:
Bo Butterworth, Karen Bowlin
Cinematographer:
Britton Foster
Editor:
Evan Vetter, Scott Evans, Amy Storkel, Dava Whisenant, ACE
Production Designer:
Adam Henderson
Music:
Michael James Lee
Cast:
Igor Grbesic, Ethan Riley, Ian S. Peterson, Michael Solarez, Jennylyn Caterina, Marianne Wiedeman, William Swartzbaugh

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‘My NDA’ (SXSW 2026) Silent no more.

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My NDAJuliane Dressner and Miriam Shor bring SXSW 2026 audiences the brave stories of three people living with the daunting realities of Nondisclosure Agreements. The My NDA begins with each of our subjects, and the look of pure fear on their faces as a lawyer tells them that breaking their silence could lead to financial ruin.

The opening credits feature news stories across time and the world. As we find Vince White, a pro-bono lawyer, offering advice to our three participants, the audience gains small insights into the actual NDAs, with highlighted passages presented within the consultations. Other public whistleblowers’ stories, like Zelda Perkins and Karen McDougal, offer us an “Oh Yeah,” moment, but it is the realization that NDAs have a painful and destructive commonality far beyond the splashy headlines.

Ifeoma Ozoma discovered that her salary at Pinterest was two levels below that of her white peers. It is no secret that Black women, in particular, have to fight twice as hard to be considered an equal to anyone in the workplace. Racial injustice permeates every corner of their lives. She embarks on a journey to change California legislation on behalf of the brave people who call out injustice. Lachlan Cartwright’s story will make your blood boil in its familiarity. As the former editor of The National Enquirer, the practice of Catch-And-Kill was not in his original job description. In 2015, he realized the global implications of hushing stories involving Trump. We all know how that worked out.

NDAs perpetuate a predominantly patriarchal system of power. Wealthy men are intimidating anyone they deem expendable in a social construct without traditional consequences. They are hiding sexual assault at a disgusting rate. Ashley Kostial, a woman who spoke out following a sexual assault on an SAP work trip, succinctly describes the ongoing fallout as repeated trauma. It is the inability to heal, move on, and oftentimes, find other employment because they cannot answer questions about their previous professional experience.

Filmmakers take such care to hide the identity of those still fighting their NDAs. The closing credits are cleverly designed to be the mirror image of the opening. As a standalone device at the end of the doc, and matched with the particular music track, it holds such power. Nondisclosure agreements are a legal trap when used to hide wrongdoing. These stories feel so close to home. There will not be one audience member who doesn’t feel connected and emotionally wronged. Everyone deserves to have their voice heard. I know that My NDA is just the tip of the iceberg.

My NDA
Director:Miriam Shor, Juliane Dressner
Executive Producer:Geralyn Dreyfous, Robina Riccitiello, Dominique Bravo, Penny & Thomas Jackson – The Brandt Jackson Foundation
Producer:Elizabeth Woodward, Hanna Gray Organschi, Juliane Dressner, Miriam Shor
Cinematographer:Juliane Dressner
Editor:Jen Fineran
Music:Judy Hyman, Jeff Claus My NDAMy NDAMy NDA
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‘Never After Dark’ (SXSW 2026) One of the year’s best genre films.

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Dave Boyle brings SXSW 2026 audiences one of the most surprising films of the entire year with Never After Dark. The film follows Airi, a medium whose latest job assisting a spirit to cross the veil feels darker than usual. Airi arrives at an inn awaiting renovation. The new owner has seen an apparition and heard that Airi was the best of the best. What should be a routine case for our protagonist begins to confound her, as circumstances from years past haunt her and her new clients.
 
The film’s opening shot is startling, setting the tone for the madness to come. Boyle uses a classic trope of what the audience assumes will be the film’s ending and works backward. But, Never After Dark uses time as a clever bait and switch in a script that boggles the mind and absolutely terrifies.
Airi’s ghostly sister playfully accompanies her, calmly popping in and out of reflective surfaces to have a chat and act as a sidekick of sorts. It’s such an intriguing device. Think of her presence as a friendlier version of The Sixth Sense. The editing is spectacular. The unnatural speed dynamics between Airi and her entity are immensely jarring.
 
Audio creates a lingering tension, but it is the anticipation of seeing that horrific face in focus that makes your jaw clench. Airi’s nonchalant demeanor perfectly counters that discomforting hum in her first encounter with the spirit. But as she gets deeper into her usual flow, something is heavier about this particular case. Moeka Hoshi gives a tour de force performance, bringing unresolved baggage, quietly destructive behavior, unhealthy coping mechanisms, and a lived-in complexity that is nothing less than award-worthy.
 
There’s something about horror in broad daylight that subverts your expectations of the genre. Never After Dark dives headfirst with its title and continuously, and quite successfully, delivers simmering discomfort. You may have to remind yourself to breathe. The tropes are so smartly utilized. Boyle ups the ante by the minute. The writing is simply excellent. Never After Dark would give The Shining a run for its money. Inarguably one of the best films of the year.
 

Never After Dark Trailer

Never After Dark
Director:Dave Boyle
Executive Producer:Todd Brown, Aram Tertzakian, Nate Bolotin, Maxime Cottray, Toshiyuki Suzuki
Producer:Dave Boyle, Kento Kaku, Kosuke Tsutsumi
Screenwriter:Dave Boyle
Cinematographer:Patrick Ouziel
Editor:Chieko Suzaki
Production Designer:Yuji Hayashida
Sound:Natsuko Inoue
Music:Jonathan Snipes
Cast:Moeka Hoshi, Kento Kaku, Kurumi Inagaki, Mutsuo Yoshioka, Bokuzo Masana, Tae Kimura
Crew:Lighting Director: Hidenori Nagata, Costume Designer: Arata Kobayashi, Supervising Sound Editor/Re-Recording Mixer: Carlos Sanches, C.A.S.
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‘The Peril at Pincer Point’ (SXSW 2026) Wins the NEON Auteur Award

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The Peril at Pincer Point

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Filmmakers Jake Kuhn and Noah Stratton-Twine really both just said we’re gonna make a whole damn movie and it’s gonna premiere at SXSW 2026. An ode to the late, great Roger Corman, The Peril at Pincer Point is indie filmmaking at its finest. It is no wonder it won the NEON Auteur Award!
 
The audience follows Jack, an aspiring sound recordist, who must impress his idol director, leading him on a mission. He must find the voice of a young woman who resides on a mysterious and remote island. Along the way, he meets the island’s residents. Each quirky in their own way. Each knowing more than they let on. While Jack wanders the island recording unusual audio, he becomes entangled in an old fisherman’s fable, one that might be reeling Jack in for more than he bargained for.
 
Dialogue is over-the-top quippy and hilarious. You’re never quite sure what might pop out of anyone’s mouth. Jack Redmayne gives our protagonist Jim a wildly hopeful air. This is a man hellbent on proving himself no matter the cost. Redmayne fully leans into the style Kuhn and Stratton-Twine give him to explore. The film looks like a handcrafted theatre set. Shot in black and white, it might read like a student film to anyone outside the industry, but this is a love letter to the limitless possibilities of the storytelling mind and imagination. The Peril at Pincer Point is almost challenging to describe. It stands toe-to-toe with other festival discoveries that you hear cinephiles talk about years later. It becomes a fisherman’s tale itself.

The Peril at Pincer Point (2026) - [www.imdb.com]The Peril at Pincer Point

Section: Visions

Directed by: Noah Stratton-Twine, Jake Kuhn

Screenwriter: Noah Stratton-Twine, Jake Kuhn

Producer: Noah Stratton-Twine, Jake Kuhn

Executive Producer: Igor Engler, Caroline Burton

Editor: Noah Stratton-Twine

Starring: Jack Redmayne, Alyth Ross, Os Leanse, Jason Hogan, Heidi Parsons, Dashiell Upton, Isobel Laidler, Mike Mackenzie, Mat Wright

Run Time: 83 minutes

Genre: Comedy, Mystery

 

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‘And Her Body Was Never Found’ (SXSW 2026) Two people. Real danger?

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sxsw 2026 cartoon vectorAnd Her Body Was Never Found

and her body was never found sxsw 2026

Real-life couple Polaris Banks and Mor Cohen create one of the most cringeworthy hybrid movies ever. When I use that term to describe their SXSW 2026 film And Her Body Was Never Found, it is a genuine compliment.

The audience follows Mor and Polaris, also the only two crew members, on an isolated camping trip, recreating their actual volatile discussions. Not since watching The Human Centipede have I felt this uncomfortable witnessing something so intensely personal on film. It’s the only film that similarly made my insides churn in a way I did not ask for.

The string-heavy score is reminiscent of Hitchcock. Although that’s not the only thing that leaves you with a spine-tingling sensation. Our leads pull the rug out from under the audience by suddenly breaking the fourth wall, plunging us into this meta horror aspect of their filmmaking. Blurring the lines is creepy as hell.

The film’s premiere comes at a particularly auspicious time as cases of “Alpine Divorce” are suddenly in the news. If you are unfamiliar with this phenomenon, I will explain. Men lead their significant others deep into the wilderness, then abandon them. The term comes from the 1893 short story “An Alpine Divorce” by Robert Barr, which follows a man plotting to murder his wife by leaving her on a Swiss Alp. More women are expressing on social media that this is happening to them. It is somehow insane, and yet entirely believable.

From a technical standpoint, it is incredibly impressive that each point of coverage maintains energy from cut to cut. As we pivot from movie-making mode to relationship mode, cell phone footage, framing, and jarring blackouts play mind games.

This is a shockingly visceral watch. Every beat is a glaring example of the vast differences in communication styles between genders. Semantics, blaming, gaslighting, lies, unresolved trauma, it all plays a part in the toxic cycles of arguing. It is impossible not to feel heated as you witness inevitably familiar turns of phrase and emotional escalation. And Her Body Was Never Found does its job, acting as a terrifyingly aggressive form of immersion therapy. By the end, I wanted to crawl out of my skin.

Director: Polaris Banks
Executive Producer: Tristan Barr, Josh Doke
Producer: Polaris Banks, Mor Cohen, Hilarion Banks
Screenwriter: Polaris Banks, Mor Cohen
Cinematographer: Polaris Banks, Mor Cohen
Editor: Polaris Banks
Production Designer: Polaris Banks
Sound: Zach Goheen
Music: Nathan Schram
Cast: Mor Cohen, Polaris Banks, Grae Drake
Crew: Camera Operator: Hilarion Banks, 1st Camera Assistant: Michael Schnick, Sound Recordist: Cruz Thomas, Hair and Make-Up: Kari Koerper, Re-Recording Mixer: Juan Campos, Score Mixer: Chris Botta
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‘The Ascent’ (SXSW 2026) An extreme upward journey.

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The Ascent

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Directors Edward Drake, Scott Veltri, and Francis Cronin document the unbelievable story of a double amputee’s climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. As if that’s not impressive enough, SXSW 2026 film The Ascent also delves into a mystery sure to infuriate and inspire audiences.

During a night out in 2014, Mandy Horvath died three times. Suspicious circumstances placed her unconscious body in the middle of train tracks. Then she was run over by a 20-car locomotive that severed her legs but not her ungovernable spirit.

Horvath was on her way to greatness in life, although slightly tethered by functioning addiction. Considering her childhood trauma, her resilience is astounding. She should have been dead long before. Sitting down with her parents is viscerally uncomfortable, but it speaks volumes to Mandy’s FU attitude. The film tackles trust and loyalty with authentic complexity.

Her accident was initially written off as a suicide attempt and not a crime. Filmmakers recreate the train conductor and engineer’s witness testimony to explain their perspective of the incident. It is shocking, but almost nothing compares to the dismissal of law enforcement and the missing pieces of evidence from the very people Mandy was with that night. Your jaw will drop.

Animation illustrates Mandy’s most painful memories. The score perfectly matches her indelible spirit. Filmmakers give us visual altitude and mile markers along her journey, but that’s not all we track. Jasleen Kaur‘s editing elevates this entire documentary. To seamlessly weave in what is essentially a true-crime story alongside Mandy’s climbing journey is award-worthy.

The Ascent is an extraordinary tale of survival and perseverance against all odds. Mandy Horvath is simply unstoppable. She is the female spirit personified. Tell a woman she can’t and see what happens.

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Director: Edward Drake, Scott Veltri, Francis Cronin
Executive Producer: TIME Studios, Loren Hammonds, Kyle Hentschel, Francis Cronin, Yvette Zhuang, Jasleen Kaur, Ali Samadi
Producer: Edward Drake, Scott Veltri
Cinematographer: Laffrey Witbrod
Editor: Jasleen Kaur, September Club / Matt Prekop
Music: Adam Peters
Cast: Mandy Horvath, Julius John White aka ‘Whitey’, Carel Verhoef, Sally Grierson
Crew:Animator: Mike Lloyd, Co-Producer: Jon Schafer, Additional Editing: Kevin Barth, Executive Finishing Producers: Gloria F. Coronado, Ashely Reese, Re-Recording Mixer: Cameron Tracy, Colorist/Online Editor: Christian Navas, CSI, Graphics: COED Studios
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‘Son of a Bikram’ (SXSW 2026) You’ll namaste for more of this clever TV pilot

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sxsw 2026 cartoon vectorSon of a Bikram

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Laugh out loud hilarious from the moment it begins, filmmakers Johnny Rey Diaz and Ash T‘s television pilot Son of a Bikram blows you away. The audience follows Raag, a kind-hearted office worker obsessed with hot yoga and its founder, Bikram Choudhury. When the news breaks that Choudhury has been accused of sexual assault, he becomes the office joke and subsequently gets fired for even having photos of the man in his cubicle. Raag must come to grips with these shocking revelations, the sudden death of his mother, and a family secret putting him between a rock and an even harder place in life. Never meet your heroes.
son of a bikram 2The dialogue is outrageously offensive and damn funny. My guess is that they’re closer to reality than comedy since people are assholes, but I digress. The music is delicious. Fantasy sequences are action-packed shenanigans, akin to Everything Everywhere All At Once. Leading man, screenwriter, and showrunner Ash T absolutely kills it playing Raag. Not a single millisecond of hesitation in this absurdist performance; this is star-making stuff of the gods. The plot twist is out of left field, but that’s a complete compliment. I have to know what happens to Raag once the credits roll. I’m going to need HBO to pay attention because Son of a Bikram deserves all the money and every minute of an audience’s attention.
 

Watch the Son of a Bikram trailer here: 

Raag, a mild-mannered office worker whose entire personality is hot yoga, watches his life collapse when sexual assault allegations against his idol, Bikram Choudhury, turn him into the office punchline. That same day, his mother dies in a tragic accident, and leaves him with a devastating truth: Bikram is his father. With little hope left, Raag desperately searches for answers.

Showrunner:Johnny Rey Diaz, Ash T
Director:Johnny Rey Diaz
Executive Producer:Ash T, Abubakar Khan
Producer:Johnny Rey Diaz, Christian Rose, Ash T
Screenwriter:Ash T, Johnny Rey Diaz
Cinematographer:Nathaniel Regier
Editor:Logan Hall
Production Designer:Ashley Leung, Jason Velo
Sound:Patrick Baigrie
Music:Bombay Royale, Abhinay TJ
Cast:Ash T, Carlos Santos, Jeffrey Nicholas Brown, Vee Kumari, Anwar Molani, Zhaleh, David Chernyavsky, Melanie Johnson, Max Cutler, Matthew Peschio
 
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‘In My Blood’ (SXSW 2026) Sports and horror pilot is a hit.

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sxsw 2026 cartoon vectorIn My Blood

Desperate to live up to his father’s expectations, a talented but inconsistent minor league baseball player turns to steroids, igniting a dangerous transformation of body and mind.

in my blood SXSW 2026

Alex Bendo‘s SXSW 2026 TV pilot In My Blood explores the intersection of baseball and horror, following a young player whose ambition and family legacy pull him into the sport’s darkest rituals as he seeks success at any cost. The trappings of sports success can be truly atrocious.

I come from a baseball family. I grew up running my fingers across a chainlink fence, watching my aunt in the outfield and my mother on the pitcher’s mound. I played t-ball. My younger brother played Little League, which meant I spent my formative years living in the dugout. There are photos of me at every age in the stands up against the Green Monster at Fenway. Baseball is in my blood.

Daniel Diemer nails each beat as our protagonist, Jack, with equal parts intensity and vulnerability. His character strives to get the ultimate call, to move up from the minors after a few solid moments in his season. The story comes with unresolved generational trauma and a whole lot of appropriately negative sports culture. Dialogue is clever, laced with clues as to what to expect from Bendo’s narrative, but also emotional abuse, something any sports family will instantly recognize.

Not even three minutes in, and Jack speaks directly to the camera. Perfectly utilized tropes boost the film’s dark visual aura: a flickering overhead halogen, an open doorway, and a cell phone light. The sound editing creates genuine tension. Bravo to the makeup team. There is undoubtedly an audience for In My Blood, and enough meat on the bone for a full season. It is a horror homerun.

In My Blood
Showrunner: Alex Bendo
Director: Alex Bendo
Executive Producer: Lexi Preiser
Producer: Alex Bendo, Yumeng Han, Elias Putnam, Max Wilson, Jorge Sistos Moreno
Screenwriter: Alex Bendo
Cinematographer: Ming Jue Hu
Editor: Alex Bendo, Jorge Sistos Moreno
Production Designer: Sadra Tehrani
Sound: Arturo Salazar RB, María Alejandra Rojas
Music:Dario Acuña
Cast: Daniel Diemer, Will Chase, Ian Blackman, William Hill
Casting: Allison Twardziak
Costume Designer: Karen Boyer In My Blood In My Blood

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‘Amazing Live Sea Monkeys’ (SXSW 2026) Reclaimed legacy

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Amazing Live Sea Monkeys

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Mark Becker and Aaron Schock‘s SXSW 2026 documentary, Amazing Live Sea Monkeys, tells an unusual David Vs Goliath story with a sordid pat. A wild mix of capitalistic betrayal, hidden White Nationalism, and the woman fights to reclaim the business she helped grow, quite literally.
 
Yolanda Signorelli von Braunhut, the wife and protector of the iconic comic book novelty creation, is now destitute, living in the home they built together without water or electricity. Big Toy, the company that partnered with Harold to distribute Sea Monkeys, chose profits over quality, thus destroying the integrity of Yolanda’s earned legacy. She has been answering thousands of customers’ letters, sending them original packets of Sea Monkeys as replacements, all out of pocket. Yolanda tries to come to the Big Toy with historical promises, but dirty business is dirty business, and they stopped paying her residuals years ago. Yolanda chooses trial by jury after years of attempting to regain what is rightly hers.

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‘Same Same But Different’ (SXSW 2026) Fiercely funny coming-of-age

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same-same-but-different-352382In Lauren Noll’s SXSW 2026 dramedy, Same Same But Different, we follow three Persian childhood friends: a personal trainer, a lawyer, and an aspiring writer, grappling with identity and their ever-evolving relationships.

Rana has had her visa application denied three times. Working as a home care nurse in order to stay in the country. When her wealthy client’s son, and part-time hookup, agrees to marry her for her green card, Rana invites her best friends to Cape Cod to support her sham wedding. This beach house weekend brings drama and all the feelings as each woman deals with unresolved feelings.

This ensemble cast hits every beat. You will love each one of them. Screenwriter Dalia Rooni delivers equal parts authenticity and genuine wit. The entire Bachelorette party is hilarious perfection. It is genuinely a lovely balance of chaos and laughs.

Three different women. Three varying personalities. Three best friends. All the insecurities, baggage, and unfiltered honesty mix to create a beautiful portrait of identity and growth.

There’s a shared catharsis and joy that only shows itself in the purest of female relationships. Same Same But Different is about letting go of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Stick around for some hilarious bloopers during the credits. Brilliant.

When Rana’s visa application is denied, she faces the reality of returning home to Iran. That is, until Adam – her wealthy boss’s son and her summer fling – proposes a green card wedding. Wrestling with the implications of his offer, Rana enlists help from a questionable shaman, Adam’s pure-hearted mom, and most importantly her two Iranian best friends Nadia and Setareh, who arrive on Cape Cod for a wedding weekend full of opinions, chaos, and drama with their own American boyfriends. Just as total disaster approaches, the three women come together in a transformative moment of acceptance, growth, and coming of age – evolving this weekend into one that will change them all forever.

Same Same But Different Credits

Director:

Lauren Noll

Executive Producer:

Emily Reach White, Chris White

Producer:

Dalia Rooni, Lauren Noll, Zein Khleif, Medalion Rahimi, Emily Reach White

Screenwriter:

Dalia Rooni

Cinematographer:

Nathaniel Krause

Editor:

Stephanie Williams

Production Designer:

Sadra Tehrani

Sound:

Sam Costello

Music:

Neuman Jody Mannas

Cast:

Medalion Rahimi, Logan Miller, Layla Mohammadi, Dalia Rooni, Richie Moriarty, Michael Baszler, Danielle Pinnock, Lauren Noll, Nicholas Coombe, Kevin Nealon, Joey Lauren Adams

sxsw 2026 banner black whiteFor all things SXSW 2026, click here 

‘One Another’ (SXSW 2026) Exploring the evolution of friendships in universally relatable doc.

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one another

Losing a relationship comes with aspects of anguish, emotional destabilizing moments, unresolved trauma, and, if we’re lucky, reconciliation. Amber Love’s SXSW 2026 documentary One Another follows the evolution of three friendships over the course of three years.
 
Joe, Giorgia, and Lorri confront the state of personal connections with longing, healing, and change. Featuring different generations deepens the viewers’ understanding that we are all so much more alike on the inside. You may find yourself nodding your head, reliving moments from your past (or present). One Another grabs you with its archival footage. We reminisce alongside our trio, gazing at photo albums and hand-written letters. It is beautifully nostalgic.

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‘Stages’ (SXSW 2026) Roadbound rebirth in Ryan Booth’s intoxicating drama.

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Stages

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Ryan Booth‘s SXSW 2026 drama, Stages, follows the first solo tour of a musician after the collapse of his band. Ben Garza chases the dream of remaining relevant in an ever-evolving industry.

The title is a clever double entendre for career shifts and physical performance spaces, immediately setting the tone for the journey ahead. As the story moves on the road, audiences experience the often unglamorous and always unpredictable reality of tour life. As Jessie’s stock rises and Ben shifts gears, the audience feels every beat, deepening our connection to the characters’ evolving relationships.

Leslie Grace brings sweet authenticity and immense talent to Jessie, her vulnerability dazzling. David Ramirez delivers a seemingly effortless performance, one that could just as easily have been a documentary. As we watch Jessie’s newfound fame, Ramirez wears his emotions on his sleeve. Ben must decide whether to grow or give up. Ramirez is simply spectacular.

The soundtrack is beautiful, with original songs that are instant hits. Ramirez and Grace have gorgeous tones. When they duet, it is chill-inducing magic. Editing is fast-paced and smart, alongside the handheld camerawork. The juxtaposition of these two generations and their journeys is fascinating.

The sacrifices a performer makes to maintain personal relationships are something incredibly difficult to explain to anyone outside the industry, but Stages captures the emotional strain perfectly. Stages finds the thrills, unprecedented risk, pride swallowing, and unadulterated joy of pursuing a life on stage. Highly recommend. SXSW 2026 audiences have a front row seat to greatness.

Director: Ryan Booth
Executive Producer: Ryan Kroft, Michael Rapino
Producer: Val Hill, Morgan Stevenson Cooper, Jolene, Russell Wayne Groves
Screenwriter: Bradley Jackson, Dan Steele
Cinematographer: Patrick Golan
Editor: Lucas Harger
Production Designer: Thoa Nguyen
Sound: Mark Bartels
Music: David Ramirez, Giosuè Greco
Cast: David Ramirez, Leslie Grace, Jolene, Jake McMullen, Rafael Casal, Abner Ramirez, Amanda Sudano Ramirez, Jerry Ferrara, Marc Menchaca, David Strathairn
For all things SXSW 2026, click here!

SXSW 2026, a sneak peek at the films and TV you want to see

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SXSW-2026-ArtworkSXSW 2026 Watchlist

Every year, I look forward to the incredible lineup at SXSW. This year feels particularly curated to my personal, off-the-wall taste, and I am here for it, Baby. Here are just 13 of the films and TV pilots I am stoked to get my eyeballs on starting this week!!

SXSW 2026 runs from March 12-18th. Do. Not. Miss. It.

THE SNAKE

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When Jamie, ungovernable 40-something wild child collides with her venomous mother, Anne, her life blows up spectacularly leaving her evicted and single. This sends Jamie on a pig in a hurricane journey for “home”; breaking into her Nana’s house to prove it should be hers, a rejected bid to move in with her van-dwelling punk rock ex, and a stint in her best friends pied a terre, which ends with Jamie hooking up with her husband.

I like to think I am ungovernable, I whisper to myself as I go grocery shopping and run the PTO. I can surely live vicariously through Anne’s shenanigans. 

EDIE ARNOLD IS A LOSER

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Timid Catholic school dork Edie Arnold is dragged to a punk show where a mishap lands her on stage behind the drums. She’s mortified… but a natural. Convinced by her best friend, she secretly forms a band called The NunDead. Her newfound confidence leads to a date with the altar boy but also a fight that gets her suspended. Thinking she bailed on their first gig, her bandmates bust her out of the house just in time to win a Battle of the Bands. But when she faces expulsion and her mother’s wrath at a disciplinary hearing, footage of her kick-ass performance has an unexpected effect on her mom.

Hi! Former Catholic school kid here. Hi, former punk band member. Battle of the Bads? Almost. I hosted. In spirit, another film that makes beautiful misfits like me feel seen. Do not miss it.

NEVER AFTER DARK

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A wandering medium, Airi spends her life guiding restless spirits out of the world of the living. Summoned to an isolated country house, she comes face to face with a grotesque apparition with powers that defy Airi’s experience. As she digs deeper into the house’s past, a secret comes to light — and Airi finds herself hunted by a far more unpredictable force. For the first time, her greatest adversary is not the supernatural, but the living.

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‘Dreams’ (2026) Defies expectations.

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Filmmaker Michel Franco’s Dreams follows a wealthy socialite who has a scandalous affair with a young undocumented ballet dancer. Their dangerous relationship has ripple effects that will appall.
 
Dreams opens with a horrific scene of abandoned Mexican migrants locked in the back of a truck. Fernando, once let out, makes his way to his lover’s home in San Francisco. Jennifer is a divorced trust fund baby who uses her position at her ballet company to string Fernando along with promises of a greencard, all while keeping their torrid affair behind closed doors. A determined Fernando runs back to her arms over and over in hopes that he can one day be a principal dancer in the company in the US.
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Some of the most beautiful and compelling scenes are the rehearsals. Gorgeously lit, effortlessly shot, and emotionally grounding, you cannot take your eyes off Fernando, in particular. Halfway through the film, a dance mirrors the highs of their relationship dynamic in a poetic way. Bravo to the intimacy coordinator (which the film does not credit), the sex scenes have the most electric chemistry and choreography.
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Isaác Hernández is extraordinary in his body. The camera loves him. Jessica Chastain is intentionally cold. Dreams is a film about power. Jennifer’s loneliness is only equal to her need to possess Fernando on her terms. She pushes boundaries both physical and emotional, playing on Fernando’s financial desperation and naivety. Her love is circumstantial, even if she believes otherwise. She’s a villain. The audience will undoubtedly loathe her, and Chastain and Franco understand that.
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The tone is uneven. The first half feels like strangers communicating with each other. The second half is better, but remains at arm’s length. The final act gives Fernando the opportunity for much-deserved vengeance. It is, admittedly, a clever attempt at turning the tables. In the end, Dreams is more horror than a love story. It will break your heart.
 

Dreams Trailer:


Releasing Theatrically on February 27

SYNOPSIS:

A powerful socialite (Academy Award® winner Jessica Chastain) and a promising ballet dancer (Isaac Hernández) begin a dangerous affair. When he secretly crosses the US-Mexico border, she takes desperate measures to protect their future together. A tense, erotic drama from acclaimed director Michel Franco (Memory, New Order). 

DIRECTED BY Michel Franco

WRITTEN BY Michel Franco

PRODUCED BY Michel Franco, Eréndira Núñez Larios, Alexander Rodnyansky

CAST Jessica Chastain, Isaác Hernández, Rupert Friend, Marshall Bell, Eligio Meléndez, Mercedes Hernández

Run Time: 121 minutes

 

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‘In Cold Light’ (2026) Maika Monroe & Troy Kotsur captivate in gritty crime thriller.

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saban films logoIn Cold Light

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In Director Maxime Giroux’s In Cold Light, Maika Monroe plays a woman recently released from prison, who’s looking to reclaim the drug empire she left behind. Holding family secrets from her estranged father and challenging the new power dynamic make it more difficult to get her life back on track. When she is framed for murder, she goes on the run, only to discover that loyalty comes at an ultimate cost.
 
In Cold Light MaikaHellbent on backsliding into her old ways, Ava’s tough exterior hides a chasm of wounds. As her brother softens to her requests for drug connections, all hell breaks loose when she becomes a target and scapegoat for murder. Now, with the innocent lives of her family members in harm’s way, Ava must decide who she can trust and how far she will go to bargain for their safety.
 
In Cold Light - Troy & MaikaOscar winner Troy Kotsur (CODA) plays Ava’s father with deep hurt and contempt for Ava’s very existence. His all-encompassing presence is utterly mesmerizing. Maika Monroe consistently proves she is a brilliant chameleon. From her breakout role in It Follows (2014) to the underrated Villains (2019), Watcher (20220 to 100 Nights of Hero (2025), she bares her soul in every frame. Monroe’s martyrdom arc is equal parts infuriating and resigned. She is so watchable. Despite her lithe stature, she commands your attention. Kotsur is the only one strong enough to match her energy. The two share a scene halfway through the film that is not only spectacularly written but also becomes the emotional backbone of the entire film. It is perfection.
 
in Cold lightWhile the “why” takes longer to get to than I would have liked, and feels somewhat disjointed, In Cold Light is a definitive, gritty crime thriller. Helen Hunt briefly appears, and introducing her sooner would change everything. Both the editing and handheld camerawork are hypnotic. But it’s the visceral father-daughter dynamic that gets under your skin and stays there. Screenwriter Patrick Whistler delivers unresolved trauma on an astonishing level. Monroe and Kotsur make an undeniably compelling duo. I would love to see them back together, doing anything literally.

 

In Cold Light Trailer:

IN COLD LIGHT hits Digital and On-Demand platforms on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026

 
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‘Mimics’ (2026) The price of fame is nothing to laugh at.

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Kristoffer Polaha wears both the first-time director and leading man hats in Mimics. The film follows a down-on-his-luck impressionist with big dreams. When a mysterious agent offers immediate fame, it comes with a few caveats.

Sam must use a specific dummy and suffer the consequences of never saying no. As he skyrockets on social media, his confidence grows, but his dummy, Fergus, does not enjoy being the butt of the joke. Sam’s autonomy disappears, and violent things begin to happen.
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Polana scores big with his cast. Singer Mōriah delivers a sweet and fleshed-out love interest. Thank you to screenwriter Marc Oakley for not making her a cliche. Oakley actually makes a voice cameo as the spam caller that repeatedly contacts the Reinhold household. Stephen Tobolowsky plays Sam’s adoring grandfather, Melvin. He is so darling, you want to put him in your pocket. He elevates the entire project.

Chris Parnell is Late Show host Jack Conrad. Like Tobolowsky, his easy presence makes Conrad a believable icon. Kristoffer Polaha is effortlessly charming. I genuinely enjoyed his impressions. He has an aura similar to Jim Carrey in his dramedy roles. He carries the film like a pro.

mimics-stephen-TobolowskyCalling Mimics a light horror is anything but an insult. It is a genre-bender: a sweet love story, a character study in ambition, passion, and an eerie warning about the trappings of fame, all wrapped in culty folklore that wouldn’t surprise me if it were ripped straight from the bowels of Scientology. It’s a breezy genre film that twists in unexpected ways and one that puts Kristoffer Polaha’s underrated talents in the spotlight.

Mimics Trailer:

Directed by: Kristoffer Polaha
Written by: Marc Oakley
Starring: Kristoffer Polaha, Mōriah, Chris Parnell, Stephen Tobolowsky, Jesse Hutch,
Jason Marsden and Austin Basis
Produced by: Ken Carpenter, Kristoffer Polaha, Adam Karm, and Ben Wagner

MIMICS is the daringly unique directorial debut of Kristoffer Polaha — delivering fun, fright, and romance. When a struggling impressionist and a contract for fame take center stage, the battle for a good man’s soul takes the spotlight.
RT: 90 Minutes

 

For more horror coverage, click here!

 

‘By Design’ (2026) A yearning metaphor.

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Amanda Kramer‘s (Please Baby Please) emotionally revealing film, By Design, follows a woman whose soul enters the chair she longed to buy. Camille is the third wheel in her small circle of friends. When she loses an exquisite wooden chair to another desperate woman, her body becomes the vessel to revive those around her, but at what cost?

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Camille exists to make her friends feel better about themselves. Kramer builds a character that speaks volumes in restraint, giving Lewis the freedom to break every physical and emotional barrier. By Design is a stage piece on film. There is an immediate theatricality to Camille’s friends, but only to anyone who’s never been in a space with women of a certain economic advantage. To speak of everything and nothing at all is part of the act. Vapid conversation comprised solely of one-upmanship is the name of the game. Camille yearns to be seen. Read More →

ICYMI- SXSW Announced Initial 2026 Lineup

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ANNOUNCES 2026 FILM & TV FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHT TV PREMIERE AND INITIAL LINEUP

David E. Kelley’s Apple TV Series Margo’s Got Money Troubles Opening Night TV Premiere

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Feature and Episodic Highlights Include Jorma Taccone’s Over Your Dead Body; Jonás Cuarón’s  Campeón Gabacho; Victoria Strouse’s Seekers of Infinite Love; Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon’s Family Movie; Deon Taylor’s Drift; Doug Blush and Piero F. Giunti’s Los Lobos Native Sons; AMC’s The Audacity

Austin, Texas, January 14, 2026 – South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals unveiled today an extensive wave of programming for the highly anticipated 33rd edition of the Film & TV Festival, which for the first time will open on a Thursday evening and conclude on a Wednesday, spanning March 12–18, 2026. Featuring a momentous Opening Night TV Premiere alongside an equally stellar slate of Feature Films, TV projects, and XR projects, the Film & TV Festival draws thousands of fans, creators, press, and industry leaders to celebrate inventive storytelling, cultural discovery, and boundary-pushing screen experiences.

The 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival’s Opening Night TV Premiere is the eagerly anticipated Apple TV series Margo’s Got Money Troubles from Emmy-winning producer David E. Kelley.

Based on the best-selling novel by Rufi Thorpe, Margo’s Got Money Troubles is a bold, heartwarming and comedic family drama featuring an all-star cast including Elle Fanning as Margo, a recent college dropout and aspiring writer who is forced to make her way with a new baby, a mounting pile of bills and a dwindling amount of ways to pay them, Michelle Pfeiffer and Nick Offerman as Margo’s ex-Hooter’s waitress mom and ex-pro-wrestler dad, alongside Nicole Kidman, Thaddea Graham, Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden, Oscar and Emmy Award-winner Greg Kinnear, Michael Angarano, Rico Nasty and Lindsey Normington. The series will premiere at SXSW ahead of its global debut on Apple TV on April 15, 2026.

“David E. Kelley’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles has pure SXSW energy and is the perfect match for our Opening Night TV Premiere slot,” said Claudette Godfrey, VP Film & TV. “Elle Fanning is absolutely magnetic as Margo, and Michelle Pfeiffer delivers a performance that reminds you why she’s an absolute legend. The mother-daughter dynamic these two create together is going to really get people talking. Nick Offerman will catch people completely off guard, as will the rest of the incredibly impressive cast. With its killer soundtrack, genuine heart, and sharp attitude and edge, this show captures the exact spirit that makes SXSW special and the bold, distinctive storytelling we love to open with!”

Feature films in the SXSW 2026 lineup screen in the following categories: Headliner; Narrative Feature Competition presented by Kickstarter; Documentary Feature Competition; Narrative Spotlight; Documentary Spotlight; Visions; Midnighter; Global presented by MUBI; 24 Beats Per Second, and Festival Favorite. 

The TV program consists of TV Premiere and the Independent TV Pilot Competition. The SXSW 2026 Shorts Film Program will present six competitive sections: Narrative Short Competition, Documentary Short Competition, Animated Short Competition, Midnight Short Competition, Texas Short Competition, and Music Video Competition. XR Experience Competition, XR Spotlight and XR Special Event programming round out the Film & TV Festival program. All Categories will be eligible for section-specific Audience Awards.

Thus far, the 2026 Film & TV lineup includes 58 Features including 49 World Premieres, 3 North American Premieres, 3 U.S. Premiere, 2 Texas Premieres + 52 Short Films and 20 Music Videos. The TV Program includes 9 TV projects, with 3 TV premieres and 6 Independent TV Pilots. There are 29 projects in the XR Experience Program, including 17 in XR Experience Competition, 11 in XR Experience Spotlight and 1 XR Experience Special Event. The rest of the Film & TV Festival lineup will be announced in mid-February. 

“We’re thrilled to unveil the first round of exciting projects joining our Opening Night Film, I Love Boosters for SXSW 2026!” said Claudette Godfrey, VP Film & TV. “From bold indies and can’t-miss studio events to genre-bending thrillers and sharp comedies, from revelatory documentaries and innovative series to immersive XR and international discoveries—this year’s program is packed with the kind of storytelling our audiences love. We can’t wait to welcome filmmakers and movie lovers to Austin for another remarkable year of screenings at SXSW!”

FILM PROGRAM

SXSW Announced Initial 2026 Lineup

HEADLINER
Big names, big talent featuring red carpet premieres and gala film events with major and rising names in cinema.

I Love Boosters
Director/Screenwriter: Boots Riley, Producers: Aaron Ryder, Andrew Swett, Allison Rose Carter, Jon Read, Boots Riley
A crew of professional shoplifters take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven. It’s like community service. Cast: Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, Demi Moore (World Premiere) 

Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice
Director/Screenwriter: BenDavid Grabinski, Producers: Andrew Lazar
A hilarious, stylized, R-rated action-comedy about two gangsters and the woman they love trying to survive the most dangerous night of their lives. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s one wild ingredient added to the mix: a time machine. Cast: Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, Eiza González, Keith David, Jimmy Tatro, Stephen Root, Lewis Tan, Ben Schwartz, Emily Hampshire, Arturo Castro (World Premiere)

Over Your Dead Body
Director: Jorma Taccone, Producers: Kelly McCormick, David Leitch, Lee Kim, Guy Danella, Nick Spicer, Aram Tertzakian, Screenwriters: Nick Kocher, Brian McElhaney
A dysfunctional couple head to a remote cabin to supposedly reconnect, but each has secret plans to kill the other. Cast: Samara Weaving, Jason Segel, Timothy Olyphant, Juliette Lewis, Paul Guilfoyle, Keith Jardine (World Premiere)

ready or not 2 here I comeReady or Not 2: Here I Come
Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett, Producers: Tripp Vinson, James Vanderbilt, William Sherak, Bradley J. Fischer, Screenwriters: Guy Busick, R. Christopher Murphy
After surviving the Le Domas attack, Grace faces the next level of the deadly game – now with her estranged sister Faith. With four rival families hunting them, Grace must survive, protect her sister, and claim the High Seat that rules it all. Cast: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, David Cronenberg, Elijah Wood (World Premiere) 

They Will Kill You
Director: Kirill Sokolov, Producers: Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, Dan Kagan, Screenwriters: Kirill Sokolov, Alex Litvak
A high-octane horror-action-comedy in which a woman must survive the night at the Virgil, a demonic cult’s mysterious, twisted death-trap, before becoming their next offering in a uniquely brazen battle of epic kills and wickedly dark humor. Cast: Zazie Beetz, Myha’La, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, Patricia Arquette. (World Premiere)

NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION Presented by Kickstarter 
World premieres showcasing the art of storytelling by emerging voices. Read More →