Category Archives: SXSW Film Festival

SXSW 2023 TV review: Sci-fi episodic ‘SHATTER BELT’ is the mindfuckery we hoped for from James Ward Byrkit.

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SHATTER BELT

From director James Byrkit (Coherence) comes a collection of stories from the other side of consciousness.

A modern mind-bender for a new generation, Shatter Belt dives head first into the deep end of questions about our relationship to reality.

Episode Two: Immotus
Schrödinger’s cat meets If A Tree Falls in the Wood meets the internet age. An internet channel covers a seemingly innocuous apple that becomes a global viral sensation when it does not age and cannot be touched by humans. Panic and chaos ensue.

Episode Three: The Specimen
Patton Oswalt plays a writer looking for his big break. The subject of his impending article is a quote I have said for years. Oswalt races against time to get his laptop and work out of hock. His good graces wear thin with everyone in his life. Juxtaposed this story with a team of archivists in the museum, Episode Three is a shockingly profound misinterpretation of history. It is lovely, and Oswalt captures the hearts of the viewer instantly.

Episode Four: Pearls
The absurdity of high-concept cuisine, business jargon, and how both are a load of bullshit. Once again, the performances, storyline, and magical realism wow.

SHATTER BELT comes as no surprise to fans of James Ward Byrkit‘s brilliant film Coherence. This episodic creation allows audiences to have their minds blown, shaking their heads and reintroducing watercooler discussion after each story. This is solidly mesmerizing writing.

Film Screenings

 
Shatter Belt at Stateside Theatre
Mar 14, 2023
11:00am—12:34pm
 

Credits

Showrunner:

James Ward Byrkit
Director:

James Ward Byrkit
Executive Producer:

James Ward Byrkit, Alyssa Byrkit, Olaf Carlson-Wee
Producer:

Tom Cline, Laura Evans
Screenwriter:

James Ward Byrkit
Cinematographer:

Mitchell Orcino, Chris Cuthbert
Editor:

James Ward Byrkit, Adam Parker, Tucker Marolf
Sound Designer:

Andrew Hay
Music:

Kristin Øhrn Dyrud
Principal Cast:

Abigail Spencer, Patton Oswalt, JJ Nolan, Elimu Nelson, Julie Zhan, Dale E. Turner, Annie Ruby, Catherine Lidstone, Maury Sterling, Richard Follin

SXSW 2023 documentary review: ‘ART FOR EVERYBODY’ reveals the darkness inside the painter of light.

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Art For Everybody

The brand vs. the man. In the 90s, looking at a Thomas Kinkade painting felt like peering into a storybook. But Miranda Yousef‘s SXSW 2023 doc ART FOR EVERYBODY shows audiences that the self-appointed “Painter of Light” was, in truth, filled with darkness the public never saw. Could a dream lead to the discovery of his entire body of work? Prepare for your shining vision of the world’s most marketable artist to change color. His family, friends, fans, and critics speak about the man they knew.

You could not escape Kinkade work in the 90s. There were calendars, postcards, commemorative plates, and entirely dedicated galleries in the mall of idyllic cottages. As an English lit nerd, I remember being enamored by his paintings. So much so that I almost dropped $600 on a piece in my early 20s. I did not have that kind of money to spend on art back then.

Critics hated him. Kinkade didn’t align with the idea of what real art is, so he took it as a business opportunity to lean into a facade of marketable Christianity. The ego is the most cringeworthy part of the story. Outtakes from the numerous video archives are increasingly abrasive and eye-roll-inducing. Then the spiraling behavior. The film reveals a more nuanced side to the man. Original audio from Thom at age 16 echoes behind photographs from his youth should have tipped us off from the beginning. Once his daughters open his vault, the real Kinkade spills into reality. His family drops the forced filter they used to keep up in front of the cameras. Thomas Kinkade becomes a shattered image.

It’s a conversation about how art affects your soul, the nuance of the industry, and how creativity can be an outlet for trauma. ART FOR EVERYBODY is a complex portrait of how we bought a fake.

 

Film Screenings

Art for Everybody at Alamo Lamar E
Mar 13, 2023
5:45pm—7:23pm
 
Art for Everybody at Stateside Theatre
Mar 15, 2023
8:45pm—10:23pm
 
Art for Everybody at Violet Crown Cinema 1
Mar 16, 2023
12:30pm—2:08pm
 
Art for Everybody at Violet Crown Cinema 3
Mar 16, 2023
1:00pm—2:38pm
 

Credits

Director:

Miranda Yousef
Producer:

Morgan Neville, Tim Rummel
Cinematographer:

Tasha Van Zandt
Editor:

Miranda Yousef, ACE

SXSW 2023 documentary review: ‘PLAN C’ features the saving grace of abortion access.

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PLAN C

*This review originally appeared on AWFJ.org*

The modern-day version of The Janes are revolutionaries protecting people who seek abortion access in SXSW 2023 documentary PLAN C. Elisa Wells and Francine Coeytaux are co-founders and the creator of the organization Plan C. “They are not providers. They share information.” They and their team of doctors and regular women across the globe do everything they can to provide the healthcare that is being stripped away by the minute.

The film begins in 2019 and progresses into 2023. As the laws change and public tensions rise, tactics must shift in kind. In-person meetings turn into zoom calls. When the 6-week abortion ban took effect in Texas on September 1st, 2021, Francine got extra creative, making QR code stickers that led to the site and paying for a brightly lit digital advertisement truck. Private mailboxes across state lines became a lifetime. Accessing the abortion pill once again becomes a clandestine operation. Plan C is careful to protect its volunteers and those they serve. It is all hands on deck, lawyers on call, with states battling between righteous morality and freedom.

Some women hide their faces for safety. Frankly, I don’t blame them. The hysteria from the right has become a full-blown Handmaid’s Tale situation. The film features audio from users of Plan C. Each woman explained her intensely personal motives. The stigma attached to abortion can be soul-destroying. Family planning and body autonomy should not be an issue! PLAN C is more important than ever. It is required viewing for champions of basic human rights. You’ll never stop abortions, no matter what laws you pass. Pre-Roe came “The Janes.” Post-Roe, Francine, Eisa, and innumerable women take up their mantle. SXSW 2023 audiences get a peek behind the curtain of the women fighting the good fight, the ones you won’t regularly see in the spotlight.

Film Screenings

Plan C at ZACH Theatre
Mar 12, 2023
11:00am—12:39pm
 
Plan C at Alamo Lamar A
Mar 14, 2023
5:45pm—7:24pm
 
Plan C at Alamo Lamar A
Mar 18, 2023
3:00pm—4:39pm
 

Credits

Director:

Tracy Droz Tragos
Executive Producer:

Jess Jacobs, Dr. Holly Corn & Jonathan Kaufelt, Kopcho Reproductive Justice Fund, Margaret Munzer Loeb, Kathryn Everett, Bryn Mooser, Tracy Droz Tragos
Producer:

Tracy Droz Tragos
Cinematographer:

Emily Topper and Derek Howard
Editor:

Meredith Perry
Music:

Nathan Halpern
Additional Credits:

Impact Producer: Jess Jacobs

SXSW 2023 short film reviews: ‘SLICK TALK’ & ‘SPROUT’ tackle identity and bravery.

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SLICK TALK

(Live-action)

A young Chinese-American rapper from New York struggles with her identity and career path in the thought-provoking short SLICK TALK. Balancing culture, passion, and parental pressure, Kiki responds to a manager who messages her online after watching her music video.

Jess Hu plays Kiki with an intriguing mix of talent, sass, and self-doubt. You can see the flicker of self-doubt and perhaps questioning her cultural appropriation. This idea comes back around in her meeting with Gabe. He asks if she would be willing to learn Mandarin, seemingly suggesting it would make her more accessible. It is nothing short of a conversation starter.

Director David Karp‘s editing and Co-director Courtney Loo‘s script keep you guessing and reel you into her story. When the film ends, you feel compelled to see what happens next. Will she say Yes to potential manager Gabe? Does she stand up for herself? SLICK TALK is a clever double-entendre title. Loo and Karp have a solid treatment for either a feature or series to come.

Film Screenings

Narrative Shorts Program 2 at Rollins Theatre at The Long Center
Mar 11, 2023
2:15pm—3:56pm
 
Narrative Shorts Program 2 at Alamo Lamar E
Mar 15, 2023
12:00pm—1:41pm
 

Credits

Directors:

Courtney Loo, David Karp
Executive Producer:

Thrice Cooked; Josh Feshbach
Producer:

Katie Mykrantz
Screenwriter:

Courtney Loo
Cinematographer:

Max Erickson
Editor:

David Karp
Production Designer:

Patricia Cruz Jamandre
Sound Designer:

Samuel Stevenson-Yang
Music:

Pink Sweat$ & Doc
Principal Cast:

Jess Hu, Fay Ann Lee, Paris Peterson, Alex Mali, Cosi Leong
Additional Credits:

Colorist: Mikey Pehanich, Stylist: Heji Rashdi, Sound Designer: Nikolay Antonov, Gaffer: Abi Polinsky, Key Grip: Liam Murphy, Grip: Timothy Truesdell, Art Assistant: Jack Layer, 1st AC: Simeon Pol

SPROUT
(Animated)

Animated short film SPROUT sees an agoraphobic scientist accidentally create a baby-like plant. As the creature rapidly grows, so does its curiosity to explore the outside, upending life in more ways than one. Written, directed, and animated by Zora Kovac, this sweet and child-friendly film tackles anxiety, bravery, human connection, and of course, growth. Watch it with the entire family.

Film Screenings

Animated Shorts Program at Rollins Theatre at The Long Center
Mar 11, 2023
8:45pm—10:30pm
 
Animated Shorts Program at Alamo Lamar A
Mar 15, 2023
3:00pm—4:45pm
 

Credits

Director:

Zora Kovac
Producer:

Zora Kovac
Screenwriter:

Zora Kovac
Sound Designer:

Jesse Springer
Music:

w. baer
Principal Cast:

Christian Cerezo, Zora Kovac

SXSW 2023 review: Dillon Tucker’s ‘PURE O’ makes the invisible visible.

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PURE O

Cooper is a screenwriter/musician who also works as a rehab counselor. Recently diagnosed with a form of OCD, he must navigate his new engagement, an ailing loved one, his clients, and his unpredictable compulsions. Writer-director Dillon Tucker‘s semi-autobiographical SXSW 2023 film PURE O makes the invisible disability visible.

PURE O focuses on the importance of support. We watch Copper surround himself with others in the same position. But the film also delivers unfiltered conversations between lovers. They are messy and real. Anyone in a grownup relationship has said or heard those words. It’s not sugar-coated, and I appreciate that.

Hope Lauren, as Emily, is a fun, down-to-earth, supportive partner. Her vulnerability with Dorr makes for a sweet pair. She handles Emily’s loaded circumstances like a pro. Her singing voice is also delicious. Daniel Dorr is charming as Cooper. He wears his heart on his sleeve. He is unafraid to leave it all onscreen. That is what this role demands. His chemistry with Lauren is perfect. They are genuinely cute together.

I’m on the cusp of Gen X and millennials, but I’ll be damned if you label me the latter. I am fully aware that I grew up with an undiagnosed anxiety disorder. For as long as I can remember, my irrational fears and body-shaking anxiety has hindered parts of my life. Motherhood exacerbated everything, which I hear is “normal.” Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed I do nothing. I am frozen. I have to say I am the only one in my family not in therapy or on meds. Someday I think they might help. On other days I’m weirdly proud I’m “managing” without either. That is a symptom of my upbringing. PURE O resonated with me on a level I never expected. Certain scenes, particularly the immersion therapy session, elevated my heart rate and made me squirm immediately.

Dillon Tucker’s original songs are fantastic. Tight handheld closeups place the viewer in the manic mindset of Cooper. The intersection of rehab counseling and Cooper’s therapy sessions proves intriguing and complicated. This device is necessary to see the work in action and appreciate the nuance of addiction and mental health. It also calls attention to others’ perceptions of us. The intense scene between Cooper and aggressive patient Brandon illustrates the importance of making invisible disabilities visible. Sure, with an almost two-hour runtime, PURE O may benefit from a few cuts. But Tucker’s storytelling curveballs create an undeniably compelling narrative. PURE O gives those of us living in quiet anguish a loud voice.

Film Screenings

Pure O at Alamo Lamar D
Mar 13, 2023
12:00pm—1:58pm
 
Pure O at Rollins Theatre at The Long Center
Mar 15, 2023
2:15pm—4:13pm
 
Pure O at Alamo Lamar C
Mar 16, 2023
8:00pm—9:58pm
 

Credits

Director:

Dillon Tucker
Executive Producer:

Jay Burnley, Stephan Paternot, Jeremy Walton & David Lyons
Producer:

Ricky Fosheim, Dillon Tucker, Ray Lee
Screenwriter:

Dillon Tucker
Cinematographer:

Ricky Fosheim
Editor:

Dillon Tucker
Sound Designer:

Nick Jimenez
Music:

Dillon Tucker
Principal Cast:

Daniel Dorr, Hope Lauren, Landry Bender, Jeffery A. Baker, Candice Renee, Breon Gorman, Tim Landfield, Isaac Nippert, Devon Martinez, Clint James
Additional Credits:

Additional Music: Caleb Veazy, Sound Mixer: Harry Goldstein, Sound Mixer: Steve William Gonzalez, Sound Mixer: Andres Guerra, Sound Mixer: Donavyn Suffel, B Camera Operator: Bryon Morse, B Camera Operator: David Rivera, Production Assistant: Andrew Fosheim, Production Assistant: Andres Tovar, Production Assistant: Vera Weber

SXSW 2023 review: DEADLAND’ is a haunting portrait of power, politics, and unresolved trauma.

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DEADLAND

This nail-biting thriller from writer-director Lance Larson starts with a bang and ratchets up the tension by the minute. Two seemingly unrelated mysteries plague border control agent Angel Waters. When a man attempts to cross the raging rivers onto US soil, he is swept downstream. Upon transporting his body, the man resurrects and requests, “El Paso, por favor.” Plans go awry, and Angel, his two coworkers, and the man become haunted by their choices. Meanwhile, Angel’s long-lost father appears in his home. His pregnant wife plays mediator in a volatile situation.

McCaul Lombardi plays Agent Hitchcock with the epitome of toxic masculinity, while Julieth Restrepo‘s humanity as Salomé proves to be her undoing. Their journey is akin to watching a car crash. Luis Chávez is chilling. Manuel Ariza and Kendal Rae leave their hearts on the screen. Roberto Urbina plays Angel with a masculine aura but anxious hesitancy and unresolved abandonment issues. He is magnetic. As a whole, this cast nails it.

Jas Shelton‘s gorgeously shot landscapes are juxtaposed with cold immigration offices. Angel experiences visions that are nothing short of mesmerizing. DEADLAND‘s final ten minutes made me gasp. Superb writing from Lasron and Shelton and fantastic performances are guaranteed to captivate SXSW 2023 audiences with questions of morality, guilt, and the things that haunt us.

Film Screenings

Deadland at Paramount Theatre
Mar 13, 2023
11:00am—12:31pm
 
Deadland at Satellite Venue: AFS Cinema
Mar 14, 2023
5:00pm—6:31pm
 

Credits

Director:

Lance Larson
Executive Producer:

Fred Baker, Charles Larson, John Shoemaker
Producer:

Elizabeth Avellan, Bob Bastarache, Jas Shelton, Lance Larson, Tara Pirnia, Chris Wilks, Marsha Ann Larson, Norah Veloz
Screenwriter:

Lance Larson, Jas Shelton
Cinematographer:

Jas Shelton
Editor:

Lance Larson
Production Designer:

O’Shay Brooks
Sound Designer:

Rene Coronado
Music:

Christopher Dean White
Principal Cast:

Roberto Urbina, McCaul Lombardi, Julieth Restrepo, Kendal Rae, Luis Chavez, Julio Cesar Cedillo, Manuel Uriza, Chris Mulkey, Chris White, Dave Maldonado
Additional Credits:

Line Producer: Wendy Parker, Stunts / SpFX Coordinator: Chris A. Wilks, Art Director: Jennifer Herbal, Costume Designer: Summer Moore, Gaffer: Jake Basnett, Key Grips: Joe Guzman / Kurt Stevens, Set Decorator: Ashley Stewart, Head Make Up: Reanon Casillo, Head Hair Stylist: Erika O’Bar, Casting Director: Beth Lipari

SXSW 2023 capsule review: ‘CHRONICLES OF A WANDERING SAINT’ is a heavenly bait-and-switch.

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CHRONICLES OF A WANDERING SAINT


“Manifest your destiny” becomes literal in writer-director Tomas Gomez Bustillo‘s SXSW 2023 film CHRONICLES OF A WANDERING SAINT. In a small village in Santa Rita, Riat is an elderly chapel keeper who longs for sainthood. At odds with the righteous women from her prayer group, she cooks up a scheme to produce a “miracle’ at the expense of everyone in her life.

CHRONICLES OF A WANDERING is two films in one. It is a stunning bait-and-switch. Do not leave when you see the credits roll. The second half of the film is laugh-out-loud funny and beautifully profound. The visual gag of sneezing took me a moment to understand. It is brilliant. 

Rita is the definition of a “corruptible soul.” Hers is an arc of redemption. Mónica Villa is magnetic. She nails the subtle comedy with precision. CHRONICLES OF A WANDERING is a clever commentary on goodness and eternal love. Do not miss it at this year’s festival.

Film Screenings

Chronicles of a Wandering Saint at Alamo Lamar C
Mar 12, 2023
2:45pm—4:09pm
 
Chronicles of a Wandering Saint at Alamo Lamar B
Mar 14, 2023
5:30pm—6:54pm
 
Chronicles of a Wandering Saint at Alamo Lamar C
Mar 16, 2023
11:00am—12:24pm
 

Credits

Director:

Tomas Gomez Bustillo
Executive Producer:

Samir Oliveros, Doriane Desfaugeres, Ciro Apicella, RJ Glass
Producer:

Gewan Brown, Amanda Freedman, Tomas Medero (co-producer)
Screenwriter:

Tomas Gomez Bustillo
Cinematographer:

Pablo Lozano
Editor:

Benjamin Tolentino
Production Designer:

Doriane Desfaugeres
Sound Designer:

Andres Velazquez
Music:

Felipe Delsart
Principal Cast:

Monica Villa, Horacio Marassi, Pablo Moseinco, Silvia Mackenzie, Noemi Ron, Silvia Porro, Hernan Bustamante, Dahyana Turkie, Iair Said
Additional Credits:

Co-Producer: Tomas Medero, Associate Producer: Geronimo Coldesina

SXSW 2023 review: Kim Albright’s ‘WITH LOVE AND A MAJOR ORGAN’ is hooked on a feeling.

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WITH LOVE AND A MAJOR ORGAN

Disassociate with me, will you? Anabel is an artist who wears her emotions on her sleeves. She exists in a world that lets technology take away stress or pain by installing an app that manages your life as a checklist. Now you don’t have to feel anything. After Anabel finds a sudden proclamation of love rejected, she removes her heart, giving it to the man. The consequence being she becomes a disassociated drone. What happens when someone steals your heart? SXSW 2023 film from Kim Albright  With Love and A Major Organ lets us feel again.

Quippy and biting dialogue plus a slick socially relevant plot (the reliance on technology) make With Love and A Major Organ one of the imaginative selections at SXSW 2023. The hilarious and somehow simultaneously romantic poetry from Anabel is captivating. Lighting plays a delightful role in the film. It is whimsical and gorgeous and underscores Anabel’s fantasies. The score sweeps you off your feet.

Hamza Haq plays George with childlike irrationality, and it is a masterpiece. Verna Sood is George’s mother, Mona. She is an unexpected anchor in this emotional roller coaster. Anna Maguire plays Anabel with both wild abandon and a dry robotic acidity. Julia Lederer‘s script allows her to soar, and she rises to the occasion at every turn.

“You can dedicate your whole life to something and still do it wrong.” This single statement punched me in the gut. The edited representation of unconditional love and their connection to memory is gasp-worthy. A very pointed opening credit sequence comes back to make sense halfway through the film. The visual metaphors in With Love and A Major Organ are exquisite.

With Love and a Major Organ has exceptional storytelling and visual style. It permits us to feel without stigma. It celebrates individuality and allows people to love what they love in peace. It’s a perfect match for SXSW audiences. It’s an absolute charmer.

Film Screenings

 
With Love and a Major Organ at Violet Crown Cinema 2
Mar 12, 2023
2:30pm—4:01pm
 
With Love and a Major Organ at Violet Crown Cinema 4
Mar 12, 2023
3:00pm—4:31pm
 
With Love and a Major Organ at Alamo Lamar D
Mar 14, 2023
9:00pm—10:31pm
 
With Love and a Major Organ at Alamo Lamar C
Mar 17, 2023
2:30pm—4:01pm
 

Credits

Director:

Kim Albright
Executive Producer:

Lori Lozinski, Carol Whiteman
Producer:

Madeleine Davis
Screenwriter:

Julia Lederer
Cinematographer:

Leonardo Harim
Editor:

Tony Zhou
Production Designer:

Megan MacAulay
Sound Designer:

Matt Drake
Music:

Jeremy Wallace Maclean
Principal Cast:

Anna Maguire, Hamza Haq, Veena Sood, Donna Benedicto, Lynda Boyd, Arghavan Jenati, Enid-Raye Adams, Kerën Burkett, Ryan Beil, Laara Sadiq
Additional Credits:

Story Consultant: Anita Doran, Costume Designer: Nicole Swan, Casting by: Erin Lally, CSA, Annalese Tilling, Co-Producer: Nessa Aref, Production Manager: Shyam Valera, First Assistant Director: Rachel Rose, Art Director: Tiana P. Gordon, Gaffer: Yannie Yu, Sound Mixer: Coby DeGroot, Hair & Makeup: Alison Jeffreys

SXSW 2023 Midnighters review: Ted Geoghegan’s ‘BROOKLYN 45’ is one of the year’s best films. Full stop.

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Ted Geoghegan returns to SXSW 2023 with a story of war, trauma, and the ghosts we cannot leave behind. In BROOKLYN 45, a group of emotionally wartorn friends meets up to toast to a lost loved one. Politics, paranoia, and the realities of secrets complicate a seemingly mundane seance. Secrets could be the death of their friendship.

The production design by producer Sarah Sharp is enveloping. My eyes darted from left to right only to discover some new book, a photograph, or war memorabilia set against green silk wallpaper. Every color pops. Robert Patrick Stern‘s camerawork and long-take choreography are stunning. Once the seance begins, the regular parlor tricks commence, but they are so triumphant that I gasped. Brian Zurek’s special makeup effects are startling as hell. The score by BLITZ//BEIN is skillfully layered.

This cast has the chemistry of movie dreams. Ron E. Rains is Bob, Marla’s mild-mannered husband. He is jealous of this group’s closeness, overshadowed by their personalities and accomplishments, but he listens and calculates. Ron E. Rains has a startling arc. Kristina Klebe (Lucky) is Hildegarde. Her confidence and vulnerability are captivating. Her chemistry with Anne Ramsay stuck with me for hours after the credits rolled.

Ezra Buzzington is the hard-line skeptic as Paul. Clad in his Magor’s uniform bespangled with medals, his bristly approach to patriotism is all too familiar even now. His audibly growing disdain makes the audience squirm. Jeremy Holm is Archie. He has the perfect touch of panache from his slicked-back hair, mustache, and crimson jacket. His looming figure, combined with his humor, creates a dazzling performance.

Larry Fessenden ( Depraved, Jakob’s Wife) lives in the role of Hock. Hone in on his minute mannerisms because they are chef’s kiss. His monologue sets up the emotional stronghold of the film, and he nails it. Anne Ramsay plays Marla, a top interrogator. She is a charming, strong-willed, level-headed woman who leads with equal parts head and heart. Ramsey owns every frame.

I know Ted Geoghegan. He is genuine, funny, kind, and fiercely dedicated to his craft. That does not mean I have to like his work. Knowing a filmmaker often makes separating the artist from the friend challenging. I tend to be harsher because that is my job. I can say without hesitation BROOKLYN 45 is spectacular. Geoghegan’s dialogue is cheeky, heartfelt, and vitriolic. The film could easily be a Tony-winning play. It would seamlessly transition to the stage and be equally as glorious. I would pay so much money to see that production. The script is unpredictable. Twist after twist had my mouth on the floor. BROOKLYN 45 is a dazzling mix of trauma and terror, politics and poltergeists. SXSW 2023 audiences can boast they saw it first.

 
Brooklyn 45 at Alamo Lamar E
Mar 12, 2023
10:00pm—11:32pm
 
Brooklyn 45 at Alamo Lamar D
Mar 14, 2023
12:00pm—1:32pm
 
Brooklyn 45 at Alamo Lamar B
Mar 17, 2023
12:00pm—1:32pm
 

Credits

Director:

Ted Geoghegan
Executive Producer:

Adam Hendricks, Greg Gilreath, Emily Gotto
Producer:

Seth Caplan, Michael Paszt, Pasha Patriki, Sarah Sharp
Screenwriter:

Ted Geoghegan
Cinematographer:

Robert Patrick Stern
Editor:

Lisa Hendricks
Production Designer:

Sarah Sharp
Music:

Blitz//Berlin
Principal Cast:

Anne Ramsay, Ron E. Rains, Jeremy Holm, Larry Fessenden, Ezra Buzzington, Kristina Klebe

SXSW 2023 review: ‘PEAK SEASON’ is a relatable what-if.

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Buttoned-up money meets free-spirited crunchy lifestyle in Henry Loevner and Steven Kanter’s SXSW 2023 film PEAK SEASON. Two worlds collide in Jackson Hole when engaged NYC yuppies Amy and Max hire local wilderness guide Loren for a flyfishing lesson. Max ditches Amy after he’s called back to work, leaving her alone in a massive luxury house and her thoughts.

Listen, my husband is a Yale business school grad. We live in a co-op on the UWS. The dialogue is spot-on for Max and his ilk. Amy yearns to change her circumstances. She does not want that very niche cliche existence. Amy blooms in Jackson, and with Loren by her side, her mind opens to all sites of possibilities. Hints that she is off her facade game show when making decisions for her impending wedding proves impossible, shirking luxury for low-key local hang-out sessions with Loren and his off-the-grid, working-class friends. It’s a precarious dynamic when Max makes an abrupt return. Feelings are complicated.

Claudia Restrepo is Amy. Her nonchalant cool-girl persona bounces off the screen like we’re watching a documentary rather than a drama. Derrick DeBlasis plays Loren with total comfort. He lives inside the down-to-earth, no-care-in-the-world attitude like a pro. He and Restrepo have a chill and genuine chemistry that feels earned.

Here’s what shines in Peak Season. The script’s natural authenticity hits hard for anyone who questions their future. This nuanced script might seem subtle, but hiding behind its simplicity is a complex and reflective premise.

Film Screenings

Peak Season at Violet Crown Cinema 2
Mar 12, 2023
11:15am—12:37pm
 
Peak Season at Violet Crown Cinema 4
Mar 12, 2023
11:45am—1:07pm
 
Peak Season at Satellite Venue: AFS Cinema
Mar 13, 2023
5:15pm—6:37pm
 
Peak Season at Alamo Lamar C
Mar 14, 2023
7:45pm—9:07pm
 

Credits

Directors:

Henry Loevner, Steven Kanter
Executive Producer:

Derrick DeBlasis, Claudia Restrepo, Ben Coleman, Rob Massar
Producer:

Lovell Holder, Patrick Ward, Henry Loevner, Steven Kanter
Screenwriter:

Henry Loevner
Cinematographer:

Henry Loevner, Steven Kanter
Editor:

Henry Loevner, Steven Kanter
Sound Designer:

Private Island Audio
Music:

Steven Kanter
Principal Cast:

Claudia Restrepo, Derrick DeBlasis, Ben Coleman, Fred Melamed, Stephanie Courtney, Will Neff, Caroline Kwan, Ron Hanks, Gadiel Del Orbe, Natasha Dewhurst
Additional Credits:

Co-Producer: Tara Seewack, Co-Executive Producer: Patrick Wendell, Co-Executive Producer: Kay Ousterhout, Co-Executive Producer: Simon Hallett, Co-Executive Producer: Jane Hallett, Co-Executive Producer: Greg Coleman, Associate Producer: Alan M. Kanter, Associate Producer: Bruce Liebowitz, Associate Producer: Glenn Liebowitz

SXSW 2023 documentary review: ‘SATAN WANTS YOU’ will fire you up.

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SATAN WANTS YOU

Dollars and the Devil. SATAN WANTS YOU at SXSW 2023 is more relevant than most of us would like it to be. In 1976, Dr. Lawrence Pazder and Michelle Smith had an unusual doctor/patient relationship. Under hypnosis, Michelle describes dreams as Pazder records and interprets for her. These sessions became a bestselling book, ‘Michelle Remembers, and the beginning of what we know as ‘Satanic Panic.” The monetization of fear is a powerful little devil on your shoulder.

The film utilizes many media forms, from the infamous session tapes, photographs, archival footage, sit-down interviews, and clips from television appearances in the 80s. In interviews with Michelle’s sister, Charyl describes a violent childhood at the hands of an alcoholic and abusive father. But if you believe Pazder and the Catholic Church, there were an awful lot of Baby-stealing Satanists out there stalking hospitals and daycares. 

Michelle describes her recollections like scenes straight out of Rosemary’s Baby. The sheer absurdity of Michelle’s claims made me shake my head and roll my eyes. Dr. Pazder gives off quack vibes from the beginning. If you believe Larry’s family, Michelle may have been the driving force in this unusual relationship. Enough so that Marylin Pazder filed for divorce. These two were glued to one another, making money and collecting groupies hand over fist. 

You cannot ignore the similarities between Satanic Panic and the rise of “The Deep State” and QAnon. To think that one book caused such chaos for so long is downright infuriating. If they fear you, you can control them. Ask Fox News how they prefer their audience. No doubt, SATAN WANTS YOU will fire up SXXW 2023 audiences.

Film Screenings

Satan Wants You at Alamo Lamar A
Mar 11, 2023
9:00pm—10:29pm
 
Satan Wants You at Violet Crown Cinema 1
Mar 13, 2023
12:30pm—1:59pm
 
Satan Wants You at Violet Crown Cinema 3
Mar 13, 2023
1:00pm—2:29pm
 
Satan Wants You at Satellite Venue: AFS Cinema
Mar 15, 2023
9:00pm—10:29pm
Directors:

Sean Horlor, Steve J. Adams
Executive Producer:

Sean Horlor, Steve J. Adams
Producer:

Michael Grand, Melissa James
Screenwriter:

Sean Horlor, Steve J. Adams
Cinematographer:

Blake Davey
Editor:

Graham Kew
Production Designer:

Juan Gonzales
Sound Designer:

Mark Dolmont
Music:

Mark Dolmont
Principal Cast:

Sarah Marshall, Charyl Proby-Austman, Charles Ennis, Debbie Nathan, Ken Lanning, Elizabeth Loftus, Blanche Barton, Jeffrey S. Victor
Additional Credits:

Associate Producer: Hayley Morin
 

SXSW 2023 documentary review: ‘WHO I AM NOT’ is an eye-opening lesson on humanity and identity.

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WHO I AM NOT

Gender identity is a hot-button issue around the globe. For intersex people, existing is complicated and emotionally taxing. SXSW 2023 doc WHO I AM NOT follows two individuals who follow divergent paths on their journey to self-acceptance. When intersex children are born, most doctors suggest that parents choose one set of genitals. This complex decision should not even be an option. Sharon-Rose and Katso were born with both sets of genitals. Neither function to produce children. The film exploring happiness, navigating family, discrimination, and dating is emotionally wrought and fascinating.

Dimakatso Sebidi is a male-presenting person whose intersex identity prevents them from finding a job. They feel their family made a terrible decision at birth, stealing any chance for pure happiness. In the search for medical answers, a pelvic exam proves excruciating for Katso. An ultrasound allows them to see what their internal sex organs look like for the first time. A chromosomal test confirms something astonishing. The stress and fear are palpable. They go so far as to seek validation and cleansing from elders. Spritual reckoning involves bone reading and four chickens.

Sharon-Rose Khumalo presents as a female. She and Katso connect for the same reasons but exist on opposite sides of the gender spectrum. Sharon-Rose is a beauty pageant winner, works in marketing, and hosts a DIY home decor Youtube channel. She longs to bear children but knows it is impossible. The classically beautiful and happy facade disguises deep, longing sadness. Her attempts to find a partner that accepts her inability to have biological children nearly break her. Director Tünde Skovrán takes the opportunity to convey her Sharon-Rises inner turmoil with thoughtful creativity.

I find it ironic that Christianity plays such a looming role in the lives of South Africans. If God created people in his image and is infallible, why do so many preachers and institutions narrowly define male and female? Religion is so often a spirit murderer. WHO I AM NOT explores how each family confronts these issues.

Sharon-Rose and Katso seek respect and live in harmony without judgment. In the way sexuality is not a choice, being born intersex is not a choice. WHO I AM NOT is an essential education for audiences far beyond the seats at SXSW 2023. It deserves a global audience.

Film Screenings

Who I Am Not at Alamo Lamar C
Mar 11, 2023
8:30pm—10:12pm
 
Who I Am Not at Alamo Lamar B
Mar 12, 2023
6:00pm—7:42pm
 
Who I Am Not at Alamo Lamar B
Mar 16, 2023
11:15am—12:57pm
 

Credits

Director:

Tünde Skovrán
Executive Producer:

Patricia Arquette, Andrei Zinca, Tünde Skovrán, Marc Smolowitz, Jafta Mekgoe, Danielle Turkov, M.J. Packham, Maryse Rouillard
Producer:

Andrei Zinca
Screenwriter:

Tünde Skovrán
Cinematographer:

Daniel Szandtner, Felix Striegel, Guillaume Beaudoin
Editor:

Marianna Rudas HSE
Sound Designer:

Martin Cadieux-Rouillard
Music:

Luc Sicard; songs by Bonzegive Mabandla, Desiree, Brian Bibb
Additional Credits:

Co Producer: Paul Cadieux, Co-Producer: Patrick Hamm, Associate Producer: Amy Shepherd, Associate Producer: Daniel Szantnder, VFX & Color grading: Dean Lewis, Sound recording: Blaise Rival, Sound recording: Adam Vadasz, Associate Producer: Janos Kovacs, Associate Producer: Edith Weil

 

SXSW 2023 review: ‘THE APPENDAGE’ is body horror with a moral.

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THE APPENDAGE

In Anna Zlokovic‘s SXSW 2023 narrative horror APPENDAGE, Hannah’s anxiety physically manifests as a gnarly growth. One that gets stronger every day. While Hannah struggles to keep it together, as everything in her life begins to deteriorate, she discovers she isn’t the only one with this problem.

Kausar Mohammed is Hannah’s best friend, Esther. She knows Hannah better than anyone, eventually leading her to hero status. Mohammed gives us a fast-talking energetic performance that charms the audience while maintaining a grounded and caring nature. Emily Hampshire plays a fellow support group member Claudia. Starting with cool-girl energy, she flips the script and is undeniably hilarious. It is an epic performance. Hadley Robinson plays Hannah with palpable anxiety. Her physicality places the audience inside that mindset. Robinson shows her acting chops with more than just emotionally intense scenes.

The sound editing deserves a shout-out with their visceral introduction to Hannah’s intense physical pain. It made me twinge. With Hannah and Esther being young fashion designers, the costume choices by Naomi Wolff Lachter are eye-catching. The Appendage creature from Douggy Pledger is equal parts kooky and hideous. Imagine slimy misshapen Ghoulies. As the appendage grows, the special effects makeup from Matt Barrett is downright horrifying. Just wait until you find out who voices the puppets!

The biggest twist gives the audience what feels like Appendage 2.0. Zlokovic’s script allows for some wickedly fun acting choices. I won’t spoil the fun, but multiple roles are distinct and biting. APPENDAGE is body horror that tackles unresolved trauma, mental health, and pushing past fear. I found the final scene reminiscent of Jennifer Kent‘s The Babadook. It is one hell of a metaphor for living with depression. SXSW 2023 audiences understand what a compliment that is.

Film Screenings

Appendage at Alamo Lamar C
Mar 11, 2023
11:15am—12:49pm
 
Appendage at Alamo Lamar E
Mar 14, 2023
9:45pm—11:19pm
 
Appendage at Alamo Lamar C
Mar 16, 2023
2:00pm—3:34pm
 

Credits

Director:

Anna Zlokovic
Producer:

David Worthen Brooks, Arbi Pedrossian, Jenna Cavelle, Katrina Kudlick, Alex Familian, Hadley Robinson, Anna Zlokovic
Screenwriter:

Anna Zlokovic
Cinematographer:

Powell Robinson
Editor:

Alex Familian
Production Designer:

Michelle Olivia Patterson
Music:

Nick Chuba
Principal Cast:

Hadley Robinson, Emily Hampshire, Brandon Mychal Smith, Kausar Mohammed
Additional Credits:

Costume Designer: Naomi Wolff Lachter, Creature Designer: Douggy Pledger, Special Effects Department Head: Amber Mari, Key Effects Artist: Jim Ojala

SXSW 2023 documentary review: ‘ANOTHER BODY’ is a new nightmare for women everywhere.

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ANOTHER BODY

*This review also appears on AWFJ.org

Women have always felt unsafe. It is ingrained in our nature to fear, to look over our shoulders, and to carry our keys between our fingers late at night. As if we didn’t have enough to worry about, enter the newest AI nightmare into the conversation. Anyone can go online and copy and paste your photo to create a duplicate or entirely new profile on social media. As if things weren’t bad enough, catfishing gets a superpower with the introduction of deep faking. SXSW 2023 documentary ANOTHER BODY from directors Sophie Compton and Reuben Hamlyn follows the story of a young woman named whose life is upended by one spiteful person with an agenda.

Meet Taylor, an engineering grad student living her quiet life attending classes and living a quiet goal-oriented life with her boyfriend. After receiving what she thought to be spam messages from her classmates, Taylor finds her image stolen, her name tarnished, and harassed by strange men who now know where she goes to school and where she lives. She discovers her face has on someone else’s body in videos on an adult website. Her image and name have an entire account, and new videos keep appearing. ANOTHER BODY is a film about consent on numerous levels and the battle against gender-based violence.

The film mixes sit-down interviews with Taylor, cell phone footage from her investigative journey, and animated recreations of her emotional processing. That is not the most impressive visual aspect of the film. “Taylor” is not what she appears to be. Let me explain this statement. The face projected to the audience is an actress whose face has been deepfaked onto our storyteller. The reveal comes as a complete surprise but perfectly encapsulates the danger of this technology. You will find yourself overanalyzing her movements on screen and realizing how vulnerable our identities are. It is nothing short of fascinating work.

When Taylor reaches out to the police, it is clear that they are out of their element. There are no clear laws about a technology that is rapidly changing. Then the inevitable victim-blaming begins both from law enforcement and friends and family. Taylor takes it upon herself to discover the identity of the culprit. Becoming a DIY detective, she narrows it down to three likely suspects. The mystery deepens as her online sleuthing and fight for justice play out in real time. Taylor finds that other women in her circle are also victims. As they compare notes, one name stands out from the rest. It is undeniably compelling to witness her take action. ANOTHER BODY is an infuriating and invigorating watch. It will resonate with true crime audiences and victims of gender-based violence. When body autonomy becomes threatened, you must become your own warrior.

SCREENINGS:
 
Another Body at Alamo Lamar E
Mar 11, 2023
12:15pm—1:35pm
 
Another Body at Alamo Lamar C
Mar 14, 2023
5:00pm—6:20pm
 
Another Body at Alamo Lamar A
Mar 16, 2023
9:15pm—10:35pm
Directors:

Sophie Compton, Reuben Hamlyn
Executive Producer:

Jenny Raskin, Lauren Haber, Geralyn Dreyfous, Maiken Baird, Gloria Zhu & Stanley Tang – Bearcat Content, Ruth Ann & Bill Harnisch – The Harnisch Foundation, Inmaat Productions, Mason Orfalea & The Natalie Orfalea Foundation, Ann Lewnes, Meadow Fund, Lisa & Matthew Sonsini, Chris & Heidi Stolte
Producer:

Elizabeth Woodward, Sophie Compton, Reuben Hamlyn
Screenwriter:

Sophie Compton, Reuben Hamlyn, Isabel Freeman
Cinematographer:

Nausheen Dadabhoy
Editor:

Isabel Freeman, Rabab Haj Yahya
Sound Designer:

Gisela Fullà-Silvestre
Music:

Holland Andrews
Additional Credits:

Co-Executive Producers: Nina & David Fialkow, Meryl Metni – Ubiquitous EG, Kelsey Koenig, Co-Producer: Avery McCann, Post Production Supervisor & Associate Editor: Claudia Tanney, Animation Studio: Cream Projects, Motion Graphics: Spencer Haley, Studio Macuna, Deepfake Artist: Fernando Sánchez Liste, Consulting Producer: Scott Macauley, Consulting Editor: Karen K.H. Sim

SXSW 23 review: It’s my party and I’ll die if I want to, ‘My Drywall Cocoon’ is a twisted tale of society, secrets, and sadness.

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MY DRYWALL COCOON

Writer-director Caroline Fioratti’s SXSW 2023 film MY DRYWALL COCOON launches headlong with time hopping in this 24-hour dig into the death of the birthday girl. A story tackling class, privilege, power, and secrets, this cloak-and-dagger film never lets up.

Maria Luisa Mendonca plays Patricia with gut-wrenching honesty, owning her grief and guilt. Michel Joelsas is Nicolas. His aggression covers his insecurities and sexuality. Joelsas slips into this role like a pro. You equally loathe and feel for him. Mari Oliveira is Virginia’s best friend Luana. She is manipulative and hides a dark coping mechanism. As she flaunts her sexuality for power, her guilt is on par with her disassociation. Daniel Botelho plays Gabriel with a morbid attitude. A bit of a conspiracy theorist, Gabriel’s teenage pushback comes with an underlying sentimentality. Bella Piero plays Virginia with genuine sweetness and surprising fearlessness. Quietly crying for help, but no one is listening. Piero navigates her emotional abandonment with masterful ease.

The score elicits classic thriller vibes. The lighting is magnificent. As we jump in time, neon-saturated party scenes get starkly contrasted by harsh natural light the morning after. Foiratti skillfully drops clues to keep your mind swirling, making everyone a suspect. One particularly disturbing visual remains a mystery until the very end of the film. It is one hell of a metaphor. A carefully crafted thriller, MY DRYWALL COCOON will have SXSW 23 audiences on the edge of their seats, second-guessing the entire way.

 
Caroline Fioratti

Film Screenings

My Drywall Cocoon at Violet Crown Cinema 1
Mar 11, 2023
3:30pm—5:25pm
 
My Drywall Cocoon at Violet Crown Cinema 3
Mar 11, 2023
4:00pm—5:55pm
 
My Drywall Cocoon at Violet Crown Cinema 2
Mar 13, 2023
12:45pm—2:40pm
 
My Drywall Cocoon at Violet Crown Cinema 4
Mar 13, 2023
1:15pm—3:10pm
 
My Drywall Cocoon at Alamo Lamar C
Mar 17, 2023
5:30pm—7:25pm
 

Credits

Director:

Caroline Fioratti
Producer:

Rui Pires, André Montenegro
Screenwriter:

Caroline Fioratti
Cinematographer:

Helcio Alemão Nagamine
Editor:

Leopoldo Joe Nakata
Production Designer:

Monica Palazzo
Sound Designer:

Ricardo Reis and Miriam Biderman
Music:

Flavia Tygel
Principal Cast:

Maria Luisa Mendonça, Bella Piero, Michel Joelsas, Mari Oliveira, Daniel Botelho, Caco Ciocler

SXSW 2023 review: Sci-fi rom-com ‘Molli And Max In The Future’ is universally relatable.

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MOLLI AND MAX IN THE FUTURE

Playing out in chapters, SXSW 2023 audiences meet Molli and Max, two individuals who keep running into each other over the years. Something keeps drawing these two together. The more they learn about one another, the more they realize that neither space nor time can come between them.

Zosia Mamet reached cult status with her role in GIRLS. Since then, a string of indies has kept her busy. Playing the titular role of Molli is in her sweet spot. Her take on a twelve-year emotional journey hits every note. She is quirky, fun, and fearless but maintains the emotional depth we need to care. Aristotle Athari came onto the scene as a hilarious cast member on SNL. His effortless charm and chiseled features sort of force you to stare at him. As Max, he is genuine, kind, and entirely down to earth amidst sci-fi absurdity.

The dialogue-driven film sets itself against a green-screen Tron meets comic bookish multiverse future. The visuals are a fun mixed media, old school meets new school technology feat. But don’t let that part distract you from the genre at heart. Even the jazzy piano score screams peak 80s rom-com era. The film shines brightest when Max and Molli speak directly to one another. Pushing passed all the visual fanfare, their dialogue is engaging as hell. I have to say the parody of the 2016 election is undeniably funny/horrifying/on point. It is all very creative and relatable.

Weirdly, the plot closely mirrors a beloved film starring Billy Crystal and rom-com darling Meg Ryan. From the opening scene in the car to watching television together via split-screen, even the 12-year timeline is ripped directly from When Harry Met Sally. I’m not complaining. It’s one of my favorite films of all time. MOLLI AND MAX IN THE FUTURE made me want to revisit it. If I’m being honest, the runtime feels long, but watching the evolution of a relationship with earnest intentions and a universal (pun intended) narrative will connect with SXSW 2023 audiences.

Film Screenings

 
Molli And Max In The Future at Stateside Theatre
Mar 11, 2023
11:30am—1:03pm
 
Molli And Max In The Future at Violet Crown Cinema 2
Mar 14, 2023
5:30pm—7:03pm
 
Molli And Max In The Future at Violet Crown Cinema 4
Mar 14, 2023
6:00pm—7:33pm
 
Molli And Max In The Future at Alamo Lamar C
Mar 18, 2023
11:15am—12:48pm
 

Credits

Director:

Michael Lukk Litwak
Executive Producer:

Jeanne Elfant Festa, Ted Geoghegan, Luke Murphy, Nicole Murphy
Producer:

Candice Kuwahara, Ben J. Murphy, Mallory Schwartz, Kate Geller, Michael Lukk Litwak
Screenwriter:

Michael Lukk Litwak
Cinematographer:

Zach Stoltzfus
Editor:

Joanna Naugle
Production Designer:

Violet Overn
Sound Designer:

Bobb Barito
Music:

Alex Winkler
Principal Cast:

Zosia Mamet, Aristotle Athari, Danny Burstein, Arturo Castro, Okieriete Onaodowan, Erin Darke, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Michael Chernus, Aparna Nancherla, Matteo Lane
Additional Credits:

Co-Producer: Ivy Lam, Make-Up Department Head: Sarah Plata, Costume Designer: Hannah Kittel Matsuo, Visual Effects: Michael Lukk Litwak, Visual Effects: Zach Stoltzfus, Gaffer: Jesse Moritz, 1st AD: Morgan Ingari

SXSW 2023 review: ‘THE ARTIFICE GIRL’ is everything we’ve hoped and feared.

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THE ARTIFICE GIRL

Writer-Director-Editor Franklin Ritch brings his festival hit THE ARTIFICE GIRL and its mesmerizing premise to SXSW 2023 audiences. When an FBI team discovers an advanced AI that entices men online, they team up with its reclusive creator. But as the years pass, technology grows beyond human capabilities, begging questions about morality in ways you won’t see coming.

The first thirty-nine minutes, or chapter one, occur in one room. One single scene sets up the plot. The dialogue is acid-tongued, and the performances are outstanding. The concept of an AI child helping catch predators makes all the sense in the world. It appears to save innumerable lives, but nothing in this world is as straightforward as it seems. What

Admittedly, it took me too long to realize that the second chapter is a jump in time. It is a brilliant visual shift in the narrative and a moment that deserves another watch. It is here our three adult battle one another from a moral standpoint. Amos realizes that Cherry has advanced to the point of “feelings.” He challenges her sensibilities with an assault on Gareth. Everything changes from this moment.

Chapter three features another jump forward, breaking the mold by exiting the unit set and bringing Cherry into the real world. We see her tethered to the wall via power cables but moving about her midcentury home. Now Lance Henriksen takes on the role of now wheelchair-bound Gareth with a calmer, wiser demeanor. This chapter is the most personal and revelatory.

David Girard plays Amos with wide-eyed astonishment and fatherly intuition. Amos’ arc proves complex and integral in Cherry’s development. Girard never fails to astound with the slightest change in facial expression. Sindra Nichols plays Deena with a seemingly hardened demeanor, basically bad cop to Girard’s good cop. Underneath, her motivation reveals the best of intentions. Nichols is captivating.

Ritch plays Gareth, and rightfully so. As the puppet master of this creation in real life, it only seems fair that his extensive knowledge is laid bare for the audience to experience in all its nuance. He hits each beat with intensity and sharpness. With a striking resemblance to a young Sarah Polley, Tatum Matthews plays Cherry with a maturity beyond her age. Ritch’s script allows her to play multiple roles. Most of her performance is delivered directly to the camera because she is an AI. Witnessing her journey is breathtaking.

The script tackles morality, science, privacy, entrapment, children’s rights, autonomy, and unresolved trauma. THE ARTIFICE GIRL would also make a spectacular stage play. The quality of Franklin Ritch’s storytelling is mesmerizing and complex. The possibilities are endless for this story. I am here for whatever comes next.

PS- A perfect ending.

Film Screenings

The Artifice Girl at Alamo Lamar A
Mar 11, 2023
11:30am—1:03pm
 
The Artifice Girl at Alamo Lamar B
Mar 12, 2023
9:00pm—10:33pm
 
The Artifice Girl at Violet Crown Cinema 2
Mar 15, 2023
12:45pm—2:18pm
 
The Artifice Girl at Violet Crown Cinema 4
Mar 15, 2023
1:15pm—2:48pm
 

Credits

Director:

Franklin Ritch
Executive Producer:

Peter Kuplowsky
Producer:

Aaron B. Koontz, Ashleigh Snead
Screenwriter:

Franklin Ritch
Cinematographer:

Britt McTammany
Editor:

Franklin Ritch
Sound Designer:

Jason Strawley, Dave Chmela
Music:

Alex Cuervo
Principal Cast:

Tatum Matthews, Sinda Nichols, David Girard, Franklin Ritch, Lance Henriksen
Additional Credits:

Co-Producer: Cameron Burns, Co-Producer: Alex Euting, Line Producer: Jason Blankenship
 

SXSW 2023 documentary review: Ian Cheney’s ‘THE ARC OF OBLIVION’ is here to blow your mind.

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THE ARC OF OBLIVION

Clever, thoughtful, curious, and a bit meta, Ian Cheney asks profound questions about archiving life and memories. From DNA to a digital photo, ancient libraries to bat guano, the SXSW 2023 documentary THE ARC OF OBLIVION is here to blow your mind. What starts as a plan to build an ark in his parents’ Maine backyard spirals into a complex study of man’s obsession with record keeping.

Cheney is building his Arc and documenting each step by delving into the history of the slightest details, human, animal, and mineral. Sporadically punctuated by amusing original limericks and images on his vintage portable television “Rex,” the film is a fascinating rumination on history, memories, and sentimentality. Ezra Wolfinger‘s striking drone shots juxtaposed with Melissa McClung‘s stop-motion transitional sequences are delightful. Close-up shots of wood rings and the ocean floor are awe-inspiring. It is a skillfully crafted journey. Oh, and Werner Herzog appears and produces, and it just makes sense. The final song choice, “Road To Nowhere,” is perfection.

Endlessly engaging, witty, and sometimes akin to experiencing the stream of consciousness of a creative mind, THE ARC OF OBLIVION is the kind of documentary SXSW 2023 audiences seek out. You’ll be surprised at the innumerable ways we record our existence.

Film Screenings

 
The Arc of Oblivion at Alamo Lamar A
Mar 10, 2023
9:00pm—10:38pm
 
The Arc of Oblivion at Satellite Venue: AFS Cinema
Mar 11, 2023
8:30pm—10:08pm
 
The Arc of Oblivion at Violet Crown Cinema 2
Mar 15, 2023
7:00pm—8:38pm
 
Oblivion at Violet Crown Cinema 4
Mar 15, 2023
7:30pm—9:08pm
 
Director:

Ian Cheney
Executive Producer:

Greg Boustead, Jessica Harrop, Robyn Metcalfe, Werner Herzog
Producer:

Meredith Desalazar, Manette Pottle, Rebecca Taylor
Cinematographer:

Ezra Wolfinger
Editor:

Ian Cheney
Music:

Colin Cheney

SXSW 2023 review: ‘ONLY THE GOOD SURVIVE’ is a witty, dizzying delight.

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ONLY THE GOOD SURVIVE

Dutch Southern gives SXSW 2023 audiences wacky whodunit in ONLY THE GOOD SURVIVE. Hauled into the local sheriff’s office, Brea finds herself at the center of wacky murder and mayhem. Can she talk her way out of the trouble she has placed herself in, all for the sake of love?

Lachlan Watson, who I loved in Sabrina, has a small but integral small part in the film and sings on the soundtrack. Watson silently enchants the audience with a glowing aura. It was a lovely surprise. Darius Fraser is Dev. He brings a genuine beatnik Elvis vibe to his performance. It is unforgettable. Will Ropp plays Erve with big ideas and a scheming slant to his physicality. There is no denying his likeness to Dave Franco, and audiences will not complain about his quirky charm. D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai is Ry. He has this dumb jock and lovable quality about him. He is a solid foil for his heist counterparts. Sidney Flanigan plays Brea. She is an unexpected heroine for many reasons. Flanigan hits every note with precision, and Southern’s script allows her to explore a variety of highs and lows.

Swirling theories from Cole Mack‘s Sheriff create alternative storylines, each with slight visual differences. Dax Norman‘s animation, a cross between a comic book and diary entries, is delicious eye candy. Dutch Southern forces the audience to sit up straight and pay attention every minute of the 93-minute run. The script is so twisty, amusing, and downright dizzying. It is like watching a real-life cartoon heist. In the same right, it is a challenge to discuss the film without spoiling the fun. ONLY THE GOOD SURVIVE is a film that should not work at all and yet works perfectly. It deserves a second, third, and fourth watch to catch the clues and minute changes along the way. It is the perfect match for SXSW audiences.

Only The Good Survive at Violet Crown Cinema 2
Mar 10, 2023
6:00pm—7:32pm
 
Only The Good Survive at Violet Crown Cinema 4
Mar 10, 2023
6:30pm—8:02pm
 
Only The Good Survive at Alamo Lamar C
Mar 12, 2023
9:15pm—10:47pm
 
Only The Good Survive at Alamo Lamar E
Mar 14, 2023
12:30pm—2:02pm
 
Director:

Dutch Southern
Executive Producer:

Maureen Taylor, Renn Vara, Brian Udovich
Producer:

Thomas Mahoney, Justin X Duprie
Screenwriter:

Dutch Southern
Cinematographer:

Lucia Zavarcikova
Editor:

Alexandrea Hank, Mengyao Mia Zhang
Sound Designer:

Kevin Senzaki
Music:

Russ Howard III
Principal Cast:

Sidney Flanigan, Frederick Weller, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Ropp, Darius Fraser, Lachlan Watson, Jon Gries
Additional Credits:

Songs by: Petite League, Costume Designer: Michelle Lynette Bush, Animation by: Dax Norman, Cool Graphix by: Gimetzco, Co-Executive Producer: Sam Vara, Co-Producer: Alex Vara, Co-Producer: Glenn Abbott

SXSW 2023: Horror and Sci-fi and Docs, Oh My! A curtain raiser for the masses.

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SWSX 2023 has something for everyone, from franchise horror expansion to the hotly anticipated premiere of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. But we’re here to share some of the films on our radar this year.

 

Click here for tickets and all things SXSW 2023

Pure O
Director/Screenwriter: Dillon Tucker, Producers: Ricky Fosheim, Dillon Tucker, Ray Lee
A young screenwriter/musician grapples with Pure O, a lesser-known form of OCD while juggling his recent engagement and his day job at a high-end Malibu drug rehab. Inspired by the filmmaker’s own personal true story.

Cast List: Daniel Dorr, Hope Lauren, Landry Bender, Jeff Baker, Candice Renee, Breon Gorman, Tim Landfield, Isaac Nippert, Devon Martinez, Clint James (World Premiere)

Speaking as someone existing in a neurodivergent family unit, this one will hit hard for anyone battling invisible disabilities.

Raging Grace (United Kingdom)
Director/Screenwriter: Paris Zarcilla, Producer: Chi Thai
A bold coming-of-rage story where Joy, a Filipino immigrant, and her daughter Grace encounter a darkness that threatens all they have worked for.

Cast List: Maxine Eigenman, Leanne Best, David Hayman (World Premiere)

Femme-centric horror from Paris Zarcilla explores assimilation, trauma, and horror.

Another Body
Directors: Sophie Compton, Reuben Hamlyn, Producers: Elizabeth Woodward, Sophie Compton, Reuben Hamlyn, Screenwriters: Sophie Compton, Reuben Hamlyn, Isabel Freeman
Another Body follows a college student after she discovers deepfakes of herself circulating online. (World Premiere)

As if women didn’t have enough to fear, AI porn enters the arena. This mind-bending and infuriating doc shocks over and over.

Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life – 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life
Director/Producer: Dan Covert, Screenwriters: Erik Auli, Dan Covert, Amy Dempsey, Tara Rose Stromberg
What defines a life? The iconic work of artist Geoff McFetridge is everywhere. But this film is more than a primer on his career—it’s about the choices we confront in trying to lead meaningful lives, and how we use our most precious resource: time. (World Premiere)

Hold on, I know that art! This charming and insightful doc will introduce you to Geoff McFetridge, an artist we all know, but don’t know we know. Ya know?

Deadland – 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

Deadland
Director: Lance Larson, Producers: Elizabeth Avellan, Bob Bastarache, Jas Shelton, Lance Larson, Tara Pirnia, Chris Wilks, Screenwriters: Lance Larson, Jas Shelton
A U.S. Border Patrol Agent tries to apprehend the ghost of his father, a grave decision that will haunt him forever.

Cast List: Roberto Urbina, McCaul Lombardi, Julieth Restrepo, Kendal Rae, Luis Chavez, Julio Cesar Cedillo, Manuel Uriza, Chris Mulkey (World Premiere)

Get ready for chills and politics to collide. You’re not ready.

Hail Mary - 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

Hail Mary
Director: Rosemary Rodriguez, Producer: Karina Miller, Screenwriter: Knate Lee
A young Belizean girl, Maria, finds herself mysteriously pregnant and trying to cross the US/MEX border while outrunning a deadly virus, the Cartels, Border Patrol, and the right-hand man of the Devil. This genre-bending retelling of the Mary and Joseph story begs the question – who are the real monsters? Cast: Natalia del Riego, Benny Emmanuel, and Jack Huston with Angela Sarafyan (World Premiere)

As a former Catholic school kid and a lover of genre-defying fare, Hail Mary is 100% on my list. The meer idea that this will work brings my eyeballs to the screen.

Only The Good Survive - 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

Only The Good Survive
Director/Screenwriter: Dutch Southern, Producers: Thomas Mahoney, Justin X Duprie
While unwittingly doing crimes in Texas, Brea Dunlee stumbles upon a QAnon-like cabal that preys on the poor and the powerless. Through a series of interrogations led by a gaslighting sheriff named Cole Mack, we discover not everything is as it seems.

Cast: Sidney Flanigan, Frederick Weller, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Ropp, Darius Fraser, Lachlan Watson, Jon Gries, Patrick Grover (World Premiere)

Quirky, colorful, and confusing, this ping-pong, time-hopping delight is pure delightful mayhem.

Peak Season - 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

Peak Season
Directors: Henry Loevner, Steven Kanter, Producers: Lovell Holder, Patrick Ward, Henry Loevner, Steven Kanter, Screenwriter: Henry Loevner
An emotionally adrift young woman forges an unexpected friendship with a wilderness guide when she and her fiancé take a summer trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Cast: Claudia Restrepo, Derrick DeBlasis, Ben Coleman, Fred Melamed, Stephanie Courtney, Will Neff, Caroline Kwan, Ron Hanks, Gadiel Del Orbe, Natasha Dewhurst (World Premiere)

Look out for this authentic, easy breezy dramedy that is like an emotional warm hug.

Art For Everybody - 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

Art for Everybody
Director: Miranda Yousef, Producers: Morgan Neville, Tim Rummel
Thomas Kinkade’s pastoral landscapes made him the most collected and despised painter of all time. After his shocking death, his family discovers a vault of unseen paintings that reveal a complex artist whose life and work embody our divided America. (World Premiere)

You could not escape his art in the late 90s. His “lit from the inside” painting of countryside cottages and mass marketable art held America captive. I almost bought one in a mall gallery at 20 years old. They were that enchanting. 

Satan Wants You - 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

Satan Wants You
Directors/Screenwriters: Sean Horlor, Steve J. Adams, Producers: Michael Grand, Melissa James
The shocking story of how a young woman and her psychiatrist ignited the global Satanic Panic with their bestselling memoir Michelle Remembers. (World Premiere)

One book twisted the narrative of a nation. It would start an avalanche of conspiracy theories that continues to run rampant in crazy circles today.

Who I Am Not – 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

Who I Am Not (Romania, Canada)
Director/Screenwriter: Tünde Skovrán, Producers: Andrei Zinca
There is male, there is female, and then there is i. Born male and female within one single body, a beauty queen and a male-presenting activist break the intersex taboo through a personal and intimate exploration of truth, faith, and belonging. (North American Premiere)

Timely and important. That’s all you need to know.

Brooklyn 45 – 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

Brooklyn 45
Director/Screenwriter: Ted Geoghegan, Producers: Seth Caplan, Michael Paszt, Pasha Patriki, Sarah Sharp
In the months following World War II, five old military friends are talked into an impromptu séance, which brings to troubling light each of their haunted pasts.

Cast List: Anne Ramsay, Ron E. Rains, Jeremy Holm, Larry Fessenden, Ezra Buzzington, Kristina Klebe (World Premiere)

Just because I know Ted Geoghegan to be one of the kindest and coolest gents in the biz doesn’t mean I have to mention his newest and perhaps most personal project yet. His work and the company he keeps (he is also producing Molli and Max screening at the fest this year), speak for themselves. I mean, how cool does this still look?! Shudder was smart enough to snap this up ages ago. 

Monolith – 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

Monolith (Australia)
Director: Matt Vesely, Producer: Bettina Hamilton, Screenwriter: Lucy Campbell
All you have to do is listen. A disgraced journalist turns to podcasting to try and rebuild her career – but her rush to generate headlines soon uncovers a strange artifact, an alien conspiracy, and the lies at the heart of her own story.

Cast List: Lily Sullivan (International Premiere)

The history of deceptive podcasting has changed the lives of suspects and the far right in recent years. This one deserves your full attention.

Talk To Me – 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

Talk To Me (Australia)
Directors: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou, Producers: Samantha Jennings, Kristina Ceyton, Screenwriters: Danny Philippou, Bill Hinzman
Lonely teenager Mia gets hooked on the thrills of conjuring spirits through a ceramic hand, but when she is confronted by a soul claiming to be her dead mother, she unleashes a plague of supernatural forces.

Cast List: Sophie Wilde, Miranda Otto, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, Zoe Terakes, Chris Alosio (Texas Premiere)

We caught this one at Sundance and can report that it is franchise worthy. Do not miss it. Talk To Me

The Wrath of Becky – 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

The Wrath of Becky
Directors/Screenwriters: Matt Angel, Suzanne Coote, Producers: Raphael Margules, JD Lifshitz, Tracy Rosenblum, Russell Posternak, Chadd Harbold
After living off the grid for two years, Becky finds herself going toe to toe against Darryl, the leader of a fascist organization, on the eve of an organized attack.

Cast List: Lulu Wilson, Seann William Scott, Matt Angel, Courtney Gains, Aaron Dalla Villa, Michael Sirow, Denise Burse, Jill Larson, Kate Siegel (World Premiere)

Firstly, Lulu Wilson is a phenom in my book. A follow-up to the 2020 film BECKY, I cannot wait to see this girl kick ass and not give a shit about names. 

The Artifice Girl – 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official SelectionThe Artifice Girl – 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

The Artifice Girl
Director/Screenwriter: Franklin Ritch, Producers: Aaron B. Koontz, Ashleigh Snead
Three special agents develop a bold new computer program to catch online predators, but its rapid advancement poses unexpected challenges.

Cast: Tatum Matthews, Sinda Nichols, David Girard, Franklin Ritch, Lance Henriksen (U.S. Premiere)

We could not escape the buzz that this film has been generating on the festival scene. It’s about time we join the crowd.

Molli And Max In The Future - 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

Molli And Max In The Future
Director/Screenwriter: Michael Lukk Litwak, Producers: Candice Kuwahara, Ben J. Murphy, Mallory Schwartz, Kate Geller, Michael Lukk Litwak
Molli and Max In The Future is a Sci-Fi Romantic Comedy about a man and woman whose orbits repeatedly collide over the course of 12 years, 4 planets, 3 dimensions, and one space-cult.

Cast: Zosia Mamet, Aristotle Athari, Danny Burstein, Arturo Castro, Okieriete Onaodowan, Erin Darke, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Michael Chernus, Aparna Nancherla, Matteo Lane (World Premiere)

After following the cast and crew of this film along the way, Molli and Max feels like a festival darling from the start.

With Love and a Major Organ – 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

With Love and a Major Organ
Director: Kim Albright, Producer: Madeleine Davis, Screenwriter: Julia Lederer
In an alternate world where hearts are made of objects and suppressing emotions is self-care, a lonely woman rips out her own heart for the man she loves, only to discover that he has run away with it.

Cast: Anna Maguire, Hamza Haq, Veena Sood, Donna Benedicto, Lynda Boyd, Arghavan Jenati, Enid-Raye Adams, Ryan Beil, Laara Sadiq (World Premiere)

The concept alone makes me want to run to the theater. 

My Drywall Cocoon – 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

My Drywall Cocoon
Director/Screenwriter: Caroline Fioratti, Producers: Rui Pires, André Montenegro
Virginia’s death during her 17th birthday shakes up a luxurious building complex. For most residents, it’s a passing tragedy. For her mother and her friends, it is the beginning of a transformation: the crack in their drywall cocoon.

Cast: Maria Luisa Mendonça, Bella Piero, Michel Joelsas, Mari Oliveira, Daniel Botelho, Caco Ciocler (World Premiere)

The only Brazillian film in the fest this year, this intricately written film will surprise again and again.

Is There Anybody Out There? (United Kingdom) – 2023 SXSW Film & TV

Is There Anybody Out There?
Director: Ella Glendining, Producer: Janine Marmot
Inhabiting a bizarrely unusual body (the body I love), and navigating daily discrimination, I search the world for another like me. Is there anybody out there? (Texas Premiere)

Check out our previous coverage of Ella Glendining’s unfiltered look at self-acceptance and judgment. It will live in my family’s heart forever.

The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster - 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster
Director/Screenwriter: Bomani J. Story, Producers: Jack Davis, Darren Brandl, Bomani J. Story
Death is ever present in Vicaria’s world – violence, police brutality, substance abuse – and after watching her mother and brother succumb, she’s had enough. Vicaria is going to put an end to all this death… by bringing the dead back to life.

Cast: Laya DeLeon Hayes, Denzel Whitaker, Chad Coleman, Reilly Brooke Stith, Keith Sean Holliday, Amani Summer Boyles, Edem Atsu-Swanzy (World Premiere)

Writer-director Bomani J. Story takes on the complexities of survival and oppression with a femme-centric modern take on Frankenstein. Yes, please, and thank you.

SHORT FILMS

Fuck Me, Richard – 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

Fuck Me, Richard (Australia, U.S.)
Directors: Lucy McKendrick, Charlie Polinger, Screenwriter: Lucy McKendrick, Producers: Jenna Grossano, Lucy McKendrick, Charlie Polinger
Recovering from a broken leg, a romance-obsessed loner finds herself swept up in a passionate long-distance love affair. Richard is perfect in every way, except that he may be a scammer. (World Premiere)

As someone who “survived” a 5+ year long distance relationship, this one is a yes.

Dead Enders – 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival Official Selection

Dead Enders
Directors: Fidel Ruiz-Healy, Tyler Walker, Screenwriters: Fidel Ruiz-Healy, Tyler Walker, Jordan Michael Blake, Conor Murphy, Producers: Raven Jensen, Amanda Crown, Gregory Barnes, Conor Murphy, Nico Alvo, Jordan Michael Blake, Eduardo Ruiz-Healy
A disaffected gas station clerk finds out why they call it the “graveyard shift” after oil drillers set loose an ancient race of mind-controlling parasites. (World Premiere)

Horror shorts for the win, ladies, and germs. Give me a new badass final girl every day of the week.

To find out more about SXSW 2023’s full lineup click here!