SXSW 2023 documentary review: Dan Covert paints a picture of art and artist in ‘GEOFF MCFETRIDGE: DRAWING A LIFE’

GEOFF MCFETRIDGE: DRAWING A LIFE

The mind of an artist is a splendid thing. SXSW 2023 doc GEOFF MCFETRIDGE: DRAWING A LIFE delves into the wondrous mind of a nurtured creative. Director Dan Covert puts a face and a name to the work we’ve seen for years. Meet Geoff McFetridge, graphic designer, visual artist, and family man.

Geoff’s animated drawings curiously play over his voice. Combined with the equally infectious score, you are instantly charmed. Talking heads of fellow artists, filmmakers (friends Sofia Coppola and Spike Jonze), writers, photographers, and every creative in between share their admiration of Geoff’s mind. As a child seeking identity, Geoff used drawing as an outlet. It helped him to explore his inner turmoil. Poems describe childhood moments with effortless glee. These are yet another form of communication.

“Running on ambition.” Geoff is obsessed with his process, his created color palette, and the perception of his work. Balancing his passion and his family only works because of his wife, Sarah Devincentis. She pulls him out of his angst. He 100% credits her for their work-life harmony.

Geoff uses the most minimal lines possible, and still, his work expresses life’s mundane snapshots in wildly profound ways. They are spellbinding pieces. There is something in his repertoire for every human. Geoff’s is a hot commodity in the corporate world, from Nike, Oreo, Apple, and everyone in between. Geoff is that artist you know, but you don’t know you know. Ya know? Thanks to Dan Covert, now the whole world will.


Film Screenings

 
 

Credits

Director:

Dan Covert

Executive Producer:

Spike Jonze, Andre Andreev, Amanda Adelson

Producer:

Dan Covert

Screenwriter:

Erik Auli, Dan Covert, Amy Dempsey, Tara Rose Stromberg

Cinematographer:

Claudio Rietti, Daniel Vecchione

Editor:

Erik Auli, Dan Covert

Sound Designer:

YouTooCanWoo

Music:

YouTooCanWoo: David Perlick Molinari, Derek Muro

Principal Cast:

Geoff McFetridge, Spike Jonze, Sofia Coppola, Sarah DeVincentis, Andrew Paynter, Bill Powers, Liv Siddall, Atiba Jefferson, Jesper Elg, Andy Spade

Additional Credits:

Co-Producers: Erik Auli, Amy Dempsey, Tara Rose Stromberg, Still Photography: Andrew Paynter, Camera Operators: Tucker Phillips, Andre Andreev, Andrew Trost, Sean Mattison, Connor Lawson, Adam McDaid, Herbie Wei, Sound Mixing: Matteo Liberatore, Ben Adams, Kelly Wright, Kevin Crawford, Cel Animation: Hao Li, Additional Animation: Colin Hess, Archival Researcher: Richard Kroll

SXSW 2023 short film reviews: ‘ENDLESS SEA’ & ‘FUNNY FACE’ are two stories of humanity and compassion.

ENDLESS SEA




 Follows Carol, an elderly woman on Medicare in New York City, as she struggles through the US healthcare system, a reality faced by millions of Americans who find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place.


Carol navigates the healthcare system after finding that her heart medication has quadrupled in price. Doing all she can to pay for her pills, she hustles through Valentine’s Day, calling in favors, delivering flowers for tips, and waiting on hold with Medicare customer service. ENDLESS SEA culminates in a choice between life and death. Brenda Cullerton plays Carol brilliantly. She breaks your heart with unfiltered vulnerability and desperation.

Did you know we are the only country that advertises drugs? Profit over people, I guess. I lived in India in 2008 and had a health scare. I walked into a top hospital, saw the head of the ER, a specialist, got a biopsy, a mammogram, and results on a scanned card and printed in a folder I got to take from appointment to appointment, all for $73. The American healthcare system is broken. ENDLESS SEA illustrates the chaos of remaining healthy or merely staying alive in this country. In a short amount of time, this film packs a punch. It’s a must-see.


Film Screenings

 
Mar 15, 2023
6:30pm8:12pm
 

Credits

Director:

Sam Shainberg

Executive Producer:

Henry S., Alex O Eaton, Sam Shainberg, Catherine Shainberg

Producer:

Rachel Walden

Screenwriter:

Sam Shainberg

Cinematographer:

J. Daniel Zuniga

Editor:

Luca Balser

Production Designer:

Charlie Robinson

Sound Designer:

Eric Brown

Principal Cast:

Brenda Cullerton, Jacque Sebag , Iskandar Dridi, Johnny Zito, Vilma Ortiz Donovann, Nora Delighter, Alexandra Templar , Basil Constable, Anne Zuk , Muhammad Gueye

Additional Credits:

Casting Director: Eleonore Hendricks, 1st AC: Carlos Amador Wong, Gaffers: Adam Kim, Vuk Lungulovk, Wardrobe: Emily Costantino, Sound Mixer: Boris Krichevsky, Art Directors: Holly Mcclintock, Key Grips: Jordan Tetewsy, Eli Freireich


Live-action FUNNY FACE




An autobiographical dramedy that retells Harris’ experience directly following her facial feminization surgery with the support of her brother and girlfriend, played by their real-life counterparts.


From the filmmakers of GAY HAIRCUT, SXSW 2023 short film FUNNY FACE brings audiences a conversation starter. The plot revolves around the hours following Sophie’s ten-hour face feminization surgery. It’s a family affair with her girlfriend and her brother from out of town, who are also meeting for the first time. Both take on the in-home care nurse who’s too wrapped up in her drama to do her job or be a human being. Funny Face is about respect and sacrifice, identity and love. The script is grounded in emotional honesty. It allows space for discussion while remaining lighthearted. Writer-director Jude Hope Harris retells her very personal story with her real-life family in the starring roles. Amusing, thought-provoking, and brave. FUNNY FACE is one to see.


Film Screenings

Credits

Director:

Jude Hope Harris

Producer:

Genevieve Jones, Nick Vitale

Screenwriter:

Krista Fatka, Jude Hope Harris

Cinematographer:

Ingrid Sanchez

Editor:

Aviva Siegel

Music:

Charlie Harrison

Principal Cast:

Charlie Harrison, Krista Fatka, Sharon Zhang, Marieve Herington, Jude Hope Harris

Additional Credits:

Special Effects Makeup Artist: Kyrsta Morehouse

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

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

 
Mar 14, 2023
11:00am12:34pm
 

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.

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

Mar 13, 2023
5:45pm7:23pm
 
Mar 15, 2023
8:45pm10:23pm
 
Mar 16, 2023
12:30pm2:08pm
 
Mar 16, 2023
1:00pm2:38pm
 

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.

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

Mar 12, 2023
11:00am12:39pm
 
Mar 14, 2023
5:45pm7:24pm
 
Mar 18, 2023
3:00pm4:39pm
 

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.

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

 
Mar 15, 2023
12:00pm1:41pm
 

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

 
Mar 15, 2023
3:00pm4:45pm
 

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.

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

Mar 13, 2023
12:00pm1:58pm
 
Mar 15, 2023
2:15pm4:13pm
 
Mar 16, 2023
8:00pm9:58pm
 

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.

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

Mar 13, 2023
11:00am12:31pm
 
Mar 14, 2023
5:00pm6:31pm
 

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.

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

 
 
Mar 16, 2023
11:00am12:24pm
 

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.

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

 
 
Mar 14, 2023
9:00pm10:31pm
 
Mar 17, 2023
2:30pm4:01pm
 

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.

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.


 
Mar 12, 2023
10:00pm11:32pm
 
Mar 14, 2023
12:00pm1:32pm
 
Mar 17, 2023
12:00pm1:32pm
 

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.

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

Mar 12, 2023
11:15am12:37pm
 
Mar 12, 2023
11:45am1:07pm
 
Mar 13, 2023
5:15pm6:37pm
 
Mar 14, 2023
7:45pm9:07pm
 

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.

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

Mar 11, 2023
9:00pm10:29pm
 
Mar 13, 2023
12:30pm1:59pm
 
Mar 13, 2023
1:00pm2:29pm
 
Mar 15, 2023
9:00pm10:29pm
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 review: ‘THE APPENDAGE’ is body horror with a moral.

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

Mar 11, 2023
11:15am12:49pm
 
Mar 14, 2023
9:45pm11:19pm
 
Mar 16, 2023
2:00pm3:34pm
 

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.

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:
 
Mar 11, 2023
12:15pm1:35pm
 
Mar 14, 2023
5:00pm6:20pm
 
Mar 16, 2023
9:15pm10:35pm
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.

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

Mar 11, 2023
3:30pm5:25pm
 
Mar 11, 2023
4:00pm5:55pm
 
Mar 13, 2023
12:45pm2:40pm
 
Mar 13, 2023
1:15pm3:10pm
 
Mar 17, 2023
5:30pm7:25pm
 

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

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

Mar 11, 2023
11:30am1:03pm
 
Mar 12, 2023
9:00pm10:33pm
 
Mar 15, 2023
12:45pm2:18pm
 
Mar 15, 2023
1:15pm2:48pm
 

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.

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

 
Mar 10, 2023
9:00pm10:38pm
 
 
Mar 15, 2023
7:00pm8:38pm
 
Mar 15, 2023
7:30pm9:08pm
 
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.

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.


Mar 10, 2023
6:00pm7:32pm
 
Mar 10, 2023
6:30pm8:02pm
 
Mar 12, 2023
9:15pm10:47pm
 
Mar 14, 2023
12:30pm2:02pm
 

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