Us (Universal)

By Michael Roffman

First we got Sundance, now South by Southwest has announced its feature film lineup for 2019. Set to take place from March 8th to 17th, the Austin-based festival will screen more than a hundred new features.

Among the many highlights are the world premiere of Jordan Peele’s Us, Harmony Korine’s long-awaited Spring Breakers follow-up The Beach Bum, Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut Booksmart, Elle Fanning’s Teen Spirit, and an untitled comedy starring Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron.

There are also a number episodic premieres in the television medium, including the highly anticipated adaptation of Joe Hill’s NOS4A2, Taika Waititi’s spinoff series What We Do in the Shadows, and Aidy Bryant’s new comedy Shrill.

As expected, the lineup has a strong focus on music features, specifically The Boy Band Con: The Lou Pearlman Story, The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash, Boy Howdy! The Story of CREEM Magazine, and a special screening of True Stories with David Byrne.

“As we head into our 26th edition, we couldn’t be more excited to once again share a completely fresh SXSW 2019 slate with our uniquely smart and enthusiastic SXSW audience,” says Janet Pierson, Director of Film. “As always, we looked for a wide range of work, contemplating scale, style, tenor and tone. We hope that this year’s outstanding array of films from accomplished to emerging talent will entertain, surprise, and provoke.”

Consult the full lineup below. As if the following weren’t enough, a second wave of announcements will follow on February 6th, which includes all the horror fare in their Midnighters section. Though, we do love that Joe Bob Briggs is already confirmed to be down in Texas. Yahoo, indeed.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Live soundtracks, cult re-issues & much more. Our Special Events section offers unusual, unexpected and unique one-off film events.

How Rednecks Saved Hollywood with Joe Bob Briggs
Director/Screenwriter: Joe Bob Briggs
America’s drive-in movie critic uses 200 video clips and photos to tell the 500-year history of the American redneck in a multimedia comedy performance.

Love, Death & Robots
Showrunners: David Fincher, Tim Miller, Josh Donen, Jennifer Miller
Love, Death & Robots, an animated anthology series presented by Tim Miller and David Fincher, is a genre orgy of Not-Suitable-For-Mainstream shorts. (World Premiere)
Followed by extended Q&A with with Tim Miller and David Fincher.

Ra: Path of the Sun God
Director: Lesley Keen
Austin based electronic and experimental label Holodeck Records is partnering with Austin Film Society for a special live re-score screening of the 1990 animated film Ra: Path of the Sun God, a beautiful re-telling of one of Ancient Egypt’s most famous myths.

Rebel Without A Crew: Filmmaking Master Class with Robert Rodriguez
Join Robert Rodriguez as he gives a master-class in micro-budget guerilla filmmaking, featuring behind the scenes moments from his new $7,000 film, RED 11. The event will be followed by the World Premiere of RED 11.

Shangri-La ( Work-in-Progress)
Directors: Morgan Neville, Jeff Malmberg
An intimate look at the creative process through the lens of legendary music producer Rick Rubin.

True Stories
Director: David Byrne, Screenwriters: Stephen Tobolowsky, Beth Henley, David Byrne
David Byrne’s 1986 musical comedy, inspired by theater director Robert Wilson, tabloid newspapers, and filmmakers Robert Altman and Federico Fellini, remains a unique artistic vision that celebrates the singular citizens of a fictional Texas town. David Byrne will appear in-person for Q&A following screening of new 4K restoration.