Movies

From Ben Affleck to Seth Rogen, Hollywood finds a ‘spiritual home’ at SXSW

BBG News

South by Southwest (SXSW) has established a unique identity among festivals, exhibiting a livelier and more boisterous atmosphere compared to events like Sundance or Cannes.

The unique atmosphere being referred to is clearly reflected in the selection of films on the first night at the main venue of the festival, Austin’s Paramount Theatre. Kicking off on Friday, Paul Feig’s “Another Simple Favor,” a follow-up to the 2018 success “A Simple Favor,” takes the lead with its original cast members Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick. Following closely is Seth Rogen’s Apple TV+ series “The Studio,” a clever parody of modern Hollywood featuring numerous celebrity appearances. Lastly, Michael Shanks’ Sundance premiere “Together,” an unsettling body-horror film starring Alison Brie and Dave Franco, will be screened at midnight.

The unusual vibe is shown in the selection of movies on the first night at Austin’s Paramount Theatre. Starting Friday, Paul Feig’s “Another Simple Favor,” a sequel to “A Simple Favor” with Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick reprising their roles, will be first. Next up is Seth Rogen’s Apple TV+ series “The Studio,” a comedy poking fun at Hollywood, with many famous faces making cameos. Finally, Michael Shanks’ “Together,” an eerie horror movie about bodies, starring Alison Brie and Dave Franco, will play late at night.

Exactly how to describe what distinguishes SXSW from other festivals is another matter.

Filmmaker Jay Duplass, who has visited the event multiple times and will attend this year for the premiere of his film “The Baltimorons”, stated that the festival is all about enjoyment. He further explained that the underlying message is to encourage everyone to lighten up a bit amidst life’s difficulties: “In essence, we’re saying, ‘Things can be tough, so let’s make an effort to have some fun.'” Duplass added that Austin has undergone significant changes over the years but still manages to preserve its playful spirit.

Movies

In addition to Seth Rogen‘s forthcoming Hollywood satire series titled ‘The Studio,’ the lineup for the Texas festival will also feature the show ‘Holland,’ starring Nicole Kidman.

The South by Southwest film and TV festival is an essential component of the broader South by Southwest event, which encompasses music, technology, and a conference that brings together influential figures from various fields. This festival, known for its high-profile, star-studded premieres like “The Fall Guy” featuring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt last year, or this year’s “The Accountant 2” with Ben Affleck, “Holland” starring Nicole Kidman, and “The Death of a Unicorn” with Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, has built a reputation for such events. However, the festival is also renowned as a nurturing ground for up-and-coming talent.

The filmmaker Sean Baker, fresh from winning four Oscars for his movie “Anora,” debuted his initial feature film, “Four Letter Words,” at SXSW in 2001. The directors of the film “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” who had previously received awards for their music videos at the festival, premiered their production at SXSW in 2022 before winning seven Academy Awards. Other filmmakers with early works showcased here include Barry Jenkins, Greta Gerwig, Josh and Benny Safdie, Ti West, Destin Daniel Cretton, and Lena Dunham.

Claudette Godfrey, the festival’s vice president of film and TV, expressed that the core purpose behind all their actions is this: “We seek out individuals with unique perspectives or visions, aiming to aid them and serve as a stepping stone in their journey. That’s why I spend countless hours watching numerous films, and that’s why we put in so much effort.

At SXSW, they were among the first to shine a light on episodic content. Noteworthy TV debuts this year also include “#1 Happy Family USA,” created by Ramy Youssef and Pam Brady; “Government Cheese,” co-created by Paul Hunter and Aeysha Carr; and “Happy Face,” spearheaded by Jennifer Cacicio.

In terms of documentaries, “Seen & Heard” by Giselle Bailey and Phil Bertelsen, overseen by Issa Rae, focuses on the lives of Black individuals involved in television production. “The Python Hunt,” created by Xander Robin, delves into a competition held in Florida to catch pythons within the Everglades. “The Yogurt Shop Murders,” directed by Margaret Brown, sheds light on the 1991 unsolved murders of four teenage girls in Austin. Lastly, “The Age of Disclosure” produced by Dan Farah investigates the knowledge that the U.S. government possesses regarding extraterrestrial intelligent life.

Previously, Feig unveiled his movies “Bridesmaids” and “Spy” in this event, whereas Rogen is a frequent attendee of SXSW, both as an actor and producer. He has been present here with films such as “Long Shot”, “Observe and Report”, “Knocked Up” and more. Affleck also debuted his film “Air” at the festival in the past.

Godfrey expressed that everyone seems to share the same desire, which is to have their movie screened on a large screen before an enthusiastic crowd. Previous favorable experiences at this festival are what motivate them to return. He believes that experiencing such a rare opportunity in today’s world imbues the event with a sort of enchantment, something indescribably magical.

From this year’s festival, standout titles that are expected to make a splash include “Fantasy Life,” a debut for actor Matthew Shear as both writer and director. In the movie, he plays a melancholic young man who unexpectedly lands a job as a babysitter to three young girls and finds himself smitten with their mother (Amanda Peet). Additionally, actress Amy Landecker steps into her first feature role as writer-director in “For Worse,” where she portrays a recently divorced woman attending a wedding alongside the younger members of her acting class.

Jay Duplass’s ‘Baltimorons’ marks his debut as a solo director, having previously collaborated extensively with his brother Mark Duplass. This is also Jay’s first directorial venture in about 14 years, during which time he has been active in television, both acting and directing.” (Mark Duplass serves as an executive producer for the film.)

Written collaboratively by Jay Duplass and Michael Strassner, who first connected through Instagram, this movie features Strassner as a comedian from Baltimore, freshly sober, who cracks a tooth on Christmas Eve. This sets off an unexpected string of impromptu journeys with the only dentist willing to help him (portrayed by Liz Larsen).

Additionally showing at the festival is the dramatic film titled “Magic Hour,” which explores relationships and features Daveed Diggs and Katie Aselton in leading roles. Notably, Aselton also directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Mark Duplass, while her husband Jay Duplass serves as an executive producer for the film.

In the early 1990s, Jay Duplass, who relocated to Austin, reminisced about the impact of encountering local movie-makers such as Robert Rodriguez and Richard Linklater within the city.

He mentioned that Austin feels like his spiritual base. It’s where he grew as a filmmaker, mastered the craft, and continues to apply those techniques. Despite working on grand projects at times, he maintains a very personal, homemade approach to creating art, particularly for this movie. This is reminiscent of the DIY style of arts and crafts in Austin that he was introduced to.

Chad Hartigan, the director of “The Threesome,” has been absent from SXSW for nine years, but he used to attend it frequently, including before his 2016 film “Morris From America” was screened there. At SXSW, he first encountered Cherie Saulter, producer of his 2013 film “This Is Martin Bonner.” It was also at this festival where Hartigan met Adele Romanski, who went on to win an Oscar for producing “Morris.

Hartigan remarked, “It wasn’t exactly about networking, but it was essentially about encountering people who shared similar interests, and these interactions led to friendships initially. Later on, when it came to filmmaking, I found myself with a wealth of talented associates to collaborate with.

He further explained, “There’s less of an intense rush for media coverage, buyers, and similar entities. Instead, it’s primarily about having an excellent event, enjoying ourselves, and it typically turns out that way. The crowd is lively, and while the queues for food can get a bit lengthy at times, overall, there are no major issues.

The Triangle” – In this intriguing tale, Jonah Hauer-King portrays a young man who harbors feelings for his prickly workmate, Zoey Deutch. An unexpected turn of events occurs when they find themselves in a three-way relationship with a new acquaintance, Ruby Cruz, leading to a series of unanticipated complexities that unfold.

In her first role as both writer and actress, Annapurna Sriram appears in “F-toys,” a lively, eccentric tale about a young woman’s endeavor to break a curse that has been cast upon her. Sriram penned the script approximately eight years ago, long before shows like “Euphoria,” “Zola,” “Pleasure” and “Anora” emerged, which share similar raw tones and progressive perspectives on sex work. Drawing inspiration from filmmakers such as John Waters, Harmony Korine, and Gregg Araki, Sriram believed that the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival would be an ideal fit for the movie, given its unconventional title and theme.

Sriram stated confidently that SXSW was the festival they had aimed for. He explained, “Perhaps we were a bit too eccentric for Sundance, but we felt Austin was the perfect fit for our unique blend of art-house, edgy, and slightly provocative cinema.

Even though it’s challenging to ignore the political climate surrounding us here in Austin, with the Texas Capitol Building nearby and visible from the Paramount, Godfrey firmly believes that a touch of escape is necessary when things seem gloomy.

She shared that finding joy in artistic expression and connecting with others is vital. ‘Life’s too short,’ she emphasized, ‘and the world can be gloomy at times.’ Rather than dwelling on negativity, she believes people need a respite from their troubles. Just like someone might go on a trip to SXSW for a break, she thinks we also need to come together and collaborate if we want to bring about positive change.

Read More

2025-03-06 14:31

Previous post The best Monster Hunter Wilds mods and how to install them
Next post Celebrate the return of Hextech Chests with these LoL custom skins