There’s no doubt that SXSW Film is a festival that elicits excitement. As the festival has grown over the years, they’ve attracted bigger and bigger films that cause the eyes of the film world to turn to Austin in anticipation. This year’s festival features headlines like Us, Jordan Peele’s follow up to 2016’s Get Out, and the remake of Pet Sematary. While it’s certainly enticing to see these films before anyone else, with all the pomp and circumstance that surround their premieres, SXSW has and always will be a festival of discovery. The experience of SXSW is best when you allow yourself to eschew hype and buzz and find the films and artists that sit a little to the left of the hype train. Though seeing a film like Us with Jordan Peele present is a singular experience that’s worth having, it’s important to remember that there are over a hundred films playing the festival, each with their own unique voices and each with their own unique merits. We scoured the program as we put together our personal SXSW schedules, and here are ten off the beaten path films we’re looking forward to seeing at the 26th SXSW film festival.
Alice
Director Josephine Mackerras brings her debut feature which follows the story of the titular Alice whose world is ripped apart following revelations about her husband’s secret life. Mackerras has brought taut emotionalism and drama in her previous short works, which include Moditba and L’enfant perdue, and the chance to see her stretch her wings with a feature length film is exactly the kind of experience that SXSW is made for.
Alice premieres Sunday March 10 at 11am at Stateside Theater. For more screenings check here.
Becoming Leslie
The story of Leslie, an infamous character who roamed the streets of Austin for years, is, in many ways, the story of what makes Austin such a unique town. This documentary explores the life and tribulations of the homeless man who pushed the limits of what makes Austin weird and shined lights on police accountability and advocated radical self-expression. Out of towners would do well to take a peek inside this amazing story of Austin history.
Becoming Leslie premieres Friday March 8 at 5:30pm at Rollins Theater. For more screenings check here.
Boy Howdy! The Story of Creem Magazine
You don’t get into music writing without a healthy love of Creem Magazine. The iconic publication is the prototype for all alternative and underground music publications and set the standard for how rock music is covered in the wider culture. This new documentary takes us behind the scenes for a new look at “America’s Only Rock & Roll Magazine.”
Boy Howdy premieres Sunday March 10 at 8pm at Alamo Lamar. For more screenings check here.
The Garden Left Behind
Director Flavio Alves explores two issues currently at the forefront of modern consciousness: immigration and transgender rights. The Garden Left Behind follows the story of a young transgender woman, Tina (Carlie Guevara), and her grandmother as they deal with Tina’s transition while trying to make a life for themselves in New York City.
The Garden Left Behind premieres Saturday March 9 at 9pm at Alamo Lamar. For more screenings check here.
Mr. Jimmy
This unique musical documentary chronicles the life of Akio Sakurai and his commitment to honoring the life of Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page. Under the moniker Mr. Jimmy, Sakurai has performed with various Zeppelin tribute bands as well as recreated some of the most memorable Zeppelin live experiences. This promises to be a wondrous ode to musical fandom and Led Zeppelin.
Mr. Jimmy premieres Friday March 8 at 9pm at Alamo Lamar. For more screenings check here.
The River and the Wall
This documentary follows five friends who travel the border between Texas and Mexico to explore the potential environmental impact the proposed wall would cause. Along the way, they encounter firsthand the human side of trafficking and illegal immigration. This kind of timely documentary is the kind of film that thrives at SXSW.
The River and the Wall premieres Saturday March 9 at Rollins Theater. For more screenings check here.
Vai
This 9 director portmanteau follows the journey of a single woman, played by different indigenous actresses, as she grows through the stages of her life. It’s the kind of experimental vision that SXSW has always supported and should make for a unique cinematic experience.
Vai premieres Friday March 8 at 6pm at Alamo Ritz. For more screenings check here.
Well Groomed
Niche documentaries are the bread and butter of the SXSW film experience, and this one promises to be a fascinating look into a world you probably never knew about. The film follows a year in the life of competition on the competitive dog grooming circuit as it explores the dogs, their owners, and groomers who concoct outrageous looks for competition.
Well Groomed premieres Sunday March 10 at 11:30am at Alamo Ritz. For more screenings check here.
X&Y
This documentary bills itself as a social experiment conducted by director Anna Odell. She and Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt seclude themselves in a warehouse with seven other actors for the purposes of confronting ideas and preconceptions about gender roles and behavior. The film promises moments that vacillate from the intense to the hilarious over the course of their weeks-long “game without rules.”
X&Y premieres Friday March 8 at 9pm at Alamo Ritz. For more screenings check here.
Yes God Yes
A young Catholic girl discovers masturbation and embarks a journey of self-discovery about what it means to be good. This has all the hallmarks of the great, independent coming of age stories that SXSW is so good about featuring.
Yes God Yes premieres Friday March 8 at 9pm at Stateside. For more screenings check here.
