Anima
Sydney Chandler in ‘Anima.’ Photo by Kebrado.
In this near-future science fiction movie, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) who’s been laid off from a tech startup finds a new gig with a company that can supposedly upload someone’s consciousness into the cloud. She embarks on a cross-country drive with one of her new employer’s most valuable clients. You may recognize the film’s star from her lead role in Alien: Earth, a part that seems to make her incredibly apt for Anima. The daughter of Friday Night Lights actor Kyle Chandler, Sydney is a Central Texas resident and rising cinematic star.
First They Came for My College
Photo by Patrick Bresnan.
This documentary feature was produced Holly Herrick, head of film and creative media at the Austin Film Society. But it also has a more thematic tie to Texas in term of subject matter. Centering on a right-wing takeover of public school in Florida, the documentary covers one of the first instances of such an academic overhaul and offers a close-up look at the ongoing culture war in American colleges. Now, schools like UT and Texas A&M find themselves in a similar situation. If you want a glimpse at what’s happening on the ground in academia, here’s your chance.
The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson
Photo courtesy Netflix.
Made by Marina Zenovich, something of a specialist in documentary portraits, this film takes a look at the life and death of competitive cyclist Moriah Wilson, who was tragically murdered in 2022 in Austin by the jealous partner of a love interest.
See You When I See You
Photo by Jim Frohna.
The Duplass brothers have been SXSW darlings for more than two decades, since their first feature, The Puffy Chair, screened at the festival in 2005. Directed by Jay Duplass, this new film stars Dallas-born actor Cooper Raiff along with David Duchovny (The X Files, Californication) and Kaitlyn Dever (The Last of Us). The movie centers on a comedy writer battling PTSD after a family tragedy and is sure to have the signature Duplass touch of humor and heartbreak.
A Cowboy in London
Photo by Bobby Cochran.
Just hours before Charley Crockett takes the stage at Stubb’s, you can catch this documentary feature about the South Texas native and country crooner. Few musicians have been as prolific as Crockett, who released 15 albums over the past decade and has a new one, Age of the Ram, due out in April. This documentary offers an up-close look at the artist during a fast-paced three days with sold-out shows in London.
They Called Us Outlaws
Photo by Scott Newton.
In a city renowned for sound, it makes sense that SXSW usually features more than one solid music doc. This film traces the origin of outlaw country and includes hundreds of interviews along with footage of music legends like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Jerry Jeff Walker.
The Man with the Big Hat
Photo by Ryan Light.
Last one, we promise! Yet another music documentary about an influential Texas songwriter, this one centers on Steven Fromholz, an under-appreciated progenitor of 1970s progressive country. While he was revered by your favorite musicians, he never found commercial success, and a stroke tragically erased much of his musical memory in 2003. This new doc from Austin-based filmmaker Austin Sayre promises never-before-heard recordings that offer an intimate look at Fromholz and his influence.
Chasing Summer
Photo by Eric Branco/Summer 2001 LLC.
Written by and starring comedian Iliza Shlesinger, this narrative feature follows a girl who flees to her small Texas hometown after losing her boyfriend and her job. Born in New York but raised in the suburbs of Dallas, Shlesinger has said that she started writing the film as “a way to say goodbye to her own youth.”
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