SXSW 2023: Film Festival Preview
With SXSW 2023 right around the corner we look forward at the most anticipated and most notable films premiering at this year’s festival
Last year’s festival was an unmitigated success after premiering several Oscar-nominated films including a front runner for best picture in Everything, Everywhere, All At Once by The Daniels, a front runner for best animated feature in Marcel The Shell With Shoes On by Dean Fleischer-Camp and a game-changing best actress nomination for Andrea Riseborough for her performance in the drama To Leslie. Suffice to say that this year’s line up has an uphill battle if it wants to top last year but it’s going to be a blast seeing it try. This year we have a slew of anticipated films premiering that range from action blockbusters, to fun biopics, to directorial debuts. Any one of these films could end up becoming an Oscar contender next year or a hidden gem so we take a look at the notable films for SXSW 2023.
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
The festival opener is the fantasy-action blockbuster based on the legendary tabletop roleplaying game of the same name Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. The film sports a star studded cast with Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, and Regé-Jean Page leading the the band of heroes. Directed by the comedy duo John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, this film is sure to be a Dragon-slayin’ good time.
Tetris
An biopic from Apple Original Films, Tetris tells story of the soviet-born videogame took over the world. Starring Taron Egerton and directed by John S. Baird, the true story that inspired this film promises a wild ride. With Egerton still chasing that Academy Award and Apple Films looking to make another splash in the ever growing competitive streaming market, the combination could prove to be a brick-busting blockbuster that could make waves in next years award season.
Problemista
From the comedic mind of Julio Torres of Los Espookys fame, Torres wrote, directed and stars in this comedy about a South American immigrant who’s life gets entwined with a quirky artist who has been ostracized by the industry. Co-starring the queen of quirk herself, Tilda Swinton, anyone remotely familiar with Torres’ work should have this on the top of their most-anticipated list. Problemista could very well be the breakout comedy of this year’s festival.
Evil Dead: Rise
For the Horror lovers out there, Evil Dead: Rise is the warm, soft, and demonic comfort blanket that we’ve been waiting for from Sam Rami. Although the film is produced and co-written by Rami, he has handed the Necronomicon over to up and coming Director Lee Cronin. Taking their turn with the Chainsaw, the film stars Alyssa Sutherland and Lily Sullivan with no word on there Bruce Campbell will make his required appearance.
Flaymin’ Hot
The feature directorial debut of Eva Longoria, Flaymin’ Hot tells the story of Janitor turned millennial icon Richard Montañez who created the globally recognized pillar of society, the Flaymin’ Hot Cheeto. Starring Jesse Garcia, Annie Gonzalez, this could very well be the most important story ever told… to one singular generation with an unhealthy obsession with this spicy, crunchy and cheesy treat.
Parachute
Parachute is another film with breakout potential. The directorial debut of Brittany Snow, the film is about a recovering addict who latches onto another addict for better or worse. The film has a surprisingly stacked cast, led by Courtney Eaton and Thomas Mann who both are hidden talents looking for that breakout role, but joining them are the likes of Dave Bautista, Gina Rodriguez, Joel McHale, and Kid Cudi. This one should be watched closely if not because of its hard hitting dramatic subject matter but for its potential notoriety.
The Wrath of Becky
From Directors Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote, The Wrath of Becky is the unholy mixture of Sweet Home Alabama and John Wick. There is a real intensity to this film that begs to be seen. Starring up-and-comer Lulu Wilson, and the alway on point Sean William Scott, the film is the story of redemption, friendship and bloody, bloody revenge and will surely be breakout thriller to remember.
Self Reliance
The directorial debut of Jake Johnson from New Girl fame. This is built from head to toe by comedians. Not only is it directed, written by, and starring Johnson, Self Reliance is executive produced by The Lonely Island Boys and has a all-star comedic cast anchored by the likes of Anna Kendrick, Christopher Lloyd, Wayne Brady, Gata, and the surprising comedic genius of NBA player Boban Marjanovic. The film follows a man who is entered in gameshow with deadly consequences with the real consequence being his realization that he has more to lose than just his life.
Late Bloomers
Directed by Lisa Steen, Late Bloomers is a dramedy starring the ever-proven comedic presence of Karen Gillan as a Brooklynite whose aimless wandering through life leads her to a job caring for an irritable elderly polish woman. Also starring Margaret Sophie Stein, Jermaine Fowler, Kevin Nealon, Talia Balsam, the film has all the elements that could make for comedic gold with enough late twenties life-searching that could fill that dramatic itch.
Bottoms
Two High-School girls start a fight club, sold. The Shiva Baby duo of Director Emma Seligman and co-writer/star Rachel Sennott are joined by Ayo Edebiri for this comedy combining Booksmart and Fight Club. The premise of Bottoms alone is enough to sell the ticket but couple that with the fact that this is from the duo of Seligman and Sennott and it makes the film a must see.
Blackberry
The fact that this film isn’t getting as much buzz as the other biopics in this year’s festival is a shame. Directed by Matt Johnson, Blackberry is about the birth, life and death of the very first smartphone. The cast is loaded with comedic talents with the likes of Glen Howerton, Jay Baruchel, Cary Elwes and the great Michael Ironside. All the elements of this film together should bring a fun mix of comedy and drama that should be as interesting and entertaining as Glen’s haircut in the film.
The Angry Black Girl And Her Monster
Written and Directed by Bomani J. Story, The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster is a reimagined tale of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein through the eyes of black culture. Starring Laya DeLeon Hays, Chad L. Coleman, and Denzel Whitaker. The change in perspective will be very interesting to see play out and with the talented Coleman, best known from his work on The Walking Dead and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, to work with this could be a breakout performance for Hays after doing mostly voice work.
Other notable films coming at this year’s SXSW Film Festival are I Used To Be Funny starring Rachel Sennott in her second film of the festival, the Stephanie Hsu starring road trip comedy Joy Ride, the sci-fi rom-com Molli And Max In The Future, and the action-thriller Furies by Writer-director Veronica Ngo.