The South by Southwest Conference and Festivals get underway in Austin this week, and it’s pretty typical for the film festival lineup to include a lot of Texas – both in subject matter and in work by Texas filmmakers.
Our running list for this year includes 15 films – and we’re sure we’re leaving many out – including short films. Here’s a sneak peek:
“Magic Hour” still by Sarah Whelden
Matthew McConaughey stars as the title character in “The Rivals of Amziah King,” his first on-screen movie role in years. There’s not even a trailer for this film yet, but SXSW audiences will get to see it starting March 10.
Both of Texas’ Duplass brothers also have films at this year’s fest. Mark co-wrote the relationship film “Magic Hour,” and Jay co-wrote and directed “The Baltimorons,” a Christmastime rom-com.
“The Baltimorons” photo by Jon Bregel
Unlike the others above, Kahane Corn Cooperman did not go to school at UT-Austin but she did receive an education of sorts in Austin during her Sundance Catalyst experience. She underscored those Texas credentials by making a film in 2005 about the making of “Dazed and Confused.” Her film at South by Southwest, “Creede U.S.A.,” isn’t about Texas, but a town in Colorado that she says serves as a microcosm of the country’s division.
“CREEDE U.S.A.”
“I just felt such respect for how these people were coming together and having these hard conversations about divisive issues,” she said. “And there’s a lot you can take away from how they’re engaging and the importance of engagement.”
“Shuffle,” by Ausinite Benjamin Flaherty, is a documentary shot over three years about what he calls the deceptive world of drug treatment centers. Also on the serious side: “The Yogurt Shop Murders” about a still-unsolved case from 1991 in Austin.
“Shuffle”
“American Sons,” also by a largely Texas team, follows a group of Marines still connected and still struggling a decade after deploying to Afghanistan.
Then there are a couple of films about some big names with Texas ties. “Luv Ya, Bum!” is about Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips. And “I’m Carl Lewis!” is about the iconic athlete, who’s now coaching at the University of Houston.
“Resolution: A Cinephonic Rhapsody for the Soul” bridges film and interactive. It’s an experiential film version of music by Dallas’ The Polyphonic Spree which is being shown in a continuous loop in a dome.
Courtesy facebook.com/resolutionthefilm
Another music-related film is “Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt,” about the San Antonio band and also featuring interviews with the likes of Dave Grohl and Richard Linklater.
A film you’ll be hearing more about on the Standard is the documentary “Uvalde Mom,” an in-depth profile of Angeli Rose Gomez, who made international headlines for running into Robb Elementary school to save her children.
Other Texas-related films getting another screening at SXSW after premiering at Sundance are the documentaries “Selena y Los Dinos;” “The Librarians,” about book banning; and “Sally,” about astronaut Sally Ride.
We’ll bring you more on these Texas-related films as they become more widely available.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect a misstatement about Corn Cooperman’s connections to Texas.
