Jeremy Workman returns to SXSW this year with “Secret Mall Apartment.” Eight individuals found a way to convert unused space within the Providence Place Mall in Rhode Island. They used it as a clubhouse and as a protest against gentrification. They were successful from 2003 to 2007 before being discovered. … [Read More]
The Premiere of season 3 of “Hacks” (HBO Max) took place at noon on March 9th at SXSW. It was truly an audience of devoted fans. The feeling in the Paramount Theater was equal parts anticipation and shared enthusiasm— not always the case at SXSW. Everyone present knew they were … [Read More]
The 2024 SXSW Film Festival brought powerful stories to light, and one that truly resonated was “Sing Sing.” This film delves into the real-life rehabilitation program “Rehabilitation Through the Arts” at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. This powerful film had everyone buzzing, and I snagged exclusive interviews with the cast and … [Read More]
The very first day of SXSW 2024 a 96-minute documentary entitled “MoviePass/MovieCrash” had its World Premiere at the Alamo Theater on Lamar Boulevard. It chronicled how two black entrepreneurs—Stacy Spikes and Hamet Watt—spent a decade developing a way to bring the masses back to the theater experience with a credit … [Read More]
“Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It” is a documentary from Paris Barclay, whose own film accomplishments put him in a class that few can match. Barclay (“In Treatment,” “Glee”). This is an outstanding documentary. It goes right up there with my favorite from last year’s SXSW, “Little Richard: … [Read More]
“My Dead Friend Zoe” was a crowd-funded first feature film from Army veteran Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, who served 5 years in Afghanistan and used his real-life experiences to craft this film (and his entire career up to this point.) He is a co-founder of the nonprofit organization Veterans in Media & … [Read More]
So, you’ve got a story to tell. A personal saga that needs to escape your brain and grace the silver screen (or, you know, YouTube). But a big question blocks your path: documentary vs narrative? For a lot of filmmakers, this is a very real and very interesting choice. Real … [Read More]
The International Premiere of Writer/Director Tilman Singer’s film “Cuckoo” took place on Thursday, March 14 at SXSW. It’s a delightfully weird horror thriller written and directed by German director Tilman Singer. It stars Hunter Shafer (“Euphoria”) and veteran character actor Dan Stevens (Matthew Crawley on “Downton Abbey,” “Colossal” at SXSW … [Read More]
Just hearing a snippet of a song can send Harriet (Lucy Boynton) of “The Greatest Hits” film back to a time when she and her boyfriend Max were happy and together. Director Ned Benson has tapped into the universal way in which music and certain songs remind us of our … [Read More]
The Magpie is a bird that has been associated with good luck and good fortune in Asian cultures. However, in this SXSW film that had its World Premiere at the Stateside Theater at SXSW on Saturday, March 9th, good luck quickly goes bad. It’s a thriller from first-time feature director … [Read More]
Yo punk rockers, music maniacs, and lovers of all things loud and unpredictable! Get ready to mosh your way into a frenzy because SXSW is getting a serious dose of rebellion with “Punk Rock Lottery,” a documentary that celebrates the untamed spirit of punk through musical mayhem. This ain’t your typical … [Read More]
The Canadian documentary “Plastic People,” directed by Ben Addelman and Ziya Tong, had its World Premiere at SXSW on Saturday, March 9th, 2024. It is an absolutely terrifying piece of detective work, investigating how our fixation on plastic came to be and what plastic is doing to us. The synopsis … [Read More]