The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival has announced the full lineup of features scheduled to be a part of the 2006 event in Austin, Texas, March 10-18. Among the highlights are Paul Weitz’s ‘American Dreamz,’ starring Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid and Mandy Moore, closing the festival on March 18.
The festival will open on March 10, with the North American Premiere of ‘A Prairie Home Companion,’ directed by Robert Altman. The festival’s “Spotlight Premieres” section will include features about celebrities like Al Franken (Al Franken in God Spoke), Ray Romano (95 Miles To Go), Charles Nelson Reilly (The Life of Reilly), Bettie Page (The Notorious Bettie Page), Ed ‘Big Daddy’ Roth (Tales of the Rat Fink), Jackson Pollock (Who The $#%& is Jackson Pollock), and even Nobel prize winners (Nobelity). The festival’s programming committee received a record number of approximately 2800 submissions, and will screen 120 features during the festival. The program includes over 50 world premiere features from around the globe. An announcement of the shorts lineup will follow on February 13.
“We considered many more films this year, and I think the program stands among our best,” says Matt Dentler, Festival Producer for SXSW. “Our job was harder than ever before, but it also means we saw a better array of films than ever before.”
Other “Spotlight Premieres” include ‘Even Money’ starring Kim Basinger and Ray Liotta, ‘Heavens Fall’ starring Timothy Hutton and David Strathairn, ‘The King’ starring Gael Garcia Bernal and William Hurt, ‘The Oh in Ohio’ starring Parker Posey and Paul Rudd, and many more.
“Despite the large amount of star-driven films at the festival,” continues Dentler, “there is still an amazing variety of new voices in our programs. There will be a wealth of talent to discover at SXSW this year.”
In the Documentary Feature Competition, there is a thread of films about the world economy, from credit card debt (Maxed Out) to the oil crisis (OilCrash) to private security contractors overseas (Shadow Company). Meanwhile, the Narrative Feature Competition boasts an assortment of titles from new voices, including “Dance Party, USA,’ ‘The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael,’ ‘Inner Circle Line,’ and ‘LOL.’
2006 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL FEATURES LINEUP
SPOTLIGHT PREMIERES
95 Miles to Go ^ Dir: Tom Caltabiano; Cast: Ray Romano, Tom Caltabiano, Roger Lay, Jr. ^ Sitcom star Ray Romano documents his unpredictable stand-up comedy tour through Middle America. (WORLD PREMIERE)
A Prairie Home Companion ^ Dir: Robert Altman; Cast: Woody Harrelson, Tommy Lee Jones, Garrison Keillor, Kevin Kline, Lindsay Lohan. ^ An adaptation of the popular radio program by Garrison Keillor, featuring an all-star cast. This is the Opening Night Film for SXSW 2006. (NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE)
Al Franken in God Spoke ^ Dir: Nick Doob and Chris Hegedus ^ A cinema verite pursuit of Al Franken, shot over the course of two years, the film follows the former SNL writer turned political attack dog from his feud with Bill O ‘Reilly to the 2004 Presidential election. (WORLD PREMIERE)
American Dreamz ^ Dir: Paul Weitz; Cast: Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid, Marcia Gay Harden, Mandy Moore, Willem Dafoe. ^ A satire about American identity, set around a popular television singing contest called ‘American Dreamz.’
Brothers of the Head ^ Dir: Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe; Cast: Luke Treadway, Harry Treadway, Tania Emery, Sean Harris, Bryan Dick. ^ The feverish, mind-bending odyssey of conjoined twins Tom and Barry Howe, who were plucked from obscurity by a 1970s music promoter and groomed into a boy band. (U.S. PREMIERE)
The Cassidy Kids Dir: Jacob Vaughan; Cast: Kadeem Hardison, Anne Ramsay, Judah Friedlander. ^ A group of adults reunite when their real-life murder mystery becomes a nostalgic kids’ show success. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Even Money ^ Dir: Mark Rydell; Cast: Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito, Kelsey Grammer, Nick Cannon, Ray Liotta, Forest Whitaker, Carla Gugino, Grant Sullivan, Jay Mohr. ^ Gambling addiction bring the stories of three otherwise unconnected people together as it destroys each of their lives. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Fired! ^ Dir: Chris Bradley and Kyle LaBrache; Featuring: Annabelle Gurwitch, David Cross, Illeana Douglas, Bob Odenkirk, Jeff Garlin, Andy Dick. ^ After being fired by Woody Allen, Gurwitch set out – with the help of some famous faces – to look at what it means to be both hired and fired as an American worker in the global economy. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Gretchen ^ Dir: Steve Collins; Cast: Courtney Davis, John Merriman, Stephen Root. ^ A misunderstood teen-age girl faces a serious of misadventures on her way to finding love, and her father. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Heavens Fall ^ Dir: Terry Green; Cast: Timothy Hutton, David Strathairn, Anthony Mackie, Leelee Sobieski. ^ Based on the “Scottsboro Boys” trial of the 1930s, a lawyer meets obstacles and injustice while defending the accused. (WORLD PREMIERE)
The King ^ Dir: James Marsh; Cast: Gael Garcia Bernal, Pell James, William Hurt. ^ A small-town family is torn apart by tradition, romance, and murder. (NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE)
The Life of Reilly ^ Dir: Barry Poltermann and Frank Anderson. ^ Popular character actor and TV staple, Charles Nelson Reilly, delivers the final performance of his touching and hilarious one-man show. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Nobelity ^ Dir: Turk Pipkin. ^ Pipkin travels the world chatting with living Nobel Prize winners, to get their perspective on the world today. (WORLD PREMIERE)
The Notorious Bettie Page ^ Dir: Mary Harron; Cast: Gretchen Mol, Lili Taylor, David Strathairn, Cara Seymour. ^ The story of Bettie Page, uber-successful 1950’s pin-up model, one of the first sex icons in America, and the target of a Senate investigation. (U.S. PREMIERE)
The Oh in Ohio ^ Dir: Billy Kent; Cast: Parkey Posey, Paul Rudd, Mischa Barton, Danny DeVito, and Liza Minnelli. ^ Priscilla Chase seemed to have everything going for her with one small private exception…. She never thought much of sex. When her husband unexpectedly leaves her to regain his manhood she embarks on a wild journey that leads her to satisfaction and love in the most unlikely place. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Patriot Act ^ Dir: Jeffrey Ross. ^ A stand-up comedian documents his trip to Iraq when he and other entertainers make their way abroad for a USO tour. (U.S. PREMIERE)
Rank ^ Dir: John Hyams. ^ A beautifully textured documentary look at one year in professional bull riding, and the effect it has on the personal lives of those who compete. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Tales of the Rat Fink ^ Dir: Ron Mann ^ In this fun and comprehensive history, John Goodman narrates a journey through the cult status and international influence of hot-rod designer Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, creator of the popular “Rat Fink” character. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Who the $#%& is Jackson Pollock? ^ Dir: Harry Moses ^ A documentary following the adventures of a 73 year-old truck driver, after she buys what some believe is a Jackson Pollock painting, for five dollars at a thrift shop. (WORLD PREMIERE)
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
Autumn’s Eyes ^ Dir: Paola Mendoza & Gabriel Noble ^ This is life through the eyes of a 3-year-old girl as she tries to navigate her way through a life of poverty, her teenage mother’s incarceration, and foster care. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Darkon ^ Dir: Andrew Neel & Luke Meyer ^ A serious look into the bizarre and fascinating world of Darkon, a full-contact medieval fantasy group, active in the Baltimore area since 1985. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Jam ^ Dir: Mark Woollen ^ The story of the American Roller Derby League, a group of over-the-hill roller derby skaters from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s who are determined to reclaim their former glory. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Maxed Out ^ Dir: James Scurlock ^ A disturbing and hilarious glimpse at what makes Americans addicted to credit card debt. (WORLD PREMIERE)
My Country, My Country ^ Dir: Laura Poitras ^ The agonizing predicament and gradual descent of one man caught in the middle of the tragic contradictions of US occupation in Iraq and its project to spread democracy in the Middle East. (NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE)
OilCrash ^ Dir: Basil Gepke & Ray McCormack ^ A stylish and sobering exploration of the dwindling oil resources of the world, and what the globe’s experts predict for the future. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Shadow Company ^ Dir: Nick Bicanic ^ A candid look at the world of private militaries around the world, as corporations increasingly hire modern-day mercenaries to fight wars. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Summercamp! ^ Dir: Bradley Beesley & Sarah Price ^ Within the subculture of the unusual Swift Nature Camp, the filmmakers capture raw emotions through rituals, homesickness, and counselor mutiny. (WORLD PREMIERE)
NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION
Americanese ^ Dir: Eric Byler; Cast: Chris Tashima, Allison Sie, Joan Chen, Kelly Hu, Ben Shenkman, Sab Shimono ^ After a break-up, two adults find themselves locked between racial identity, meddling friends, and mismatched ideals. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Bondage ^ Dir: Eric Allen; Cast: Michael Angarano, Illeana Douglas, Griffin Dunne, Eric Lange, Evan Ellingson, Mae Whitman ^ An Orange County youth escapes an abusive home only to find himself forced to survive a psychiatric ward. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Dance Party ^ USA Dir: Aaron Katz; Cast: Anna Kavan, Cole Pensinger, Ryan White, Sarah Bing ^ Two aimless teenagers connect with each other at a 4th of July party and go their separate ways when a dark secret is revealed. (WORLD PREMIERE)
The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael ^ Dir: Thomas Clay; Cast: Danny Dyer, Lesley Manville, Dan Spencer, Ryan Winsley, Charles Mnene ^ A group of English teenagers try to transcend the dull and bleak surroundings of a country at war, with some very disturbing activities. (NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE)
Inner Circle Line ^ Dir: Eunhee Cho; Cast: Eunyong Yongkun, Yumi Jung, Soyun Jang ^ A woman and a man, who share the same name, lie at the center of a circle of young adults in Seoul whose intertwined relationships cause them to revolve through cycles of love, loss, and rebirth. (NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE)
The Last Romantic ^ Dir: Aaron & Adam Nee; Cast: Aaron Nee, James Urbaniak, Shalom Harlow, Jane Bradbury ^ Fancying himself a poet, Calvin Wizzig moves to New York, with aspirations of making his mark on the world. Unfortunately, the world is not particularly keen on having marks made on it. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Live Free or Die ^ Dir: Andy Robin & Gregg Kavet; Cast: Aaron Stanford, Paul Schneider, Zooey Deschanel, Michael Rapaport, Judah Friedlander, Kevin Dunn ^ A would-be criminal finds himself in real trouble when he teams up with a dim-witted friend and attempts to prove his chops as a local outlaw. (WORLD PREMIERE)
LOL ^ Dir: Joe Swanberg; Cast: Kevin Bewersdorf, Joe Swanberg, C. Mason Wells, Tipper Newton, Brigid Reagan ^ Alex, Tim, and Chris all view the women in their lives through the dimensions of a computer screen or the lens of a camera-phone, but they must learn to balance their online fantasies and addictions with the demands of real life. (WORLD PREMIERE)
EMERGING VISIONS
Apart From That ^ Dir: Jennifer Shainin & Randy Walker; Cast: Kathleen McNearney, Kyle Conyers, Toan Le, Tony Cladoosby, Alice Ellingson, Michelle Sheiman ^ A Native American road striper, a student beautician, a Vietnamese banker, his adopted son and an elderly exhibitionist attempt to find their footing in a world of miscommunication and unmet expectations. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Bata-ville: We Are Not Afraid of the Future ^ Dir: Nina Pope & Karen Guthrie ^ A bittersweet record of a road trip (with many former employees) to the origins of the Bata shoe empire in the Czech Republic. (NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE)
Bickford Shmeckler’s Cool Ideas ^ Dir: Scott Lew; Cast: Patrick Fugit, Olivia Wilde ^ A college comedy about the misadventures of Bickford Shmeckler, a brilliant but troubled freshman whose prized journal full of “cool ideas” is stolen.
Champions ^ Dir: David Wike; Cast: Kevin Corrigan, Ebon Moss Bachrach, Clea DuVall, David Wike ^ A comedy about three men who leave town to spend a weekend in the countryside at the house of an eccentric uncle. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Cocaine Angel ^ Dir: Michael Tully; Cast: Damian Lahey, Kelly Forester, Brenda Benfield ^ A charming young man, rendered weary by years of substance abuse, reaches the end of the line one unforgettable week in the harsh, suffocating climate of Jacksonville, Florida. (NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE)
Cruel and Unusual ^ Dir: Janet Baus, Dan Hunt, and Reid Williams ^ An unflinching look at the lives of male-to-female transsexual women in men’s prisons in the United States. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Danny Roane: First Time Director ^ Dir: Andy Dick; Cast: Andy Dick, Sara Rue, Bob Odenkirk, Ben Stiller, Paul Henderson, James Van Der Beek, Anthony Rapp, Maura Tierney ^ A bittersweet, yet comical look at new filmmaker, Danny Roane (Andy DIck), as he struggles with alcoholism while making his first feature film. (WORLD PREMIERE)
High Score ^ Dir: Jeremy Mack ^ Although technology has left them behind, a group of die-hard gamers still struggles to set high scores on classic arcade games in this entertaining documentary. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Lifelike ^ Dir: Tally Abecassis ^ A documentary look at the fascinating and increasingly-mainstream world of stuffing and mounting dead animals. (U.S. PREMIERE)
The Lost ^ Dir: Chris Siverston; Cast: Marc Senter, Shay Astar, Alex Frost, Megan Henning, Robin Sydney. Based on the novel by Jack Ketchum, this is the dark tale of a loner who faces arrest and destruction when the events of a murder come back to haunt him. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Manhattan, Kansas ^ Dir: Tara Wray ^ A first-person documentary feature told from the POV of a daughter coping with her mentally unstable mother. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Puppy ^ Dir: Kieran Galvin; Cast: Nadia Townsend, Bernard Curry, Sally Bull ^ A love story about a resourceful young woman, a seriously delusional man, and two dead dogs. (NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE)
Things that Hang from Trees ^ Dir: Ido Mizrahy; Cast: Deborah Kara Unger, Daniel von Bargen, Ray McKinnon, Peter Gerety ^ An eight-year-old boy’s wish to see the fireworks from atop the city’s lighthouse is complicated by his odd neighbors, abusive peers, and hopeless parents. (WORLD PREMIERE)
24 BEATS PER SECOND
Air Guitar Nation ^ Dir: Alexandra Lipsitz ^ From New York to L.A. all the way to Northern Finland, this is a chronicle of the rise of the U.S. Air Guitar Championships through the eyes of former world champions, fans, and media. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Awesome: I Fuckin’ Shot That! ^ Dir: Nathaniel Hornblower; Featuring: The Beastie Boys ^ A live performance creatively captured by audience members during a Beastie Boys concert at Madison Square Garden.
Before the Music Dies ^ Dir: Andrew Shapter; Featuring: Erykah Badu, Dave Matthews, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton ^ Two music fans use insight from musicians and industry to investigate American music: it’s rich past, troubled present, and bright future. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Crazy Again ^ Dir: Zalman King; Featuring: Dale Watson, Hank Williams III ^ Texas Music Hall of Fame inductee Dale Watson reveals the story of going crazy with grief after the death of his girlfriend. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Danielson: A Family Movie ^ Dir: JL Aronson; Featuring: Danielson Famile, Sufjan Stevens ^ A songwriter leads his family to indie rock stardom, eventually facing the struggles of a solo career and a protégé who finds greater commercial success. (WORLD PREMIERE)
East of Havana ^ Dir: Jauretsi Saizabitoria & Emilia Menocal ^ An unflinching close-up on the lives and friendship of three young rappers compelled to address their generation’s future from the confines of a Cuban ghetto. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Herbie Hancock: Possibilities ^ Dir: Alex Gibney; Featuring: Herbie Hancock, Sting, Annie Lennox, Carlos Santana ^ This is a look at jazz legend Herbie Hancock, as he collaborates with an all-star roster to record a new project, while reflecting on his history and influence. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Los Lonely Boys: Cottonfields and Crossroads ^ Dir: Hector Galan ^ Three Mexican-American brothers from West Texas rock their way out of poverty, determined to fulfill their father’s dream. (WORLD PREMIERE)
LoudQUIETloud A Film about the Pixies ^ Dir: Steve Cantor & Matt Galkin ^ This documentary chronicles the highly-anticipated and rather unlikely 2005 reunion tour of one of indie rock’s most beloved bands. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Metal: A Headbandger’s Journey ^ Dir: Sam Dunn, Scot McFadyen, Jessica Joy Wise; Featuring: Tony Iommi, Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, Dee Snider, Vince Neil, Lemmy, Lamb of God, Slipknot ^ A window for the outsider into a culture that has been consistently stereotyped and widely dismissed, yet passionately loved by millions. (U.S. PREMIERE)
The Passing Show ^ Dir: Rupert Williams & James Mackie; Featuring: Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton, Ian McLagan ^ A comprehensive look at Small Faces member Ronnie Lane as an entertainer, songwriter, and legend. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Pick Up The Mic ^ Dir: Alex Hinton; Featuring: Juba Kalamka, Dutchboy, Johnny Dangerous ^ A startling and fast-paced documentary on the world of gay, lesbian, and trans-gendered rappers.
Punk Like Me ^ Dir: Zach Merck ^ When a man cons his way onto the Warped Tour, as a 37 year-old amateur punk rock singer, he finally gets to fulfill his rock star fantasies. (WORLD PREMIERE)
The Refugee All-Stars ^ Dir: Zach Niles & Banker White; Featuring: Rueben M. Koroma, Efuh Grace Ampomah, Francis John Langba ^ The story of a group of six musicians from Sierra Leone who come together to form a band while living as refugees in the West African nation of Guinea.
Suffering & Smiling ^ Dir: Dan Ollman; Featuring: Femi Kuti ^ A provocative document of legendary African musicians Fela and Femi Kuti, and their impact on the Nigerian Government. (WORLD PREMIERE)
LONE STAR STATES
2 A.M. ^ Dir: Korey Coleman; Cast: Travis Ammons, Korey Coleman, Jeremy Denzlinger, Billy Brooks, Robert Henry ^ For five friends who are still awake when the bars close, the night is not over: some need to keep the party going, others need to fix whatever trouble they’ve started. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Jumping Off Bridges ^ Dir: Kat Candler; Cast: Bryan Chafin, Glen Powell Jr., Savannah Welch, Katie Lemon, Michael Emerson ^ Carefree and adventurous, four teen-age friends escape their everyday lives, until a tragic event divides their friendships and brings childhood secrets to light. (WORLD PREMIERE)
La Tragedia de Macario ^ Dir: Pablo Veliz; Cast: Rogelio Ramos, Milicent Figueroa, Tina Rodriguez ^ A peasant in Mexico struggles with thoughts of crossing the border into an unknown world.
Letters From the Other Side ^ Dir: Heather Courtney ^ Video letters carried across the US/Mexico border by the film ‘s director with the personal stories of women left behind in post-NAFTA Mexico.
Motorcycle ^ Dir: Paul Gordon; Cast: Chris Pratt, Paula Resler, Brandi Perkins ^ Three people – a young man in search of a girlfriend, a young female bicycle messenger in search of enlightenment, and a teenage girl weary of small town life – find themselves riding the same motorcycle.
The Other Side ^ Dir: Bill Brown. A two thousand-mile roadtrip along the US-Mexico border, happening in an age of homeland insecurity. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Slam Planet: War of the Words ^ Dir: Mike Henry & Kyle Fuller ^ Film crews follow various slam poetry teams, as they become bound and determined to win the national competition. (WORLD PREMIERE)
State vs. Reed ^ Dir: Ryan Polomski, Frank Bustoz ^ A captivating look at one man s battle with the legal system. (WORLD PREMIERE)
TV Junkie ^ Dir: Michael Cain & Matt Radecki ^ A Texas-based “extreme sports” reporter records 3,000 hours of his dizzying and conflicted life, split between a happy family and troubling secret.
‘ROUND MIDNIGHT
American Hardcore ^ Dir: Paul Rachman ^ This documentary is a comprehensive and chaotic visual history of the underground scene of the American hardcore punk movement.
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon Dir: Scott Glosserman ^ Leslie Vernon, the great psycho-slasher upstart, has given a documentary crew exclusive access to his life as he plans his reign of terror over the next unfortunate little town. (WORLD PREMIERE)
District 13 ^ Dir: Pierre Morel; Cast: Cyril Raffaelli, David Belle, Tony D Amario, Bibi Naceri ^ District 13 is a violent Paris slum that is so out-of-control that the authorities have constructed a giant wall around it, allowing the occupants to fight it out for themselves inside.
F**k ^ Dir: Steve Anderson; Featuring: Alanis Morissette, Drew Carey, Sam Donaldson, Alan Keyes, Chuck D, Pat Boone, Bill Maher ^ A documentary look at the infamous “F word,” from both the liberal and conservative perspective.
Population 436 ^ Dir: Michelle McLaren; Cast: Jeremy Sisto, Fred Durst, Charlotte Sullivan, Peter Outerbridge ^ Census worker Steve Kady is sent to Rockwell Falls to uncover the error that has caused the town’s population to be recorded as 436 for over 100 years. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Slither ^ Dir: James Gunn; Cast: Elizabeth Banks, Nathan Fillion, Michael Rooker ^ A small town is taken over by an alien plague, turning residents into zombies and all forms of mutant monsters.
This Film Is Not Yet Rated ^ Dir: Kirby Dick ^ This documentary is a provocative investigation of the people, places, and decisions that constitute the movie ratings board.
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
51 Birch Street ^ Dir: Doug Block ^ Do we ever really know our parents? And if we were suddenly given the chance to know all about them, would we take it?
A/K/A TOMMY CHONG ^ Dir: Josh Gilbert; Featuring: Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin, Shelby Chong, Bill Maher, Jay Leno ^ The tragic and absurd journey of legendary counter-culture comedian Tommy Chong who was indicted in a drug paraphernalia sting.
American Gun ^ Dir: Aric Avellano; Cast: Donald Sutherland, Forest Whitaker, Marcia Gay Harden, Linda Cardellini ^ A powerful series of interwoven storylines that brings to light how the proliferation of guns in America dramatically affects the lives of every day citizens.
Beethoven’s Hair ^ Dir: Larry Weinstein ^ The unlikely journey of a lock of hair cut from Beethoven’s corpse and unravels the mystery of his tortured life and death.
Conversations with Other Women ^ Dir: Hans Canosa; Cast: Helena Bonham Carter, Aaron Eckhart, Nora Zehetner ^ The compelling story of a couple whose reunion at a wedding reception ignites a mysterious attraction for each other that is deeper and more emotionally perilous than they are willing to admit.
Disappearances ^ Dir: Jay Craven; Cast: Kris Kristofferson, Genevieve Bujold ^ A schemer and dreamer resorts to whiskey-smuggling in an attempt to save his endangered herd through the rapidly approaching winter. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Don’t Come Knocking ^ Dir: Wim Wenders; Cast: Sam Shepard, Jessica Lange, Tim Roth, Gabriel Mann, Sarah Polley ^ At the age of 60, former movie star Howard uses drugs, alcohol and young girls to avoid the painful truth that there are only supporting roles left for him to play.
Forgiving the Franklins ^ Dir: Jay Floyd; Cast: Teresa Willis, Robertson Dean, Aviva, Vince Pavia ^ A God fearing Southern family is spiritually altered by an auto accident, having their deeply rooted shame divinely removed.
Friends with Money ^ Dir: Nicole Holofcener; Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Catherine Keener, Jason Isaacs, Timm Sharp, Joan Cusack ^ A comedy/drama about how money, and the lack of it, affects and distorts relationships among a small group of Los Angeles friends.
Gabrielle ^ Dir: Patrice Chereau; Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Pascal Greggory, Claudia Coli ^ Based on a Joseph Conrad story, this is tale of a marital breakdown that overwhelms a middle aged bourgeois couple.
Hard Candy ^ Dir: David Slade; Cast: Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page, Sandra Oh ^ An online predator is taken captive by a resourceful young girl in this kinetic thriller.
The Heart of the Game ^ Dir: Ward Serrill ^ A documentary capturing the passion of a Seattle high school girls’ basketball team.
The Hidden Blade ^ Dir: Yoji Yamada; Cast: Masatoshi Nagase, Takako Matsu, Yukitoshi Ozawa ^ An honest, low-ranking samurai finds himself locked in the confusion of old and new in 19th-century Japan.
In My Father’s Den ^ Dir: Brad McGann; Cast: Matthew MacFadyen, Miranda Otto, Colin Moy. A disillusioned war journalist is implicated in the mysterious disappearance of a teenage girl.
Infamy ^ Dir: Doug Pray ^ Without seeking to glorify it or chronicle its history, a documentary filmmaker turns to visual street culture, traveling into the lives and minds of seven people obsessed with graffiti.
Johanna ^ Dir: Kornel Mundruczo; Cast: Orsi Toth, Zsolt Trill ^ A young girl is rushed to the hospital after a bus crash. She suffers total amnesia, and is healed of her drug dependency. In place of her old life and habits, she feels only the presence of God, to whom she now belongs entirely.
Kinky Boots ^ Dir: Julian Jarrold; Cast: Joel Edgerton, Chiwetel Ejiofor ^ A shoe factory in working-class England reluctantly finds its niche in shoewear for cross-dressing performers.
L ‘Enfant ^ Dir: Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne; Cast: Jeremie Renier, Deborah Francois, Fabrizio Rongione ^ Bruno and Sonia, a young couple living off her benefit and the thefts committed by his gang, have a new source of money: their newborn son.
The Last Western ^ Dir: Chris Deaux ^ A documentary on the bygone era of the B-western and the colorful citizens of Pioneertown, a dusty outpost on the edge of the Mojave Desert in the shadow of Los Angeles. (WORLD PREMIERE)
Lower City ^ Dir: Sergio Machado; Cast: Alice Braga, Lazaro Ramos, Wagner Moura ^ Two men and one woman are propelled into a world of crime, sex, and love while mastering the complexities of modern-day Brazil.
Music is My Life, Politics My Mistress ^ Dir: donnie betts ^ A documentary look at the life of musician, playwright, and civil rights activist Oscar Brown, Jr.
Neil Young: Heart of Gold ^ Dir: Jonathan Demme ^ Demme chronicles a historic concert performed by legendary singer-songwriter Neil Young.
Old Joy ^ Dir: Kelly Reichardt; Cast: Will Oldham, Daniel London ^ This film is a minimalist story of friendship, loss, and alienation in the Bush era.
Sisters in Law ^ Dir: Kim Longinotto & Florence Ayisi ^ This documentary examines the little town of Kumba, Cameroon, and the fgact that here have been no convictions in spousal abuse cases for 17 years. Thanks to a tough-minded state prosecutor and court president, things may be starting to change.
Small Town Gay Bar ^ Dir: Malcolm Ingram ^ In the face of cruelty, ridicule, and even violence, American homosexuals manage to find sanctuary in the only place they are offered within hundreds of miles: gay bars. This documentary tells their story.
Thank You For Smoking ^ Dir: Jason Reitman; Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Cameron Bright, Adam Brody, Sam Elliot, Katie Holmes ^ Nick Naylor, chief spokesman for Big Tobacco, makes his living defending the rights of smokers and cigarette makers in today ‘s neo-puritanical culture.
The Treasures of Long Gone ^ John Dir: Gregg Gibbs ^ A chronicle of the eccentric art and musical obsessions of a self-described anti-mogul of the music industry, indie record producer Long Gone John.
V For Vendetta ^ Dir: James McTeigue; Cast: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea ^ In the futuristic landscape of totalitarian Britain, a man cloaked in mystery ignites a revolution and finds an unlikely ally in a seemingly mild mannered young woman.
Wah-Wah ^ Dir: Richard E. Grant; Cast: Gabriel Byrne, Miranda Richardson, Emily Watson ^ A young boy comes of age in 1960s Swaziland, centered around his parents’ divorce and a new stepmother.
Wide Awake ^ Dir: Alan Berliner ^ Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Berlin examines his years-long bout with insomnia.
For more info, visit the SXSW website.
