South by Southwest Conference and Festivals (SXSW) is gearing back up to screen movies in person again for the first time since 2019 after becoming one of the first victims of the pandemic of 2020. With the last two years canceled, SXSW moved its experience online for filmgoers and press to enjoy many of the newest movies safely at home. The party is finally coming back to Austin, Texas in March as the plans as to move forward with the in-person film festival and conferences this year, and they don't foresee any changes with those plans at this time.
The 2022 Film Festival program includes 99 features including 76 World Premieres, 4 International Premieres, 4 North American Premieres, 2 U.S. Premieres, 13 Texas Premieres + 111 Short Films including 24 Music Videos, 11 Episodic Premieres, 6 Episodic Pilots, 29 XR Experience projects (formerly Virtual Cinema), and 19 Title Design Competition entries.
“The last two years have been complicated, and full of uncharted new waters for all of us. While there’s been innovation in building community in isolation and figuring out how to pivot, we’ve intensely missed being able to gather together,” said Janet Pierson, VP, Director of Film, in a press release. “For our 29th edition of SXSW Film Festival, we are thrilled to share a bounty of creative work to experience together, in-person, with some virtual possibilities, as well. There are fantastic new projects to enjoy from a variety of voices, with, as always, surprising new discoveries.”
The full film slate has been revealed, unveiling the headliners. One big title that immediately stands out is The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, which features Nicolas Cage playing a heightened version of himself in an over-the-top action-comedy movie. The film stars Nicolas Cage as himself, caught between a dangerous superfan (Pedro Pascal) and a CIA operative (Tiffany Haddish) and having to reflect upon the legacy of his career to save himself and his loved ones. Tom Gormican directed the feature and co-wrote with Kevin Etten.
The Channing Tatum and Sandra Bullock vehicle The Lost City is also heading to Austin. The action adventure comedy film comes from Adam and Aaron Nee and also stars Daniel Radcliffe, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Oscar Nunez, Patti Harrison, and Bowen Yang.
Richard Linklater's Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood is described as a coming-of-age story set in the suburbs of Houston, Texas in the summer of 1969, centered around the historic Apollo 11 moon landing. It stars Jack Black, Zachary Levi, Glen Powell, Josh Wiggins, Milo Coy, Lee Eddy, Bill Wise, Natalie L'Amoreaux, Jessica Brynn Cohen, Sam Chipman, and Danielle Guilbot.
Director Halina Reijn's Bodies Bodies Bodies is also sure to turn some heads with its world premiere at SXSW. It features a cast including Amandla Stenberg, Maria Baklova, Pete Davidson, and Chase Sui Wonders. The synopsis reads: "When a group of rich 20-somethings plan a hurricane party at a remote family mansion, a party game turns deadly in this fresh and funny look at backstabbing, fake friends, and one party gone very, very wrong."
Also up to headline is Everything Everywhere All At Once from Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. The film is a hilarious and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about an exhausted Chinese American woman (Michelle Yeoh) who can't seem to finish her taxes. Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., James Hong, and Jamie Lee Curtis also star.
SXSW Will Premiere the Third Season of Atlanta
Season 3 also feature the world premiere of season 3 of the FX series Atlanta. This is significant as it's been nearly four years since season 2 premiered. Season 3 will premiere on television on March 24, but fans of the series can first catch the world premiere at SXSW. The show stars Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, LaKeith Stanfield, and Zazie Beetz.
The Atlanta season 3 synopsis reads: "Taking place almost entirely in Europe, Season 3 of FX’s Atlanta finds Earn, Alfred ‘Paper Boi,’ Darius and Van in the midst of a successful European tour, as the group navigates their new surroundings as outsiders, and struggle to adjust to the newfound success they had aspired to."
The South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festivals take place on March 11-20, 2022. You can see the full lineup and find out more information at SXSW.com.