Upwards of 75,000 people—including leading voices in the film, tech, and music industries—will descend on Austin, Texas, for South by Southwest (SXSW), a triptych of music, film, and interactive festivals/conferences. Yes, what began as a DIY music festival with some 150 attendees has swelled into a monster event boasting 2,200 musical acts, hundreds of movies and speakers, and television premieres to boot. Last year, the films Furious 7, Trainwreck, Spy, and Ex Machina all debuted at SXSW, as did musical acts Future, Rae Sremmurd, and Stromae. This year’s edition has many movie (and TV) premieres, rising (and scorching hot) musical acts, and… the POTUS and FLOTUS. So without further ado, here are SXSW ‘16’s must-see events.
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Given the recent imbroglio between the FBI and Apple over unlocking a San Bernardino terrorist’s iPhone, the Obama administration’s general lack of transparency and its treatment of journalists, and the NSA’s mass surveillance of Americans, it will be interesting to see how President Obama’s participation in a keynote conversation goes down at SXSW on Friday, March 11. What is certain is this is a major coup for the festival. And he’ll be joined by his better half, first lady Michelle Obama, who will be the keynote speaker opening the SXSW Music Festival on March 16.
“It’s a first weekend of college movie,” filmmaker Richard Linklater told The Daily Beast of this spiritual sequel to his cult classic Dazed and Confused. “But it’s as if Mitch [Kramer], four years later, went off to college and he’s still a baseball pitcher. It’s a different character, but it’s the same thing.” Linklater’s flick is the opening night movie of SXSW’s film portion, bowing on March 11. Sadly no Matthew McConaughey here, but expect plenty of pot-smokin’ and beer-chuggin’.
via SXSW
Samsung always seems to host one of the splashier concerts of SXSW. In recent years, it’s had the inimitable Prince and the combo of Jay Z and Kanye West performing Watch the Throne. This year, it’s debuting the first Galaxy Life Fest—a three-day festival for Galaxy owners and badgeholders running from March 11-13 that includes headliners The Strokes, ColleGrove—a supergroup consisting of Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz—and the booming voice of Sia.
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A late addition to the festival is a ‘work-in-progress’ screening of Keanu. No, it’s not a film about the Tao of Keanu Reeves, it’s an action-comedy starring the comedy duo of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele (of Key & Peele fame) about two friends who go on a hunt for a beloved missing cat only to run into fearsome gang members and other assorted chaos. The film hits theaters on April 29.
The most star-studded concert last year was undoubtedly the Mike Will Made It + Friends showcase at the Fader Fort. Presented by Converse, the three-day festival always boasts an excellent mix of up-and-comers and established stars, and this year’s edition, running March 16-19, boasts Rae Sremmurd, Yo Gotti, Desiigner (who made a splash on Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo), and the hottest hip-hop producer alive, Metro Boomin [pictured]. Expect plenty of famous friends—*cough* Future—at Metro Boomin’s show.
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The brains behind Lost, Felicity, Alias, the Star Trek reboot, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be in conversation with famed documentarian Andrew Jarecki (The Jinx) to discuss “the relevance of the human factor in digital communications.” In an increasingly CG landscape, the two longtime friends will touch on the importance of personal stories and will also show “unseen clips and introduce KnowMe, a new mobile video platform for authentic self-expression.”
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This HBO documentary was shot over 18 months with intimate access to the families of two 12-year-old girls who lured their best friend into the woods and stabbed her 19 times—all, they say, to appease a faceless online meme known as ‘Slenderman.’ Directed by Irene Taylor Brodsky, the film will explore the curious case, whose trial is set to start in April. Each girl is being tried in adult court and faces up to 65 years in prison for the crime.
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Directed by Keith Maitland and produced by Luke Wilson and Meredith Vieira, this documentary uses rotoscoping to depict the events of August 1, 1966, when Charles Whitman traveled to the top floor of the University Texas Tower and opened fire on students and civilians, killing 14 people and wounding 32 others. The horrifying event, America’s first mass school shooting, served as a precursor to America’s current mass-shooting epidemic, and Maitland’s film reveals the stories of the witnesses, heroes, and survivors of the tragedy.
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Samsung isn’t the only tech company getting in on the SXSW fun—YouTube will also be hosting a three-day music festival from March 16-18 at the Coppertank in Downtown Austin. The fest is headlined by rap superstar Future, Blood Orange, and Jamie XX, and also features performances by Santigold, Chairlift, Troye Sivan, and many more.
Ever since 2002, Paul Reubens has been working on a new movie featuring his iconic Pee-Wee Herman character, and in June 2010, the news hit that he’d begun working with comedy tastemaker Judd Apatow on a Pee-Wee feature set up at Universal. It’ll now be released on Netflix and is making its premiere at SXSW. The film stars Reubens as Pee-Wee, centers on a wild and crazy holiday, and also features Joe Manganiello, Alia Shawkat, Stephanie Beatriz, and David Arquette.
via SXSW
One of the busiest men at this year’s SXSW is Seth Rogen. The comedy writer, producer, director, and actor is unveiling his new AMC series Preacher, a graphic novel adaptation about a small-town Texas preacher (Dominic Cooper) who gains superpowers and goes on a mission to find God. Rogen—along with his creative partner Evan Goldberg—will also be premiering his raunchy, R-rated 3D animated feature Sausage Party, which tells the story of a sausage who embarks on a philosophical journey. It features the voices of Rogen, Jonah Hill, James Franco, Kristen Wiig, Edward Norton, Paul Rudd, and many, many more.
This talented 19-year-old British singer-songwriter has drawn comparisons to Lorde and London Grammer’s Hannah Reid with her bracing combo of moody, lo-fi production and mature-beyond-her-years croon. She recently released her debut album on March 4, and hopes to make a big splashdown in Austin with several shows.
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Directed by Ilya Naishuller and produced by Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted), this kinetic sci-fi/action flick is shot entirely in first-person through the eyes of the titular Henry, a man who’s been resurrected Robocop-style as an android super-soldier with amnesia who must rescue his stunning wife, Estelle (Haley Bennett). The violent, chaotic film also stars Sharlto Copley and Tim Roth. It will hit theaters April 8.
Now in its third year, SXsports is the sports-centric part of SXSW, focusing on the convergence of sports, tech, and film. This year, the program will boast 13 film screenings—numerous sports documentaries—as well as talks with UFC star Ronda Rousey [pictured], NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., and many more.
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