We are excited to kick off SXSW 2023, and below, we’ve included some of our most anticipated films. There’s no order to the releases below, but we think they’ll be some of the biggest films coming out of the festival. You may ask, where are the documentaries? The international features? What about horror!?!? Well, we’ve got you covered there as well. In the meantime, let’s kick off with our most anticipated narrative features.
Problemista – Directed by Julio Torres
Tilda Swinton rarely misses. It’s no surprise she’d join up with the up-and-coming Julia Torres. The SNL writer and Los Espookys writer/star has a very bright future. With a somewhat funny but earnest plot (a toymaker wants to remain in America), Problemista should make some waves later this year.
Flamin’ Hot – Directed by Eva Longoria
A dramedy about making Cheetos sounds a bit ridiculous. So have a handful of entrepreneur-focused stories in the last decade. Yet in an era with disinformation, corporate espionage, and frankly, some real dirtbag moves by big companies, stories like Flamin’ Hot resonate. With Longoria in the director’s chair, we’re hoping for a really fun time.
Only the Good Survive – Directed by Dutch Southern
Sydney Flanigan‘s follow-up to Never Rarely Sometimes Always was always going to grab our attention. Yet even more alluring is a pairing with D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, an emerging star from Reservation Dogs. As if that wasn’t enough, a heist gone wrong story is so up our alley it’s kind of embarrassing.
I Used to Be Funny – Directed by Ally Pankiw
Rachel Sennott has turned into the most interesting actress to watch in less than 24 months. After her breakthrough in Shiva Baby, she followed that up with the standout performance of Bodies Bodies Bodies. We bought season tickets because she’s clearly got good taste. Speaking of which…
Bottoms – Directed by Emma Seligman
That’s right, it’s a Rachel Sennott double-feature! Reuniting with Emma Seligman, director of Shiva Baby was great news. Building a partnership with Ayo Edebiri is even more exciting. Edebiri continues her own hot streak. Starring in The Bear, Big Mouth, and fellow SXSW film Theater Camp, shows range. Now throw in the kicker – Bottoms is about a cheerleader fight club so the girls can get laid. Not going to lie, Superbad meets Fight Club is something the industry just needs right now.
Story Ave – Directed by Aristotle Torres
Asante Blackk might be one of the most promising young actors in Hollywood today. Actually, Story Ave also loops in Melvin Gregg and Alex R. Hibbert to round out its teen cast. So, Blackk has some internal competition. Yet Blackk appears to spend much of his screentime with the legendary Luis Guzman. Not for nothing, but Oscar buzz was weak out of Sundance for most films. Could Story Ave have a sneaky great career performance from an industry favorite?
Joy Ride – Directed By Adele Lim
Speaking of Oscar nominations, Stephanie Hsu gets back on her grind. After her Oscar nomination for Everything Everywhere All At Once, she returns to a more ensemble part. The directorial debut of Adele Lim, and also starring Ashley Park, Joy Ride could be the road trip film of the year. Sabrina Wu and Sherry Cola also co-star.
Molli and Max in the Future – Directed by Michael Lukk Litwak
This is the actual IMDB synopsis: “A sci-fi romantic comedy about a man and woman whose orbits repeatedly collide over the course of 12 years, 4 planets, 3 dimensions, and one space-cult.” We’re cooked. Also, Zosie Mamet and Aristotle Athari are both awesome (and underappreciated).
Tetris
Honestly, Tetris looks like a fun time, and that alone landed it on the list. Obviously, Taron Egerton has moved into the leading man phase of his career. Unless it’s bad, you can pretty much guarantee a Golden Globe nomination is on the way for the wacky story that leans heavily into comedy. On top of that, SXSW 2023 features some fun tech stories. Yet Tetris is the kind of video-game behind-the-scenes movie that is surely going to rise to prominence in the years ahead.
Blackberry – Directed by Matt Johnson
Another tech-based tale of intrigue, Blackberry seems even more exciting on paper than Tetris. The famed phone brand once dominated the marketplace. Even as a teenager going to college, I had a Blackberry. Suddenly, they were gone. Any rise and fall like that are poised to make for an interesting story. Add in the Canadian origins of Blackberry and its founders, a stellar cast including Jay Barachel, Glenn Howerton, Carey Elwes, and Johnson, and strong word out of Berlin, and you’ve got my attention.
War Pony – Directed by Gina Gammell & Riley Keough
After playing at Cannes in 2022, War Pony caught our eye. It’s surprising it took so long to release stateside, but SXSW is a great place for it to land. While Keough takes a break from the publicity tour for Daisy and the Six, Gammell should see her Q score bump up. After all, she’s also one of the co-writers. We need more indigenous representation at SXSW, and combining War Pony and Fancy Dance makes for a good start.
