Independent Film News

SXSW Festival Screens Names and Newcomers

Celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year, the South By Southwest Film Festival kicks off on Friday with a full schedule of world premieres, filmmaker panels and the best parties south of Dallas. This isn't my year to attend (the other Indie blogger got that gig), so instead I've downloaded the more than 80 trailers available from the site. They'll suffice, I suppose; that is, until the movies find their way to my local cineplex. Because this year, alongside the smaller films finally getting their moment in the spotlight are several you might have already heard of.

Already making appearances in the previews of current releases are the comedy Thank You for Smoking, Fox Searchlight's spoof of the cigarette industry, and American Dreamz, a movie version of the inexplicably addictive American Idol. Friends with Money, which created quite a buzz at Sundance in January, stars Jennifer Aniston, Catherine Keener, Francis McDormand and Joan Cusack as friends who find themselves drifting apart. And PictureHouse's The Notorious Bettie Page should make a bona fide star out of indie favorite Gretchen Mol. I must admit, though, that I'm most looking forward to the eventual wide release of A Prairie Home Companion, if only because we'll get to see if the much-hyped Lindsay Lohan can actually bring it or not.

Running with these better-knowns is a slew of documentaries and shorts, as well as plenty of independent features that look promising, including Heavens Fall (starring recent Oscar nominee David Strathairn), Lionsgate's Hard Candy, about an internet hook-up gone awry, and The Oh in Ohio, featuring names like Danny DeVito and Liza Minelli.

Though it's not the first film festival of the year (Robert Redford had to nab that distinction), SXSW is just as anticipated and just as noteworthy, if only because it'll be so much warmer than Park City in January. If you're in Austin next week, find a night (or more!) to spend at the movies. Chances are you'll get a first glimpse of the movies people will be talking about for the rest of the year.

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Posted by Lisa on March 7, 2006 10:13 PM
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