SXSW Film

SXSW Interview: Hao Wu on his award-winning documentary People’s Republic of Desire

After winning the Documentary Feature category at the South by Southwest Film Awards earlier this week, People’s Republic of Desire from filmmaker Hao Wu is poised to become one of the most important watches of 2018. For his third documentary on different layers of Chinese culture, Wu takes a very close and unnerving look at…

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SXSW Film Review: The Light of the Moon (USA, 2017) is more than a victim’s story, but a tale of human complexity

Bonnie is young and worldly, holds a job as an architect and lives in NYC. She has good friends, a pretty good social life and is in a stable relationship with a man who is equally as upwardly mobile, enjoying the same perks as anyone with a career in a city able to hold the…

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James Franco’s The Disaster Artist set to premiere at SXSW; 20 other features added to program

Another 21 features have been added to the SXSW Film Festival program for 2017, with James Franco’s The Disaster Artist topping the list, with the Austin event set to hold the anticipated film’s world premiere. The film is about the making of the cult classic The Room – often referred to as the Citizen Kane…

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A look at the Australian & New Zealand films set to premiere at SXSW Film Festival 2017

The SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas has fast become one of the world’s most anticipated and influential events, with film projects big and small making their debut here. Among them in 2017 – at least from the program announced yesterday, will be three Australian films, one from New Zealand, and an American film about…

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SXSW Film Festival reveals mammoth 2017 Feature Program

The 24th annual SXSW Film Festival will be hitting Austin, Texas on March 10th, and today they’ve announced the majority of the 125 feature films set to screen during the 9 day event. The full lineup will include 51 films from first-time filmmakers, 85 World Premieres, 11 North American Premieres and 5 U.S. Premieres. These…

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SXSW announces full film speaker lineup

The South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival has announced its Conference Keynotes, Featured Conversations and Full Conference Lineup. The SXSW Film Conference is set to cover a breadth of topics, from content creation to new distribution models to what’s next in the film industry. The 2016 SXSW Film keynote speakers are Nelson George, Gale Anne Hurd and Joe Swanberg….

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Creators of Unfriended invites artists to participate in the Open Source Screenshare Workshop at SXSW

Filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov and his production company Bazelevs, known for hit thriller Unfriended, a film that introduced “screenshare” storytelling, a verité storytelling set entirely on screens of digital devices, is inviting new artists to participate in a Open Source Screenshare Workshop at SXSW Film Festival. Bazelevs are looking for submissions from filmmakers around the world…

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SXSW Film Review: Honeytrap (UK, 2015)

Gang culture and it’s devastating effects are never far away from the front pages of London’s newspapers. 2008 was one of the worst years for gang-related violence. The murder of Shakilus Townsend was arguably the most shocking. Honeytrap, which is based around this murder, follows Layla (Jessica Sula), the girl who would ultimately lead this young man to…

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SXSW Film Interview: Samantha Futerman, Ryan Miyamoto, and Anais Bordier on Twinsters

“Family is what you make of it”. This sentiment, by Twinsters co-director Ryan Miyamoto, is somewhat of a mantra for reunited twins Anias Bordier and Samantha Futerman. The two women were both born in South Korea and adopted to two different families on two different continents. They found each other over social media, and have…

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SXSW Film Interview: Rebecca Johnson, Writer and Director of Honeytrap (UK, 2015) talks about cast and experiences on set!

Having worked on housing estates in London for over a decade, Rebecca Johnson is no stranger to the world portrayed in her feature film, Honeytrap. Starring Skins actress Jessica Sula as Layla, a young girl who has recently arrived in London from Trinidad, Honeytrap examines one young woman’s determination to maintain her new-found power in…

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SXSW Film Interview: Aubrey Plaza and Hal Hartley discuss Ned Rifle

After just finishing up after seven seasons on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, Aubrey Plaza certainly hasn’t slowed down. Not only does she star in another SXSW film, Fresno, she also stars as Susan in writer/director Hal Hartley‘s film Ned Rifle. The AU Review spoke to the film’s star and writer/director about religion, Kickstarter, and all…

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SXSW Documentary Review: For The Record (USA, 2014)

“No one ever knows what we do.” Ever wonder where those captions on your TV come from? Do you know what a court reporter is? Both utilise the invisible art of stenography – “the act or process of writing in shorthand by hand or machine” – a tradition that dates back to the time of Cicero, who developed…

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SXSW Film Review: Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck (USA, 2015)

Full disclosure: Kurt Cobain has long been one of my music idols, and as a result, anything which grants any insight into his life is only going to receive the utmost of praise from me. I expected that Brett Morgen’s long in the works Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck would be no exception to this rule, but I…

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SXSW Film Festival Announces 2015 Audience Award Winners

The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival announced the Audience Award winners from the Narrative Feature Competition, Documentary Feature Competition, Headliners, Narrative Spotlight, Documentary Spotlight, Visions, Midnighters, Episodic, 24 Beats Per Second, SXGlobal, Festival Favourites and Design Award categories. Among the winners was Australia’s own Josh Lawson for his film The Little Death….

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Exclusive SXSW Interview: Rob Zabrecky talks about working on Ryan Gosling’s “Lost River” and more

Whilst at the SXSW premiere of Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut Lost River, Larry Heath caught up with actor Rob Zabrecky who talks about working on the film, how he got involved, and more. Having been friends with Gosling for five years, Zabrecky talks about how it made sense for them to work together, “it’s always…

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Exclusive SXSW Interview: Executive Producer Gary Michael Walters talks ‘Lost River’, Ryan Gosling, and more

While walking the red carpet at SXSW, Lost River Executive Producer Gary Michael Walters talks exclusively to The Iris about his love of Australia, Ryan Gosling as a ‘singular visionary’, and more. Having worked with Ryan Gosling twice before, Walters wanted to support his new venture and fully financed the film. As a studio head, Walters says,…

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Exclusive SXSW Interview: Director Etan Cohen and Actor-Comedian Kevin Hart discuss new comedy ‘Get Hard’

With Get Hard currently being released in cinemas, Larry Heath caught up with Director Etan Cohen about the dynamic between writing and directing. He also catches up with actor-comedian Kevin Hart, who discusses his friendship with co-star Will Ferrell. Get Hard is scheduled for release in Australia on March 26, 2015. You can also check out our exclusive…

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Exclusive SXSW Interview: Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury on composing for new film ‘Ex Machina’ – Part Two

Earlier we brought you Part One of our interview with Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury from SXSW. In Part Two, the composers for sci-fi thriller ‘Ex Machina’ discuss how they matched music with film in detail, future projects, and lots more. Check out the full interview below. Ex Machina is out now in cinemas. ———-…

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Exclusive SXSW Interview: Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury on composing for new film ‘Ex Machina’ – Part One

Larry Heath caught up with Geoff Barrow (of Portishead) and Ben Salisbury to talk about the music they have composed for Alex Garland’s sci-fi thriller ‘Ex Machina’. Both musicians discuss in depth about how this project originated. their creative process, and more. Ex Machina is out now in cinemas. ———- This content has recently been…

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Exclusive SXSW Interview: ‘Spy’ director Paul Feig on the film’s tone, Melissa McCarthy, and the best James Bond

Paul Feig, famed director and the man behind new action-comedy Spy catches up with The Iris’ Larry Heath at the film’s SXSW premiere to talk about tone, Melissa McCarthy, and his favourite James Bond. On what he wants people to take away from the film, Paul says: “I just want people to have a really good…

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Exclusive SXSW Interview: Jason Statham on comedy and new film ‘Spy’

While at SXSW for the debut of ‘Spy’, The Iris’ Larry Heath spoke to veteran action star Jason Statham about the style of the film, his role, and more. On working with Melissa McCarthy, Statham says: “She’s just an exceptional talent at whatever she puts her hand to” and as for comedy: “I tried not…

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Exclusive SXSW Interview: Rose Byrne on working with Jason Statham, 50 Cent, and Jude Law in ‘Spy’

“It was a real eclectic mix from people all over the world,” treasured actress Rose Byrne says of the upcoming movie Spy. Larry Heath was on hand at the SXSW premiere and caught up with Rose, who talks about working with the likes of Jason Statham, Curtis Jackson AKA 50 Cent, Jude Law, and more……

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Exclusive SXSW interview: Will Ferrell on “Get Hard” and Prepping for Prison

The Iris’ Larry Heath caught up with Will Ferrell, star of the new film Get Hard, at the film’s premiere at SXSW in Austin, Texas. It was the actor’s first time at SXSW, “it’s wild to see it unfold,” he said. He spoke about the film, whether he’d be ready for jail after being a part…

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Exclusive SXSW Interview: Saoirse Ronan talks about working with director Ryan Gosling on Lost River

The Iris’ Larry Heath caught up with Irish actress Saoirse Ronan on the SXSW Red Carpet at the North American premiere of her new film Lost River, directed by Ryan Gosling. Saoirse discusses how she became involved with the film, as well as the unique filming experience that Gosling created on the set, and what…

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SXSW Q&A Highlights: The Breakfast Club celebrates its 30th anniversary at SXSW Film with Molly Ringwald & Ally Sheedy

John Hughes’ iconic coming-of-age film The Breakfast Club celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and to celebrate the release of a completely restored version of the movie, Universal and SXSW Film hosted the World Premiere and a special Q&A session with two of the movie’s stars, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy. The Paramount Theatre was crammed early with fans of the…

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Exclusive SXSW Interview: Grant Bowler, Elizabeth Reaser, Timothee Chalamet & Andrew Droz Palermo on ‘One & Two’!

Andrew Droz Palermo is no stranger to Austin, bringing and being a part of films premiering at the SXSW Film Festival in the past. This year however, he makes his narrative feature directorial debut with One & Two, a film revolving around a family unit isolated and mysterious, and the children of which who demonstrate special gifts….

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Exclusive SXSW Interview: Jeremy Sisto talks shocking audiences and more with new film Hangman

Following its midnight screening at the Stateside Theatre, the AU sat down with actor and producer Jeremy Sisto to talk about Hangman, Sisto’s new film that sees him working as both lead actor and producer. Directed by Adam Mason, the horror flick sees a normal family return from vacation to find their house has been broken into….

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