Dancing with the devil and more

A preview of the 28th edition SXSW Film Festival is here. We look forward to sharing the innovative and current pieces in store this spring, including the world premiere of Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil as our opening night headliner directed by Michael D. Ratner. Other strengths are Hysterical, Confront a serial killer, The hunt for planet B, Jakob’s wife, Fighters, Recovery, and Purple.

“It’s impressive and rare to see a pop superstar tell her story in such an authentic and unpretentious way,” said Janet Pierson, film director. “We have the privilege to present this intimate journey told with such vulnerability. Demi Lovato’s deep interest in mental health awareness is helping to change the landscape of a crucial issue in this year of trauma and loss nationally and internationally.

“We’re excited to share a handful of films from different sections of the festival (Headliners, Episodic Firstes, Doc and Narrative Spotlight, Midnighters, Global, 24 Beats Per Second, 2020 Spotlight) to give you a taste of the talent, risk- takes, passion and achievements that we will be announcing in early February and sharing together online in March, ”added Pierson.

This year, the acclaimed program will be online, where it will attract thousands of fans, filmmakers, press and industry leaders to immerse themselves in film screenings, lectures, music showcases, online exhibitions. , mentoring, meetups and special events that define the cross-sector event.

The full lineup of the film festival will be announced on Wednesday February 10 and the 2021 online platform will launch on February 15. Register today to join us March 16-20, 2021 for SXSW Online.

Highlights of the 2021 SXSW Film Festival

Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil
Director: Michael D. Ratner
Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil is a powerful documentary event on YouTube Originals, exploring all the aspects that led to Lovato’s near-fatal overdose in 2018 and his awakenings thereafter. (World premiere) (Headliners)

Confront a serial killer
Director: Joe Berlinger, Showrunner: Po Kutchins
Joe Berlinger’s latest documentaries Confront a serial killer follows reporter Jillian Lauren who attracts the most prolific serial killer in American history – Sam Little. The series will follow their disturbing and unlikely relationship. (World premiere) (Episodic premiere)

The hunt for planet B
Director: Nathaniel Kahn
The hunt for planet B follows a diverse group of scientists on a quest to find another Earth among the stars. From NASA’s bays to the far reaches of the universe and to the bottom of the sea, the film offers a way to see our own planet through new eyes. (World premiere) (Documentary spotlight)

Hysterical
Director: Andrea Nevins
Hysterical is an honest and hilarious behind-the-scenes look at the lives of some of stand-up comedy’s most revolutionary women, exploring the fierce journey to become the voices of their generation and their gender. Starring Margaret Cho, Fortune Feimster, Rachel Feinstein, Marina Franklin, Nikki Glaser, Judy Gold, Kathy Griffin, Jessica Kirson, Sherri Shepherd, Iliza Shlesinger and more. Available on FX in 2021. (World premiere) (Spotlight documentary)

Jakob’s wife
Director: Travis Stevens, Screenwriters: Travis Stevens, Kathy Charles, Mark Steenland
The disappearance of a young woman threatens to forever change the beige and mundane life of Anne Fedder (Barbara Crampton) and her husband Pastor Jakob Fedder (Larry Fessenden). List of actors: Barbara Crampton, Larry Fessenden, Bonnie Aarons, Mark Kelly, Sarah Lind, Robert Rusler, Nyisha Bell, Phil Brooks (World premiere) (Midnighters)

Wrestlers (Germany)
Directors: Paola Calvo, Patrick Jasim, screenwriters: Patrick Jasim, Paola Calvo, Phillip Kaminiak
Fighters portrays the brave wrestlers of Ciudad Juárez, a city known for its high murder rate against women – who fight in the ring and in their daily lives to redefine the image of what it means to be a woman in Mexico. (World Premiere) (World)

Poly styrene: I’m a cliché
Director: Celeste Bell, Paul Sng, Screenwriters: Celeste Bell, Zoë Howe, Paul Sng
The death of punk icon and X-Ray Spex singer Poly Styrene sends her daughter on a journey across the world and into her mother’s archives to reconcile their strained relationship. (North American Premiere) (24 beats per second)

Recovery
Director: Mallory Everton, Stephen Meek, Screenwriters: Whitney Call, Mallory Everton
Two sisters with no direction brave a trip across the country to save their grandmother from a COVID outbreak at her retirement home. Interpretation: Whitney Call, Mallory Everton, Anne Sward Hansen, Julia Jolley, Baylee Thornock, Jessica Drolet, Stephen Meek, Tyler Andrew Jones, Tori Pence, Dora McDonald (World Premiere) (Narrative Spotlight)

Purple
Director / Screenwriter: Justine Bateman
A director of film development realizes that the “guiding voice” in his head has lied to him about everything. Cast List: Olivia Munn, Luke Bracey, Justin Theroux (World Premiere) (2020 Spotlight)

Join us for SXSW Online 2021

Register for SXSW Online, a digital experience from March 16 to 20, 2021. As part of our 2021 offerings, SXSW Online will feature keynotes and conference sessions, film screenings, music showcases, networking and exhibitions. follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook for the latest news from SX.