Nerds, Chickens, and Burt Reynolds are Big at SXSW 2016

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It’s evidently all about Dungeons and Dragons and Slash Fiction at SXSW this year. Here are some of the films you might not have heard about that are expected to make a splash:

 

SLASH

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Written and directed by Clay Liford, the film stars Michael Johnston, Hannah Marks, Missi Pyle, Jessie Ennis, Peter Vack, Sarah Ramos, and Michael Ian Black.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Neil (Michael Johnston, Teen Wolf) is an introverted, questioning high school freshman. Lacking any friends IRL, his main social outlet is the steamy fan fiction he writes about Vanguard, the brawny, galaxy-hopping hero of a popular sci-fi franchise. When his stories are exposed in class Neil is mortified, but the slightly older, effortlessly cool Julia (Hannah Marks, Awkward) comes to his defense. An erotic fan fic writer herself, Julia pushes Neil to publish his stories to an online “adult” forum, where they quickly grab the attention of the site moderator, Denis (Michael Ian Black). When Neil is invited to present his work at a comic con live-read event, he has to face the fact that Denis’ interest in him may be more than simply professional… perhaps like his own feelings for Julia.

Here are the screening times for SXSW:
Sunday, March 13, 4:15 PM (Topfer Theatre at ZACH)
Monday, March 14, 5:15 PM (Satellite Venue: Marchesa)
Tuesday, March 15, 7:45 PM (Alamo Lamar D)
Saturday, March 19, 11:00 AM (Topfer Theatre at ZACH)

The Dwarvenaut

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Director Josh Bishop is returning to SXSW for his second year in a row with is new film.

Here is the official synopsis:

THE DWARVENAUT gives viewers a glimpse into the unique mind of Brooklyn-based artist and entrepreneur Stefan Pokorny. Director Josh Bishop (MADE IN JAPAN) weaves memories of Stefan’s tumultuous childhood with his current struggles and triumphs to paint a mesmerizing portrait. An art prodigy obsessed from a young age with Dungeons & Dragons, Stefan navigates absurd adventures—from Wisconsin to Venice to Bushwick—on a quest to bring his most personal project to life through an ambitious multimillion-dollar Kickstarter campaign. Part philosopher, part jester, he preaches the virtues of fantasy gaming as a vehicle for uniting the human race on his whimsical, bizarre life’s journey.

Here are you SXSW screening options:

Saturday, March 12 at 3:45PM at Alamo Ritz
Monday, March 14 at 12PM at Alamo Lamar
Thursday, March 17 at 7:15PM at Alamo Lamar

The Bandit

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This documentay follows Archer’s beloved Burt Reynolds and his stunt-double Hal Needham in regards to their time working Smokey & The Bandit.

Here’s the synopsis:

This original documentary is a film about 70s superstar Burt Reynolds, his best friend, roommate and stunt-double Hal Needham, and the making of their unlikely smash hit “Smokey & The Bandit.” The film tells the action-packed story of the making of the iconic film, while tracing the vivid personal journeys of Reynolds and Needham from obscurity to stardom and highlighting one of the most extraordinary relationships in Hollywood history. Featuring new interviews with Reynolds, rare archive material, including footage from Reynold’s personal archive, as well as candid interviews with the late Hal Needham, the documentary tells an exhilarating and moving story about loyalty, friendship and creative risk. Burt Reynolds will introduce this film at the SXSW Film Festival, where it will make its world premiere later this month. Jesse Moss produces and directs. Amanda McBaine produces for Mile End Films. Jayson Dinsmore, Lewis Bogach and John Miller-Monzon executive produce for CMT.
“The Bandit” will premiere on CMT in August

Here are your SXSW screening options:
Saturday, March 12th at 12pm – Paramount Theatre
Sunday, March 13th at 5:30PM – Satellite Venue: Marchesa
Wednesday, March 16th at 6:30PM at Rollins Theatre at the Long Center
Thursday, March 17th at 11:15AM – Topfer Theatre

Chicken People

Chicken People follows people who professionally show chickens, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to go see it.

Here’s the synopsis:

Chicken may be just food for most people, but raising the perfect chicken is an all-consuming passion for some. CMT is teaming up with Emmy Award-winning Motto Pictures, also this year’s Sundance Grand Jury Prize (U.S. Documentary) Winner for “Weiner”, and Emmy nominated director Nicole Lucas Haimes for “Chicken People,” a two-hour documentary that takes a charming and fascinating look at the colorful and hugely competitive world of champion show chicken breeders. A real life “Best in Show” but about chickens, the film follows the struggles and triumphs of both humans and their chickens on the road to compete at the Ohio National Poultry Show, considered the Westminster of Chickens. “Chicken People” is produced by Motto Pictures and Haimes Film, with Julie Goldman, Caroline Kaplan, Chris Clements, and Terry Leonard producing. Nicole Lucas Haimes executive produces and Jayson Dinsmore, Lewis Bogach and John Miller-Monzon executive produce for CMT.
“Chicken People” will premiere on CMT later this year.

Here are your SXSW screening options:
Sunday, March 13th at 11AM – Alamo Lamar A
Tuesday, March 15th at 11:00AM – Stateside Theatre
Thursday, March 17th at 7:45PM – Topfer Theatre

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