South by Southwest (SXSW) unveiled its first wave of programming for the 31st edition of the SXSW Film & TV Festival which will take place March 8-16 in Austin, Texas.
David Benioff & D. B. Weiss and Alexander Woo’s forthcoming Netflix series 3 Body Problem will serve as the Opening Night TV Premiere while the movie The Fall Guy starring Ryan Gosling and the Pamela Adlon-directed Babes co-written by and starring Ilana Glazer.
In addition, SXSW announced titles for the Feature and Short Competitions, Midnighters, Global, and select titles from other categories and XR Experience. The rest of the lineup, including Opening and Closing Night Films, exciting Headliners and more will be announced in early February.
There is no shortage of LGBTQ representation in the first wave of SXSW programming. This includes A Nice Indian Boy starring Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff as well as Hunter Schafer in the horror Cuckoo.
Lily Singh stars as a 30-year-old virgin high school teacher who gets a job Sex Education in the film Doin’ It while the third season of Hacks will make its premiere at the Austin-based film and TV festival.
In addition, the Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show is a darkly comedic docuseries about the comedian and actor and the documentary A House Is Not A Disco paints a portrait of queer paradise Fire Island. Festival favorites The Queen of My Dreams directed by Fawzia Mirza and starring Amrit Kaur as well as Sing Sing starring Colman Domingo will also have screenings at SXSW.
Read the LGBTQ titles below and read the first wave of programming for SXSW Film & TV Festival here.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
A House Is Not A Disco
Director: Brian J. Smith, Producers: Jeremy Truong, Joe Conforti
What if you really did put all the gays on an island? In this vibrant portrait of queer paradise, Fire Island Pines, past and present blur as the iconic beach town bands together to celebrate its legacy and redefine itself for a new, inclusive era. (World Premiere)
We Can Be Heroes
Directors: Carina Mia Wong, Alex Simmons, Producers: Jennifer Wood, Krista Manis, Carina Mia Wong, Alex Simmons
A group of neurodivergent, queer, and self-proclaimed nerdy teenagers find solace at a LARP (live action role play) summer camp. They discover inner strength, heal from traumas, and emerge as their own heroes: both in fantasy and in reality. (World Premiere)
NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT
A Nice Indian Boy
Director: Roshan Sethi, Producers: Renee Witt, Charlie McSpadden, Andrew Calof, Justin Baldoni, Screenwriters: Eric Randall, Madhuri Shekar
When Naveen brings his fiancé Jay home to meet his family, his traditional Indian parents must contend with accepting his white-orphan-artist-boyfriend and helping them plan the most fabulous Indian wedding their community has ever seen. Cast: Karan Soni, Jonathan Groff, Sunita Mani, Zarna Garg, Harish Patel, Peter S. Kim, Sas Goldberg (World Premiere)
Cuckoo (Germany)
Director/Screenwriter: Tilman Singer, Producers: Markus Halberschmidt, Josh Rosenbaum, Maria Tsigka, Ken Kao, Thor Bradwell, Ben Rimmer
On a trip to the German Alps with her father and stepmother, Gretchen discovers that the resort town where they’re staying hides sinister secrets, as she’s plagued by strange noises and frightening visions of a woman pursuing her. Cast: Hunter Schafer, Dan Stevens, Jessica Henwick, Marton Csókás, Jan Bluthardt (International Premiere)
Doin’ It
Director: Sara Zandieh, Producers: Anthony Bregman, Erica Matlin, Polly Auritt, Lilly Singh, Anita Verma-Lallian, Screenwriters: Lilly Singh, Sara Zandieh, Neel Patel
A 30 year old Indian-American virgin gets a job teaching high school Sex Ed. Cast: Lilly Singh, Ana Gasteyer, Sabrina Jalees, Stephanie Beatriz, Mary Holland, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Trevor Salter, Sonia Dhillon Tully (World Premiere)
I Don’t Understand You
Director: Brian Crano, Producers: Kara Durrett, Jessamine Burgum, Jon Glickman, Joel Edgerton, Nash Edgerton, Screenwriters: Brian Crano, David Craig
Following a devastating adoption scam, a couple go on an Italian vacation in an attempt to reconnect. After getting their rental car stuck in a countryside ditch, things begin to go awry. Between the torrential weather and language barrier, Dom, Cole and the Italians around them descend into a comical fiasco. Cast: Nick Kroll, Andrew Rannells, Nunzia Schiano, Morgan Spector, Eleonora Romandini (World Premiere)
I Wish You All The Best
Director/Screenwriter: Tommy Dorfman, Producers: Matt Kaplan, Tommy Dorfman
The film revolves around a non-binary teen who after being kicked out of the house by their conservative parents and moves in with their estranged sister, embarks upon a journey of self-discovery that teaches them about love, friendship, and family. Cast: Corey Fogelmanis, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Alexandra Daddario, Cole Sprouse, Lena Dunham, Amy Landecker, Lexi Underwood, Lisa Yamada, Judson Mills, Brian Michael Smith (World Premiere)
Turtles (Canada, Belgium)
Director/Screenwriter: David Lambert, Producers: Patrick Quinet, Christian Larouche
After 35 years together, the seemingly perfect life that Thom and Henri had built started to go awry. They start to drift away from each other a little more each day. But Thom will do anything to save his relationship and rekindle their love. Cast: Dave Johns, Olivier Gourmet, Brigitte Poupart, Laurent Bonnet (North American Premiere)
FESTIVAL FAVES
The Queen of My Dreams (Canada)
Director/Screenwriter: Fawzia Mirza, Producers: Andria Wilson Mirza, Jason Levangie, Marc Tetreault
When Azra’s father suddenly dies on a trip home to Pakistan, she finds herself on a Bollywood-inspired journey through memories, both real and imagined; from her estranged mother’s youth in Karachi to her own coming of age in rural Canada. Cast: Amrit Kaur, Hamza Haq, Nimra Bucha, Ayana Manji, Gul-e-Rana, Meher Jaffri, Ali A. Kazmi (U.S. Premiere)
Sing Sing
Director: Greg Kwedar, Producers: Monique Walton, Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Screenwriters: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar
A theater troupe finds escape from the realities of incarceration through the creativity of putting on a play in this film based on a real-life rehabilitation program and featuring a cast that includes formerly incarcerated actors. Cast: Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Paul Raci, Sean San José (U.S. Premiere)
Toll (Brazil)
Director/Screenwriter: Carolina Markowicz, Producers: Bianca Villar, Fernando Fraiha, Karen Castanho, Carolina Markowicz, Luís Urbano
Suellen, a toll booth attendant, realizes she can use her job to raise some extra money illegally. But this is only for a so-called noble cause: to send her son to an expensive gay conversion workshop led by a renowned foreign priest. Cast: Maeve Jinkings, Kauan Alvarenga, Thomás Aquino, Aline Marta Maia, Isac Graça (U.S. Premiere)
TV PREMIERE
Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show
Director: Ari Katcher, Producer: Maya Seidler
Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show is a darkly funny documentary series about Jerrod’s tumultuous quest for love, sex, and truth. Created by Carmichael, Ari Katcher and Eli Despres. Cast: Jerrod Carmichael. (World Premiere)
TV SPOTLIGHT
Hacks Season 3 Premiere
Showrunners: Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky, Director: Lucia Aniello, Producers: Jen Statsky, Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, Michael Schur, David Miner, Morgan Sackett
A year after parting, Deborah Vance is riding high off the success of her standup special while Ava pursues new opportunities back in Los Angeles. Cast: Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Kaitlin Olson, Christopher McDonald, Mark Indelicato, Rose Abdoo, Lorenza Izzo (World Premiere)
TEXAS SHORT COMPETITION
The Queen vs Texas
Directors: Emil Lozada, Raemonn James, Producer: Emil Lozada
In the face of Texas’ oppressive stance on LGBTQIA+ communities, a resolute queer activist and drag queen leads a movement to empower her community through the art of self-expression and the fight for social justice. (Texas Premiere)