We already hipped you to the best showcases and eventsSouth by Southwest has to offer--and by now you may even have ran through a few of them. But there is more to the festival than just its musical draws, quiet as kept SXSW also boasts a film festival that is rivaled by very few. And lucky for you festival-goers much of the film portion of the fest coincides with the music side of things, being a natural draw for biopics, rockumentaries and other cinematic takes on the sonic. That means you can nurse your hangovers with even more culture during the day, kind of a musical hair of the dog, so to speak. In order to help you through the stress of deciding which screenings to attend, we have compiled a list of suggested films to check out during your whirlwind tour of Austin. Click through to see our selections, and as always, stop babysittin' the popcorn.
Reincarnated
Snoop Dogg's Rastafarian rebirth as Snoop Lion has not been without its controversy, but whatever your feelings it is for rasclaat certain it will make for an interesting documentary. Vice has stepped in to make it in happen and the long awaited film is screening Thursday:
Paramount Theatre
713 Congress Ave
Thursday, March 14
4:30PM - 6:06PM
12 O'Clock Boys
Friday, March 15
11:15AM -12:30PM
Venue: Stateside Theatre
719 Congress Ave
Finding The Funk
Nelson George's funkumentary (narrated by ?uestlove) read the Pass The Popcorn here.
Wednesday, March 13
1:30PM - 2:48PM
Alamo Ritz 1
320 E 6th St
Thursday, March 14
7:00PM - 8:18PM
Venue: SXSatellite: Alamo Village
Friday, March 15
4:45PM - 6:03PM
Venue: Alamo Ritz 2
Brothers Hypnotic
The brothers--all sons of Chicago music legend Phil Cohran--who make up the amazing Hypnotic Brass Ensemble are the subject of this film from documentarian and friend-of-Okayplayer Reuben Atlas--look for the cameos from Yasiin Bey fka Mos Def and Damon Albarn. Read our Pass The Popcorn here.
Thursday, March 14
6:30PM - 7:56PM
Venue: Topfer Theatre at ZACH
Saturday, March 16
1:30PM - 2:56PM
Venue: Alamo Ritz 2
320 E 6th St
A Band Called Death
Directors Jeff Howlett and Mark Covino present A Band Called Death – a documentary about a little known black rock band from Detroit formed by brothers David, Bobbyand Dennis Hackney – now considered pioneers of punk music since the release of a demo tape discovered some thirty years after it was recorded in 1974. Described as “equal parts rockumentary and epic family chronicle”, the documentary follows the band from its inception in the early 70s to the more recent fame and retroactive credit the men have received as the godfathers of the afro-punk movement following the recent chance discovery of their demo in Bobby’s attic. Read more on Pass The Popcorn here.
Thursday, March 14
7:15PM - 8:51PM
Vimeo Theater
201 Trinity St
Saturday, March 16
11:15AM -12:51PM
Venue: Alamo Ritz 1
Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker
The Ivory Emperor, the Black Liberace, Lil Booker, Little Chopin in Living Color... James Carroll Booker, III. Bayou Maharajah explores the life and music of New Orleans piano legend James Booker, the man Dr. John described as "the best black, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced." A brilliant pianist, his eccentricities and showmanship belied a life of struggle, prejudice, and isolation. Illustrated with never-before-seen concert footage, rare personal photos and exclusive interviews, the film paints a portrait of this overlooked genius.
WORLD PREMIERE
Thursday, March 14
4:00PM - 5:30PM
Topfer Theatre at Zach Scott
1510 Toomey Rd
420 seats
ADDITIONAL SCREENING
Friday, March 15
7:00PM - 8:30PM
Alamo Ritz, Theater 2
320 East 6th St
69 seats
Single-admission tickets to the screenings will be available for sale at the door for $10 if there are any seats remaining after SXSW Film Pass and Badge holders have been seated. Show up early to make sure you get a seat!
(More info on the film at https://bayoumaharajah.com/)
Muscle Shoals
Located alongside the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals, Alabama is the unlikely breeding ground for some of America's most creative and defiant music. The music of Muscle Shoals changed the world and sold millions of copies. At its heart is Rick Hall who founded FAME Studios. Overcoming poverty and personal tragedy, he brought black and white together in Alabama's cauldron of racial hostility to create music for the generations while giving birth to the Muscle Shoals Sound and The Swampers. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Percy Sledge, Gregg Allman, Clarence Carter, Alicia Keys, Bono, and others bear witness to Muscle Shoals' magnetism, mystery, and why it remains influential.
Wednesday, March 13
11:00AM -12:51PM
Venue: Paramount Theatre
Tues 11AM, Weds 11AM
Until The Quiet Comes
Flying Lotus x Kahlil Joseph's brilliant short already won an award at Sundance (and is viewable in full above) but don't miss the chance to see it on a big screen--hopefully with FlyLo and other members of the Brainfeeder in the crowd (we're betting they'll be passing more than the popcorn, nudge, nudge, nahmean).
Wednesday, March 13
11:00AM -12:30PM
Stateside Theatre
719 Congress Ave
Saturday, March 16
9:30PM -11:00PM
Venue: Rollins Theatre at The Long Center
ALL EARS
As Okayfuture breaks it down: ALL EARS is a music documentary showing a glimpse into the hip-hop-rooted Californian Beats Scene. The L.A. community in particular has long been cited as an epicenter for creative beat makers and DJs who’s styles continue to push the envelope and influence the World. Many of the artists featured in “ALL EARS” are becoming very well known now as the producer/dj role is taking over as the new rock star. Names from the film include: Ras G, Flying Lotus, House Shoes, Sacred, Kutmah, Gaslamp Killer, Dakim, Mike Gao, DJ Nobody, Daddy Kev, Nocando and the whole Low End Theory family.
Watch the trailer above and if you are in Austin this Weds, RSVP for the Exploded Drawing event and come by for a screening of the full documentary at 630pm. RSVP here – www.exploded-drawing.com/rsvp.
They Die By Dawn
Jeymes Samuel (AKA The Bullitts) new black cowboy epic is the un-Django. We're told the whole cast comprising Idris Elba, Rosario Dawson, Michael K. Williams (see his OKP TV interview below) Isaiah Washington, Giancarlo Esposito and more will be there for this SXSW screening Saturday March 16th and co-star Erykah Badu is DJing. Time and venue TBA--but best believe Okayplayer will be there!
