#FIRSTLOOK: “NIRVANNA THE BAND THE SHOW THE MOVIE” AWARD MIDNIGHTER AUDIENCE AWARD AT SXSW ’25

Nirvanna The Band the Show the Movie has been awarded the SXSW 2025 Midnighter Audience Award after making its highly anticipated world premiere at SXSW last week. The film has been met with overwhelming praise from both longtime fans and newcomers alike, currently holding a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The long-awaited follow up from Matt Johnson (Blackberry) and Jay McCarrol delivers the signature offbeat comedy and chaotic energy that made the cult-hit series a fan favorite—only bigger, bolder, and more ridiculous than ever.

NIRVANNA THE BAND THE SHOW THE MOVIE
Director: Matt Johnson
Producers: Matthew Miller, Matt Greyson
Screenwriters: Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol

When their plan to book a show at the Rivoli goes horribly wrong, Matt and Jay accidentally travel back to the year 2008.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

#FIRSTLOOK: “ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR” SXSW ’25 PREMIERE

Paul Feig‘s eagerly-awaited followup to A SIMPLE FAVOR premiered at SXSW ’25 this weekend, kicking the Festival off!

In attendance was Director Paul Feig, Producer Laura Fischer, Stars Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Alex Newell, Henry Golding, Taylor Ortega, Aparna Nancherla, Joshua Satine, and Amazon MGM Studios Executives Jennifer Salke, Sue Kroll, Courtenay Valenti, and Julie Rapaport.

ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR arrives globally on Prime Video starting May 1, 2025

Directed by Paul Feig

Produced by Paul Feig, p.g.a., Laura Fischer, p.g.a.

Executive Producers Jennifer Booth, Jessica Sharzer, Marco Valerio Pugini

Written by Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis

Based Upon Characters Created By Darcey Bell

Starring Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Alex Newell, Elena Sofia Ricci, with Henry Golding, and Allison Janney

Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) reunite on the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emily’s extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman. Along with the glamorous guests, expect murder and betrayal to RSVP for a wedding with more twists and turns than the road from the Marina Grande to the Capri town square.

120 mins

#FIRSTLOOK: “HOLLAND” PREMIERES AT SXSW ’25

NICOLE KIDMAN, MATTHEW MACFADYEN, GAEL GARCÍA BERNAL, JUDE HILL star in HOLLAND, which just had its SXSW ’25 Premiere at Paramount Theatre. It debuts March 27, 2025 on Prime Video Canada.

Details:

In this wildly unpredictable thriller, Nicole Kidman is the meticulous Nancy Vandergroot, a teacher and homemaker whose picture-perfect life with her community pillar husband (Matthew Macfadyen) and son (Jude Hill) in tulip-filled Holland, Michigan tumbles into a twisted tale. Nancy and her friendly colleague (Gael García Bernal) become suspicious of a secret, only to discover nothing in their lives is what it seems.

Directed by Mimi Cave

Written by Andrew Sodroski

Produced by Kate Churchill, p.g.a., Peter Dealbert, Nicole Kidman, p.g.a., Per Saari, p.g.a.

Starring Nicole Kidman, Matthew Macfadyen, Jude Hill, Gael García Bernal

Runtime 108 minutes

Rated R

(Photo credit: Todd Williamson / Amazon MGM Studios)

#FIRSTLOOK: “ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR” TO PREMIERE OPENING NIGHT AT SXSW ’25

Today, South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals announced this year’s Opening Night Film Premiere will be the Amazon MGM Studios feature, Another Simple Favor. The highly anticipated follow-up to director Paul Feig’s A Simple Favor, which launches globally on Prime Video May 1, will make its world premiere at the festival on March 7, 2025 at the Paramount Theatre.

Quote from Head of Amazon MGM Studios, Jennifer Salke: “Paul Feig has once again delivered the perfect blend of mystery, wit, and unexpected twists in the highly anticipated Another Simple Favor. The cast, led by the extraordinarily talented Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, brings life to a script that propels the sequel to new heights. We are beyond grateful for our collaborations with Paul, Blake, Anna, and the entire cast and filmmaking team. We could not be more excited to share the next chapter of this saga with the always enthusiastic SXSW audience and ultimately with our Prime Video customers around the world.”

Quote from director and producer, Paul Feig: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be back at my favorite festival in the world where we successfully launched Bridesmaids and Spy, and I cannot begin to say how honored I am to have our film opening it all. I’ve avoided making sequels to any of my films but these characters were just too much fun not to revisit. So, to be able to have Anna, Blake, Henry, Andrew, Michele, Elizabeth, Alex and myself watch our film with the great SXSW audience is a bucket list event I’ll be able to check off March 7th and move playing drums for Dwight Yoakum’s band up to the top slot.”

Details:

Directed By Paul Feig

Produced By Paul Feig, p.g.a., Laura Fischer, p.g.a.

Executive Producers Jennifer Booth, Jessica Sharzer, Marco Valerio Pugini

Written By Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis

Based Upon Characters Created By Darcey Bell

Starring Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Alex Newell, with Henry Golding and Allison Janney

Runtime 120 mins

Synopsis:

Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) reunite on the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emily’s extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman. Along with the glamorous guests, expect murder and betrayal to RSVP for a wedding with more twists and turns than the road from the Marina Grande to the Capri town square.

#SXSW: SXSW FILM & TV FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2024 JURY AND SPECIAL AWARDS

The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals announced the 2024 Jury and Special Award winners of the 31st SXSW Film & TV Festival. Feature films receiving Jury Awards were selected from the Narrative Feature and Documentary Feature Competition categories, plus all other juried sections, including Shorts, Independent TV Pilots, Music Videos, Design and XR Experience Awards. Special Awards announced included the SXSW Best of Texas Award, the Kickstarter NextGen Award and the Janet Pierson Champion Award presented by Indiewire.

All 2024 film categories will be eligible for category-specific Audience Awards that will be certified by the accounting firm of Maxwell Locke & Ritter. Audience Award Voting will conclude on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Winners will be announced via sxsw.com that week.

“What an extraordinary week of film and TV premieres we’ve had here at SXSW, and there is more to come through Saturday,” said Claudette Godfrey, VP, Film & TV. “Our theaters have been bursting with incredible and vocal audiences celebrating the exceptional and diverse work in our lineup, and we’re so excited to celebrate this year’s jury and special award winners!”

The SXSW 2024 Film & TV Festival Award Winners:

FEATURE FILM GRAND JURY AWARDS

NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION
Winner: Bob Trevino Likes It
Director/Screenwriter: Tracie Laymon, Producers: Tracie Laymon, Sean Mullin, Edgar Rosa, Felipe Dieppa

“Tracie Laymon’s semi-autobiographical story of a struggling young woman who finds anchor in an unlikely connection feels at once familiar and yet surprising. Laymon’s sure hand transforms what might have been saccharine into something raw thanks to vulnerable lead performances from Barbie Ferreira and an unusually uncool John Leguizamo. Refreshingly real and wrenchingly bittersweet, Bob Trevino Likes It stole our hearts and earned this prize.”

Special Jury Award for Performance: Maria Rodríguez Soto, Mamifera

“Detailed, unflinching, and unquestionably palpable, Maria Rodríguez Soto in Liliana Torres’ Mamifera, an aching character study of motherhood, breathes life into a complex character by way of a probing and dedicated sense of curiosity and play. We are elated to recognize Maria Rodríguez Soto with a SXSW Special Jury Award for Performance.”

Special Jury Award for Filmmaking: Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, We Were Dangerous

“We Were Dangerous, a spirited and affecting tale of female rebellion at a 1950s New Zealand reform institution for so-called delinquent girls, heralds the arrival of an exciting new filmmaking talent in Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu. Her feature film directorial debut confronts a sobering and all-too-relevant history with a sly sense of absurdity and the camaraderie of its three young leads, played by Erana James, Nathalie Morris and Manaia Hall.”

Narrative Feature Competition Jury: Jake Coyle, film writer and critic, The Associated Press; Robert Daniels, Associate Editor, RogerEbert.com; Joanna Robinson, podcaster and cultural critic, The Ringer

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION

Thank you to our Jury Award sponsor, The Hollywood Reporter: entertainment’s #1 news source that champions Hollywood’s world-class and world-changing documentaries and filmmakers through journalism.

Winner: Grand Theft Hamlet
Directors/Screenwriters: Pinny Grylls, Sam Crane, Producers: Rebecca Wolff, Julia Ton

“A unique mix of 16th century drama and 21st century online gameplay, Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane’s chronicle of two actors attempting a multiplayer production of Hamlet within Grand Theft Auto was easily one of the funniest, moving and profound works in competition. A stunning testament to the connection between storytelling and community, and proof that there are more ways in Heaven and Earth to craft a personal, nonfiction narrative — even when chased by police helicopters and shot at with rocket launchers.”

Special Jury Award for Bravery and Empathy: Carina Mia Wong, Alex Simmons, We Can Be Heroes

“Carina Mia Wong and Alex Simmons’ documentary about a live-action role playing camp in upstate New York exemplifies a moving and hopeful approach to storytelling. Their empathetic direction gives voice to their subjects — a group of queer, neurodivergent and self-proclaimed nerdy adolescents — which leaves audiences rooting for them on and off the battlefield.”

Documentary Feature Competition Jury: Siddhant Adlakha, critic and entertainment journalist; David Fear, Senior Editor + Film Critic, Rolling Stone; Lovia Gyarkye, critic, The Hollywood Reporter

SHORT FILM COMPETITION GRAND JURY AWARDS Presented by You42

NARRATIVE SHORT COMPETITION
Winner: Dissolution
Director/Screenwriter: Anthony Saxe, Producers: Thomas Lopez, Anthony Saxe

“Merging decades of footage into a poignant short film that delves into the complexities of love and marriage. Showing exceptional directorial restraint. This introspective journey transcends time and space, leaving a lasting impact through its exploration of human connections and the fleeting nature of life. With stunning performances from the director’s actual parents, Dissolution somberly pulls at the many threads which make up our lives.”

Special Jury Award: Sam Cutler-Kreutz, David Cutler-Kreutz, Trapped

“A tense story of a janitor father and a spoiled kid’s prank gone awry, delivering a suspenseful narrative brimming with surprising twists and turns. This short film has earned a Special Jury Award for its thematic resonance, masterfully exploring the consequences of actions, the weight of responsibility, and the complex dynamics of social economic disparity and privilege.”

Narrative Shorts Competition presented by You42 Jury: Clementine Quittner, Co-CEO, Small Ideas; Kristian Mercado Figueroa, filmmaker and previous winner of the Music Video and Animated Short Jury Awards at SXSW; Chris Rosati, Vice President of Development and Production; Monkeypaw

DOCUMENTARY SHORT COMPETITION
Winner: Remember, Broken Crayons Colour Too
Directors/Screenwriters: Shannet Clemmings, Urša Kastelic, Producers: Filippo Bonacci, Gabriel Grosclaude

“This artfully crafted film showed a true confidence of vision. Directors Shannett Clemings and Urša Kastelic have displayed a remarkable amount of bravery in reclaiming a story of violence, bias, and hatred in a way that is both harrowing and enlightening. The cinematography and editing were exquisitely matched with the soul-stirring storytelling, blending elements of experimental narrative in with the non-fiction heart of the film.”

Special Jury Award: David Gauvey Herbert, Frank

“Frank is a tautly crafted yet story-rich documentary short that touches upon a range of themes — from aging, to kinship, to the trauma of violent crimes. David Gauvey Herbert captures the witty, enduring and at times melancholic legacy of a 99-year-old criminal defense attorney with deft tenderness and potency through striking visual language.”

Documentary Shorts Competition presented by You42 Jury: Loren Hammonds, Peabody and Emmy® Award-winning producer; Christine Kecher, Senior Commissioning Editor, Op-Docs; Tina Nguyen, VP of Documentary Programming, HBO

MIDNIGHT SHORTS COMPETITION
Winner: Transylvanie
Director: Rodrigue Huart, Screenwriters: Rodrigue Huart, David Alexander Cassan, Axel Würsten, Producer: Lucie Vigier

“Enigmatic tone, sweeping cinematography, and spectacular performances are rife in this contemporary execution of the classic vampire myth. Following the journey of a young vampire, the short oozes with tension, visual flair, and teeth (pun intended!). The mastery of the technical elements are seamlessly combined with the daring vision to create a piece that elevates itself beyond expectation.”

Special Jury Award: Eros V, Meat Puppet

“Creative, propulsive, and with outstanding technical rendering, Meat Puppet took an ambitious, wacky conceit and knocked it out of the park with hysterical absurdist humor, clever narrative choices, and heart underneath it all. From the editing to the effects, the film impressively kept us on our toes while also embodying the gonzo energy of a Midnight screening.”

Midnight Shorts Competition presented by You42 Jury: Mariama Diallo, writer-director; Alex Kim, Vice President of IP Scouting and Acquisitions, Monkeypaw; Nick Romano, Creative Executive, 18Hz

ANIMATED SHORTS COMPETITION
Winner: Wander to Wonder
Director: Nina Gantz, Screenwriters: Nina Gantz, Simon Cartwright, Daan Bakker, Stienette Bosklopper, Producers: Stienette Bosklopper, Maarten Swart, Annemie Degryse, Ben Tesseur, Steven De Beul

“A profoundly immersive stop motion short that combines an unapologetic dark, humorous, and heartfelt story. The filmmaker’s direction expertly navigates the sense of deep loss and artistic purpose through multi-layered storytelling devices and phenomenal stop-motion animation that resonates emotionally with audiences. It’s a rare story that leaves us craving more from its otherworldly setting and popular fictitious TV show premise.”

Special Jury Award: Phoebe Jane Hart, Bug Diner

“This filmmaker cleverly uses stop motion to showcase her comedic voice in a fresh take on modern dating. The film’s quirky setting, hilarious voice acting, and overall direction add layers of charm, solidifying her talent as a standout filmmaker. We’re excited to watch her rise as a dynamic up-and-coming director.”

Animated Shorts Competition presented by You42 Jury: Bryan Dimas, award-winning animation and live-action Producer, Line Producer, Development, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios; Angeline Izquierdo, creative force, Shadowmachine; Ivana Kvesić, director, Fantoche – International Animation Film Festival

MUSIC VIDEO COMPETITION
Winner: Célen – ‘Mom told you so’
Director/Screenwriter: Cécile Cournelle

“We were blown away by the fresh, unique take on the experience of being a woman walking home alone in a city late at night through the lens of a video game. As compelling as it was anxiety-inducing, it’s an apt reflection of the perils people who look like the main character “Camille” and others on similar journeys face that command hyper-vigilance of their surroundings after dark. It is rare that a video transmits a confluence of thematic, poetic, and narrative layers with such impact and clarity.”

Special Jury Award for Technical Wizardry: Joe Nicolosi, The Burning Hell – ‘All I Need’

“Our special jury winner is being awarded for a technical feat in stop-motion and animation achieved by a small team. While visually astounding, this piece is emotionally compelling. It expresses a lot about companionship and tells a profound and shattering post-apocalypse era love story between two robots. We were immensely struck by the ambition of this project and how seamlessly it brings all its elements together.”

Music Video Competition presented by You42 Jury: Oualid Mouaness, director, writer, producer; Kimberly Stuckwisch, director, producer; Brittany Spanos, Staff Writer, Rolling Stone

TEXAS SHORTS COMPETITION
Winner: Jedo’s Dead
Director/Screenwriter: Sara Nimeh, Producers: Michael Mittelstaedt, Jeff Walker, Ellyn Church

“An intimate portrayal of grief, this film follows two young siblings navigating their emotions as they try to process the death of their grandfather. The film lingers on the quiet moments, letting the siblings’ emotional journey — confusion, despair, and anger — take center stage. The cinematography accentuates the theme of loss with shadows and dark spaces while letting natural light from windows stream in to suggest an afterlife. Weaving in aspects of their Middle Eastern culture and traditions, it tells a moving story about loss that’s universal.”

Special Jury Award: Fatima Wardy, Hair Care

“Taking a number of creative risks, this film is a fantastical portrayal of a young Ivorian-American’s trip to the hair braider. At times surreal, this ambitious short tells a story about culture and connection while playing with different visual forms, including animation, fiction, and television, taking the “barber shop” storyline to a whole new level.”

Texas Shorts Competition presented by You42 Jury: Cat Cardenas, writer, photographer; Barak Epstein, filmmaker; Chelsea Hernandez, filmmaker

INDEPENDENT TV PILOT COMPETITION
Winner: Marvin Is Sorry
Showrunners/Screenwriters: Brett Morrow, Alex Gehrlein, Jack Gacek, Director: Clint Pang, Producers: Aidan Erbter, Kenzie Packer

“Imbued with a serio-comical tone and particular brazenness, combined with an unlikely pair of very charismatic, very problematic leads, the end of this pilot story stuck its landing by its sheer force of a sharp-edged point of view that feels super timely. For promising an ongoing entanglement of messy characters and an apt level of sticky story to unpack, and for its quest to interrogate if not skewer today’s media influencers’ disingenuous and self-serving co-opting tactics for the sake of audience/fan base. We give the Jury award to Marvin is Sorry.”

Special Jury Award for: Zeke Nicholson, Halfrican American

“For being so deeply real and lived in from the first frame to the last. It’s a warm, engaging pilot that makes you want to stay longer and hang out with each member of the excellently written and performed ensemble. The authenticity in this exploration of identity, community, and family will stick with us and it’s exciting to think of what the filmmaker will create from here.”

TV Pilot Competition Jury: Kat Candler, filmmaker; Christine Dávila, freelance producer; Caroline Vanstrom, Director of Development and Production, Fifth Season

POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION
Winner: 7 Beats Per Minute
Designer: John Godfrey

“The poster’s design effortlessly captivated us, skillfully balancing mysterious calmness with unconventional composition choices. From the strategic use of empty spaces to the non-traditional placement of the title and billing block, every decision contributed to an aesthetically pleasing and thought-provoking visual narrative.”

Special Jury Award: If I Die in America
Designer: Andrei Captan

“Featuring a sophisticated, confident, and effective design, this poster cleverly conceals multiple concepts which reveal themselves upon closer inspection. Through detailed illustrations and strategic use of negative space, the deliberate and smart choices in the design create a visually compelling narrative that not only captures attention but effectively communicates the essence of the film.

Poster Design Competition Jury: Oliver Barrett, artist, designer; Jenny Jacobi, CEO, Mutant; Kevin Tong, freelance graphic designer

XR EXPERIENCE COMPETITION
Winner: The Golden Key
Directors: Marc Da Costa, Matthew Niederhauser

“The Golden Key ingeniously fuses cutting edge experiments in generative AI technology with the oldest storytelling traditions, allowing us to collectively share in the creation of new narratives while sparking our individual imaginations in an endless cycle of creativity. Awarded for its innovative approach to immersive storytelling, its addictive application, and its uncanny ability to organically build community.”

Special Jury Award:
Winner: Soul Paint
Directors: Sarah Ticho, Niki Smit, Producer: Anna Firbank, Screenwriter: Sarah Ticho

“Soul Paint is epic and intimate in its scope and potential. This finely-tuned experience gives XR new possibilities for its application across disciplines and research that explores and interrogates the human experience. This piece encourages us to engage in creative play while also inspiring us to actively discover and share our innermost feelings without judgment.”

XR Experience Competition Jury: Jimmy Cheng, Atlas V / Karman Line / Sandman Studios; Jacqueline Lyanga, Founder, Executive Director, Global Cinematheque; Landon Zakheim, Executive Director, Co-Founder Overlook Film Festival

SXSW Special Awards

Janet Pierson Champion Award presented by Indiewire
To honor Janet Pierson, Director Emeritus of the SXSW Film & TV Festival after 15 years of leadership, a prize was created in 2023 called the Janet Pierson Champion Award. As part of IndieWire’s dedication to elevating Film & TV creators, IndieWire is proud to present the Janet Pierson Champion Award rewarding innovation and excellence in the art of storytelling to Kara Durrett.

Janet Pierson Champion Award
Winner: Kara Durrett

“Kara Durrett, President of Pinky Promise Films is known for her tireless work championing filmmakers and helping them develop sustainable careers. She has produced more than a dozen films, including nine SXSW Film & TV Official selections between 2018 and 2024. The SXSW World Premiere of the short film Caroline was shortlisted for the 2019 Academy Awards. The SXSW World Premiere of Topside won a Special Jury Award for Directing in 2020. Other films include: Save Yourselves!, Ayar, If You Were the Last, The Starling Girl, and this year’s World Premiere of I Don’t Understand You. Kara clearly has an incredible filmmaking future ahead of her, and we cannot wait to see what she brings us next.”

Kickstarter NextGen Award
Over the past 15 years, Kickstarter — the go-to crowdfunding platform for creative projects — has helped trailblazers like Spike Lee, Issa Rae, Andrew Ahn, and Phoebe Waller Bridges get the funds they need to bring their projects to life. Continuing Kickstarter’s legacy of championing generation-defining creatives, the Kickstarter NextGen Award recognizes a first-time filmmaker whose bold and inspiring work promises to offer audiences a new and fresh perspective.

Kickstarter NextGen Award Winner: Family
Director/Screenwriter: Benjamin Finkel, Producers: Lynette Howell Taylor, Samantha Housman, Benjamin Finkel

“This chilling and disorienting film has the viewer calling into question what is real and what is imagined, and who — if anyone — is the narrator we can rely on. The film is anchored by an exceptional performance from the young lead, portraying her character’s fear and confusion in the face of dislocation and grief. As viewers, we were safe in the hands of this accomplished cast, who in turn were safe in the hands of the debut writer-director. The Kickstarter NextGen Award goes to Director Benjamin Finkel for his film Family.”

#SXSW: “STORMY” REVIEW

By David Baldwin

If you hear the name Stormy Daniels, what do you think of? Her career as an adult entertainer in front of and behind the camera, or her involvement in a legal shitstorm with the former President of the United States? STORMY demystifies the woman behind those headlines, and chronicles the immediate fallout from her “hush money” payment becoming international news, the on-going legal saga she remains intrinsically attached to and the turmoil and toll it has taken on her personal life.

Whether you know all the facts or not, watching STORMY is a riveting and sobering experience – not just because of how aggravating it is, but by how harrowing and emotional it quickly becomes. Daniels is a give-no-fucks firecracker at the start and by the end, she is a visibly strained, shell of a woman who has gone through hell and fears for her safety.

Though Daniels is refreshingly candid and holds nothing back, the Documentary spends most of its time focusing on the legal shenanigans and sparring and not enough on who she is as an Entertainer and more to the point, as a person. We get glimpses into her dance tours, television appearances, her love for horses and her private life. They all feel fleeting though, especially when so many of the talking head interviews are journalists just speaking about what happened because of the payment details going public. What they discuss and what is shown is interesting and vital, but the Film is called STORMY and needed to be more about her and a whole lot less about him.

Stormy screens at SXSW’24:

Mar 8 at 5:15PM at Stateside Theatre

Mar 13 at 11:45AM at Alamo Lamar 5

#SXSW: “A CONVERSATION WITH SYDNEY SWEENEY”

By Mr. Will Wong

Sydney Sweeney has been front and center much of late as Hollywood’s new “It Girl”. Whether you know her from her powerful performance as Cassie in HBO‘s EUPHORIA or Olivia in THE WHITE LOTUS; saw her in ANYONE BUT YOU, produced by her own production company Fifty-Fifty Films; are just learning about her from her hosting Saturday Night Live recently, chances are you were smitten by her likeability.

Sweeney is at SXSW ’24 this year for both an In-Conversation, and also to promote and present new Horror IMMACULATE, out March 22, 2024, which she helped develop.

Sweeney appeared at an In-Conversation at Austin Convention Center Ballroom EF, reflecting on her path as both an Actress and a Producer.

Sweeney is filled with gratitude for having the privilege of playing some very fascinating characters.

Sweeney: “I get to play such incredible, diverse, interesting, challenging roles and that’s what I dream of doing, whenever I get the chance to play a character like Cassie or Cecilia in Immaculate, that makes me feel really good.”.

With her huge surge in popularity over the past few years, fan encounters never quite get old for her.

Sweeney: “I get so happy whenever people come up to me and they share their stories how they watched Euphoria or whatever project it was, and that’s why I do what I do. To be able to connect to so many people through my characters is such a beautiful experience.”.

She tells us about the importance of feeling challenged in her work.

Sweeney: “It’s what I said about being challenged. Making sure I find characters that challenge me in different ways, different stories to tell. I want to play anything and everything that people won’t expect me to do.”.

With the landscape changing greatly in how consumers access Film and Television, Sweeney is asked what she looks for most when producing a project.

Sweeney: “It’s honestly whether the story makes you question things, excites me and what it boils down to is whether I think this will be a conversation piece for people, or whether I think this will make people feel a certain way.”.

Sweeney equates being a Producer to like being a parent, and reflects upon the success of sleeper hit ANYONE BUT YOU. She also reveals her favourite Rom-Com of all time is MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING, which led to her casting Dermot Mulroney as her dad in ANYONE BUT YOU.

Sweeney: “To me, being a Producer is like being a parent and helping a project grow.”.

“ANYONE BUT YOU was such an incredible experience when I was working on the Script, when I hired Will Gluck and I hired Glen Powell, went to Sony. I wanted to really bring back those early 2000s Rom-Coms where people winked and people were left wanting to fall in love, they left wanting to sing and dance in the rain and have big romantic gestures. I didn’t want to look at the Rom-Com as something small. I wanted to have big set pieces and Will did such an incredible job at it, really amping-up those set pieces in the Film. By creating a set where we all wanted to have so much fun, we were able to just share in that. That love and excitement we felt while filming, the audience really felt that on-screen. I hope I can make more projects where the audience feels that love and energy.”.

The full Conversation will be available on-demand via SXSW.

(Photo credit: SXSW)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW CLIP FROM “MONKEYMAN”

Premiering tonight at SXSW ’24 we get a brand-new clip from Dev Patel‘s directorial debut, MONKEYMAN!

Synopsis:

Oscar® nominee Dev Patel (Lion, Slumdog Millionaire) achieves an astonishing, tour-de-force feature directing debut with an action thriller about one man’s quest for vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless.

Inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage, Monkey Man stars Patel as Kid, an anonymous young man who ekes out a meager living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he is beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash.

After years of suppressed rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city’s sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him.

Packed with thrilling and spectacular fight and chase scenes, Monkey Man is directed by Dev Patel from his original story and his screenplay with Paul Angunawela and John Collee (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World).

The film’s international cast includes Sharlto Copley (District 9), Sobhita Dhulipala (Made in Heaven), Pitobash (Million Dollar Arm), Vipin Sharma (Hotel Mumbai), Ashwini Kalsekar (Ek Tha Hero), Adithi Kalkunte (Hotel Mumbai), Sikandar Kher (Aarya) and Makarand Deshpande (RRR).

Monkey Man is produced by Dev Patel, Jomon Thomas (Hotel Mumbai, The Man Who Knew Infinity), Oscar® winner Jordan Peele (Nope, Get Out), Win Rosenfeld (Candyman, Hunters series), Ian Cooper (Nope, Us), Basil Iwanyk (John Wick franchise, Sicario films), Erica Lee (John Wick franchise, Silent Night), Christine Haebler (Shut In, Bones of Crows) and Anjay Nagpal (executive producer of Bombshell, Greyhound).

Serving as executive producers are Jonathan Fuhrman, Natalya Pavchinskya, Aaron L. Gilbert, Andria Spring, Alison-Jane Roney and Steven Thibault.

Universal Pictures presents a Bron Studios production, a Thunder Road film, a Monkeypaw production, a Minor Realm/S’Ya Concept production, in association with WME Independent and Creative Wealth Media.

Genre: Action Thriller

Cast: Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, Sikandar Kher, Sobhita Dhulipala, Ashwini Kalsekar, Adithi Kalkunte, Makarand Deshpande

Director: Dev Patel

Story by: Dev Patel

Screenplay by: Dev Patel and Paul Angunawela and John Collee

Producers: Dev Patel, Jomon Thomas, Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper, Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Christine Haebler, Anjay Nagpal

Executive Producers: Jonathan Fuhrman, Natalya Pavchinskya, Aaron L. Gilbert, Andria Spring, Alison-Jane Roney, Steven Thibault

Universal Pictures Canda release MONKEYMAN April 5, 2024.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

#SXSW: “ANY OTHER WAY: THE JACKIE SHANE STORY”

By Mr. Will Wong

Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee co-direct ANY OTHER WAY: THE JACKIE SHANE STORY, which explores the fascinating story of Black trans singer Jackie Shane, raised in Nashville, but planting her roots musically in Toronto in their early ’60s, where she was prominent for her soulful vocals reaching #2 on charts locally including CHUM with “Any Other Way”.

Outspoken and ahead of her time in her defiance against the machine, Shane was a trailblazer unafraid of her living life authentically. Always on the brink of huge stardom, she made a conscious choice not to tour and then very suddenly she disappeared completely, with many suspecting that she had died. The Documentary paints a very human portrait through animation and recordings, of the brilliant Artist as someone who like the rest of us, longs for love and also is coping with a complicated family life.

We meet Shane‘s surviving family today who didn’t know her, but are able and willing to give her the love and respect she never quite had growing up in Nashville, as like them, we are just getting to know Jackie Shane’s story also.

ANY OTHER WAY: THE JACKIE SHANE STORY is an integral part of Toronto’s history and identity, and a mural of her can be seen at Yonge x Carlton paying tribute to her. Fun fact, Elliot Page and Sam Dunn, who directed a recent Docu-Series on Geddy Lee, are among the Producers.

The Film screens at SXSW ’24 as follows:

Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story  at Alamo Lamar 5
Mar 9, 2024 11:15am—12:53pm

Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story  at Alamo Lamar 8
Mar 12, 2024 2:15pm—3:53pm

Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story  at Alamo Lamar 7
Mar 12, 2024 2:45pm—4:23pm

#SXSW: SELENA GOMEZ AT “MINDFULNESS OVER PERFECTION, GETING REAL ON MENTAL HEALTH” PANEL

By Mr. Will Wong

Many of us might know Selena Gomez as a global superstar of Music and Television and without a film or TV series at SXSW ’24, many might be wondering, what’s the deal? Did you know that Gomez, through her Rare Impact Fund, is committed to raising $100 million dollars over the next 10 years to help give people access to the resources they need to support their mental health?

Her and her mother, Producer Mandy Teefey have teamed to launch WONDERMIND, which has a mandate to change the way we thinking about mental health and how we access resources about it.

The duo spoke at an SXSW ’24 panel today, Mindfulness Over Perfection: Getting Real On Mental Health, with Dr. Jessica B. Stern, Solomon Thomas and Dr. Corey Yeager, held at Austin Convention Center, Ballroom D.

Some highlights from the Panel below:

Gomez and Teefey are asked about how WONDERMIND came about.

Gomez: “It honestly stemmed from a conversation we both had with each other. It was about our journeys and we ended up relating a lot to each other, and it was a turning point and I think it was about ‘how can we do that for other people?'”. “It really just stemmed from us wanting to help other moms and daughters to have real open and honest conversations and that turned into this.”.

Teefey: “When we were exploring new avenues of how to continue the mother-daughter component and really just trying to create family support amongst the conversations that you can do it together as a family, was really the message behind that. We realized that there’s not just one place that you can go to help you explore whatever you’re feeling. So what we did is – since we’re not doctors – we are our audience, we are our consumer. So what we wanted to do is build this world with several different pillars: Content, Tilm, TV, Podcasts, Product, and by the requests of the audience that is avid readers of Wondermind, we will be launching an app coming really soon. It’s gonna change the game on how we execute and how people can practice their mental fitness, without feeling like they’re putting the time.”.

“The top three reasons people don’t do therapy is they don’t have the time, they don’t have the insurance or they don’t believe it works.”.

Gomez is asked about the moment she decided to talk about her mental health.

Gomez: “I work in the weirdest industry and I just felt I didn’t fit in. My mom was very vocal and open about how she and I were feeling. We watchinged Girl, Interrupted when I was 12 and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s what rehab looks like!’, and was confused by it. And then we had one of the most honest conversations that allowed me not to be scared. You can’t force someone to do it. There’s a lot of people who cared about me more than I cared about myself. I had to hit my rock bottom and at my time. It took a couple tries. I like to think that I’m in a much better place now.”.

Gomez also talks about feeling a huge weight lifted off her shoulders after releasing her 2022 Documentary My Mind & Me.

Gomez: “I released a Documentary and I was terrified to do it. I went back and forth on whether I’d do it or not. I think the moment I did that, I felt an insane amount of release because there wasn’t any hiding anymore. There wasn’t just this image that people could see. I can say it’s helped release a lot of anxiety of keeping it in, just to let people know I’m having a hard day or I just need a minute.”.

Gomez also talks about grappling with the concept of being kind to oneself.

Gomez: “It’s important to speak to yourself with kindness and I don’t think I really understood that. It’s funny because all the things I was bitching about back then, I’m so grateful for now. It’s really ironic. I think it’s taught me a lot about myself. It’s weird being able to see myself so long ago saying those things that I would never say to myself now.”.

The audience were encouraged as a take away to look within at three Ws in their own lives – to continue reflecting on these, building upon them and continuing to seek inspiration and share with others:

WISH – something that you wish for yourself, something you’d like to try to do, a goal you’d like to set.

WONDER – something that you can be curious about. A question you can ask yourself, non-judgmentally reflective. Something that’s going to inspire you, move you forward.

WIN – what’s something you’re doing well? Something you’re proud of. Something you want to keep
doing.

The Panel will be available on-demand. More here.