A Steady Diet of Film

SXSW 2005 films

Forty World and U.S. Premieres Unveiled in SXSW Line up

Narrative Feature Competition

Cavite Dir: Ian Gamazon and Neill Dela Llana; Cast: Ian
Gamazon, Dominique Gonzalez.

An American citizen visiting his home country arrives at the
Philippines Airport and receives a phone call letting him know that
his mother and sister have been kidnapped and will be killed if he
doesn't comply with the caller's demands.


Childstar"Dir: Don McKellar; Cast: Don McKellar, Jennifer
Jason Leigh, Mark Rendall, Kristin Adams, Brendan Fehr, Dave Foley.

A spoiled and conflicted 12-year-old American TV star runs away
from the set of his latest film production, only to be pursued by his
reluctant limo driver.


Hooligans Dir: Lexi Alexander; Cast: Elijah Wood, Charlie
Hunnam, Claire Forlani.

An expelled Harvard student moves to London and finds himself
embraced and disturbed by the dominant violence of English soccer
culture.


Max & Grace Dir: Michael Parness; Cast: David
Krumholtz, Natasha Lyonne, Tim Blake Nelson, Lorraine Bracco, David
Paymer.

A suicidal comedy about two young lovers who get married and
escape from a mental institution in order to live.


Mutual Appreciation Dir: Andrew Bujalski; Cast: Justin
Rice, Rachel Clift, Andrew Bujalski, Seung-Min Lee.

Alan is a musician who leaves a busted-up band for New York, and a
new musical voyage. He tries to stay focused and fends off all manner
of distractions, including the attraction to his good friend's
girlfriend.


Shooting Livien Dir: Rebecca Cook; Cast: Jason Behr, Sarah
Wynter, Dominic Monaghan, Joshua Leonard, Ally Sheedy.

A dark psychological drama that explores the inner psyche of John
Livien, a disillusioned New York musician who deals with a childhood
trauma by claiming an alter ego.


Southern Belles Dir: Paul S. Myers and Brennan Shroff;
Cast: Anna Faris, Laura Breckenridge, Justin Chambers, Fred Weller,
Judah Friedlander.

Best friends Bell and Belle try to get out of their trailer park
lives and into the "big city" of Atlanta. Matters become complicated
when Bell falls for a police officer and Belle struggles to keep a
job.


Waterborne Dir: Ben Rekhi; Cast: Christopher Masterson,
Jake Muxworthy, Ajay Naidu, Magiena Tovah, Shabana Azmi, Jon Gries.


Three sets of L.A. residents unexpectedly throw their lives and
destinies together after a terrorist attack against the city's water
supply.


Documentary Feature Competition

A Life Without Pain Dir: Melody Gilbert.

An exploration of three families, each suffering with children
that can feel no pain.


The Boys of Baraka Dir: Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady.

Twenty 12-year-old boys from the roughest ghettos of inner-city
Baltimore left home for Kenya, East Africa to attend the 7th and 8th
grade at the Baraka School, an experimental boarding academy.


The Comedians of Comedy Dir: Michael Blieden.

Life on the road as four stand-up comics struggle to bring
cutting-edge comedy to venues across America.


Cowboy Del Amor Dir: Michele Ohayon.

Professional Cupid and former cowboy Ivan Thompson finds Mexican
wives for disillusioned American men. Claiming love has no borders,
the men are in for a few surprises.


Our Brand is Crisis Dir: Rachel Boynton.

The verite story of the rise and fall of the last President of
Bolivia, focusing on his James Carville-led American political
consultants as they work to get him elected.


Pucker Up Dir: Kate Davis and David Heilbroner.

A wild crew of passionate whistlers - including a turkey hauler,
an investment banker and a Dutch social worker - keep this lost art
alive as they descend on Louisburg, NC for the 31st annual Whistling
Competition.


Stagedoor Dir: Alexandra Shiva.

250 kids, ages 8 to 18, put on 12 shows in three weeks at
Stagedoor Manor, a theater camp in the Catskills where they come to
bask in the glow of their personal spotlight - or escape from it.


Strange Fruit Dir: Regis Trigano.

In May of 2003, a young African-American man was found hanging in
a tree in the rural Florida town of Belle Glade. While the family
claimed their son was lynched, the police ruled the suspicious death
a suicide.


Emerging Visions

cl.one Dir: Jason Tomaric; Cast: Jeff St. Clair, Gary
Skiba, James Kisicki, Bill Caco.

Mourning the death of his daughter, a chancellor of the future
must find the one person whose genetic structure can bring life to
thousands of dormant human clones.


Four Eyed Monsters Dir: Nira Nasus; Cast: Nira Nasus.

"I want a relationship but I don't want a relationship." "I want
someone but I don't want a struggle." "I want to be okay if I'm
alone." "I want to not have to want." "I'm looking for someone who is
looking for the same."


Highway Courtesans Dir: Mystelle Brabbee

What happens when an independent-minded young girl is born into a
centuries-old tradition of prostitution? Against the rich backdrop of
rural India, this documentary follows Guddi Chauhan from the age of
17 through 23 as she struggles against tradition.


Kissing On The Mouth Dir: Joe Swanberg; Cast: Kate
Winterich, Joe Swanberg, Kevin Pittman, Kris Williams.

Ellen is sleeping with her ex-boyfriend while trying to ignore the
fact that he's looking for more than just sex. Her roommate, Patrick,
isn't helping matters with his secretive and jealous behavior.


Mirage Dir: Svetozar Ristovski; Cast: Marko Kovacevic.

Amidst Macedonia's tumultuous transition, a boy escapes into his
world of hopes and dreams. Circumstances worsen and the boy takes
matters into his own hands.


Occupation: Dreamland Dir: Garrett Scott and Ian Olds.

A documentary profile of a unit in the US Army's 82nd Airborne
Division while deployed in Falluja, Iraq in early 2004. During
daylight patrols, home raids and downtime in their bungalows, the
soldiers reveal conflicted and complex feelings about their duty and
purpose.


The Puffy Chair Dir: Jay Duplass; Cast: Mark Duplass,
Kathryn Aselton, Rhett Wilkins.

One man, his girlfriend, and his eccentric brother embark on a
comical road trip to deliver one giant purple puffy chair.


Straight Line Dir: Sean Ackerman; Cast: Sean Ackerman,
Shannon Shultz, Monika Franzen, Sam Baker.

When Sophie leaves Bobby to follow her dream of going to Panama,
Bobby decides to follow her in his old Buick, driving from Montana to
Panama. Along the way, the search for Sophie becomes a search to find
himself and come to terms with his mother's death.


Spotlight

A Hole in My Heart Dir: Lukas Moodysson; Cast: Björn
Almroth, Sanna Bråding, Horsten Flinc, Goran Marjanovic.

In a run-down apartment, a teenager watches his father and friend
shoot an amateur porn film as they explore issues of morality,
reality TV, and friendship.


The Ballad of Jack and Rose Dir: Rebecca Miller; Cast:
Daniel Day-Lewis, Camilla Belle, Catherine Keener, Paul Dano, Jena
Malone, Beau Bridges.

Jack has sheltered his teenage daughter Rose from the influences
of the outside world, but now his fatal illness and Rose's emerging
womanhood pose troubling questions about the days ahead.


Code 33 Dir: Michael Galinsky, Suki Hawley, David
Beilinson, Zachary Werner.

Cameras follow two detectives as they lead a manhunt to find
Miami's notorious serial rapist.


Culture Clash in America Dir: Emilio Estevez.

A performance film from the live tour of acting troupe Culture
Clash. Through various characters and monologues, the trio explores
American culture and stereotypes.


The Dreams of Sparrows Dir: Hayder Mousa Daffar.

A team of Iraqi filmmakers document a perspective of their
country, after the capture of Saddam Hussein and before the
reconstruction.


Drop Dead Sexy Dir: Michael Philip; Cast: Crispin Glover,
Jason Lee, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Melissa Keller, Xander Berkeley.

When their money scam goes awry, a group of would-be thieves turn
to kidnapping in an attempt to blackmail their target.


Dust to Glory Dir: Dana Brown.

Every fall since 1967 a hearty and eclectic band of adventurers
have gathered in Ensenada, Mexico in Baja California for one of the
roughest, toughest and most exhilarating rides ever concocted.


The Edukators Dir: Hans Weingartner; Cast: Daniel
Brühl, Julia Jentsch, Stipe Erceg.

Three activists hatch a kidnapping plot after they encounter a
businessman in his home.


Emmanuel's Gift Dir: Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern.

Of the 20 million people in Ghana, two million are disabled. This
is the story of one disabled man whose mission - and purpose - is to
change all that forever.


Enron: The Smartest Guy in the Room Dir: Alex Gibney.

This is the inside story of one of history's greatest business
scandals, in which top executives of America's 7th largest company
walked away with over one billion dollars while investors and
employees lost everything.


The Grace Lee Project Dir: Grace Lee.

A humorous documentary essay that contrasts the world of
stereotypes with the real-life experiences of several women named
Grace Lee, a very common Asian American name.


The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things Dir: Asia Argento;
Cast: TK

A young boy is pulled from his foster home and finds himself on
the road with his teenage mother as they encounter disturbing
characters.


High School Record Dir: Ben Wolfinsohn; Cast: Jenna
Thornhill, Dean Allen Spunt, Bobby Sandoval, Jennifer Clavin.

Like most high school students, these four ride a continual wave
of embarrassment: crappy after-school jobs, attempted sex in the
science room, tinfoil shorts, guitar-strumming hippie teachers, and
brushes with the law.


Kontroll Dir: Nimrod Antal; Cast: Sándor
Badár, Eszter Balla, Sándor Csányi, Lajos
Kovács.

A humorous and suspenseful tale of rival ticket inspectors in
Hungary's underground transit system.


Kung Fu Hustle Dir: Stephen Chow; Cast: TK

1940s China is transformed into a world of action-packed hysteria
as gangsters use superhuman strength to battle over their turf.


The Last Mogul Dir: Barry Avrich.

A biography of the fascinating life of legendary Hollywood player
Lew Wasserman as he built an empire still thriving today.


Layer Cake Dir: Matthew Vaughn; Cast: Daniel Craig, Colm
Meaney, Kenneth Cranham, George Harris, Jamie Foreman, Sienna Miller.

A successful cocaine dealer planning an early retirement is lured
back into business by a love interest and an international drug ring.



The Life and Times of Guy Terrifico Dir: Michael Mabbott;
Cast: TK

A faux documentary about the rise and fall of fictional
country/western singer Guy Terrifico, featuring some legendary
real-life balladeers.


Lila Says Dir: Ziad Doueiri; Cast: Vahina Giocante,
Mohammed Khouas, Karim Ben Haddou, Lotfi Chakri.

The sexual awakening of two teenagers in France is only heightened
by the forward advances of a girl named Lila.


Mana: Beyond Belief Dir: Peter Friedman and Roger Manley.

What do the American flag, a cherry blossom tree, a frozen tuna,
and a Rembrandt painting have in common? They are all "power
objects."


Murderball Dir: Harry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro.

Murderball, now called "quad rugby," is a highly competitive,
physically violent game played in armored wheelchairs worthy of Mad
Max. Following the quadriplegic players, this is a film that will
shatter every stereotype you have ever had about what it is to be
handicapped.


Old Boy Dir: Chan-wook Park; Cast: Choi Min-sik, Yoo
Ji-tae, Gang Hye-jung.

A man is mysteriously kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years before
his release. Once out in the real world, he enacts his revenge on
those who seek to punish him.


Palindromes Dir: Todd Solondz; Cast: Ellen Barkin,
Jennifer Jason Leigh, Richard Masur.

Aviva is an awkward young girl, navigating through a bizarre set
of characters and a disturbing trail of events.


Promedio Rojo Dir: Nicolas Lopez.

Roberto is a freak addicted to comics. He uses them to escape his
sad reality. He finds that love, besides being blind, is also hard of
hearing.


Reel Paradise Dir: Steve James.

A portrait of the Pierson family, as they leave their film
industry lives in New York to run a remote movie theater in Fiji.



Saint Ralph Dir: Michael McGowan; Cast: Campbell Scott,
Jennifer Tilly, Adam Butcher.

The beautifully bittersweet story of a boy who has the temerity to
believe he can make a miracle happen.


Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic Dir: Liam Lynch.

The controversial and acclaimed comedian riffs on everything from
religion, sex, 9/11, and more.


The Self-Made Man Dir: Susan Stern.

77-year-old Bob Stern finds out he's seriously ill - possibly
terminal, and decides to take his own life. His family tries to stop
him. But first, they set up a video camera.


Seoul Train Dir: Jim Butterworth, Aaron Lubarsky, Lisa
Sleeth.

With its riveting footage of a secretive underground railroad,
this gripping documentary exposes the life and death of North Koreans
as they try to escape their homeland and China.


Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party Dir: Robert Brinkmann.


Normally out of the limelight, character actor Stephen Tobolowsky
is front and center in a performance at his birthday party recounting
stories of his experiences behind the scenes of Hollywood movies.


Tell Them Who You Are Dir: Mark Wexler.

The son of acclaimed cinematographer Haskell Wexler confronts his
complex father by turning the camera on him.


The Thing About My Folks Dir: Raymond DeFelitta; Cast:
Peter Falk, Paul Reiser, Olympia Dukakis, Elizabeth Perkins.

The story of a father and son who, over the course of several
stressful yet meaningful days, rediscover their love for each other
while coping with a family crisis.


The Wendell Baker Story Dir: Luke and Andrew Wilson; Cast:
Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Eva Mendes, Eddie Griffin.

Wendell Baker is a good-natured ex-con who tries to win back his
ex-girlfriend while fighting corruption at a retirement community.



24 Beats Per Second

All We Are Saying Dir: Rosanna Arquette.

A compilation of thousands of hours of footage from in-depth
personal interviews with the greatest icons in musical history.


Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt Dir:
Margaret Brown.

The bittersweet, tragic and destructive life of one of the most
respected songwriters in the history of country music.


Derailroaded Dir: Josh Rubin.

The daily life and chaotic history of an unlikely rock 'n' roll
icon, suffering from a rare form of self-sabotage.


The Devil and Daniel Johnston Dir: Jeff Feuerzeig.

An intimate portrait of the incredibly strange but true life of
underground songwriter, illustrator, and cult hero Daniel Johnston.


The Fearless Freaks Dir: Bradley Beesley.

From college radio staples to international rock stars, here's the
story of how some Oklahoma boys called The Flaming Lips changed the
face of indie rock.


Press On Dir: Gillian Grisman.

An entertaining look at how one church and an obscure instrument
turned Robert Randolph & the Family Band into celebrities.


Rock School Dir: Don Argott.

Everyone at some point in their life dreams of being a rock star -
to feel the roar of the crowd, the adoration of the fans, and the
trials of life on the road. One can only imagine fulfilling this
fantasy as a kid.


Scratch: All the Way Live Dir: Doug Pray.

From the creators of the doumentary film, "Scratch," comes an
explosive live concert film which documents the Los Angeles stop of
the Scratch Tour.


You're Gonna Miss Me Dir: Keven McAlester.

The story of rock legend Roky Erickson: A manic singer who was
Janis Joplin's primary influence, fronting a band called the 13th
Floor Elevators, considered by many to be the creators of
psychedelic music.


Lone Star States

Automatic Dir: Jonathan Walls; Cast: Jamie Anne Brown,
Jennifer Ferguson, Brandy Howard, Sean O'Bryan.

Six people at different stages of life and love, driven by various
motives, desires and emotions such as half-sisters and brothers,
dreams; shattered and unshattered, and second chances.


Deadroom Dir: Yen Tan, James M. Johnston, Nick Prendergast,
David Lowery.

In this tragic tale, a man helps a young woman remember her past.
A husband and wife confront each other about their infidelities. A
journalist interviews a famous author about the mysteries hidden in
his novel. A girl visits her former colleague to tell him how much
she's always loved him.


The Education of Shelby Knox Dir: Marion Lipschutz, Rose
Rosenblatt.

This documentary follows a high school student as she battles the
line between her conservative community and her liberal beliefs in
Lubbock, Texas.


Fall to Grace Dir: Mari Marchbanks; Cast: Kira Pozehl,
Jessica Roque, Gabriel Luna, Bhagirit Crow.

This intricate narrative subtly plots its way through the lives of
three teens and their families, showing the connections that turn
disparate households into a neighborhood.


La Sierra Dir: Scott Dalton.

An intimate, unflinching portrait of three lives defined by
violence, and a community wracked by conflict. Over the course of a
year, in a Columbian barrio where thousands are killed each year,
these lives each undergo profound changes ranging from victory, to
death, to hope.


Light from the East Dir: Amy Grappell.

In August, 1991 a troupe of young American actors travel to
Ukraine to participate in one of the first cultural exchange theatre
projects in Soviet history.


Troop 1500 Dir: Ellen Spiro.

The story of a unique girl scout troop whose mothers are in prison
in Gatesville, Texas.


Discoveries From Down Under

Giving it All Away Dir: Paul Davidson.

The remarkable story of philanthropist Sir Roy McKenzie and his
father JR. A beautifully crafted film telling a story of wealth,
achievement, generosity and caring about others.


Josh Jarman Dir: Pip Mushin.

Josh Jarman is a struggling playwright desperate to make it big.
One day, out of the blue, Josh's luck changes.


Somersault Dir: Cate Shortland; Cast: Abbie Cornish, Sam
Worthington, Lynette Curran, Erik Thomson.

New experiences help a young girl learn the differences between
sex and love.


Thunderstruck Dir: Darren Ashton.

Five boys, all devoted AC/DC fans, make a pact to bury their best
friend next to the grave of Bon Scott.


'Round Midnight

The Aristocrats Dir: Paul Provenza.

Dozens of famous comedians tell different variations of the same,
legendary joke in filthy and graphic detail.


Dead Birds Dir: Alex Turner; Cast: Henry Thomas, Isaiah
Washington, Patrick Fugit, Nicki Lynn Aycox.

After robbing a bank, a group of Confederate soldiers seek refuge
in an abandoned plantation haunted by supernatural forces.


Reeker Dir: David Payne; Cast: Eric Mabius, Scott Whyte,
Tina Illman, Derek Richardson, Devon Gummersall.

When a lonely highway is inexplicably closed, five students
sharing a ride to a desert rave find themselves trapped at a recently
deserted travel oasis. Led by a blind grad student with heightened
senses, they must survive the night and confront what appears to be
a terrifying abyss between the living and the dead.


The Roost Dir: Ti West.

Four friends on their way to a wedding find themselves marooned on
a mysterious farm. Creatures of the night awaken and the undead rise,
as a night of relentless horror begins.


Unleashed Dir: Louis Leterrier; Cast: Jet Li, Morgan
Freeman, Bob Hoskins, Kerry Condon.

Danny, is raised by a gangster to be a violent killing machine.
When he has a chance encounter with a blind piano tuner, he
experiences true kindness and compassion for the first time - and
breaks from the underworld to go live with the piano tuner and his
family.

posted by Erin @ Wednesday, February 16, 2005