WFF Alumni and Friends at SXSW 2022
After being canceled in 2020 and moved to a digital format in 2021, South by Southwest (SXSW) returns to Austin, Texas with a smorgasbord of film screenings, concerts, conferences and other special events. Whether you’re tuning in on your computer or attending in-person, don’t miss these film projects from our wonderful network of alumni and friends:
TO LESLIE
Produced by WFF Board member Claude dal Farra, Michael Morris’ TO LESLIE centers on a struggling Texan single mom who attempts to reboot her life after blowing all of her lottery winnings on booze and bad decisions.
APOLLO 10½: A SPACE AGE CHILDHOOD
Written and directed by 2009 WFF Honorary Maverick Award recipient Richard Linklater, APOLLO 10½: A SPACE AGE CHILDHOOD is both a coming-of-age tale and thrilling space age adventure set during the summer 1969 on the eve of the historic U.S. moon landing.
I LOVE MY DAD
Inspired by director James Morosini’s own life, I LOVE MY DAD follows a father who decides to “catfish” his estranged depressed son after being blocked on social media. The film was produced by WFF alumni Sean O’Grady who co-directed OUR AMERICAN FAMILY, which world premiered at the 2021 Woodstock Film Festival and won the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature.
MASTER OF LIGHT
Produced by 2021 WFF Honorary Maverick Award recipient Roger Ross Williams, Rosa Ruth Boesten’s MASTER OF LIGHT documents painter and ex-con George Anthony Morton who returns to his hometown with the goal of painting his family members in the style of the Dutch Old Masters.
MICKEY: THE STORY OF A MOUSE
MICKEY: THE STORY OF A MOUSE unpacks the enduring cultural significance of one of the world’s most recognizable mascots. The documentary is directed by Jeff Malmberg and produced by Morgan Neville, who are both WFF alumni.
THE LOST CITY
Directed by WFF alumni Adam Nee and Aaron Nee, THE LOST CITY follows a successful romance adventure novelist named Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) who is kidnapped by a zany billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) and tasked with finding a hidden treasure from one of her stories. Channing Tatum co-stars as Loretta’s hunky book cover model. The film already premiered but we hope to see it in theaters very soon!
THE UNKNOWN COUNTRY
In Morrisa Maltz's THE UNKNOWN COUNTRY, a grieving young woman embarks on a solo road trip from the Midwest to the Texas-Mexico border, bonding with an eccentric cast of characters amidst an increasingly surreal natural landscape. The film was executive produced by WFF Advisory Board member Gill Holland.
You can check out the full SXSW film festival program here. Congratulations to everyone who was included!