Getting off the plane in Austin and seeing a sea of people everywhere, even running into a filmmaker that I have known for years mere moments after I step off the plane and hit the washroom, Austin just keeps on being weird every single year. It feels like I discover something new every corner I turn and yet am also missing so many other things at the same time.
This is my 16th year attending the festival and post pandemic, SxSW has really grown back again into a festival experience that I can’t even begin to put into words. I fly down every year from my small house in Western Canada just to attend and even through two long plane rides and lots of coffee and this festival getting bigger and bigger every year, I still wouldn’t miss SxSW for the world.
I’m back in Austin as I sit down and write this, and just the feeling of the city and the atmosphere, I just know I’m going to get lost in all of it yet again. When I attend the Toronto International Film Festival every year and I love that city for its movies and culture, I’m also just bouncing from one screening venue to the next in the 14 screen Scotiabank Toronto cinema with the long escalator. Here, I’m watching movies at the classic Paramount and Stateside venues on Congress Street, running back and forth to the conference centre for coffee with street activity all over the place and then taking the shuttle over to the world famous Alamo Drafthouse for a burger and a shake with the movie.
A bit of light controversy this year is the opening night movie ROAD HOUSE, Doug Liman’s new take on the cult 1989 classic starring the late, great Patrick Swayze. Jake Gyllenhaal takes on the Dalton role this time around and seems like a much more modernized take on the original. ROAD HOUSE was made through Liman and MGM, which was purchased by Amazon in the process of making the movie. Amazon decided to release the movie straight to its streaming service on March 21st instead of bringing it out to cinemas, much to the anger of Mr. Liman. I totally agree with this opinion that movies should be shown in a cinema first, and this is also coming from someone who loves seeing movies at home as well.
Still, I plan to attend the screening because there’s nothing quite like watching a movie in the 1,200 seat Paramount venue with an excited audience, and of course I also back the programming team who all knew this would be the movie to kick off the festival. Watch on here for our reaction as soon as we can post one after the show!
And this isn’t just the only big movie here in Austin. There is also lots of excitement for Alex Garland’s CIVIL WAR, which is a very timely story about what happens when politics break down and it’s every person for themselves. Garland was here many years ago for his premiere of EX MACHINA and is known for his unique style of storytelling. There’s also a lot of buzz for Dev Patel’s directorial debut MONKEY MAN which blew the minds of a lot of people when the recent trailer was released. There MIGHT be a little bit of action and mayhem in the movie. I’m just saying.
And it isn’t just the big premieres either! There are docs big and small, locally produced features and of course the Midnight selections, which I know my fellow writer Antonio Quintero is excited for. My team also plans to visit as many parties, activations and find a bit of free food and drink around the area whenever possible!
Happy SxSW 2024, everybody!
Throughout the festival we will have reaction reviews from myself and contributors Anna Hanks, Antonio Quintero and Steve Hopson! Be sure to hit our hashtag to read all of our reviews as they go up. You can also follow me on Instagram at jason.whyte for updates and stories.
For more information on all of the movies and events, point your browser to www.sxsw.com!
I just heard you chatting with Ryan Price on CFAX radio in Victoria. I had wondered where you had gone. Nice to hear you on the radio again.
Ronnie