I had the pleasure of being back in Austin for the fourth time for the SXSW Film and TV Festival, which began on Friday, March 8th and officially concluded Sunday, March 17th. During my time there, I got to see 27 in-person films and screened 17 additional films, as well as the first two episodes of season three of Hacks, which premieres in May on Max (and is just as good as ever).
As usual, most of what I saw was really terrific. It was good to see major releases like Monkey Man and Civil War ahead of their theatrical releases with an enthusiastic crowd, though neither compared in quality to The Fall Guy, which was a lot of fun. Two streaming releases coming next month also make my top ten, and I’ll hope they’ll translate well to audiences watching at home...
For my “jury of one,” here are my top ten films and a few other assorted honors. My reviews, if available, are hyperlinked, as well as applicable notes on distribution.
Best Director: Greg Jardin, It’s What’s Inside
Best Actor: Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Best Actress: Sofia Black-D'Elia, I Love You Forever
Best Supporting Actor: Justin H. Min, The Greatest Hits
Best Supporting Actress: Michelle Buteau, Babes
Best Screenplay: Babes
Best Cinematography: 7 Keys
Best Ensemble Cast: It’s What’s Inside
Top 5 Documentaries:
Special Award for Comic Relief MVP: Arturo Castro, Road House
(All images courtesy of SXSW)
If you were at SXSW, what did you see? If not, what are you most looking forward to?