SXSW-2013-LogoIn just a few days’ time, festivalgoers will be heading out to Park City, Utah for Sundance 2013, the first big film festival of the year. Next up is the Berlinale in February. And then comes SXSW in March, out in Austin, Texas.

Sundance continues to boast a brilliant line-up, including the premieres of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut, Don Jon’s Addiction; David Lowery’s Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, with Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara, and Ben Foster; Zal Batmanglij’s The East, with Alexander Skarsgård, Ellen Page, Brit Marling, and Toby Kebbell; Drake Doremus’ Breathe In, with Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce; and so much more.

And now SXSW has started to announce what films we can look forward to out in Austin this spring, with the initial line-up including the world premiere of Don Scardino’s The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, starring Jim Carrey and Steve Carell, which has been selected for the Opening Night Film. The first trailer for the film landed just before Christmas, and gave us a lot to look forward to.

Also making its world premiere will be Joe Swanberg’s anticipated Drinking Buddies, starring Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Ron Livingstone, and Swanberg himself. With a leading cast as amazing as that, you can only expect good things.

Fede Alvarez’ Evil Dead will similarly be premiering out in Texas, marking the anticipated remake of the classic Sam Raimi horror film. The latest red-band trailer that debuted earlier this month promises an awesome entry into the genre, and we can’t wait for its arrival.

Alex Winter’s documentary, Downloaded, will be getting its world premiere at the festival, alongside Max Barron’s and Michael Woodward’s Everyone’s Going to Die, and Ryan White’s documentary, Good Ol’ Freda.

And to top it off, Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers will be getting its US premiere out in Texas, with its fine leading cast headed up by Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, James Franco, Ashley Benson, and Rachel Korine. The film has been dividing critics on its festival circuit tour so far, and it will be interesting to see how it’s received for the first time in the States.

SXSW Film 2013 will be held out in Austin, Texas from 8th – 16th March. And judging by this first line-up, it’s going to be another brilliant year for festivalgoers heading to Texas in two months’ time.

 

 

Downloaded (World Premiere)
Director: Alex Winter

Downloaded is a documentary that explores the rise and fall of Napster and the birth of the digital revolution. It’s about the teens that helped start this revolution, and the artists and industries who continue to be impacted by it.

Drinking Buddies (World Premiere)
Director/Screenwriter: Joe Swanberg

You know what makes the line between “Friends” and “More Than Friends” really blurry? Beer.

Cast: Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Ron Livingston, Joe Swanberg

Everyone’s Going to Die (World Premiere)
Director/Screenwriter: Jones

A guy whose life is falling apart, meets a girl whose life can’t get started. Two people, one chance, a million reasons why not. A story of weirdness and redemption with talking cats, roller-skating beavers and nobody dying.

Cast: Nora Tschirner, Rob Knighton, Kellie Shirley, Madeline Duggan, Stirling Gallacher

Evil Dead (World Premiere)
Director: Fede Alvarez, Screenwriters: Fede Alvarez & Rodo Sayagues

Five friends, holed up in a remote cabin, discover a Book of the Dead that unwittingly summons up dormant demons which possess the youngsters in succession until only one is left to fight for survival.

Cast: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas, Elizabeth Blackmore

Good Ol’ Freda (World Premiere)
Director: Ryan White

Good Ol’ Freda tells the story of Freda Kelly, a shy Liverpudlian teenager asked to work for a young local band hoping to make it big: the Beatles. Their loyal secretary from beginning to end, Freda tells her tales for the first time in 50 years.

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (World Premiere)
Director: Don Scardino, Story by Chad Kultgen & Tyler Mitchell and Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley. Screenplay by Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley

As superstar Vegas magicians and former best friends Burt and Anton grow to secretly loathe each other, their long-time act implodes, allowing an ambitious rival street performer the big break he’s been waiting for.

Cast: Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Olivia Wilde, with Alan Arkin, James Gandolfini and Jim Carrey

Spring Breakers (US Premiere)
Director/Screenwriter: Harmony Korine

Four sexy college girls plan to fund their spring break getaway by burglarizing a fast food shack. But that’s only the beginning…

Cast: James Franco, Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine, Gucci Mane

 

We’re also pleased to reveal some awesome new additions to the SXSW Film Conference lineup, as well as emerging details of the inaugural Fastball Speed Pitches event at the new SXSW Film Startup Alley

Major new additions to the 2013 Conference include:

A Conversation with Matthew McConaughey

An in-depth discussion with the incredibly fascinating actor, whose career continues to evolve in exciting and unexpected ways, including his bold choices with recent projects like *Magic Mike*, *Killer Joe*, *Bernie* and *Mud*.

Humanizing Heroes: Storytelling Beyond Sports

The leading authorities behind some of today’s most notable sports films, Connor Schell (ESPN Films), Ken Rodgers (NFL Films) and Ross Greenburg (Ross Greenburg Productions), discuss the evolution of storytelling in sports filmmaking, its influence on pop culture and its continued resonance across all cultures and backgrounds.

Bates Motel: Story to Screen with Carlton Cuse

In a Special Event combining the SXSW Film Festival and Conference in one, attendees will get an exclusive first look at the pilot of Bates Motel, the thrilling new series from A&E. Following the screening, Executive Producer Carlton Cuse (Lost) will sit down with A&E Marketing EVP Guy Slattery for an inside look and Q&A on the process for bringing this contemporary prequel to life.

Jeffrey Tambor’s Acting Workshop

Jeffrey Tambor continues the tradition of his much loved acting and life workshop by returning to SXSW Film 2013. Part one-man show, part seminar, part question and answer and endlessly entertaining, Jeffrey’s hilarious and empowering presentation inspires the viewer to discover the artist within.

Jacob Soboroff host of AMC News and host/producer of HuffPost Live, will emcee the Fastball Speed Pitches at Startup Alley. Additions to that lineup also include Franklin Leonard, Founder and CEO of The Black List, who will speak on a panel focusing on entrepreneurs shaping the entertainment industry.