10 Films We Can't Wait To See At SXSW 2021

By Pajiba Staff | Film | March 16, 2021 |

By Pajiba Staff | Film | March 16, 2021 |

Today, SXSW 2021 kicks off a virtual film festival that allows all of us in lockdown to join in the fun. With so many movies to choose from, we’re highlighting some that have us salivating as if they were a big bowl of queso. Whether you’re craving pulse-raising horror, mind-blowing documentaries, or heart-wrenching dramas, we’ve got you covered.

Alien on Stage

If you miss live theater, you won’t want to miss this charming documentary about big dreams, alien invasion, and bus drivers. Documentarians Lucy Harvey and Danielle Kummer followed a band of British bus drivers as they prepared to bring the sci-fi classic Alien to the stage, chestbursters and all.

Broadcast Signal Intrusion

Jacob Gentry directs Harry Shum Jr., who plays a ’90s video archivist, who becomes obsessed once he uncovers a pirate signal. Has he stumbled onto a dark conspiracy? We can’t wait to find out!

Clerk

Kevin Smith thrilled Generation X with his foul-mouthed indie comedies, from Clerks to Mallrats, Chasing Amy to Dogma, we. This doc explores his life and career, jorts and all.

The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson

Leah Purcell writes, directs, and stars this Australian Western, which follows a resilient bushwoman, who not only must care for her kids and run the farm while her husband is away, but also has to combat crushing loneliness. You had us at female-fronted Western.

The Feast

Folk horror gets a Welsh flavor in Lee Haven Jones’s Midnight movie. Annes Elwy stars as a young woman asked to play maid to a wealthy family’s fancy dinner party. Little do they know this meal will be their last.

Language Lessons

Mark Duplass and Natalie Morales co-wrote and co-star in drama about a Spanish teacher who develops an unexpected friendship with a student. Props to Morales, she also makes her feature directorial debut here!

Ludi

In Miami’s Little Haiti, a diligent nurse (Shein Mompremier) seeks the American Dream and her own self-worth, while battling with clients, co-workers, and one wily bus driver. Edson Jean directs.

Sound of Violence

Written and directed by Alex Noyer, this Midnight section stunner stars Jasmin Savoy Brown as a young musician, who is building her opus with sounds of suffering. It’s not spoilers to assure there will be blood.

United States vs. Reality Winner

Enemies of the State director Sonia Kennebeck explores the stranger-than-fiction story of Reality Winner, a former intelligence specialist who turned whistleblower, becoming a polarizing figure in the Trump-Russia Investigation. If you’re a news junkie, or even just a devotee of Dustin’s daily politics posts, considered this required viewing.

Violet

Justine Bateman writes and directs this drama, which stars Olivia Munn as film development executive, who begins to doubt her inner voice. That voice is played by Justin Theroux, naturally.

What are you most stoked to see?