SXSW

It’s hard not to feel a large sense of relief after reaching the end of Mark Webber‘s latest directorial piece that is Flesh and Blood. Not because the film was a tough watch (which in a way, it is), but rather because you are given the chance to leave the cinema and return to what…

When Mara (Jessica Kaye) returns to her childhood home of Belize bringing her lover Aaron (Daniel Ahearn) with the hope to reconnect with her estranged father and brother who live there. After landing, she is met with the heart-breaking news that her father has just passed away, shortly before his 70th birthday. Mara is distraught but does…

From writer, photographer and filmmaker Theo Anthony, Rat Film is a documentary that hooks you in and deserves a pedestal. The feature-length film focuses on rats and their lives as a way to explore Baltimore’s urban history and how humans interact with their world. It is clever yet confronting to see rats up close and…

If there was one thing Jiro Dreams of Sushi did, it was set a precedent that documentaries can be about literally anything. The evidence is in cable broadcasting and the phenomena of reality TV series. There are entire channels dedicated to reality TV programs, filling endless time slots with narratives on cat trainers or house…

Assuredly disturbing and revelling in its ability to flip the conventions of the serial killer genre, Ben Young‘s debut feature Hounds of Love is one for those that appreciate their stories without gloss. Counterbalancing its Christmas setting with a tale unflinching in its disturbing nature, this Australian thriller manages to escape the confinements of the “torture porn”…

More juicy showcases are being revealed for SXSW, with Pandora’s updated showcases featuring Jimmy Eat World, Future Islands, and Australia’s Tkay Maidza. The music discovery platform Pandora has lined up four days of superb showcases, which they will be livestreaming, along with artist interviews, on the Pandora at SXSW station. Tune in from March 13-16th to get the lowdown,…

It’s no grand overstatement – the House of Vans parties at SXSW are legendary. You stand the chance of seeing the likes of Erykah Badu play the intimate outdoor stage alongside Kelela and Grouplove. Inside, the party continues while the drinks flow. Mohawk plays the perfect host and has been one of our favourite haunts…

It’s SXSW time again and as Austin gears up for the influx of thousands upon thousands of people from all over the world ready to call the Texan city home until March 19th, we’ve got our sights firmly planted on the global music program that has once again, pulled together hundreds of artists primed for…

Kicking off in Austin tomorrow, this year’s SXSW has one of their most eclectic line-ups ever, full of hidden treasures through the entire line-up. Trying to cut it down to just ten picks of the event proved impossible, so here are our 11 picks of the films you can’t miss at South by Southwest 2017:…

US network AMC have revealed its biggest ever presence at SXSW in Austin, Texas, with a pop-up Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant from Better Call Saul amongst its most prominent activation at the iconic festival. The network also will have presence from their brand new series The Son and returning favourite Preacher – which originally premiered…

The musical mecca that is SXSW is fast nearing, with an amazing suite of showcases announced for the Mazda Studio at Empire, presented by SPIN, Stereogum and VIBE. Sharing the stage with some massive acts, including Danny Brown, Mastodon, The New Pornographers, Beach Slang and Chastity Belt, is Australia’s own Tkay Maidza, a mammoth accomplishment for the South Australian artist….

Melbourne’s Josh Cashman is another talented Aussie artist set for his SXSW debut in Austin this month; ahead of all the chaos, we check in to see how the new few weeks are lined up for him! Have you played SXSW before? How are you anticipating heading to Austin? This is my first time! Excited, nervous, a whole…

Elle Graham, aka Woodes, is headed to Austin for her first SXSW, despite being well-seasoned traveller to the US, this month. Already an exciting name on the Australian scene, Woodes’ music is bound to go down a treat with the Americans as part of the strong alternative and electronic contingent of Australians set to be on…

The Oh Yeah Wow team have been behind some intriguing and entertaining pieces of film for the likes of Gotye and The Paper Kites in the past, but most recently, their attention has been turned to the story of a woman and her love for a parasite. The brains behind Millington‘s music video for “Being”, in competition at SXSW…

SXSW kicks off on Friday, and among the pile of events that are set to pop-up in Austin during the festival will be a special venue set up by Amazon Prime Video, who will theme the Market & Tap (319 Colorado Street) in Downtown Austin after a number of their series – including their most…

The annual SXSW Film, Interactive and Music festival kicks off in Austin, Texas this Friday, and with it are a pile of must-attend once-in-a-lifetime events. The US film studio Lionsgate will be putting on one of these events in the form of the Lionsgate Lounge, which will be operating in Austin from the 11th to…

For Melbourne group The Elliotts, SXSW presents itself as more than just a quick overseas jaunt. Their debut in Austin is a step up and out from the open mic nights they’ve previously played in Los Angeles and no doubt, SXSW is going to be way more intense than some nights out in Cali. Still, heading over…

Russian band Tesla Boy premiered their single for “Circles” last year to much acclaim, and now its music video is being featured amongst a special selection of clips from around the world at the 2017 SXSW Film & Music Festival in Austin, Texas, for their annual Music Video Competition. In advance of the festival screenings,…

Ahead of its premiere on Friday at SXSW in Austin, Texas, we caught up with Australian born, US based director Matthew Salleh to talk about his new documentary feature, Barbecue. The film takes us to 12 countries, from Shisanyama in South Africa, to Engangsgrill in Sweden and everywhere in between to talk about meat: how…

The Sounds Australia crew have come out guns blazing for their annual line up of showcase events for SXSW this year. Always renowned for their curation of stellar emerging and established Australian talent at events the world over, this SXSW foray is not to be missed if you’re soon to be Austin-bound. The massive four showcases include…

Sydney’s Food Court have been on our radar for a few years now and we can’t wait to see them make their overseas debut at the big playground that is SXSW. Ahead of their trip to Austin, the band tells us how they’re anticipating the trip and what’s coming up for them once SXSW wraps. Have you…

A Novocastrian at heart, musician Beth Brown has found herself Stateside exploring a music career brimming with potential. Fusing blues with soul, folk and rock n roll, Brown will be bringing her entertaining set to Austin for SXSW this month. Before her official showcases, Beth tells us some more about her time in Nashville (where she is…

SXSW is weeks away and while we pack our bags for another chaotic trip of music discovery out in Austin, we’re checking in with some of the Australian artists bound for the music festival. One member of the local contingent we’re keen on seeing out in Texas is Running Touch. Having had a brilliant 2016, the musician looks…

The list of participants for this year’s SXSW Comedy Festival has now been announced. Now into its tenth edition, the festival continues it’s tradition of celebrating some of the industries best comics; whilst also introducing the industry to some of the brightest up-and-coming talents. In cooperation with the Film, Interactive and Music Festivals, SXSW has…

Vera Blue is well and truly part of the new wave of young Australian artists pushing forward with innovative and captivating pop music and luckily for Americans, Vera is headed for them next! Alongside appearances at SXSW at the top of the tour, Vera Blue will be on the road throughout America until the end of March….

More globally renowned names have been announced as speakers for the SXSW Conference this March. Already announced have been identities from across the fields of film/TV, tech and music; including the likes of Zane Lowe, Lee Daniels, Nile Rodgers and Adam Grant, while this latest announcement definitely comes packing with some more talent. For the music nerds, Fleetwood Mac‘s own Mick…

Another 21 features have been added to the SXSW Film Festival program for 2017, with James Franco’s The Disaster Artist topping the list, with the Austin event set to hold the anticipated film’s world premiere. The film is about the making of the cult classic The Room – often referred to as the Citizen Kane…

The 24th annual SXSW Film Festival will be hitting Austin, Texas on March 10th, and today they’ve announced the majority of the 125 feature films set to screen during the 9 day event. The full lineup will include 51 films from first-time filmmakers, 85 World Premieres, 11 North American Premieres and 5 U.S. Premieres. These…

The SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas has fast become one of the world’s most anticipated and influential events, with film projects big and small making their debut here. Among them in 2017 – at least from the program announced yesterday, will be three Australian films, one from New Zealand, and an American film about…

We’re two months out from SXSW 2017 and this week, the music festival organisers have dropped another fat stack of artists from around the world to get us excited. As usual, the Australian additions are impressive with the likes of All Our Exes Live in Texas, Slum Sociable, Tkay Maidza and Totally Mild featuring, while newer artists in The Coconut Kids from Adelaide…