SXSW Announces Closing Night Film And More Additions

With SXSW rapidly approaching, the full film lineup is starting to get rounded out.

And today we know what will not only be closing the festival, but what will also likely be some of the more buzzed about films leading up to this year’s already massively hyped festival.

SXSW has announced a few more additions to their slate, including their Closing Night film, Billy Bob Thornton’s Willie Nelson documentary, The King Of Luck.

Joining this film will be a ‘Work In Progress’ print of the upcoming Judd Apatow produced comedy Bridesmaids, the Park Chan Wook iPhone shot short film Night Fishing, and new short film from Harmony Korine, Umshini Wam.

These are definitely intriguing additions to the 2011 SXSW slate, particularly Umshini Wam, Korine’s short film.   His last feature, Trash Humpers, was this writer’s second favorite film of 2011, and this one sounds like it could be just as absurd, as it follows a pair of ‘wheelchair bound gangstas.’ Count me in.

Here’s the full list of additions:

HEADLINERS

 

The King of Luck

Director: Billy Bob Thornton

This is a documentary about Willie Nelson: the man, the songwriter, the friend, the father, legendary

performer and champion of the family farmer. (World Premiere)

 

SPECIAL EVENTS

 

Bridesmaids (Work In Progress)

Director: Paul Feig, Writers: Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig

Kristen Wiig leads the cast as Annie, a maid of honor whose life unravels as she leads her best friend, Lillian

(Maya Rudolph), and a group of colorful bridesmaids (Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendonCovey and Ellie Kemper) on a wild ride down the road to matrimony.

 

Films from R.E.M.’s Collapse Into Now followed by a Q+A with Michael Stipe

A selection of films from R.E.M.’s latest album,   ‘Collapse Into Now,’  with   films   by   notable   artists   and

filmmakers and personally curated by Michael Stipe.SXSW FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2011 CLOSING NIGHT &

 

ADD’L FEATURES

 

Night Fishing

Directors: PARKing CHANce (PARK Chan-wook, PARK Chan-kyong) (Narrative Short)

Story about the transitions between life and death brought by PARKing CHANce, the first collaboration

between PARK Chan-wook and PARK Chan-kyong. (North American Premiere)

 

The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway

Director: Marty Callner, Created and Conceived by: Paul Reubens, Written by: Paul Reubens and Bill

Steinkellner, Additional Material by: John Paragon, Also written by: Josh Meyers, John Koch and Paul Rust

Based on the original show that launched Pee-wee Herman into a pop culture icon, Paul Reubens’ beloved

character brings his Playhouse to life once again in the HBO special ‘The Pee-wee Herman Show on

Broadway.’

 

Sound & Scene: Made in Israel

SXSW Film and Wyatt Brand present a unique music/film/interactive convergence brunch, as two Israeli

bands ‘“ Eatliz and Onili ‘“ play live to   their stunning, award winning videos. GRAMMY ®-nominated directors

Yuval and Merov Nathan Skype in from Tel Aviv.

 

Umshini Wam (Narrative Short)

Director & Writer: Harmony Korine

Ninja and Yo Landi are wheelchair bound gangstas.   Their wheels   are   falling off, and they need new rims.

They must undergo extreme measures to keep rolling. (World Premiere)

 

24 BEATS PER SECOND

 

The Devil’s Box

Director: Jason Hammond

Once a year, fiddlers across the country flock to Hallettsville to compete for the title of best Texas-style

fiddler. The small town erupts into a musical jamboree in this offbeat and quirky portrait of Americana. (World

Premiere)

 

Hit So Hard

Director: P. David Ebersole

The life and near-death story of Patty Schemel, the hard-hitting openly gay drummer of HOLE whose

friendship with struggling musician Kurt Cobain unexpectedly led her to a path of fame, addiction, betrayal,

survival and triumph. (World Premiere)

 

Tell Your Friends

Director: Victor Varnado

Featuring hot up-and coming comedians Reggie Watts, Kristen Schaal & Kurt Braunohler, Liam McEneaney,

and Christian Finnegan, ‘Tell Your Friends! The Concert Film!’ does for indie comedy what ‘Woodstock’ did

for Baby Boomer rock. (World Premiere)

 

SXGLOBAL

 

Separado! (UK)

Directors: Gruff Rhys & Dylan Goch

Star   Trek meets Buena Vista Social Club in this psychedelic western musical as Welsh pop legend Gruff

Rhys (Super Furry Animals) takes us on a pan continental road trip in search of his long lost Patagonian

uncle, the poncho wearing guitarist Rene Griffiths.

 

Tunnelvision (The Netherlands)

Director: Stefano Odoardi, Writer: Sytske Kok

When the body of a little baby is found in the dirt, the rubbish dump workers soon have reason to suspect

that Mira knows more about it.   Cast:   Sanneke Bos, Serge Price, Raymond Thiry, Ergun Simsek, Teun

Kuilboer (U.S. Premiere)SXSW FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2011 CLOSING NIGHT & ADD’L FEATURES

 

MIDNIGHT SHORTS

 

Up, Up, and Away

Director: Holden Osborne

What goes up when the lights come down? (World Premiere)

 

SHORTS SCREENING WITH FEATURES

 

The Blitzen Trapper Massacre (Narrative Short)

Director: Rainn Wilson

Rainn Wilson directs and   stars   in   The Blitzen   Trapper Massacre, a new comedic short film designed to

provoke terror into  the hearts of any band that doesn’t the put the fans first.

(World Premiere)