SXSW: Day One – Off to a Great Start with Diverse Lineup

After the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the annual South by Southwest Film & TV Festival for two years, the Austin-based fest returned stronger than ever with an in-person event in 2022. That year's highlights included premieres of future awards season contenders, like "Everything Everywhere All at Once," the big winner this past weekend at the Oscars. The indie drama "To Leslie" also had its world premiere at last year's festival, which sparked interest in star Andrea Riseborough's performance, leading her to be Oscar-nominated this year.

As SXSW has exploded in popularity since it first began in 1987, the combined film, television, music, and technology festival and conference continues to be a significant event that major studios utilize to promote their latest projects. It is also a chance for newcomers to showcase their first shorts or feature films, possibly leading to distribution deals while attending the festival. Taking place in Austin, TX, from March 10 through 19, the 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival is off to a great start!

This year's SXSW Film & TV Festival's queer offerings are as diverse as they are stunning. It all kicked off today for me with the world premiere of the narrative short film, "Funny Face." An autobiographical dramedy co-written and directed by Jude Hope Harris, "Funny Face" was featured as part of the festival's Texas Shorts Program and is competing in the Texas Shorts Competition. The movie follows Harris' experiences after her facial feminization surgery and depicts the initial meeting of her brother and his girlfriend by using Harris' actual family members to portray themselves.

"Funny Face" follows Sophie, who returns home after the surgery while still in pain and dealing with the effects of anesthesia. Sophie's girlfriend, Morgan, is a queer actor. Her brother, Randy, a country singer, and they are all present to greet her. As Sophie recovers, Morgan and Randy bond over their shared dislike of the unhelpful home nurse, Donna, during a crazy evening made tolerable by humor, love, music, and a bit of marijuana.

Jude Hope Harris is a talented trans filmmaker who tends to bring her quirky life experiences into every project she makes. "Funny Face" is no exception, and it might be the most personal the director has gotten with her audience. This film is very much about the trans experience and deals a lot with universal feelings of pain and worry while injecting a little humor into the mix. The movie benefits from its eclectic sound, original music from actor Charlie Harrison who costars in the short film, and the use of real people who portray their authentic selves.

Next on the agenda was the festival's big opening headliner: "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves." Based on the roleplaying game, the fantasy action blockbuster is a feast for the eyes in more ways than one. Featuring the handsome Chris Pine and swoon-worthy Regé-Jean Page, the ensemble cast is complemented by Michelle Rodriguez, queer actor Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, and Hugh Grant.

"Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" is pure popcorn entertainment for old-school players of the famous game and newcomers to the genre alike. There are easter eggs and inside jokes thrown in for hardcore fans, yet the humor often balances out the fantasy aspects of the film. It follows a group of thieves, sorcerers, wizards, and humans as they embark on an epic mission to recover a magic helmet, only to encounter unexpected dangers when they cross paths with unsavory characters.

There are standout performances from Michelle Rodriguez, who steals every scene, and the devilishly charming Hugh Grant. Regé-Jean Page delivers a solid comedic performance. Chris Pine is a solid lead in a movie that throws everything but the kitchen sink at the screen, often landing a joke as he commands the moment. In the post-screening Q&A, Pine noted that to prepare for the role of Edgin Darvis, he played the tabletop roleplaying game of "Dungeons & Dragons" with his nephew and famous actor father.

"Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" proves that this fantasy comedy can still be worth watching even without knowing much about the game. It's as if "Game of Thrones" went to the Renaissance Faire but, like... a lot less sex and more superpowers. Every character has an agenda, it's hard to decipher allies from villains, and the fight choreography rivals any Marvel movie of late. It's a crowd-pleasing blockbuster busy with action and enough entertainment for everyone to enjoy.

Finally, my first day at SXSW was capped off with the elegantly shot "National Anthem." In his feature film directorial debut, Luke Gilford transitions from photographer to filmmaker with a touching story about his experiences growing up around the rodeo. Actor Charlie Plummer stars as Dylan, a 21-year-old man living a mundane life in rural New Mexico. To support his younger brother and alcoholic mother, he takes on various odd jobs in construction. Dylan's life takes an unexpected turn when he accepts a job offer from a homestead run by a community of queer rodeo performers and ranchers. We see Dylan's transition from an inexperienced loner to feeling like he finally belongs.

With stunning cinematography and outstanding performances from its supporting cast, Dylan's transition becomes palpable as he is immersed in the free-spirited world of a barrel racer, Sky (Eve Lindley), and discovers himself amidst the captivating American Southwest. In a film so specifically about a subculture not talked about often in the rodeo community, "National Anthem" goes above and beyond to present the distinctive world of Queer Rodeo. Probably the first time that I can remember being shown in a movie, the lead character goes from performing in a rodeo to performing in drag in a matter of minutes. It's a stunningly authentic look at a community whose stories desperately needed to be told, and Gilford is well-equipped to be that storyteller.

"National Anthem" comes directly from Luke Gilford's life amongst friends in the Queer Rodeo. He published a photography book about these experiences, highlighting what this part of America looks like. The leap from book to the big screen seems effortless for Gilford, as he knows these subjects inside and out. Dylan and Sky's relationship is beautiful from the outside looking in. While there are hiccups that I saw coming from a mile away, Dylan's progression in this new community is met with a unique sense of connection.

With a short runtime of 99 minutes, "National Anthem" embraces its otherness and makes it mainstream. I hesitate to call it a coming-of-age story. It's more of an unraveling and discovery of something that Dylan never knew he needed. With gorgeous landscapes where the characters are making their own version of the American dream, this one was well worth the watch.

This is the first part of ongoing coverage of SWSW 2023.