SXSW Film 2016 Unveils Early Highlights, From Jeff Nichols’ ‘Midnight Special’ to Seth Rogen’s ‘Preacher’

The 23rd SXSW Film Conference and Festival has just announced some of the highlights that will be hitting Austin, Texas this March. From Jeff Nichols’ “Midnight Special” to Athina Rachel Tsangari’s festival favorite “Chevalier,” the new additions to the festival showcase the diverse range of topics and filmmakers that make SXSW so unique.

“These smart, stylish and diverse offerings from some of the most exciting talent working today reflect what the SXSW audiences have come to expect: great stories, well told,” said Janet Pierson, Head of SXSW Film.

The six titles below all join the previously announced opener “Everybody Wants Some.” The Richard Linklater comedy will open the film festival on March 11. SXSW 2016 runs through March 20. Future lineup announcements will take place on February 2 (Feature Films) and February 9 (Midnighters, Short Films, Music Videos).

All synopses and information below are provided by SXSW.

“Beware the Slenderman” (World Premiere)

Director: Irene Taylor Brodsky

In this horrifyingly modern fairytale lurks an online Boogeyman and two 12-year-old girls who would kill for him. The entrance to the internet quickly leads to its darkest basement. How responsible are our children for what they find there?

“Chevalier”
Director: Athina Rachel Tsangari
Screenwriters: Efthimis Filippou, Athina Rachel Tsangari
Six men on a fishing trip on a luxury yacht decide to play a game to compete. Things will be compared. Things will be measured. Songs will be butchered, blood will be tested. Friends will become rivals and rivals will become hungry. (Greece)Cast: Yorgos Kentros, Panos Koronis, Vangelis Mourikis, Makis Papadimitriou, Yorgos Pirpassopoulos, Sakis Rouvas

“Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru” (World Premiere)

Director: Joe Berlinger

Granted unprecedented access, Berlinger captures renowned life and business strategist Tony Robbins behind the scenes of his mega seminar Date with Destiny, pulling back the curtain on this life-altering and controversial event, the zealous participants and the man himself.

“Midnight Special” (North American Premiere)
Director/Screenwriter: Jeff Nichols
A father goes on the run to protect his young son and uncover the truth behind the boy’s special powers in the sci-fi thriller Midnight Special, a film as supernatural as it is intimately human
Cast: Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver, Jaeden Lieberher, Sam Shepard

“Pee-wee’s Big Holiday” (World Premiere)

Director: John Lee
Screenwriters: Paul Reubens, Paul Rust

In Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, a fateful meeting with a mysterious stranger inspires Pee-wee Herman to take his first-ever holiday in this epic story of friendship and destiny.

Cast: Paul Reubens, Joe Manganiello, Jessica Pohly, Alia Shawkat, Stephanie Beatriz

“Preacher” (World Premiere)

Directors: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg
Screenwriter: Sam Catlin

Preacher is a supernatural, twisted and darkly comedic drama that follows a West Texas preacher named Jesse Custer, who – along with his ex-girlfriend Tulip and an Irish vagabond named Cassidy – is thrust into a crazy world, much bigger than he is.

Cast: Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun, Ian Colletti, W. Earl Brown, Lucy Griffiths

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SXSW Film 2016 Unveils Early Highlights, From Jeff Nichols’ ‘Midnight Special’ to Seth Rogen’s ‘Preacher’

SXSW Film 2016 Unveils Early Highlights, From Jeff Nichols' 'Midnight Special' to Seth Rogen's 'Preacher'