The Anticipation is killing me.

Welcome all SXSW faithful fans, devoted film buffs, and  those just SX-curious. This is where it all begins; the big cinematic enchilada. Soon we will be standing in lines, chatting it up, eating Drafthouse food and drinking beers at the Paramount, attending panels and parties (well, probably not badge-less me, but still).... all in anticipation and celebration of sampling the fantastic variety of unique independent films we are privy to during this week when Austin offers itself up as a cultural carnival.

Not being the most tech-savvy person, I will be learning to post blogs and twitter daily to keep you all updated throughout the week as to my film selections, reviews, and recommendations, as well as keeping you updated on any hotspots, bizarre events, or mundane gossip I stumble across.

I will eat, drink, breath, and well, watch my way through this cinematic marathon, and I hope you will join me.

That being said, these are my top 10 selections for the SXSW film festival:

Artois the Goat  (narrative feature) 

A man searches to discover the world's greatest goat cheese and win back the heart of his sweetie.

showings:    Sun 15,  1:30 pm @ Alamo Ritz 1

                        Mon 16,  5:00 pm @ Alamo Lamar 3

                      Fri 20,  7:00 pm @ Alamo Ritz 1

Blood Trail (documentary feature) 

Looks absolutely fascinating. Follows war-photographer, Robert King across 15 years and 3 wars, exploring the motivations driving his commitment to one of the world's most dangerous and demanding professions. 

showings:   Fri 13,  9:30 pm @ Austin Convention Center

                  Mon 16,  12:00 pm @ Alamo Ritz 2

                   Wed 18,  4:30 pm @ Austin Convention Center

Burma VJ (documentary feature) 

During September 2007, as thousands of buddhist monks rally in peaceful protest in the streets of Rangoon, the events are captured by video journalists.

showings:  Sun 15,  8:45 pm @ Alamo Lamar 2

                   Wed 18,  11:30 am @ Alamo Ritz 1

Drunken Angel: the Legend of Blaze Foley (documentary feature) 

An eccentric country music legend is remembered for his inspiration and failures.

showing:   Wed 18,  7:00 pm @ Austin Convention Center 

Exterminators (narrative feature) 

A group of women meet in court mandated rage therapy. A scheme forms, and all hell breaks loose in this dark comedy. 

showings:  Fri 13,  10:00 pm @ the Paramount

                    Sun 15,  12:00 pm @ Alamo Lamar 3

                   Thur 19,  10:00 pm @ Alamo Lamar 1

Garbage Dreams (documentary feature) 

Three teenage boys growing up in the world's largest garbage village struggle to survive and find their own paths over the course of four years.

showings:  Sun 15,  4:45 pm @ Austin Convention Center

                   Mon 16,  2:30 pm @ Alamo Lamar 3

                   Thur 19,  2:45 pm @ Alamo Lamar 3

Monsters from the Id (documentary feature) 

An exploration into the ways 1950's science-fiction films inspired scientific and social advancements across the decades, and how the genre shapes our perceptions today.

showings:  Fri 13,  9:45 pm @ Alamo Lamar 3

                   Wed 18,  11:30 am @ Austin Convention Center

                   Sat 21,  2:00 pm @ Alamo Lamar 2

Love on Delivery (documentary feature) 

Mail-order brides from Thailand move to a small Danish villiage to live with their new husbands.

Ticket to Paradise (documentary feature) 

The sequel to "Love on Delivery".

both showing: Mon 16,  8:00 pm @ the Hideout

Trimpin: the Sound of Invention (documentary feature) 

Artist/inventor extraordinaire, Trimpin, plays with the boundaries of art, music, and engineering by creating massive, cacophonous installations. 

showings:  Sat 14,  7:15 pm @ Austin Convention Center

                    Mon 16,  2:00 pm @ Alamo Lamar 2

                   Fri 20,  9:00 pm @ the Paramount

Trust Us, This Is All Made Up (documentary feature) 

Two "Second-City" improv veterans share a unique partnership and legendary performances. 

showings:  Fri 13,  9:15 pm @ Alamo Ritz 2

                   Tues 17,  6:30 pm @ Alamo Ritz 1

                   Fri 20,  8:00 pm @ Alamo Ritz 2

However, to get ya started, here are a couple suggestions for the big kick-off on Friday, March 13th:

New World Order follows a group of conspiracy theorists as they maneuver through the underground world of the anti-globalist movement. Normally, I would avoid sharing a confined space, like a car or movie theatre with such a group, but the directors have earned their chops.

World premiere. showing @ 7 pm, Alamo Ritz 1.

Know Your Mushrooms is a documentary about... you guessed it: Fungi! Directed by prominent documentarian, Ron Mann, who also brought us "Comic Book Confidential".

U.S. premiere. showing @ 9:30 pm, Alamo Ritz 1.

Lake Mungo is a kind of ghost-story/thriller/family drama shot like a documentary. It seems to have potential to go either way, but I'm hoping to find it eerie and creative.

N. American premiere. showing @ 11:30 pm, Alamo Ritz 2.

and last, but certainly not least...

Ong Bak 2 is certain to offer a fun, probably bizarre, action-packed romp of martial arts, magic, and the vengeance of an orphaned boy. 

showing at 11:59 pm, Alamo Lamar 1.

All times are subject to change, as the great film shuffle of SXSW gets underway. So mark up your calendars, check off your favorites, and please offer me any suggestions of your own! I welcome any recommendations, coverage requests, celebrity gossip/sightings, or accounts of interesting panel discussions, parties, etc.

 

Oh, and save some room for fried pickles at the Drafthouse.