Muristek
SXSW announced its 2022 line-up today, a total of more than 100 projects. Following is the list of nonfiction features and episodics, broken down by section:
Documentary Feature Competition:
BAD AXEBAD AXEDirector: David SievProducers: Jude Harris, Katarina Vasquez, David SievA real-time portrait of 2020 unfolds as an Asian-American family in Trump’s rural America fights to keep their restaurant and American dream alive in the face of a pandemic, Neo-Nazis, and generational scars from the Cambodian Killing Fields.
CLEANDirector: Lachlan McLeodProducers: David Elliot-Jones, Charlotte WheatonA fly-on-the-wall insight into the world of trauma cleaning through the journey of larger-than-life business owner Sandra Pankhurst and the workers at Melbourne’s Specialised Trauma Cleaning Services.
IT’S QUIETER IN THE TWILIGHTDirector: Billy MiossiProducers: Alissa Shapiro, Matt ReynoldsIn an unremarkable office space, a select group of aging engineers find themselves at the leading edge of discovery. Fighting outdated technology and time, Voyager’s flight-team pursues humankind’s greatest exploration.
MAMA BEARSDirector: Daresha KyiProducers: Laura Tatham, Daresha KyiAn intimate exploration of two “mama bears”—conservative, Christian mothers who have become fierce advocates for LGBTQ+ people—and a young lesbian whose struggle for self-acceptance exemplifies why the mama bears are so important.
MASTER OF LIGHTDirector: Rosa Ruth BoestenProducers: Roger Ross Williams, Anousha Nzume, Ilja RoomansGeorge Anthony Morton, a classical painter who spent ten years in federal prison, travels to his hometown to paint his family members, forcing him to face his past in a quest to rewrite the script of his life.
THE PEZ OUTLAWDirectors/Producers: Amy Bandlien Storkel, Bryan StorkelSteve Glew spent the 1990s smuggling rare pez dispensers into the USA from Eastern Europe, making millions of dollars – until his arch-nemesis, The Pezident, decided to destroy him.SPAZDirector/Producer: Scott LeberechtSteve ‘”Spaz” Williams is a pioneer in computer animation. His digital dinosaurs of Jurassic Park transformed Hollywood in 1993, but an appetite for anarchy and reckless disregard for authority may have cost him the recognition he deserved.
THE THIEF COLLECTORDirector: Allison OttoProducers: Caryn Capotosto, Jill Latiano Howerton, Joshua KunauUnraveling the mystery of the infamous 1985 heist of Willem de Kooning’s seminal painting, “Woman-Ochre,” one of the most audacious and puzzling crimes of a generation.
Documentary Spotlight:
CROWS ARE WHITECROWS ARE WHITEDirector: Ahsen NadeemProducers: Riel Roch-Decter, Sebastian Pardo, Ahsen Nadeem, Ben Renzon, Ryan Ahrens, Jill AhrensAfter decades of living a secret life, a filmmaker travels to a strict Japanese monastery in search of guidance but the only monk who will help him prefers ice cream and heavy metal over meditation.
DIAMOND HANDS: THE LEGEND OF WALLSTREETBETSDirectors: Drea Cooper, Zackary CanepariProducers: Gary Kout, Myles Estey, Drea Cooper, Zackary Canepari, Molly O’BrienWhen the smart money was betting GameStop would go under, an army of irreverent traders tried to take Wall Street down instead. Diamond Hands is their story. This is the legend of the subreddit, r/WallStreetBets.
FACING NOLANDirector: Bradley JacksonProducer: Russell Wayne GrovesIn the world of Major League Baseball no one has created a mythology like Nolan Ryan. Told from the point of view of the hitters who faced him and the teammates who revered him, Facing Nolan is the definitive documentary of a Texas legend.
GABBY GIFFORDS WON’T BACK DOWNDirectors: Julie Cohen, Betsy WestProducers: Lisa Erspamer, Sam JinishianA gunman ended her skyrocketing political career, but didn’t stop Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
KIDS IN THE HALL: COMEDY PUNKSDirector: Reginald HarkemaProducers: Nick McKinney, Kim CreelmanThrough never before-seen archive material, interviews with celebrities, industry insiders, rabid fans and the Kids In The Hall themselves – this documentary tells the wild story of this cult-famous comedy troupe from the 1980s to the present day.
MICKEY: THE STORY OF A MOUSEDirector: Jeff MalmbergProducers: Morgan Neville, Meghan Walsh, Chris ShellenAn exploration of Mickey Mouse’s significance, getting to the core of what Mickey’s cultural impact says about each of us and about our world.
MORE THAN ROBOTSDirector: Gillian JacobsProducers: Jason Sterman, David Gelb, Brian McGinnFour teams of teenagers from around the world prepare for the 2020 First Robotics Competition, but in a year like no other, the kids learn that there is more to the competition than just robots.
NOTHING LASTS FOREVERDirector: Jason KohnProducers: Amanda Branson Gill, Jared GoldmanWhen filmmaker Jason Kohn infiltrates the secretive diamond industry, he uncovers a massive criminal conspiracy that threatens not only the value of every diamond ever mined but also the universal symbol of love – the engagement ring.
SHOUTING DOWN MIDNIGHTDirector: Gretchen StoeltjeProducers: Kristi Frazier, Katy Drake BetterBoth cautionary tale and rallying cry, Shouting Down Midnight recounts how the Wendy Davis filibuster of 2013 galvanized a new generation of activists and reveals what is at stake for us all in the struggle for reproductive freedom.
SKATE DREAMSDirector: Jessica EdwardsProducers: Erin Owens, Jessica EdwardsThe rise of women’s skateboarding, profiling a group of women whose pursuit of self-expression, equality, and freedom have created an international movement of independence and empowerment.
SPLIT AT THE ROOTDirector: Linda Goldstein KnowltonProducers: Maria Grasso, Linda Goldstein Knowlton, Miranda BaileyWhen a Guatemalan mother seeking asylum was separated from her kids under Zero Tolerance Policy, a group of women sprang into action.
STILL WORKING 9 TO 5Directors/Producers: Camille Hardman, Gary LaneAn exploration of why workplace inequality is no laughing matter in the 40 years since the seminal comedy, 9 TO 5, was released in 1980.
TONY HAWK: UNTIL THE WHEELS FALL OFFDirector/Producer: Sam JonesAn intimate, revealing and visceral deep dive into the life of skateboarder Tony Hawk.
UNDER THE INFLUENCEDirector: Casey NeistatProducers: Christine Vachon, Casey Neistat, Mason PlottsThe rise and fall of the biggest YouTuber in the world whose feel-good videos masked the dark and reckless new ethos of online celebrity culture.
WE ARE NOT GHOULSDirector: Chris James ThompsonProducers: Jessica Farrell, Jack Turner, Andrew SwantUS Air Force JAG Attorney Yvonne Bradley was assigned to defend a man held at Guantanamo Bay. Believing Guantanamo held ‘the worst of the worst’, her world was turned upside down once she arrived in Cuba and began to untangle an unimaginable case.
WE FEED PEOPLEDirector: Ron HowardProducers: Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Sara Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, Meredith Kaulfers, Walt MattesonWe Feed People spotlights renowned chef José Andrés and his nonprofit World Central Kitchen’s evolution over a 12 year period.
WHAT WE LEAVE BEHINDDirector: Iliana SosaProducers: Emma D. Miller, Iliana Sosa, Isidore Bethel (co-producer)A gentle love letter to farmworkers, mutual caregivers, and transnational families through the filmmaker’s portrait of her grandfather.
A WOMAN ON THE OUTSIDEDirectors: Lisa Riordan Seville, Zara KatzProducers: Kiara C. Jones, Zara Katz, Lisa Riordan SevilleKristal is a young, ambitious Philadelphian driven to keep families connected to their incarcerated loved ones. But when her father and brother return from prison, she confronts the ultimate question: can she reunite her own family?
YOUR FRIEND, MEMPHISDirector: David ZuckerProducers: Luke Terrell, Benjamin EdelmanMemphis DiAngelis, a young man with cerebral palsy, is caught between the world’s expectations and his own ambitions. His story is an odyssey of dogged determination: a search for work, love, and freedom – no matter what.
Visions:
SELF-PORTRAITSELF-PORTRAITDirector/Producer: Joële WalingaA portrait of humanity as captured by its surveillance cameras.
SELL/BUY/DATEDirector: Sarah JonesProducers: Sarah Jones, David Goldblum, Julie Parker BenelloA heartfelt, witty hybrid following Tony-winning performer/comedian Sarah Jones and her multicultural characters on a journey exploring her personal relationship to the sex industry through a social justice lens.
24 Beats Per Second:
CESÁRIA ÉVORAANONYMOUS CLUBDirector/Screenwriter: Danny CohenProducers: Philippa Campey, Samantha DinningThe antithesis of a rock biography, Anonymous Club paints a raw and intimate picture of enigmatic singer-songwriter, Courtney Barnett -an anti-influencer who is a powerful voice for our times, a recluse acclaimed by audiences the world over.
CESÁRIA ÉVORADirector: Ana Sofia FonsecaProducers: Ana Sofia Fonseca, Irina CaladoWorld renowned performer Cesária Évora’s voice took her from poverty to stardom.
CYPHERDirector: Chris MoukarbelProducers: John Hodges, Tony Hernandez, Lilly Burns, Chris Moukarbel, Tierra Whack, Anthony Seyler, Sanjay Sharma, Roya RastegarA hybrid psychological thriller about and starring the artist Tierra Whack that delves into fame and the conspiracy theories surrounding the music industry.
DIO: DREAMERS NEVER DIEDirectors: Don Argott, Demian FentonProducers: Don Argott, Sheena M. JoyceThe definitive career spanning documentary on heavy metal legend, Ronnie James Dio.
GETTING IT BACK: THE STORY OF CYMANDEDirector: Tim Mackenzie-SmithProducers: Tim Mackenzie-Smith, Matt WyllieThey are the unsung heroes whose message of peace, love and funk sailed beyond Britain’s shores and helped shape music for five decades. Long after they stopped playing, the music played on, so they returned to play some more.
I GET KNOCKED DOWNDirectors: Sophie Robinson, Dunstan BruceProducer: Sophie RobinsonThe story of Chumbawamba’s ex-front man Dunstan Bruce. A burnt-out, middle-aged, ex pop star in search of his long lost anarchist mojo.
IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KINGDirector: Toby AmiesProducers: Toby Amies, Nicholas JonesWhat began as a traditional documentary about the legendary band King Crimson as it turned 50, mutated into an exploration of time, death, family, and the transcendent power of music to change lives; but with jokes.
JAZZ FEST: A NEW ORLEANS STORYDirectors: Frank Marshall, Ryan SuffernProducers: Frank Marshall, Sean Stuart, Ryan SuffernThis soulful and heartfelt celebration of 50 years of the funky and fabulous New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival invites you to bliss out on New Orleans’ unique culture.
LOOK AT ME!Director: Sabaah FolayanProducer: Darcy McKinnon, Chloe CampionAn exploration of how Jahseh Onfroy tapped raw talent, a gift for connecting with disaffected youth, and a mastery of social media to fashion himself into SoundCloud rapper XXXTentacion – one of the most streamed artists on the planet.
THE MOJO MANIFESTO: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MOJO NIXONDirector: Matt EskeyProducers: Sal Owen, Eva RadkeOn a bicycle trip across the country, a young Neill Kirby McMillan Jr. experiences The Mojo Revelation. After teaming up with the enigmatic Skid Roper, he unexpectedly finds mainstream success but faces a decision that could jeopardize his career.
OMOIYARI: A SONG FILM BY KISHI BASHIDirectors: Kaoru Ishibashi, Justin Taylor SmithProducer: JJ GerberViolinist and songwriter Kishi Bashi travels on a musical journey to understand WWII era Japanese Incarceration, assimilation, and what it means to be a minority in America today.
REALLY GOOD REJECTSDirector: Alice GuProducers: Alice Gu, Jose Nuñez, Robert Fyvolent, David DinersteinThe muted tones of rubber bridge guitars have delighted listeners the world over- from Wilco to Taylor Swift’s Folklore. Modern-day luthier Reuben Cox demystifies his process of creating some of rock’s most sought-after guitars.
THE RETURN OF TANYA TUCKERDirector: Kathlyn HoranProducers: Kathlyn Horan, Julie Goldman, Christopher Clements, Carolyn HepburnRising star Brandi Carlile writes an album for her hero, trailblazing country music legend Tanya Tucker, spurring the greatest comeback in country music history.
SANTOS–SKIN TO SKINDirector: Kathryn GoldenProducers: Ashley James, Kathryn GoldenA film portrait of community activist and seven-time Grammy nominee John Santos, a “keeper of the Afro-Caribbean flame.” Rich in musical performances, Santos links the rhythms of his ancestors to contemporary struggles of identity and social justice.
SHERYLDirector: Amy ScottProducers: Van Toffler, Scooter Weintraub, Brian Morrow, Jonathan LynchAn intimate story of song and sacrifice—musically gifted superstar Sheryl Crow navigates an iconic yet arduous musical career battling sexism, ageism, depression, cancer, and the price of fame, before harnessing the power of her gift.
THIS MUCH I KNOW TO BE TRUEDirector: Andrew DominikProducers: Amy James, Isaac HoffShot over five days at Battersea Arts Centre and on location in London and Brighton, This Much I Know To Be True captures Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ exceptional creative relationship as they bring to life songs from albums Ghosteen and Carnage.
Festival Favorites:
FIRE OF LOVE2ND CHANCEDirector: Ramin BahraniProducers: Daniel Turcan, Johnny Galvin, Charles Dorfman, Ramin Bahrani, Jacob GrodnickAn exploration of the rise and fall of Richard Davis, the charming and brash inventor of the modern-day bulletproof vest who shot himself 192 times to prove his product worked.
32 SOUNDSDirector: Sam GreenProducer: Josh Penn, ArKtype/Thomas O KriegsmannAn immersive documentary and profound sensory experience from filmmaker Sam Green featuring music by JD Samson. The film is a meditation on the power of sound to bend time, cross borders, and profoundly shape our perception of the world around us.
AFTERSHOCKDirectors/Producers: Paula Eiselt, Tonya Lewis LeeFollowing the preventable deaths of their partners due to childbirth complications, two bereaved fathers galvanize activists, birth-workers and physicians to reckon with one of the most pressing crises of our time – the US maternal health crisis.
BOYCOTTDirector: Julia BachaProducers: Suhad Babaa, Daniel J Chalfen, Julia BachaWhen a news publisher in Arkansas, an attorney in Arizona and a speech therapist in Texas are told to choose between their jobs and their political beliefs, they launch legal battles that expose an attack on freedom of speech in 33 states in America.
DESCENDANTDirector: Margaret BrownProducers: Kyle Martin, Essie Chambers, Margaret BrownDescendant follows the search for and discovery of The Clotilda, the last known ship to illegally carry enslaved Africans in the United States. Guided by the voices of their ancestors, descendants of The Clotilda’s survivors reclaim their past and examine what justice looks like today.
FIRE OF LOVEDirector: Sara DosaProducers: Ina Fichman, Shane Boris, Sara DosaIntrepid scientists and lovers Katia and Maurice Krafft died in a volcanic explosion doing the very thing that brought them together: unraveling the mysteries of volcanoes by capturing the most explosive imagery ever recorded. A doomed love triangle between Katia, Maurice and volcanoes, told through their archival footage.
THE ART OF MAKING ITDirector: Kelcey EdwardsProducer: Debi WischThe film follows a diverse group of young artists on the brink of unimaginable success or failure as they challenge systems, break barriers and risk it all with the goal of making it in an industry where all the rules are currently being rewritten.
TIK TOK, BOOM.Director: Shalini KantayyaProducers: Ross M Dinerstein, Danni Mynard, Shalini KantayyaWith TikTok now crowned the world’s most downloaded app, these are the personal stories of a cultural phenomenon, told through an ensemble cast of Gen-Z natives, journalists and experts alike.
Episodic Premieres:
THE LAST MOVIE STARSBRENÉ BROWN: ATLAS OF THE HEARTShowrunner: Meaghan RadyDirector: Paul DugdaleProducer: Alex HiegelResearcher and #1 New York Times bestselling author Dr Brené Brown takes us on an interactive journey through the emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human and provides a new framework for cultivating meaningful connection.
THE LAST MOVIE STARSDirector: Ethan HawkeProducers: Emily Wachtel, Lisa Long Adler, Adam Gibbs, Ryan HawkeAn epic 6-chapter film chronicling Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward’s iconic careers and decades-long partnership.
UNTITLED MAGIC JOHNSON DOCUMENTARY SERIESDirector: Rick FamuyiwaProducers: Jeremy Allen, Jordan Fudge, Bryn Mooser, John Terzian, Christina Arquette, Christina Francis, Rafael Marmor, Brian TollAn illuminating, never-before-seen look into the life of Earvin “Magic” Johnson, one of the world’s most iconic sports figures, that paints a holistic portrait of the man who left his mark on history and continues to impact our culture today.