South by Southwest Film & TV Festival is one of those festivals I have known about for a great while. Even before I started writing film reviews, I knew of it. I told myself that one day I would like to attend it and cover it for the Fandads website.

This year, we applied, and the Fandads were approved to cover the festival. Unfortunately, after checking, it was not financially feasible for us to attend. The good thing was that there was a virtual option through the SXSW dashboard to see some of the movies from home. I reached out to a few of the studios for links and was grateful for those that replied and granted our request.

The Movies/Documentaries we Saw

Here are the films we saw during our Virtual trip to Austin.

#WhileBlack

Facebook Live was a feature that not many people knew about until Diamond Reynolds used it during the killing of Philando Castile. #WhileBlack shows how social media companies profited from these black deaths and kept all the revenue for themselves. While it is a hard documentary to watch, it is a must to know how the Black Lives Matter movement started and why it is important to speak up about these murders!

Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice

What happens when you get two Vince Vaughns in a time-traveling mobster movie? Your answer is the outrageous and action-packed, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice. This was a fun watch once the ball got rolling. The use of slo-mo in some scenes felt overdone, but the action in the movie was fantastic. It was great to see James Marsden doing incredible fight and action scenes that didn’t rely on CGI. The writing and acting in this movie are fantastic!

Quince

Quince is a wild and brutal trip into the world of quincenerras. A cross between Rosemary’s Baby & Carrie, it shows what happens to two friends when a mythical creature possesses one of them. The themes of adulthood, social class struggles, and family are highlighted, along with some gnarly deaths. Watch our interview with the directors and one of the stars below.

Scarlet Girls

In the Dominican Republic, abortion is criminalized. In this moving documentary, director Paula Cury magnificently captures the fear and heartache of 5 women as they share their stories. From showing how there are classes telling women to stay abstinent to the hurt in a woman’s face as she goes through a procedure, Scarlet Girls does not hold back on how women are treated in the Dominican Republic if they become pregnant and choose to have an abortion.

Short Films Watched

Are We Still Married?

What do you do if you find out your spouse is a vampire? You get the cheeky short, Are We Still Married? In the short a couple has to deal with the consequences of whether or not to invite the undead spouse into the house. The short has great dialogue and acting from Taylor Misiak and Dustin Milligan. I want to see more of these two and where their adventures will go.

Birth is for P*ssies

The short follows Maya, a birth doula, going on her first job alone. In the few minutes of this short, we see her go from worried and nervous to relaxed and somewhat ready for the next job. Birth is for P*ssies is a fun look at thinking you are ready for a career change and the risks that go into it. Birth is for P*ssies won the Audience Award in the Independent TV Pilot Competition.

In My Blood

In My Bloodis packed with suspense and intrigue, which is no wonder it won the Independent TV Pilot Competition at SXSW. The show follows a young man trying to live up to his father’s expectations, but his life takes a turn due to steroids. Not only is his body changed physically, but there are other changes. With multiple hints hidden throughout the episode, this is one series that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Man Eating Pussy

Winner of the Special Jury Award for the Midnight Shorts Competition is Man Eating Pussy. This surreal and emotional short shares the story of a dying man who wants to experience “Birth in reverse.” While the title is literal, the emotions that stem from the conversation between the two leads are heartfelt and moving. This is a short that will stick with you long after the final shot.

Margot’s Got Money Troubles

A new series coming to AppleTV, Margot’s Got Money Troubles, is based on a best-selling novel of the same name. The show stars Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer as a daughter and mother whose lives change when Margot becomes pregnant while at school. The show exposes the reality of being a young girl living with a baby and roommates.

Tongue

A wife is fed up with her husband’s constant talking and takes matters into her own hands, or in this case, mouth. Smart, funny, and maybe an idea that might jump into the head of spouses with chatty significant others. I will say the final few minutes made me wince! Tongue was the winner of the Midnight Shorts Competition.

Recap of my Virtual Experience

While I did not get to cover as much as I initially planned, I feel I was able to watch a good amount of films and shorts. Obviously, the difference between being in Austin and at home is finding the time to watch the screeners. While at home, I have family duties to attend to, and getting screen time gets tricky. Hopefully, next year I will be able to attend the festival and not only watch movies in the theaters but also interview the stars of the movies.

Until next year, thank you, South by Southest Film & TV Festival!