Wow, how to talk about Dotty?  In general it takes a lot to get an emotional response out of me in a movie, especially in a short. Dotty, accomplishes that nicely. The story is simple, Dotty wants to send a message to someone she loves, and when her morning tea comes she gets someone to help her.  It is hard to talk about the short without potentially spoiling it, but even if you figure out the ending before you get there it somehow just makes the short even more poignant.

To anyone who has a loved one who is in a nursing home, or simply a loved one they are watching age or deal with a disability, this short will hit you right in the feels.

Incredibly touching narrative short. Highly recommend it. Now please excuse me I need a tissue.

Reality Show is a darkly humorous look at the state of reality television.

It’s a truly funny, mocking of the whole genre, if you can really call it that, that pokes fun not only at Hollywood, but also at voyeurism, corporate ethics, and product placement.

It is truly not to be missed!

“Reality Show” is a darkly comedic satire that follows the exploits of reality TV producer Mickey Wagner and his amoral attempt to re-invent the reality genre. Mickey’s revolutionary idea is to pick an average family and put them under all encompassing surveillance… without their knowledge. Unfortunately Mickey soon realizes that the family is boring. In a desperate attempt to salvage the show, Mickey begins to interfere by injecting conflict to create drama. As the show gets better, the family starts to disintegrate. Mickey rationalizes that all will be OK in the end, for once the episodes begin airing, fame will heal all the wounds.

One of the first films we had a chance to screen has been James Cunningham’s Shelved and we’re still laughing.

The film, shot in one day with actors replaced by animated robots was created in just 12 weeks by a team of animation students at Media Design School, in New Zealand.

Make sure you make time in your schedule to see this creative, very funny film. We’ve always loved the animated shorts program, this one alone makes it a don’t dare miss it event.

It’s just another boring day in the the most boring job in the world. Even the robots doing the jobs are bored. They’ll do anything to get out of it, even take one of those over sized “You’re leaving” cards around the factory. That when they discover the sinister intentions of the humans.

We’ve been in the back room pouring over the recent SXSW Film Listing Announcement and we’ve come up for air with our first pass at our “must see” list. As with years past there always seems to be a underlying current to the films at SXSW (zombies, or vampires, or nazis from space). This year seems to be the year of Punk.

Some of these we picked because of the subject matter, others for the director or cast, or both. Barring those reasons we would have picked some just for the presence of a certain pin-up model.

Some notable facts this year: Joe Swanberg both Directs and acts is separate films, Olivia Wilde appears in two, Mr. NcConaughey is present again this year, and there are not one but two films about Green Day.

So here’s our list, subject to expansion at a moments notice:

Awful Nice

Director/Screenwriter: Todd Sklar, Screenwriter: Alex Rennie

Estranged brothers Jim and Dave must travel to Branson together when their father dies and leaves them the lake home. A series of hilarious mishaps and costly misadventures follow as they attempt to restore the house and rebuild their relationship.  Cast: Alex Rennie, James Pumphrey, Christopher Meloni, Brett Gelman, Keeley Hazell (World Premiere)

The Short Game 

 

Director: Josh Greenbaum

Each year, the world’s best 7-year-old golfers descend on Pinehurst, North Carolina to determine the next “world champion” and who might become golf’s next phenom. The Short Game follows 9 young golfers on their quest for greatness. (World Premiere)

 Hawking (UK)

Director: Stephen Finnigan

A brief history of mine: a look at the life of Stephen Hawking. (World Premiere)

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

Director: Don Scardino, Story by Chad Kultgen & Tyler Mitchell and Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley. Screenplay by Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley

As superstar Vegas magicians and former best friends Burt and Anton grow to secretly loathe each other, their long-time act implodes, allowing an ambitious rival street performer the big break he’s been waiting for.  Cast: Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Olivia Wilde, with Alan Arkin, James Gandolfini and Jim Carrey (World Premiere)

The Bounceback

Director: Bryan Poyser, Screenwriters: David Degrow Shotwell, Steven Walters, Bryan Poyser

An outrageous comedy about love and revenge in Austin, Texas. Cast: Marshall Allman, Ashley Bell, Zach Cregger, Sara Paxton, Michael Stahl-David (World Premiere)

Drinking Buddies

Director/Screenwriter: Joe Swanberg

Weekend trips, office parties, late night conversations, drinking on the job, marriage pressure, biological clocks, holding eye contact a second too long… you know what makes the line between “friends” and “more than friends” really blurry?  Beer.

Cast: Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Ron Livingston (World Premiere)

I Give It A Year (UK)

Director/Screenwriter: Dan Mazer

A brand new comedy from the writer of Borat and Bruno that lifts the veil on the realities of the first year of marriage. Cast: Rose Byrne, Anna Faris, Rafe Spall, Simon Baker, Minnie Driver, Jason Flemyng, Stephen Merchant (North American Premiere)

Reality Show

Director/Screenwriter: Adam Rifkin

A darkly comedic satire that follows TV producer Mickey Wagner and his amoral attempt to re-invent the reality genre. Mickey’s big idea is to pick a family and put them under all encompassing surveillance…without their knowledge. Cast: Adam Rifkin, Scott Anderson, Kelly Menighan Hensley, Monika Tilling, Valerie Breiman (World Premiere)

Zero Charisma

Directors: Katie Graham, Andrew Matthews, Screenwriter: Andrew Matthews

An obsessive fantasy nerd gradually becomes unhinged when a charismatic hipster joins his D&D game. Cast: Sam Eidson, Garrett Graham, Brock England, Anne Gee Byrd, Cyndi Williams, Brian Losoya, Vincent Prendergast, Katie Folger, John Gholson, Dakin Matthews (World Premiere)

Downloaded

Director: Alex Winter

A documentary that explores the rise and fall of Napster and the birth of the digital revolution. It’s about the teens that helped start this revolution, and the artists and industries who continue to be impacted by it. (World Premiere)

Good Ol’ Freda

Director: Ryan White

The story of Freda Kelly, a shy Liverpudlian teenager asked to work for a young local band hoping to make it big: The Beatles. Their loyal secretary from beginning to end, Freda tells her tales for the first time in 50 years. (World Premiere)

Rewind This!

Director: Josh Johnson

Home video changed the world. The impact of the VHS tape was enormous. Rewind This! aims to trace the ripples of that impact. (World Premiere)

TINY: A Story About Living Small

Directors: Christopher Smith, Merete Mueller

One couple’s attempt to build a “tiny house” smaller than the average parking space with no construction experience raises questions about sustainability and good design, the nature of home, and the changing American Dream. (World Premiere)

Lunarcy! (Canada)

Director: Simon Ennis

Director Simon Ennis introduces us to an unforgettable group of characters who all share one thing in common: an obsession with the Moon. (U.S. Premiere)

Twenty Feet from Stardom

Director: Morgan Neville

The untold story of the backup singer in popular music. It is a celebration of the voices from the edge, which brought shape and style to the soundtracks of our lives.

And Who Taught You To Drive? (Germany)

Director: Andrea Thiele

An American in Tokyo, a Korean in Bavaria, and a German in Mumbai: Prepare for a real culture clash when you have to pass your driving test again in another country … A real life comedy.

(North American Premiere)

Computer Chess

Director/Screenwriter: Andrew Bujalski

An artificially intelligent comedy from the director of Funny Ha Ha and Mutual Appreciation.

Cast: Wiley Wiggins, Patrick Riester, Robin Schwartz, Gerald Peary, Myles Paige

A wise man once said you should organise your important meetings over breakfast (okay, it was CC Chapman). So two breakfast dates for your diary.

The first is the traditional SXSW Social Breakfast at Magnolias, organised by the SXSW Baby team. Running from 8am on Saturday 10th March, we have the back patio at Magnolias (South Congress) for some great chat with old and new friends – and gingerbread pancakes. RSVP on Facebook (and we know 7 million have signed up, but we expect around forty to be awake in time).

One more that’s gathering a lot of repeat customers every year is the Great British Breakfast, put on by Chinwag and the UK Trade and Investment team. A touch later (10am-noon) at Cedar Street Courtyard, expect a quintessential full British breakfast to be served.

Very good friend of The Baby! Kevin Smokler has got in touch to let us know that Fray Cafe will be running at SXSW for the twelfth consecutive year. It’s a fixed date in our diaries (truth be told we had it inked in before Kevin told us the details, it’s that much of an institution), so RSVP over on Facebook.

Over to Kevin:

Five minutes. One live microphone. Your stories.

Every year since 2000, attendees of SXSWi have gathered to tell stories. Before Twitter, before Facebook, before Blogs. Fray Cafe has been there before them all. This year, the legendary evening of true personal storytelling returns to Austin. The only ground rules: your story must be true, it must be about you, and it can’t be a plug for anything.

Here’s how it works: Anyone can attend. No badge required. You show up and listen. If you wish to tell a story, add your name to the sign up sheet. We get to as many as we can before 11. Past tales have included: Marriage Proposals, crimes committed, faces fallen flat upon and great triumphs of will. You know, that whole all of the human experience thing.

Does this sound like an evening well spent? Audiences for 12 years at SXSW have thought so. Join us. You’ll be glad you did.

We’ll be there – and I’ll be asking very nicely if I can tell another story. I’ve been behind that microphone every year since 2006 (BTW Kevin’s the only storyteller that’s managed every single Fray - word).

It goes something like this (long time Baby! fans, it’s okay to get something in your eye).