'Veronica Mars' And Jon Favreau's 'Chef' Premiere At SXSW 2014
The 2014 Sundance Film Festival hasn't even started yet and the second huge American film festival on the calendar is already announcing its lineup. That would be South by Southwest 2014, which takes place in Austin TX from March 7-15. The two biggest announcements so far are for opening night, which will feature the world premiere of Chef, directed by Jon Favreau, and the highly anticipated Veronica Mars film. (Which became a Kickstarter sensation during last year's festival.) But that's not all. A conversation with Alejendro Jodorowsky, a new film co-written by Mark Duplass, and more are in the first announcements. Read about the first batch of films playing at SXSW 2014 below.
The announcement came from the official SXSW website, which also debuted that first image from Chef, above. Here are the first films announced for the fest.
Break Point (World Premiere / SXsports screening)Director: Jay Karas, Screenwriters: Gene Hong, Jeremy Sisto
Two estranged brothers reunite to make an improbable run at a grand slam tennis tournament. Themismatched pair, with some unlikely help from a precocious 11-year-old boy, re-discover their game and their brotherhood.
Cast: Jeremy Sisto, David Walton, Joshua Rush, J.K. Simmons, Amy SmartChef (World Premiere)Director: Jon Favreau, Screenplay & Story: Jon Favreau.
When Chef Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) suddenly quits his job at a prominent Los Angeles restaurant after refusing to compromise his creative integrity for its controlling owner (Dustin Hoffman), he is left to figure out what's next. Finding himself in Miami, he teams up with his ex-wife (Sofia Vergara), his friend (John Leguizamo) and his son (Emjay Anthony) to launch a food truck. Taking to the road, Chef Carl goes back to his roots to reignite his passion for the kitchen — and zest for life and love. Producers are Jon Favreau and Sergei Bespalov. Executive producers include Molly Allen and Karen Gilchrist. Open Road Films will release Chef in May 2014.
Cast: Sofia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale, Dustin Hoffman, Oliver Platt, Robert Downey, Jr. and young actor Emjay Anthony.Creep (World Premiere)Director: Patrick Brice, Screenwriters: Patrick Brice & Mark Duplass.
When a videographer answers a Craigslist ad for a one-day job in the outer-exurbs, he finds his client is not at all what he initially seems.
Cast: Mark Duplass, Patrick BriceCOSMOS: A SpaceTime Odyssey (Special Event with Neil deGrasse Tyson)Director: Brannon Braga.
As with the legendary original series, FOX's new COSMOS is the saga of how we discovered the laws of nature and found our coordinates in space and time. The series is hosted by renowned astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and brings to life never-before-told stories of the heroic quest for knowledge, transporting viewers to new worlds and across the universe for a vision of the cosmos on the grandest — and the smallest — scale. Executive Produced by Ann Druyan, Seth MacFarlane, Brannon Braga and Mitchell Cannold.
Doc of the Dead (World Premiere)Director: Alexandre O. Philippe.
The definitive zombie culture documentary, from the makers of The People vs. George Lucas. Doc of the Dead traces the rise and evolution of the zombie genre, its influence on pop culture, and investigates the possibility of an actual zombie outbreak.
Leave the World Behind (World Premiere)Director: Christian Larson.
A documentary following the final tour of the hugely successful band Swedish House Mafia. The film depicts the EDM scene at its peak as well as telling a story of friendship and success. (United Kingdom)
Veronica Mars (World Premiere)Director: Rob Thomas, Screenwriters: Rob Thomas & Diane Ruggiero.
Years after walking away from her past as a teenage private eye, Veronica Mars gets pulled back to her hometown, an ex-boyfriend with baggage, and an unraveling murder mystery.
Cast: Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, Krysten Ritter, Francis Capra, Percy Daggs III, Ryan Hansen, GabyHoffman, Chris Lowell, Tina Majorino, Jerry O'Connell
Check back soon for more films playing at the fest and head to SXSW.com to attend.