Texas at SXSW 2012: All the (Non-Austin) Features

Debbie rounded up all the Austin films at SXSW Film Festival this year, but there are just a few more films in this year's SXSW fest with Texas connections... as far as we can tell, anyway. In addition to the features mentioned below, you can also catch Lone Star films in the Texas Shorts program (screening times) and the Texas High School Shorts program.

The folks who brought us Intimidad, which premiered at SXSW 2008, made documentary Girl Model (screening times), which follows an American model scout and the Siberian teen she has discovered. Nadya, a 13 year old, seems prime for the Japanese market and heads to Tokyo. Meanwhile, Ashley, the model scout, keeps searching Siberia for more young female faces. Girl Model comes from Carnivalesque Films directors Ashley Sabin and David Redmon. Redmon hails from north Texas.

Making its world premiere at the fest is San Antonio native Ya'Ke Smith's feature WOLF (screening times). A Texas Filmmaker Production Fund grant was awarded to this raw drama (pictured at top) depicting a family forced to deal with a son's molestation at the hands of an important religious figure. While the parents attempt to wrap their heads around the awful news, the teen boy is still infatuated with his abuser, and his abuser has to deal with demons of his own.

Director Smith says on his site, "I'm not one to shy away from hot topics, but this one is such a sensitive, and very timely, issue that I wanted to make sure that I approached it with grace, not judgment... My hope for the film is that it will shed light on the vicious cycle of sexual abuse so that victims can understand that they're not alone and step out of the shadows of silence that have kept them bound."

Other Texas-connected films at SXSW:

• Edited by former San Antonio resident Christopher Branca, the documentary Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me (screening times) focuses on the Memphis power pop band that inspired a cult following despite their lack of mainstream success.
• Sun Don't Shine (screening times) is the first feature-length film from actor/director Amy Seimetz. This road film follows a couple as they traverse Florida and become involved in some nasty business. Seimetz shot the film on Super 16mm. Texas connection: Temple native Mark Reeb (The Overbrook Brothers) appears in the movie.
• In acclaimed director William Friedkin's Killer Joe (screening times), Matthew McConaughey stars as shady Dallas cop Joe Cooper, who makes extra money on the side as a contract killer. When a 22-year-old man calls in a hit on his mom, Joe considers use of the young guy's sister as payment.
• Blue Like Jazz (screening times) is based on a bestselling book by former Pearland resident Donald Miller. Southern Baptist Texan Don (native Austinite Marshall Allman) goes to college in the godless Pacific Northwest and discovers who he really is and what he really believes. Or so I surmise from this teaser trailer. No doubt it will be interesting counter-programming to WOLF.

If we missed any Austin or Texas connections, please leave a comment so we can update our lists.