We are excited to announce that nine of the projects premiering at 2020's SXSW Festival (taking place March 13-22) were created in part by Innovative Artists clients.

See more about their projects below!

NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION

Really Love

Director: Angel Kristi Williams, Screenwriters: Felicia Pride, Angel Kristi Williams

Set in a gentrifying Washington DC, a rising Black painter tries to break into a competitive art world, while balancing a whirlwind romance he never expected. Cast: Kofi Siriboe, Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing, Uzo Aduba, Mack Wilds, Naturi Naughton, Suzzanne Douglas, Jade Eshete, Blair Underwood, Michael Ealy (World Premiere)

Costume Designer: Kairo Courts

NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT

Arkansas

Director: Clark Duke, Screenwriters: Clark Duke, Andrew Boonkrong

The directorial debut of Clark Duke, Arkansas is a gritty, darkly comedic thriller about drug trafficking by the Dixie Mafia in the Deep South from the 1980’s to the present. Based on the novel of the same name by John Brandon. Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Clark Duke, Michael Kenneth Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Eden Brolin, Chandler Duke, with John Malkovich, and Vince Vaughn (World Premiere)

Costume Designer: Ashley Heathcock

EPISODIC PREMIERES

Hightown

Showrunner/Screenwriter: Rebecca Cutter

Set in the world of beautiful but bleak Cape Cod, Hightown follows one woman’s journey to sobriety, overshadowed by an unfolding murder investigation. Cast: Monica Raymund, James Badge Dale, Riley Voelkel, Shane Harper, Amaury Nolasco, Atkins Estimond, Dohn Norwood (World Premiere)

Production Designer: Dan Leigh

Home

Showrunners: Joe Poulin, Matt Weaver, Bruce Gersh, Ian Orefice, Doug Pray, Collin Orcutt, Matt Tyrnauer

Home is a nine-part series that explores extraordinary interpretations of domestic architecture and the concept of “home.” The first season features homes in six different countries and was filmed in eight countries and 16 cities around the world. (World Premiere)

Director of Photography: Will Basanta

Snowpiercer

Showrunner/Screenwriter: Graeme Manson

Set after the world has become a frozen wasteland, TNT’s Snowpiercer centers on the remnants of humanity who inhabit a perpetually moving train that circles the globe, dealing with class warfare, social injustice and the politics of survival. Cast: Jennifer Connelly, Daveed Diggs, Alison Wright, Mickey Sumner, Susan Park, Iddo Goldberg, Katie McGuinness, Lena Hall, Annalise Basso, Sam Otto, Roberto Urbina, Sheila Vand and Jaylin Fletcher. (World Premiere)

Costume Designer: Cynthia Summers

Upload

Showrunner: Greg Daniels

Upload is a ten-episode half-hour sci-fi comedy from the Emmy winning writer, Greg Daniels, starring Robbie Amell and Andy Allo. It takes place in the future, where people who are near death can be “Uploaded” into a virtual afterlife of their choice. Cast: Robbie Amell, Andy Allo, Allegra Edwards, Zainab Johnson, Kevin Bigley (World Premiere)

Costume Designer: Kathleen Felix-Hager

FESTIVAL FAVORITES

Charm City Kings

Director: Angel Manuel Soto, Screenwriter: Sherman Payne
Mouse desperately wants to join The Midnight Clique, an infamous group of Baltimore dirt bike riders who rule the summertime streets. He soon finds himself torn between the straight-and-narrow and a road filled with fast money and violence… Cast: Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Meek Mill, Will Catlett, Donielle Tremaine Hansley, Kezii Curtis, Chino, Lakeyria “Wheelie Queen” Doughty, Chandler DuPont, Tyquan Ford, Teyonah Parris

Costume Designer: Kairo Courts

SPECIAL EVENTS

Hannibal Buress: Miami Nights

Director: Kristian Mercado Figueroa, Screenwriter: Hannibal Buress

Miami Nights is the 5th comedy special from comedian Hannibal Buress. He might have another 2 or 3 max in him after that. They’re exhausting. It’s directed by the amazing Kris Merc. It’s pretty solid. (World Premiere)

Director of Photography: Matthew Chavez

NARRATIVE SHORTS

I’m Happy, I Promise

Director: Mimi Cave, Screenwriter: Parker Seaman

A series of phone calls between Parker and his friends narrate Parker’s mission to find true happiness through superficial obsessions.

Director of Photography: Tom Banks

EPISODIC PILOT COMPETITION

Lusty Crest

Director/Screenwriter: Kati Skelton

A love and fantasy-obsessed maid named Kasha begins working at Lusty Crest, a love hotel perched on top of a treacherous mountain. She soon learns that the hotel is plagued by not only human lechers, but supernatural ones as well. (World Premiere)

Line Producer / UPM: Cameron Boling

Full Lineup

Dan Leigh

SXSW 2020 Stacked with Innovative Clients' Work

Dan Leigh Biography