Yesterday was opening day for the SXSW Film & TV Festival in Austin, Texas. There were many people in attendance, some who, like Gwyneth Paltrow, will have to turn right around and get back to LA for the Oscars on Sunday. The two-week Olympic delay in awards season is really f-cking with everyone’s calendars.
One opening day premiere was for Boots Riley’s new film, I Love Boosters. It’s about shoplifters who target a fashion maven, and the film stars Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Eiza Gonzalez, Poppy Liu, Lakeith Stanfield, and Demi Moore. This was an extremely fashionable red carpet, but the real star was Pilaf, Demi Moore’s tiny dog.
Demi Moore and Pilaf attend the “I Love Boosters” premiere during the 2026 SXSW Conference and Festival at The Paramount Theatre on March 12, 2026 in Austin, Texas
Although Keke Palmer was not to be outdone:
Keke Palmer attends the “I Love Boosters” premiere during the 2026 SXSW Conference and Festival at The Paramount Theatre on March 12, 2026 in Austin, Texas
I really enjoy Boots Riley’s work. Sorry to Bother You only gets better with each passing year, and I’m a Virgo is one of the most surreal pieces of television in recent memory. No one is working on the level of Riley, whose work is fueled by righteous anger but also a very offbeat and disarming sense of humor. I really cannot wait to see I Love Boosters.
Another opening day premiere was for Wishful Thinking, starring Maya Hawke and Lewis Pullman. It’s a rom-com with a surreal bent about a couple whose emotional state impacts the world around them. Sort of reminds me of Colossal, the movie in which Anne Hathaway powered a kaiju. Lewis Pullman is one of the people who will be at the Oscars, he’s a presenter, so is his dad, Bill. Presumably, they’re presenting together with some sort of Spaceballs tie in. I will continue to remind you to get on the Lewis Pullman train before it becomes a bandwagon!
Finally, the premiere of Seekers of Infinite Love brought out Hannah Einbinder, Justin Theroux (in double denim and a bolo tie), and John Reynolds. I’m keeping an eye on this film because the script, by Victoria Strouse, who also wrote Finding Dory, was on the Black List all the way back in 2008, but the film has only just now been made. It can take a long time to get a movie made, but hanging in for damn near TWENTY YEARS is impressive. Seekers is not only Strouse’s script, it’s also her directorial debut. I wonder if she was ever offered to pass it off to someone else, but she held on in hopes of directing herself. If so, I’m glad it finally came to fruition for her. That’s the kind of Hollywood happy ending we need more of.
LaKeith Stanfield, Kasmere Trice Stanfield, Eiza González, Keke Palmer, Poppy Liu, Naomi Ackie, Demi Moore, Pilaf, Boots Riley attend the “I Love Boosters” premiere during the 2026 SXSW Conference and Festival at The Paramount Theatre on March 12, 2026 in Austin, Texas, Maya Hawke attends the premiere of “Wishful Thinking” during the 2026 SXSW Conference And Festival at ZACH Theatre on March 12, 2026 in Austin, Texas
Lewis Pullman at the “Wishful Thinking” Premiere during the SXSW Conference & Festivals held at the ZACH Theater on March 12, 2026 in Austin, Texas, Hannah Einbinder, Justin Theroux, John Reynolds at the “Seekers of Infinite Love” Premiere during the SXSW Conference & Festivals held at the ZACH Theater on March 12, 2026 in Austin, Texas
Photo credits: Mike Mckinney/Michael Gonzalez/Shutterstock
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