Festivals - SXSW 2024 : Road House to Kick Off the Film & TV Festival with World Premiere

By Mulder, 25 january 2024

South by Southwest (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals have announced that the highly anticipated film "Road House," directed by Doug Liman and produced by Amazon MGM Studios, will open the 2024 Film & TV Festival. The festival is scheduled to take place from March 8 to March 16, 2024, in Austin, Texas.

In this thrilling reimagining of the 80s cult classic, ex-UFC fighter Dalton, portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal, takes on the role of a bouncer at a picturesque Florida Keys bar. However, the paradise soon reveals itself to be more complex than meets the eye. The film features an ensemble cast, including Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen, Jessica Williams, Joaquim de Almeida, Conor McGregor, Lukas Gage, Arturo Castro, B.K. Cannon, Beau Knapp, Darren Barnet, Dominique Columbus, Bob Menergy, Catfish Jean, Kevin Carroll, Travis Van Winkle, and Hannah Lanier.

Claudette Godfrey, VP Film & TV at SXSW, expressed excitement about the choice of "Road House" as the opening film, stating, "Road House is a crowd-pleasing, vengeance-seeking, boat-jumping bar brawl, and we are thrilled to kick (and punch) off the SXSW Film & TV Festival with this wildly entertaining premiere."

Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon MGM Studios, also shared her pride in presenting "Road House" to the SXSW audience, calling it an "adrenaline-fueled, action-packed reimagining of the '80s cult classic."

The film is set to captivate audiences with its modern take on the beloved original and promises a career-best performance from Jake Gyllenhaal. The SXSW Film & TV Festival will open its doors to the public for this highly anticipated premiere, turning the opening night into a unique and unforgettable experience.

SXSW 2024 will not only showcase Road House but will also feature other exciting screenings, including the previously announced Centerpiece Screening The Fall Guy and the Opening Night TV Premiere 3 Body Problem. The full lineup of Headliners, Festival Favorites, and additional surprises will be unveiled on February 7.

In addition to film and TV festival screenings, SXSW registrants will have access to Conference Keynotes, Featured Speakers, Mentor Sessions, Networking Meet Ups, Music Showcases, Comedy Festival Showcases, Exhibitions, and Professional Development. SXSW 2024 is proudly sponsored by Porsche, C4 Energy, Delta, and The Austin Chronicle. For more information on the festival and to register for the event, visit sxsw.com.

Synopsis :
In this reinterpretation of the cult '80s film, former UFC fighter Dalton (Jake Gyllenhaal) takes a job as a bouncer in a bar in the Florida Keys, only to discover that paradise isn't what it seems.

Road House
Directed by Doug Liman
Screenplay by Anthony Bagarozzi, Charles Mondry
Story by Anthony Bagarozzi, Charles Mondry, David Lee Henry
Based on Road House by David Lee Henry, Hilary Henkin
Produced by Joel Silver
Starring  Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen, Jessica Williams, Darren Barnet, Arturo Castro, J.D. Pardo, Conor McGregor
Cinematography : Henry Braham
Edited by Doc Crotzer
Music by Hauschka
Production companies : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Silver Pictures
Distributed by Amazon MGM Studios
Release date : March 21, 2024
Running time : 114 minutes

(Source : press release)