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"One, two, three...!" Freestyle Digital Media has released a trailer for an indie dramedy film titled Teenage Badass, marking the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Grant McCord. This was supposed to premiere at the SXSW Film Festival earlier this year before it was cancelled, and will now launch on VOD in the fall. Set in 2006, Teenage Badass follows a band when they score a shot to play on the local news. But as all of their dreams start to become a reality, the band's egocentric singer / songwriter threatens to make them lose everything they have worked for. The story actually follows the drummer, played by Mcabe Gregg; and the lead singer Kirk Stylo is played by Evan Ultra. Also starring Julie Ann Emery, Kevin Corrigan, James Paxton, Madelyn Deutch, Elsie Hewitt, and Dillon Lane. The tone in this trailer is all over the place, and it seems like just some...

Exclusive: Freestyle Digital Media has acquired North American rights to Teenage Badass, the coming-of-age, music-driven comedy co-written and directed by Grant McCord​. The film was supposed to have its world premiere at this year’s SXSW before it was shuttered because of the coronavirus. Freestyle will now bow it on digital on September 18.

Set in 2006, the pic follows a band when they score a shot to play on the local news. But as all of their dreams start to become a reality, the egocentric singer-songwriter’s threatens to make them lose everything. (Check out the trailer below.)

The ensemble cast includes Mcabe Gregg (Enlisted), Julie Ann Emery (Preacher), Kevin Corrigan (Pineapple Express), Madelyn Deutch (The Year of Spectacular Men), Elsie Hewitt (Dave) and Dillon Lane (Countdown). Matthew Dho co-wrote the script with McCord.

McCord and Dho are also producers alongside Anthony Dimaria, Jeff Dykhuizen and Gregg. The soundtrack features 12 original songs from Evan Ultra,...

Before Sundance gets underway, SXSW has unveiled the first wave of their film lineup. This year’s slate includes Judd Apatow’s Pete Davidson-led comedy The King of Staten Island, a new Spike Jonze-directed Beastie Boys documentary, an intriguing new film by Amy Seimetz, and more.

There’s also The Lovebirds, directed by Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) and starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani, whose comedic stylings coalesce astoundingly well in the first trailer. The duo play Leilani and Jibran, a couple who are accidentally embroiled in a murder mystery as a man claiming to be a cop commits murder with their car and leaves them with the evidence.

Ahead of a release on April 3, see the trailer below, followed by the SXSW 2020 lineup.

Narrative Feature Competition

Ten world premieres, ten unique ways to celebrate the art of storytelling. Selected from 1,305 narrative feature submissions in 2020.

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The 27th edition of the SXSW Film Festival will feature a romantic caper starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani, a documentary about the Beastie Boys directed by Spike Jonze, a “hidden camera” comedy headlined by Tiffany Haddish and an autobiographical studio vehicle from Pete Davidson.

Thousands of moviegoers will flock to Austin, Texas, starting on March 13 for the annual gathering, which is a launching pad for major summer — or spring — studio releases, as well as smaller independent films and buzzy TV shows.

“King of Staten Island,” which stars Davidson, will open the fest. The movie is directed by Judd Apatow, who is no stranger to SXSW, having brought many of his hit projects — from “Knocked Up” to “Bridesmaids” — to screen first at SXSW.

Other high-profile titles that will premiere in Austin include “The Lovebirds,” a comedy from Michael Showalter, with Rae and Nanjiani trying to solve a murder mystery; “Bad Trip,...