SXSW 2013: 'Burt Wonderstone,' 'Evil Dead,' Matthew McConaughey

SXSW 2013: ‘Burt Wonderstone,’ ‘Evil Dead,’ Matthew McConaughey

By Rebecca Keegan

Jan. 15, 2013 12 AM PT

The Steve Carell-Jim Carrey movie “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” will be the opening night film at the South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival, which opens March 8. SXSW will also see premieres of an “Evil Dead” remake, a new movie from director Joe Swanberg and documentaries about Napster and the Beatles’ secretary.

Comedy, genre subjects and music documentaries are the traditional strengths of the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, and this year is shaping up to be no different.

“Burt Wonderstone,” a comedy directed by Dan Scardino, stars Carell as a Las Vegas magician who splits from his longtime stage partner (Steve Buscemi) amid competition from an edgy upstart (Carrey). The Warner Bros. film will have its world premiere in Texas a week before opening in theaters March. 15.

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“Evil Dead,” director Fede Alvarez’s remake of the 1981 cult horror film from Sam Raimi, will also premiere in Austin, as will “Drinking Buddies,” a relationship comedy starring Olivia Wilde and Jake Johnson from Swanberg.

The festival will feature the world premiere of “Downloaded,” director Alex Winter’s exploration of the rise and fall of the music downloading service Napster and “Good Ol Freda,” a chronicle of the Beatles’ secretary Freda Kelly from director Ryan White.

In addition to its screenings, SXSW will host more than 150 conversations and panels, including a special event in which “Lost” producer Carlton Cuse unveils the pilot for his new A&E; series “Bates Motel” and a conversation with native Texan Matthew McConaughey.

The 2013 SXSW Film Conference and Festival is set for March 8-16 in Austin, Texas. More films will be announced in coming weeks.

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