Gallery: WikiLeaks to Woodsy Horrors: The Must-See Films of SXSW
01cabin-in-the-woods-2
Woodsy horror, indie videogame documentaries, chess in Brooklyn, WikiLeaks, moon Nazis. This year's South by Southwest Film festival begins Friday and brings with it more films than any one person could watch in just nine days. To help narrow down the potential viewing list for those attending the festival in Austin, Texas &mdash and give film fans elsewhere a sneak peek at some great upcoming titles — we scoured [the SXSW Film slate](http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/?lsort=name&conference=film&category=Screening&day=ALL) to find the films we we're most looking forward to seeing at the annual event. Something here we should skip? Think there's a movie not in this list that deserves our popcorn-crunching, beer-drinking time? Head to the comments and let us know. __Above:__ *The Cabin in the Woods* ------------------------ __Why it looks cool:__ Joss. Whedon. Unstoppable-force-of-unnatural-energy Whedon co-wrote this film with director (and *Cloverfield* alum) Drew Goddard. On the surface, [*Cabin in the Woods*](http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_FS12405)' campsite scream-fest plot sounds extremely predictable, but with Whedon and Goddard trading notes around the fireplace, you just know they will find ways to lull you into a sense of security before completely blowing your mind. The movie hits theaters in April, but its premiere at SXSW — and star turn from *Thor*'s Chris Hemsworth — should be just enough to leave fanboys and fangirls dying for more.
02iron-sky
*Iron Sky* ---------- __Why it looks cool:__ [Space Nazis](http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_FS12459). From the Moon. Invade Earth. Um, duh.
03brooklyn-castle
*Brooklyn Castle* ----------------- __Why it looks cool:__ First move: It's a [documentary about chess](http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_FS12462). Second move: It's a documentary about chess in a New York City school (I.S. 318) where more than 65 percent of students come from homes below the nation's poverty level. Third move: That school's chess team managed to become the best in the country. Fourth move: That school now is one of New York's finest. Fifth move: Budget cuts threaten the school's future success. Checkmate.
04WonderWomen.jpg
*Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines* ---------------------------------------------------------- __Why it looks cool:__ Scores of attention gets paid to male superheroes, but women have far fewer heroines to look up to. [This documentary](http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_FS12434) looks at the impact Wonder Woman has had on women, from the days of World War II to the 1990s Riot Grrrl movement. Be ready to be inspired.
05frankie-go-boom
*frankie go boom* ----------------- __Why it looks cool:__ The [official SXSW synopsis](http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_FS12512) goes something like this: "A comedy about two brothers, a girl with a broken heart, a sex tape, an angel and a pig." But here's what you really need to know: Ron Perlman as a woman. That's right, in this movie, Hellboy himself plays a trans woman – based on writer/director Jordan Roberts' real-life sister – named Phyllis. And from what we've seen, he nails it, with very humorous and touching results. Also, Lizzy Caplan is in it, and she's pretty much never bad in anything ever.
06tchoupitoulas
*Tchoupitoulas* --------------- __Why it looks cool:__ It's a musically driven documentary about a night in post-Katrina New Orleans guided by three boys with their own unique perspective on the Crescent City. It's also directed by the Ross Brothers (Bill and Turner), whose first feature-length film, [about life in the zip code *45365*](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1337139/), walked away with the SXSW Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2009. Expectations are high for their follow-up. (Full disclosure: This writer went to school with the Ross Brothers; she's from 45365.)
Noah Berger07we-are-legion
*We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists* --------------------------------------------- __Why it looks cool:__ This movie blew us away at Slamdance back in January with [its deep-dive into the world](http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_FS12465) of 4chan, Anonymous and everything surrounding them. It's like a crash course in what Anonymous is, what it stands for, and how its work brought about the Occupy movement. It's like audiovisual required reading.
08gimme-the-loot
*Gimme the Loot* ---------------- __Why it looks cool:__ Two teenage graffiti writers looking to be the best in New York [hatch a plan to tag](http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_FS12377) an iconic NYC landmark after a rival gang buffs their latest piece. In order to pull it off, though, they need $500. The journey to get it sounds pretty epic. Sold.
09girl-walk-all-day
*Girl Walk // All Day* ---------------------- __Why it looks cool:__ [It's a nonstop dance party](http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_FS12398) set to Girl Talk's *All Day*. You don't watch it, you live it.
10indie-game-the-movie
*Indie Game: The Movie* ----------------------- __Why it looks cool:__ This documentary was another Sundance favorite. A deep look into [the emotional roller coaster](http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_FS12369) that is independent videogame making, this film is equally funny, smart, heart-wrenching and uplifting. To miss *[Indie Game: The Movie](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/01/indie-game-the-movie-deal/)* is to seriously play yourself.
11the-love-competition
*The Love Competition* ---------------------- __Why it looks cool:__ [See above](http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_FS12616) (where you can watch the entire 15-minute short). It's, ahem, lovely.
12sleepwalk-with-me
*Sleepwalk With Me* ------------------- __Why it looks cool:__ Based on comedian Mike Birbiglia's true story, the film focuses on an [aspiring comedian's struggles with his sleepwalking disorder](http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_FS12594) and the effect it's having on his life. This film got a bit of buzz at Sundance this year, but really, comedy *and* sleepwalking? We're in.
13do-deca-pentathalon
*The Do-Deca Pentathlon* ------------------------ __Why it looks cool:__ [It's the latest](http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_FS12471) from *[The Puffy Chair](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436689/)* duo the Duplass brothers. Also, it's about two siblings who stage their own Olympics for a family reunion. If nothing else, it'll be just quirky enough to be enjoyable.
14uprising-hip-hop-la-riots
*Uprising: Hip Hop and the LA Riots* ------------------------------------ __Why it looks cool:__ Most people think that the riots that ravaged South Central Los Angeles in 1992 were sparked by the acquittal of the officers accused in the Rodney King beating. That's true, but [this documentary focuses](http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_FS12469) on how hip-hop predicted, and maybe even ignited, that civil unrest.
15wikileaks-secrets-and-lies
*Wikileaks: Secrets and Lies* ----------------------------- __Why it looks cool:__ Our fascination with anything WikiLeaks is pretty much never-ending. Wired has probably reported quite a bit of what's in [the film](http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_FS12384), but that doesn't mean it'll hurt to take one little taste, right? Right?!
16extracted
*Extracted* ----------- __Why it looks cool:__ Using cool tech to go deep into a junkie's brain to see if he's committed a crime? Then [getting stuck there](http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_FS12489)? Sounds trippy. The fact that director [Nir Paniry doesn't even know what happens at the end](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/03/premiere-trailer-sxsw-extracted/) sounds even trippier.
