SXSW 2014 Preview: ScreenAnarchy Picks 22 Can't Miss Films

Big in Japan

John Jeffcoat had his first feature Outsourced turned into a hit TV-series. That points to good things for this docu-dramedy about a real band on a fictional tour in Japan. -Ryland Aldrich

Chef

I recently rediscovered Swingers, and especially after reading a Grantland oral history about the project's genesis, I can honestly say I'm very excited for a Jon Favreau directing/writing/lead performance triple punch. Plus, who doesn't get excited about food trucks? -John Jarzemsky

Because who doesn’t want to see Jon Favreau in a kitchen? Even if it’s a small one in a truck. -Valentini I. Valentini

Starry Eyes

A desperate actress willing to do anything, a mysterious film that may transform her in ways she can't imagine ... yes, please. Those are good ingredients that could be baked up into a variety of shapes and forms, and I hope to be pleasantly surprised. Producer Travis Stevens has a good track record with genre film, so I'm on board for this vehicle into the occult. -Peter Martin

Dance of Reality

While I'd been long-hoping that Jodorowsky's first film in over 20 years would be Son of El Topo, the much-rumored sequel to his career-making surrealist masterpiece El Topo (1970), I'm not remotely disappointed that Alejandro is breaking the silence with this Fellini-on-peyote self-portrait. Funnily, instead of real life son Brontis Jodorowsky playing the 'son of El Topo' as reported, in Dance of Reality, Brontis plays his own grandfather. -Zach Gayne

Space Station 76

Patrick Wilson, Liv Tyler, and Matt Bomer star in this pastiche-filled future vision -- via the 1970s -- of life on a space station, by first-timer Jack Plotnick. -Ryland Aldrich

That Guy Dick Miller

Anyone who has ever seen any film produced by Roger Corman, and that figures in about 98% of the world's population, has seen Dick Miller. That Guy Dick Miller looks at the long, LONG career of one of America's great character actors. From Corman to Scorsese, That Guy Dick Miller has the potential to tell one hell of a story -J Hurtado

Patrick’s Day

The indie film scene resurgence from Ireland has produced some great films over the last few years, with cross-cultural successes like Once and The Guard. So basically anything hailing from the Green Isle is going to get me in that movie theater seat. But add mental illness and a suicidal flight attendant, and I’m running to be first in line. -Valentini I. Valentini

Boyhood

After hearing rumblings about this project for over a decade, I can barely contain my excitement for Linklater's 12-years-in-the-making coming-of-age epic. As many consider the Before Sunrise trilogy the crowning meditation on the subject of love (not to be confused with a love story), could Linklater's latest be the definitive youth film? Early Sundance reports point to yes! This, of course, isn't remotely surprising, given that each new Linklater film cements his status as the most interesting filmmaker in 'show business.' -Zach Gayne

Butterfly Girl

One of the most fascinating sounding docus on this year's roster is Cary Bell's look at a teenage girl trying to live a normal life with a rare disease. -Ryland Aldrich