Riley’s ability to transcend genre and tones to create something strange and immediate makes his latest project the perfect choice for SXSW. Part concert, part film festival, part interactive media hub, SXSW celebrates all things creative.
“We are beyond thrilled to kick off the festival with the world premiere of Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters,” said Claudette Godfrey, the festival’s VP of Film & TV. “We can’t wait for our audience to be sucked into his singular, subversive world where razor-sharp social commentary meets fearless, surreal storytelling and eye-popping imagery—all powered by a ridiculously stacked cast of some of the most talented actors on the planet.”
I Love Boosters will join a long list of great movies that made their debut at SXSW. Past standouts include Four Letter Words and Medicine for Melancholy, the first feature from indie favorites Sean Baker and Barry Jenkins, hit comedies such as Knocked Up and Bridesmaids, and the indescribable Spring Breakers.
With such an incredible history, SXSW has more than earned the right to rest on its laurels. But clearly the festival has no intention of slowing down and, with the help of Boots Riley, is only going to weirder, wilder, and better as it ages.
SXSW 2026 runs March 12-18 in Austin, Texas.
