It's time to pack your bags for Austin once again, movie buffs.
The film lineup for the 2011 South By Southwest Festival has been announced and with it comes some highly anticipated flicks. While music still dominates the SXSW scene, the film screenings at the fest have become an intricate part of the week (this year's SXSW goes from March 11-20.) In fact, according to The Hollywood Reporter, overall submissions for films to be featured at the fest were up 23% this year.
Sixteen films (eight features and eight documentaries) will compete in the 2011 fest, including features "96 Minutes" (starring Brittany Snow and Christian Serratos) and "A Year in Mooring" (starring Josh Lucas and James Cromwell).
A few films that made their debut at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival will make the leap from snowy Park City to Austin, including Morgan Spurlock's latest doc, "POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold," and the Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan drama "Win Win."
Other notable screenings with big names this year include a screening of Austin native Catherine Hardwick's (who will be on hand for the fest) "Red Riding Hood" starring Amanda Seyfried, as well as "Paul," an alien flick directed by Greg Mottola and penned by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost starring Seth Rogen. Also on hand are "Source Code" starring Jake Gyllenhaal and, making its North American premiere, "Super," which reunites "Juno" co-stars Rainn Wilson and Ellen Page.
In addition to "Super," other SXSW films will be making their premiere at the fest, including "A Bag of Hammers" starring Rebecca Hall and Jason Ritter, "Beginners" starring Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer, and "Girl Walks Into A Bar," featuring the all-star cast including Zachary Quinto and Rosario Dawson.
There are a few pop culture-friendly documentaries on hand as well, including "Tabloid" (a film chronicling the Foo Fighters) and "Conan O'Brien Can't Stop," which had already been announced as a SXSW opening night screening.
Another previously announced opening night film includes Mel Gibson's return to the big screen in the already-controversial, Jodie Foster-directed black comedy "The Beaver." Janet Pierson, the SXSW film conference and festival producer said of the decision to screen "The Beaver," which Foster will be on hand to present: “I think the film is fantastic. It’s incredibly moving. In a way, this film needs us.”
With a plethora of films to choose from, Pierson explained that SXSW has seen "great filmmakers emerging from here" and 2011 will be no exception as they choose films based on the criteria of "Which are the ones that speak to us?”, adding, “We’re looking for something edgy or a little different, fun and raunchy, tech-y and young."
Will you be heading to this year's SXSW Festival for live music, films, or both? Tell us your plans in the comments section and on Twitter!
** FOLLOW MTV MOVIES BLOG ON TWITTER! **