SXSW 2015 to open with doc ‘Brand: A Second Coming’ on Russell Brand

The South By Southwest Film Conference and Festival on Thursday announced the world premiere of “Brand: A Second Coming,� a documentary on comedian and author Russell Brand, as the opening-night film of its 2015 SXSW film fest running March 13-21 in Austin, Texas.

Brand is a stand-up comedian, actor, author and activist who has recently become controversial for his increasingly politicized work. Besides appearing in the films “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,� “Get Him to the Greek� and “Paradise,� Brand is known to some as the ex-husband of pop music star Katy Perry.

Director Ondi Timoner is a two-time winner of the Sundance Grand Jury prize for documentaries, for her films “Dig!� and “We Live in Public.�

“Ondi Timoner’s bold and lively documentary on Russell Brand knocked us out with its humor, insight and raw energy, pulling back the curtain on a truly passionate figure as he grapples with fame, influence and where we are as a 21st century society,� Janet Pierson, SXSW’s head of film, said in a statement.

The festival also announced a few other initial titles for this year’s event, including the world premiere of Karyn Kusama’s “The Invitation,� starring Emayatzy Corinealdi, Michiel Huisman and Lindsay Burdge. It also plans to feature the North American premiere of Alex Garland’s sci-fi thriller “Ex Machina,� starring Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson and Alicia Vikander.

Other selections announced Thursday as world premieres for the festival are Sara Hirsh Bordo’s doc “A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story�; Michael Showalter’s “Hello, My Name Is Doris,� starring Sally Field; Jessica Edwards’ doc “Mavis!� on legendary soul singer Mavis Staples; and Adam Hootnick’s doc “Son of the Congo.�

SXSW previously announced keynote addresses for this year’s festival from Mark Duplass, Ava DuVernay and RZA. The rest of this year’s program is to be announced in Feburary.

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