Hello festival lovers! We’re continuing our preview of the films and other projects making their premiere at SXSW. Up next is From Nowhere, making its world premiere Saturday, March 12.
The film tells the story of three undocumented teenagers – a Dominican girl, an African boy and a Peruvian girl – who are on the verge of graduating high school while working with a teacher and a lawyer to try to get their papers to stay in the USA. Forced to grow up prematurely and navigate problems most adults don’t even have to face, they’re really just American teenagers who want to be with their friends, fall in love and push back against authority.
We connected with the film’s director and screenwriter, Matthew Newton, who is making his second trip to SXSW after debuting his first feature film, Three Blind Mice, at SXSW in 2009.
Newton’s passion for bringing this story to screen was in spotlighting American immigration challenges from a teenager’s perspective. This story is an aspect of the American immigration narrative that hasn’t really been told and I was very moved by the idea that right at the time when most young people are finding their voices, these undocumented teenagers are told to keep quiet and out of sight. I wanted to explore that tension and give a voice to these kids who can’t speak up for themselves.
In addition to screening his new film for the first time and connecting with friends in Austin, Newton is most excited about experiencing the amazing energy of the festival again in a city he nearly called home.From my very first visit Austin has always been a vibrant, creative city and I always love going back there. I live in New York but when I first came to the US I seriously thought about moving to Austin.
We sent along a few of our Totally Texan questions to further fuel his anticipation about getting back to Austin.
What is your favorite movie and/or TV show shot in Texas?
Oh there’s too many! Scenes from Midnight Cowboy were shot in Texas! Then there’s Waiting For Guffman, There Will Be Blood, No Country For Old Men… I’ll say Clint Eastwood’s A Perfect World because I remember loving that when I was a kid and it doesn’t get a lot of cineaste love.
Who is your favorite Texas musician?
Roy Orbison.
What actor would you call “totally Texan?”
Tommy Lee Jones.
What Texas food are you most looking forward to eating in Austin?
At my first SXSW I went on a midnight hunt with some other actors and directors for a particular empanada stand, on foot, for three hours, certain that we knew what the street it was on looked like, only to be eventually told by a passing cabdriver that those carts move location every day. I still want to find that cart!
What advice do you have for Austinites looking to get into the biz?
Make a film.
You can see From Nowhere at the following times during the fest:
Saturday, March 13, at 8pm at Alamo Lamar C
Tuesday, March 15, at 3pm at Alamo Slaughter
Thursday, March 17, 8pm at Alamo Ritz 2
Saturday, March 19, 5:30pm at Alamo Lamar B
