Austin, TX – Roxstar’s Cinema Center, a perennial hotspot for film festival hospitality, returned to Austin, Texas, to host its annual four-day pop-up during SXSW, which wrapped up at Higbie’s cocktail bar this past weekend.
The popup completed an ambitious run of eight red-carpet premiere parties for the biggest buzz films of SXSW in a program supported by sponsors Bloom Nutrition, Peroni, Hendrick’s Gin, and Rendezvous Films. On top of that, media property Collider hosted an interview and portrait studio on the premises for celebrity and filmmaker interviews.
Friday kicked off the action with the premiere party for Chad Artigan’s THE THREESOME attended by stars Zoey Deutch and Ruby Cruz (from Mare of Easttown).
The Duplass brothers Jay and Mark are everywhere these days, so ubiquitous they brought TWO films to SXSW: THE BALTIMORONS and MAGIC HOUR, both feted in a single party at the Cinema Center. Helping Jay blow out the candles for his birthday party at the twin premieres were Mark and cast members Michael Strassner, Liz Larsen, Olivia Luccardi, Daveed Diggs, Katie Aselton, Brad Garrett, and Susan Sullivan.
The Cinema Center crammed three films into the Saturday schedule, including Andrew Gaines’ THE DUTCHMAN, with stars Kate Mara (with three films at SXSW) Zazie Beetz, Andre Holland, and Aldis Hodge; Michael Bay’s parkour doc WE ARE STORRER; and AMERICAN SWEATSHOP, starring Lili Reinhart, Daniela Melchior, Jeremy Ang Jones, Josh Whitehouse, Tim Plester, Christiane Paul, and Joel Fry.
Sunday featured just one film premiere: WE BURY THE DEAD, starring Daisy Ridley, and the Cinema Center rounded out the long weekend with Aussie psychological thriller THE SURFER. Nic Cage was a conspicuous absence at the event.
No matter; Collider’s annual Interview Studio brought additional star wattage throughout the weekend with a parade of filmmakers and actors stopping by during their press circuits to do interviews for the wildly popular site that attracts over 30 million unique visitors each month. Attending talent included David Oyelowo, Matthew McConaughey, Aaron Paul, Amanda Peet, Bradley Whitford, Zoey Deutch, Ruby Cruz, Lili Reinhardt, Eiza Gonzalez, Chloe Fineman, Dennis Quaid and many more.
Hendrick’s Gin, showcased specialty cocktails including the classics “Hendrick’s Cucumber Lemonade,” and the “Hendrick’s Unusual Negroni,” in addition to the “Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret Sprits Royale”, and “Hendrick’s Oasium Fizz.” Premium Italian lager Peroni Nastro Azzurro returned as the official beer partner of the Cinema Center.
New partner Bloom Nutrition, founded by wellness influencer Mari Llewellyn and her husband Gregory LaVecchia in 2019, offered VIP guests the opportunity to refresh and recharge with wellness essentials, including Greens & Superfood powders, supplements, and their Bloom Sparkling Energy, the brand’s first ready-to-drink canned beverage. Also joining the roster to support Collider was Rendezvous Films, an alternative investment vehicle that provides creative equity financing to independent film, TV, and documentary content.
“We’re always tremendously gratified by the welcome we receive in Austin each year,” concludes Cinema Center founder and Roxstar CEO David Manning. “Will the help of our partners, we enable filmmakers to showcase, nourish and quench their films’ thirst for celebration.”
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