2024 SXSW Dispatch: The Festival Starts Strong by Celebrating International Women's Day

South by Southwest returns to Austin, Texas this year with a variety of queer offerings added to its impressive lineup of independent cinematic achievements and studio productions. Though the day's big draw came from the Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor muscle-bound extravaganza "Road House," there were plenty of other options for those not looking to fight the growing festival crowds. From international flicks to U.S.-based projects looking for distribution, SXSW embodies the spirit of thought-provoking content.

This year, the lineup includes several festival favorites, including the highly anticipated Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt-led "The Fall Guy." But for those interested in more niche moviegoing experiences, the festival provides top-notch panels, conversations with well-known industry leaders, and world premieres of directorial debuts from unknown helmers. The first day of SXSW flew by quickly, and I hit the ground running with some beautiful films.

The day began with the International Premiere of "Backspot," a Canadian drama from director D.W. Waterson, in the non-binary director's feature directorial debut. The film stars queer actor Devery Jacobs ("Reservation Dogs") as professional cheerleader Riley, a determined and anxious individual looking to score a spot on the competitive Thunderhawks team. She encounters stiff competition from her girlfriend and other cheerleaders looking to keep their place on the renowned squad under the tutelage of the hard knocks coach, Elien McNamara (Evan Rachel Wood).

Aided by a supporting cast that includes Noa DiBerto, Shannyn Sossamon, and Kudakwashe Rutendo, "Backspot" transports the audience to the roles queer people play in sports while commenting on mental health along the way. Riley has a condition called trichotillomania, which manifests in her pulling hair from her eyebrows and eyelashes as a way to control the anxiety she displays on and off the mat. The pressure of the job and the intensity with which Riley wants to do well combine to produce disastrous results for the young phenom.

"Backspot" is a dramatic turn for Devery Jacobs and a welcome surprise for Evan Rachel Wood, who plays the mentor role in this film quite fiercely. At one point, she tells Riley, "I am not your mother," though she's a guiding light for the cheerleader both in queerness and in life. It's a fascinating dynamic worth exploring, and Waterson does a fine job presenting the obstacles on the screen.

It's a triumph for LGBTQ+ characters and women on film, adding to the intensity felt on International Women's Day.