'21 Jump Street' to be centerpiece SXSW film

The 21st-century reboot of "21 Jump Street," starring Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Nick Offerman, will be the centerpiece film for the South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival, organizers announced this week. The action-comedy will screen March 12 at the festival that kicks off March 9 with "The Cabin in the Woods."

Filmmaker Emmett Malloy and his cameras followed Mumford and Sons on the British band's train tour that passed through Austin in April. His "Big Easy Express," a documentary about the tour that included Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show, will close the festival March 17.

The festival will also feature the latest from University of Texas alumnus Matthew McConaughey, who stars with Emile Hirsch in the crime drama "Killer Joe" from "French Connection" director William Friedkin. Austin filmmaker Richard Linklater, who gave McConaughey his big break in "Dazed and Confused," will screen his dark comedy, the locally shot "Bernie," which stars Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine and McConaughey.

Other movies with Austin ties playing SXSW include "Do-Deca-Pentathalon" from University of Texas alumni, brothers Jay and Mark Duplass; Austinite Bob Byington's "Somebody Up There Likes Me," starring Offerman and Kevin Corrigan; and the Zellner brothers' "Kid-Thing," which recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Always a highlight in the Live Music Capital of the World, the 24 Beats Per Second category features music-related films. Those include "Charles Bradley: Soul of America," a documentary about the late-blossoming soul singer who drew raves with his performance at last year's SXSW. Two Los Angeles-themed documentaries, "Sunset Strip," which chronicles the 100-year history of the legendary street, and Mark Ford's "Uprising: Hip Hop & The L.A. Riots," a look at hip-hop's role in the social unrest of the '90s, should also play to large audiences at the film festival.

SXSW will screen 130 features during the festival, including 51 films from first-time directors. The narrative and documentary feature categories will each consist of eight films making their world premieres.

"SXSW has long been a haven for bold filmmaking and a launching pad for authentic voices," says Janet Pierson, the film conference and festival producer. "Every year we start anew, trying hard not to rely on our own formulas or expectations. This year we're excited to present a fresh slate of breakout talent, but one that's still uniquely SXSW."

modam@statesman.com; 912-5986