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The South by Southwest (SXSW) 2026 festival opened with a screening of "Slanted," the grand prize winner in the narrative feature competition at last year’s festival. Written and directed by Amy Wang, the film is currently showing on 588 screens. The story follows Joan Huang, played by Shirley Chen, a high school student who dreams of becoming prom queen with the help of a mysterious beauty clinic that transforms people of color into white.
The film also stars Makena Grace and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and is considered one of the standout presentations at this year’s SXSW festival.
"Scent of Pho" Achieves Success in Vietnam
In a related development, 3388 Films distributed the family drama "Scent of Pho" in 10 countries including the United States and Canada. Directed by Minh Beta and starring social media star Shawn Hinh, whose music video has garnered over 300 million views on YouTube, the film centers on a skilled chef specializing in Vietnamese pho who faces family conflicts after choosing his young grandson to succeed him in running the family’s renowned restaurant.
Since its release in Vietnam last month, the film has earned $1.8 million in box office revenue.
Other Screenings at SXSW 2026
Additionally, Abramorama presented two new films at SXSW: "Group: The Schoepenhauer Effect," which explores group therapy through a blend of acting and improvisation, and "Space Cowboy," which highlights the life of Joe Jennings, a famous free-solo photographer. "Space Cowboy" is currently playing in limited release in New York City theaters.
The Significance of These Screenings at SXSW 2026
These films showcase the diversity of themes and cinematic styles offered by SXSW, combining narrative and documentary works that address contemporary social and cultural issues. This reflects the trends in independent cinema and strengthens its presence in global markets.
This news has been re-edited based on a report published by deadline.com, while preserving the essential facts from the original source.
