Where There’s a Willie…

A doc about the Patron Saint of Texas will be the 2011 SXSW Film Festival’s swan song.

Billy Bob Thornton’s documentary, The King of Luck, about Willie Nelson has been selected as the Closing Night Film, unspooling at the Paramount on Saturday, March 19.

Other just-announced drop-ins to SXSW Film: a work-in-progress screening of Paul Feig’s comedy Bridesmaids, starring and co-written by Kristen Wiig, Hit So Hard, P. David Ebersole’s documentary about HOLE drummer Patty Schemel (featuring, we hear, some previously unseen footage of Kurt & Courtney), a new Harmony Korine short, and a selection of short films from R.E.M.’s latest album, curated by Michael Stipe, who’ll stick around for a Q&A after.

Keep reading for the full release....

Additional Films in the 2011 SXSW Film Festival include:

HEADLINERS
The King of Luck
Director: Billy Bob Thornton
This is a documentary about Willie Nelson: the man, the songwriter, the friend, the father, legendary performer and champion of the family farmer. (World Premiere)

SPECIAL EVENTS

Bridesmaids (Work In Progress)
Director: Paul Feig, Writers: Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
Kristen Wiig leads the cast as Annie, a maid of honor whose life unravels as she leads her best friend, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), and a group of colorful bridesmaids (Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper) on a wild ride down the road to matrimony.

Films from R.E.M.’s Collapse Into Now followed by a Q+A with Michael Stipe
A selection of films from R.E.M.'s latest album, ”Collapse Into Now,” with films by notable artists and filmmakers and personally curated by Michael Stipe.

Night Fishing
Directors: PARKing CHANce (PARK Chan-wook, PARK Chan-kyong) (Narrative Short)
Story about the transitions between life and death brought by PARKing CHANce, the first collaboration between PARK Chan-wook and PARK Chan-kyong. (North American Premiere)

The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway
Director: Marty Callner, Created and Conceived by: Paul Reubens, Written by: Paul Reubens and Bill Steinkellner, Additional Material by: John Paragon, Also written by: Josh Meyers, John Koch and Paul Rust Based on the original show that launched Pee-wee Herman into a pop culture icon, Paul Reubens’ beloved character brings his Playhouse to life once again in the HBO special “The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway.”

Sound & Scene: Made in Israel
SXSW Film and Wyatt Brand present a unique music/film/interactive convergence brunch, as two Israeli bands – Eatliz and Onili – play live to their stunning, award winning videos. GRAMMY®-nominated directors Yuval and Merov Nathan Skype in from Tel Aviv.

"Umshini Wam" (Narrative Short)
Director & Writer: Harmony Korine Ninja and Yo Landi are wheelchair bound gangstas. Their wheels are falling off, and they need new rims. They must undergo extreme measures to keep rolling. (World Premiere)

24 BEATS PER SECOND

The Devil's Box
Director: Jason Hammond
Once a year, fiddlers across the country flock to Hallettsville to compete for the title of best Texas-style fiddler. The small town erupts into a musical jamboree in this offbeat and quirky portrait of Americana. (World Premiere)

Hit So Hard
Director: P. David Ebersole
The life and near-death story of Patty Schemel, the hard-hitting openly gay drummer of HOLE whose friendship with struggling musician Kurt Cobain unexpectedly led her to a path of fame, addiction, betrayal, survival and triumph. (World Premiere)

Tell Your Friends
Director: Victor Varnado
Featuring hot up-and coming comedians Reggie Watts, Kristen Schaal & Kurt Braunohler, Liam McEneaney, and Christian Finnegan, “Tell Your Friends! The Concert Film!” does for indie comedy what “Woodstock” did for Baby Boomer rock. (World Premiere)

SXGLOBAL

Separado! (UK)
Directors: Gruff Rhys & Dylan Goch
Star Trek meets Buena Vista Social Club in this psychedelic western musical as Welsh pop legend Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals) takes us on a pan continental road trip in search of his long lost Patagonian uncle, the poncho wearing guitarist Rene Griffiths.

Tunnelvision (The Netherlands)
Director: Stefano Odoardi, Writer: Sytske Kok
When the body of a little baby is found in the dirt, the rubbish dump workers soon have reason to suspect that Mira knows more about it. Cast: Sanneke Bos, Serge Price, Raymond Thiry, Ergun Simsek, Teun Kuilboer (U.S. Premiere)