SXSW 2026: Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters Chosen as Opening Night Film

NEON’s I Love Boosters will premiere Opening Night at SXSW 2026.

SXSW 2026 Preview: Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters to Open the Festival

SXSW has confirmed its Opening Night Film for the 2026 Film & TV Festival, and it’s a major one. NEON’s I Love Boosters, the newest feature from filmmaker and musician Boots Riley, will make its World Premiere in Austin as the festival celebrates its 40th year.

Riley returns to SXSW with a project that already feels like a natural continuation of his sharp, surreal, and politically charged storytelling. The film centers on a crew of professional shoplifters targeting a ruthless fashion mogul—a setup Riley describes as “like community service.” The ensemble cast is stacked: Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, Don Cheadle, and Demi Moore round out the group known as The Velvet Gang.

I Love Boosters marks only Riley’s second feature following 2018’s Sorry to Bother You, which also premiered at SXSW and rapidly became one of the festival’s most memorable breakouts. He returned in 2023 with I Am A Virgo, further solidifying his status as one of the industry’s most expressive and uncompromising voices.

SXSW’s VP of Film & TV, Claudette Godfrey, emphasized the significance of kicking off the festival with Riley’s new work, calling it “wildly original,” “boundary-pushing,” and “deliciously unpredictable.” Based on early descriptions, viewers should expect Riley’s trademark blend of vibrant imagery, anarchic humor, and social critique—delivered by a cast more than capable of elevating the chaos.

The full SXSW 2026 Film & TV lineup will be announced in January, but the festival is already building momentum. Badges increase in price on December 4, and SXSW is encouraging attendees to secure registration early—especially those planning to witness The Velvet Gang’s first strike in person.

SXSW 2026 runs alongside conference keynotes, mentor sessions, comedy showcases, networking events, and all the industry programming that makes the festival a massive annual convergence for creators and audiences alike.

We’ll be covering SXSW 2026 all the way through—starting with I Love Boosters and whatever other surprises are waiting in this year’s slate. Keep it locked.