The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival announced the first lineup of movies it will screen at its virtual festival in March and it includes a docuseries on singer Demi Lovato and a documentary on Mexican wrestlers.
Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil will make its world premiere as the SXSW opening night presentation. The in-depth docuseries, which will also debut on YouTube in March, explores the events leading to Lovato’s nearly fatal drug overdose in 2018.
According to Variety, director Michael D. Ratner was given “unprecedented access to [Lovato’s] personal and musical journey during the most trying time of her life as she unearthed her prior traumas and discovered the importance of her physical, emotional and mental health.” Last year, Ratner directed Justin Bieber: Seasons, a 10-episode docuseries on the “Yummy” singer’s life and music-making process, which was also released on YouTube.
“It’s impressive and rare to see a pop superstar tell their story so authentically and without pretense,” Janet Pierson, SXSW’s Director of Film, said in a statement. “We’re privileged to present this intimate journey told with such vulnerability. Demi Lovato’s profound interest in mental health awareness is helping change the landscape of a crucial issue in this year of national and international trauma and loss.”
Along with Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil, SXSW will premiere Luchadoras, a documentary featuring women wrestlers in Ciudad Juárez, “who fight in the ring and in their daily lives to redefine the image of what it means to be a woman in Mexico.”
The complete SXSW film festival lineup will be announced Feb. 10. SXSW takes place exclusively online March 16-20.