Boots Riley's I Love Boosters to Open SXSW 2026

Boots Riley's anticipated second feature film, "I Love Boosters," will make its world premiere as the opening night selection for the 2026 South by Southwest Film and TV Festival in Austin, Texas. The announcement came Thursday for the event's 40th anniversary edition, set to run from March 12 to 18.

The science fiction comedy centers on a crew of professional shoplifters, known as boosters, who target a ruthless fashion industry executive. The story frames their actions as a form of community service amid themes of social commentary and surreal absurdity. The ensemble cast features Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza Gonzalez, LaKeith Stanfield, Don Cheadle and Demi Moore.

Neon acquired distribution rights and plans a theatrical release on May 22, 2026. This marks Riley's return to narrative filmmaking after his 2023 Prime Video series "I'm a Virgo," an absurdist take on policing through a superhero lens that also premiered at SXSW. His directorial debut, the 2018 cult hit "Sorry to Bother You," which starred Stanfield and explored capitalism's dehumanizing effects, similarly debuted at the Austin festival. Before transitioning to screen work, Riley gained...