In a fitting match-up of subject and setting, Terrence Malick’s latest film, Song To Song, has been scheduled as the opening entry at this year’s SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas. Starring Rooney Mara, Ryan Gosling, Michael Fassbender, and Natalie Portman, the movie follows four Austinites as they navigate the city’s music scene, described as a “rock ‘n’ roll landscape of seduction and betrayal” in SXSW press materials. The film—which Malick shot back-to-back several years ago with Knight Of Cups—was filmed in and around the city, taking advantage of venues like the Austin City Limits Music Festival and Fun Fun Fun Fest.
Malick’s latest isn’t the only high-profile premiere at this year’s SXSW Film, which kicks off on March 10. As part of the sub-fest’s TV-focused Episodic section, the festival will also see the world premiere of Bryan Fuller’s long-anticipated American Gods. The first episode of the Neil Gaiman adaptation—directed by Hannibal vet David Slade, and set to premiere on Starz in April—will make its debut at the fest. The full schedule for the event is coming on January 31.