Austin Film Festival 2026 Preview: Bitter Christmas, I Play Rocky + more
The annual Austin Film Festival is upon us, with a mix of auteur-driven movies like Pedro Almodóvar’s Bitter Christmas and Mike Leigh’s Tender Loving Care and new kids on the block Nicholas Arioli (The Stalemate) and Jordan Firstman (Club Kid). Our staff writers will be on the ground over the next eight days for exclusive red carpet interviews and premiere coverage. Below, see what they’re most excited for at this year’s fest.
BEHEMOTH
The latest Tony Gilroy is one of the centerpiece films of the fest this year, starring Pedro Pascal as a gifted cellist. The film follows his return home to Los Angeles after 20 years as music, the only constant in his life, carries him on a life-changing adventure. Boasting a staggering nine composers and a stacked cast of Olivia Wilde, Eva Victor, Will Arnett, and Alexa Swinton, this flick promises to be one of the best in the fest. — Eli Fischer
BITTER CHRISTMAS
It’s always a joy when there’s a new Almodóvar in theaters, and his return to Spanish language cinema seems to be right in the legendary director’s wheelhouse. This melancholic meta-comedy is a dual narrative about a celebrated film director in 2025 who struggles to write a screenplay for an autofictional film about an ad director who faces a turbulent Christmas weekend in 2004. Starring Bárbara Lennie, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, and Victoria Luengo. — Eli Fischer
BUNKER
Acclaimed director/writer Florian Zeller (The Father) delivers a psychological thriller about an architect building the titular structure for a billionaire while his wife questions his decision and their marriage. Spanish superstars (and real-life couple) Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz lead a fascinating cast that includes Stephan Graham, Paul Dano, Kyle Soller, Mark Gatiss, and the legendary Eileen Atkins. — Paul Feinstein
I PLAY ROCKY
The true underdog story. Peter Farrelly’s latest feature is about Sylvester Stallone, played by Anthony Ippolito, and his journey writing and starring in the Oscar-winning film Rocky and of the sacrifices he had to (and wasn’t willing) to make. — Eli Fischer
MINOTAUR
An executive faces immense crises when marital infidelity and world warfare threaten his formerly composed existence. Expect a heavy hit of social criticism from the master filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev (The Return, Leviathan). — Paul Feinstein
THE STALEMATE
A Western comedy with Defiant Ones-vibes is immensely intriguing. This is the feature debut from director-writer Nicholas Arioli with a stable of excellent veteran actors including Ben Foster, Manny Jacinto, Fiona Shaw, Anthony Carrigan, Paul Sparks, Shea Whigham and his daughter Giogia Whigham. — Paul Feinstein