The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) team has announced the World Premiere of YouTube Originals docuseries Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil as the Opening Night Headliner, kicking off the 2021 Online event.
The festival, which will take place online between March 16-20, 2021, has also revealed the collection of Early Fest Highlights including Hysterical, Confronting a Serial Killer, The Hunt for Planet B, Luchadoras, Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché, Jakob’s Wife, Recovery, and Violet.
Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil explores every aspect that led to Lovato’s nearly fatal overdose in 2018, and her awakenings in the aftermath. Director Michael D. Ratner was granted unprecedented access to the superstar’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. Far deeper than an inside look beyond the celebrity surface, the docuseries is an intimate portrait of addiction, and the process of healing and empowerment.
“It’s impressive and rare to see a pop superstar tell their story so authentically and without pretense,” said Janet Pierson, Director of Film. “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.”
“We are excited to share a handful of films from various sections of the festival (Headliners, Episodic Premieres, Doc and Narrative Spotlight, Midnighters, Global, 24 Beats Per Second, 2020 Spotlight) to give you a taste of the talent, risk-taking, passion, and achievements that we will be announcing in early February and share together online in March,” added Pierson.
The complete film festival lineup will be announced Wednesday, February 10. The 2021 online platform with the schedule will launch on February 15.
