Hollywood glitz collided with Austin cool as Roxstar’s Cinema Center wrapped up its annual four-day pop-up at SXSW, ringing red carpets, star-studded premiere parties, and exclusive celebrity interviews to the heart of Texas. Hosted at Higbie’s cocktail bar, this year’s event was a cinematic spectacle packed with A-list talent, high-energy celebrations, and some of the most anticipated films of the festival.
If there’s one place where Hollywood meets SXSW, it’s the Cinema Center. Powered by sponsors Bloom Nutrition, Peroni, Hendrick’s Gin, and Rendezvous Films, this year’s pop-up delivered eight premiere parties for some of the hottest films generating festival buzz.
Kicking off the action, Zoey Deutch and Ruby Cruz (Mare of Easttown) hit the scene Friday night for the premiere party of Chad Artigan’s THE THREESOME, bringing an electric energy to the festival’s start.
Jay and Mark Duplass proved that two is better than one, celebrating THE BALTIMORONS and MAGIC HOUR at a joint Cinema Center bash. The brothers were joined by an all-star crew, including Michael Strassner, Liz Larsen, Olivia Luccardi, Daveed Diggs, Katie Aselton, Brad Garrett, and Susan Sullivan. And in true party fashion, they also turned the event into a birthday celebration for Jay Duplass!
Saturday was a triple feature of epic proportions, with back-to-back bashes for Andrew Gaines’ THE DUTCHMAN (starring Kate Mara, Zazie Beetz, Andre Holland, and Aldis Hodge), Michael Bay’s parkour documentary WE ARE STORRER, and Lili Reinhart’s intense drama AMERICAN SWEATSHOP, featuring Daniela Melchior, Jeremy Ang Jones, Josh Whitehouse, Tim Plester, Christiane Paul, and Joel Fry.
By Sunday, the festival was buzzing over the premiere of Daisy Ridley’s WE BURY THE DEAD, followed by the Aussie psychological thriller THE SURFER. While fans hoped for a Nicolas Cage sighting, the iconic actor was a no-show.
Beyond the parties, Collider’s Interview and Portrait Studio was the ultimate star magnet, drawing a parade of A-listers for exclusive interviews. With over 30 million unique monthly visitors, Collider ensured that festival-goers got up close and personal with the biggest names in film. Spotted at the studio: David Oyelowo, Matthew McConaughey, Aaron Paul, Amanda Peet, Bradley Whitford, Zoey Deutch, Ruby Cruz, Lili Reinhart, Eiza Gonzalez, Chloe Fineman, Dennis Quaid, and more.
Roxstar’s Cinema Center wasn’t just about the films-it was about indulging in VIP-level hospitality.
Hendrick’s Gin kept spirits high with an array of specialty cocktails, including the refreshing Hendrick’s Cucumber Lemonade, the bold Hendrick’s Unusual Negroni, and the crowd-favorite Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret Spritz Royale.
Meanwhile, Peroni Nastro Azzurro returned as the official beer partner, keeping the drinks flowing all weekend long.
And for those needing a wellness boost, Bloom Nutrition provided VIP guests with energizing Greens & Superfood powders, supplements, and their new Bloom Sparkling Energy drink- perfect for surviving the festival frenzy!
As the curtain closed on Roxstar’s Cinema Center, founder and Roxstar CEO David Manning summed up the weekend best: “We’re always tremendously gratified by the welcome we receive in Austin each year. With the help of our partners, we enable filmmakers to showcase, nourish, and quench their films’ thirst for celebration.”
With another unforgettable year in the books, one thing’s for sure-when the Cinema Center rolls into SXSW, it’s not just about the movies. It’s about the ultimate Hollywood-meets-Texas experience. Until next year, Austin!
