Minnesota-shot films 'Stray' and 'Serial Killer' premiere at SXSW

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Two films shot in Minnesota last year are getting buzz from audiences and journalists after premiering last weekend at the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW).

"Many folks from the Twin Cities and cast and crew were in attendance, so we were very excited," writer/director Musa Syeed said after the nearly sold-out screening of "A Stray" at the Austin Convention Center.

A few hours later, the Virginia/Hibbing-shot "I Am Not a Serial Killer" screened at Austin's prized Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar.

"A Stray" follows a Somali man, Adan, who is struggling to keep his life afloat in Minneapolis. A stray dog changes the course of his life as Adan — played by "Captain Phillips" co-star Barkhad Abdirahman, one of four Twin Cities actors who played Somali pirates in the Tom Hanks film — searches for a home for the dog.

The film, which will have its Minnesota premiere April 15 and 17 at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, was shot in 15 days last September, primarily in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis.

Syeed knew he wanted to make a film about a young man and a dog, but it wasn't until he met Abdirahman at the Brian Coyle Community Center that he had his lead actor. Abdirahman and castmate Faysal Ahmed, also part of the "Captain Phillips" crew, worked with Syeed to shape the characters and story.

"We've got some good reviews already," Syeed said Monday.

"We only finished the film eight days ago, but the audience really got it," said Irish director/co-writer Billy O'Brien.

It takes place in the fictional town of Clayton, where 16-year-old John Wayne Cleever (Max Records, "Where The Wild Things Are"), a diagnosed sociopath living with his mother at a mortuary, is drawn to a recent string of murders in his town and investigates. One of the main suspects is local resident Bill Crowley (Christopher Lloyd), whom John befriends.

"Since we just finished the film, we were a little paranoid about how the sound was going to be and then we didn't realize you could order food and drinks in the theater," O'Brien said. He laughed as producer Nick Ryan mentioned that the person next to him was slurping loudly during the film, but they said the theater sounded great.

"We hope to eventually bring the film to the Twin Cities, and especially to Virginia — the folks up there were so wonderful," O'Brien said.

"I Am Not a Serial Killer" has two more screenings at SXSW and is awaiting its reception before committing to more festivals.