The world premiere of Lionsgate’s anticipated horror directed by Drew Goddard from a screenplay he co-wrote with Joss Whedon kicks off the festival in Austin, Texas.

Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Richard Jenkins and Fran Kranz are among the cast. Whedon (pictured) will also take part in an onstage conversation panel. Lionsgate has set an Apr 13 release date.

Festival producer Janet Pierson called The Cabin In The Woods “a smart, unpredictable and highly entertaining headliner.”

There are also world premieres of Jonas Åkerlund’s dark comedy Small Apartments, Lena Dunham’s comedy Girls, Neil Berkeley’s documentary Beauty Is Embarrassing and Ciarán Foy’s psychological horror Citadel, as well as the North American premiere of Kevin Macdonald’s Bob Marley documentary Marley.

The festival will also screen Ernst Lubitsch’s 1919 silent comedy The Oyster Princess with original live score performed by Austin band Bee vs. Moth.

The complete film roster will be announced in early February. The 19th annual South By Southwest Film Conference and Festival is scheduled to run from Mar 9–17.

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