Brian Is a SXSW 2026 Movie That Shines a Spotlight on the Unseen

The South by Southwest Film & TV Festival showcases a wide variety of movies, but some, like Brian, stand out as truly special. This film is a moving and insightful look at a young man’s personal journey. It centers on Brian, played by Ben Wang, a high school student who experiences panic attacks, often at the worst possible moments. He’s still figuring out how to cope with them, and the challenges of high school only make it harder.

Director Will Ropp did a great job with this movie. The character of Brian is fascinating and complex – he might seem frustrating at first, but most viewers will find themselves rooting for him by the end. The film has a genuine emotional core, and it’s enhanced by a terrific supporting cast.

Before the SXSW festival, TopMob interviewed William H. Macy, who plays Brian’s therapist, and Randall Park from WandaVision, who plays Brian’s dad. Both actors talked about why Brian is a meaningful film and how it connects to their own lives.

Why SXSW’s Brian Is So Important

“Movies Give Us the Opportunity to Humanize People…”

TopMob: “This film is so important, it really shines a spotlight on the struggles of people who don’t really get that spotlight very often. In your own words, can you just talk about why the messages and just the topic of this film is so important, especially in today’s society?”

William H. Macy believes we’ve lost touch with how difficult it is to grow up. He feels that the transition from being a teenager to an adult – that confusing in-between period – is particularly challenging. When young people express uncertainty about who they are, their identity, or their sexuality, Macy thinks the honest response is to admit that everyone feels lost at that age.

Turning sixteen is a big step, and you’ll soon be seventeen. The good news is, you’ll get through this challenging time. It’s normal to feel lost and unsure of who you are or what you’re meant to do with your life – that’s just part of being human. We often get stressed about it, but life is difficult, no matter who you are or what your circumstances are. Whether you have a lot or a little, it’s still tough.

It feels like we’ve stopped believing things will be okay – not in a spiritual sense, but just the everyday belief that things usually work out. When you really think about it, most of the terrible things we’ve feared actually resolved themselves. Often, the situation we dreaded didn’t turn out as bad as we imagined, or people didn’t react the way we expected. We just need to trust that things will eventually be alright, and even believe that we can handle it if they don’t. It won’t be the end of the world.

Randall Park believes movies are a great way to help us understand people, particularly those from backgrounds different from our own, or who we don’t encounter in our daily lives. They allow us to see their humanity.

I believe it’s vital to share stories about people like this, as it fosters empathy and helps us understand each other. That’s what movies can do best. While I don’t personally know anyone exactly like the character Brian, I know people facing similar struggles exist. After watching this film, I feel more compassion for those going through difficult times.

William H. Macy on Diving Into Brian’s Therapist

“I’ve Probably Seen More Therapists on Screen Than I Have In Person…”

TopMob: “There have been a lot of therapist performances, but do you find yourself comparing your performance to other therapist-type roles, and maybe trying to figure out things that you want to do, that you don’t necessarily see on screen often, or avoiding things that maybe you know you see too much?”

I didn’t really have a specific thought process for that. Honestly, I feel like I’ve seen more therapists portrayed in movies and on TV than I’ve actually met in real life, so I’m not sure how to answer.

To answer that, let’s clarify my role: I’m playing the therapist. The script showed Dr. Reynolds genuinely believes Brian is a good, intelligent kid who’s simply going through a phase and needs some understanding. I made sure to portray Dr. Reynolds as someone who really likes Brian, bringing that warmth to the scene.

Ben Wang is exactly as charming and genuine as you’d expect. As an actor, he picks up lines quickly and is also naturally improvisational – he can add little moments of creativity even while staying true to the script, which I really admire.

TopMob: “Throughout the film, Brian is trying to trick you into revealing personal information about your life, which made me wonder, how much of that personal backstory for the character did you work out yourself that we just don’t see on screen?”

William H. Macy explained that it didn’t matter who the doctor was. He believes the other person was asking questions about him to avoid talking about their own problems and to find ways to improve their own life. They were trying to stall and figure out what changes they could make for a better tomorrow.

TopMob: “Have you ever personally worked with someone or known someone close to you who was dealing with some of the same issues that Brian deals with, and did you bring those experiences with you to this performance?”

I likely did experience that as a parent. I have two daughters who are now in their 20s, and they’re wonderful. They went through all the typical ups and downs of growing up, and I was there to witness it. Some of it was hilarious, some was scary, and honestly, some of it was just really frustrating to watch.

The entire conversation with Brian star William H. Macy can be viewed below.

Randall Park On His Improv In SXSW’s Brian

“I Don’t Even Remember What Was Scripted and What Was Improvised…”

TopMob: “Your character has an extremely dry and dark sense of humor. Brian even calls out in the film. How much of that is like written in the script versus like, did you get to improv and kind of bring your own flavor to that as well?”

Randall Park shared that they did a lot of improvising during filming, so much so that he can’t recall what lines were originally written and what they came up with on the spot. He explained that director Will Ropp gave them a lot of freedom, which is rare for independent films because of their typically tight budgets and schedules.

Working with people like Edi Patterson, Ben, and Sam [Song Li] was a lot of fun for us as a family. We had a lot of creative freedom and explored some really strange and unexpected ideas. Some of those ideas made it into the final movie, while others didn’t.

TopMob: “I’m curious, in your personal life, I know you have a daughter. How much of your real-life parenting and that experience did you bring with you into this role?”

I do a lot of thinking, and I’ve played parent roles before. But becoming a dad myself has really changed how I connect with those characters. Having a child is such a complete and all-encompassing experience, it definitely makes those roles feel more real and meaningful.

This movie especially touched me because of its portrayal of a child facing difficulties. My own 13-year-old daughter is on the autism spectrum, and like all children, she has her own unique struggles. We focus on being supportive and making sure she knows she’s loved no matter what.

What really struck me about this character was the unconditional love between both parents and their son, Brian. Even when he said difficult things at bad times, they understood it wasn’t his fault, and that emotional core was very powerful.

The entire discussion with Brian‘s Randall Park can be watched below.

Brian does not currently have a release date.

2026-03-25 23:38