Boots Riley's 'I Love Boosters' Kicks Off SXSW with Trippy, Rip-Roaring Opening Night

The filmmaker's upcoming NEON movie is a psychedelic, absurdist caper about a group of fashionista shoplifters.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 1:37am

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SXSW kicked off its 2026 festival with the world premiere of Boots Riley's upcoming NEON movie "I Love Boosters", a psychedelic, absurdist caper about a group of fashionista shoplifters who steal from a corrupt fashion designer and sell her line at a discount. The film, starring Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, and Poppy Liu, received plenty of laughs and a standing ovation from the opening night crowd in Austin.

Why it matters

Riley's film takes a satirical look at the fashion industry, capitalism, and the 1% - exploring themes of art, value, and access. The filmmaker hopes to shine a light on the systems that put value on art and fashion, and the people who are excluded from those conversations.

The details

In "I Love Boosters", Keke Palmer plays an aspiring fashion designer who runs a "boosters" store, selling stolen fashion goods at a much lower cost. Her posse, which includes Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, and Poppy Liu, targets a corrupt fashion designer named Christie Smith, played by Demi Moore. Riley explained that the film is "more me thinking about specifically fashion, which is though of as an artistic endeavor" and "what puts the value on it?" He also highlighted a stand-up bit featured in the film by Kate Berlant about how certain things "should be free for women" and that "without it, you can't get a job, you can't be a member of society."

  • I Love Boosters had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival on March 13, 2026.
  • The film is set to hit cinemas on May 22, 2026.

The players

Boots Riley

The filmmaker behind the upcoming NEON movie "I Love Boosters", which had its world premiere at SXSW.

Keke Palmer

The actress who plays an aspiring fashion designer running a "boosters" store in "I Love Boosters".

Demi Moore

The actress who plays the corrupt fashion designer Christie Smith, who is targeted by the group of fashionista shoplifters in "I Love Boosters".

Kate Berlant

The actress who has a stand-up bit featured in "I Love Boosters" about certain things "should be free for women".

NEON

The studio distributing Boots Riley's "I Love Boosters".

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What they’re saying

“When it came to I Love Boosters, it was more me thinking about specifically fashion, which is though of as an artistic endeavor. What is behind art? You can put that with everything. How does it get made? What puts the value on it?”

— Boots Riley, Filmmaker (Deadline)

“It's interesting because someone who does a PA announcement in the film, Kate Berlant, she has a stand-up bit that make should be free for women. They should be able to steal it. Without it, you can't get a job, you can't be a member of society.”

— Boots Riley, Filmmaker (Deadline)

What’s next

I Love Boosters is set to hit cinemas on May 22, 2026 after its world premiere at SXSW.

The takeaway

Boots Riley's "I Love Boosters" takes a satirical, absurdist look at the fashion industry, capitalism, and the systems that put value on art and exclude certain people from those conversations. The film's trippy, rip-roaring opening night at SXSW suggests it will be a thought-provoking and entertaining exploration of these themes when it hits theaters later this year.