X Japan set to debut We Are X at SXSW

X Japan are set to debut their award winning music documentary, We Are X at SXSW. Three screenings of WE ARE X will be part of the SXSW Film Festival’s “24 Beats Per Second” which showcases the sounds, culture and influence of music and musicians with an emphasis on documentary and is open to both music and film badge holders. On Friday, March 18 at 7:15pm immediately following the ‘WE ARE X’ screening at the Paramount Theatre, YOSHIKI–songwriter, drummer, classically-trained pianist and the creative force of X JAPAN will perform classical versions of X JAPAN’s songs with a string quartet live on stage.Tickets for YOSHIKI’s 7:15pmperformance are available in advance (here) and at the Paramount Theatre box office. Check out the trailer here:

SXSW Film has announced that ‘WE ARE X’ is already a finalist for the“SXSW 2016 Award for Excellence in Title Design”. 

 

‘WE ARE X’was produced by John Battsek of Passion Pictures, producer of two Academy Award-winning documentaries (Searching For SugarMan, One Day In September), and directed by Stephen Kijak (Stones In Exile, Scott Walker: 30^th Century Man). The film wonthe Special Jury Award for “Best Editing”at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival Awards (Jan. 20) in Park City, UT. ‘WE ARE X’–edited by Mako Kamitsuna and John Maringuoin and assisted by June Okada–earned rousing ovations during its six Sundancescreenings throughout film festival.

 

X JAPAN—YOSHIKI (drums/piano/composer), TOSHI (vocals), PATA (guitar),HEATH (bass), SUGIZO (violin/guitar) alongside their fallen brothers HIDE(guitars, 1987-1997) and TAIJI (1986-1992)–are currently laying down tracks in a Los Angeles studio for their as-yet-untitled album, which is due for a worldwide release in late 2016.