Boots Riley’s “I Love Boosters” was recently slated for a May 22, 2026 release via Neon. It has now been announced that the film will open the 40th SXSW Film Festival in March 2026.
Many expected Riley to aim for a return to Sundance, where he turned heads with his 2018 debut “Sorry to Bother You,” a madcap commentary on corporatist America. It was a wonderfully original vision and introduced Riley as a filmmaker to watch. Seven years later, he’s finally made another film.
“I Love Boosters” stars Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, alongside Demi Moore and LaKeith Stanfield. The story revolves around a ring of female shoplifters, led by Corvette, called the Velvet Gang. They survive by “boosting” clothing items from department stores. However, their next target—the CEO of a designer brand—has just stolen Corvette’s idea, and she absolutely needs to get payback, sparking an unintended “revolution.”
It’s not as if Riley has been dormant since “Sorry to Bother You.” Two years ago, he helmed the acclaimed Amazon series “I Am Virgo,” which also premiered at SXSW—a similarly surreal exercise in style and messaging.