Early last year, news broke of a remake for the cult classic film ‘Evil Dead’ being in the works. Production started in May of 2012 under the direction of Fede Alvarez and had the full support from the original star Bruce Campbell and filmmakers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi. (It was hard to believe, but I heard it straight from Ash’s mouth at Wizard World Philly!) Now the film is done and ready to for the world to see. If you want to be among the first to check it out, then you have to make sure you’re in Austin, TX from March 8-17.

Earlier this week, the South by Southwest Conferences & Festivals announced it’s first set of films that will be featured at this year’s festival. Thanks to Movieline, we learned that this year’s SXSW has quite an interesting line up featuring some great looking films like ‘Good Ol’ Freda’, ‘Drinking Buddies’, and ‘The Incredible Burt Wondertone’, which will be opening the festival, a distinction that went to one of last year’s shining gems in cinema, ‘The Cabin In The Woods’. In addition to all of those films making their world premieres, ‘Evil Dead’ will premiere at this year’s festival too, a month before the rest of the world can catch it in theaters.

‘Evil Dead’ starring Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas, and Elizabeth Blackmore opens in theaters on April 12.

In addition to the scares that ‘Evil Dead’ promises, there’s also an exclusive first look at A&E’s ‘Bates Motel’ scheduled as a highlight of the conference. Here’s the description from their site:

Bates Motel: Story to Screen with Carlton Cuse – In a Special Event combining the SXSW Film Festival and Conference in one, attendees will get an exclusive first look at the pilot of Bates Motel, the thrilling new series from A&E. Following the screening, Executive Producer Carlton Cuse (‘Lost’) will sit down with A&E Marketing EVP Guy Slattery for an inside look and Q&A on the process for bringing this contemporary prequel to life.

Starring Freddie Highmore, Vera Farmiga, Max Thieriot, Vogel, Nestor Carbonell, Nicola Peltz, and Olivia Cooke, ‘Bates Motel’ premieres on A&E on Monday, March 18 at 10PM/9C.

The rest of the films for this year’s South By Southwest will be announced on January 31st, but it’s already shaping up to be a great time for everyone attending. Are you planning on attending? Are you trying to be among the first to see ‘Evil Dead’ and ‘Bates Motel’? Share your excitement in the comments below!