Congratulations to Merry-Kay Poe on her documentary being accepted in the SXSW Festival. Merry-Kay produced the Cornbread Mafia documentary that is directed by Evan Mascagni.
Courier Journal – Published February 4, 2026
An infamous chapter in Kentucky history will make its big screen debut at the renowned 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival, held in Austin, Texas in March.
Part true crime, part cartoon — and featuring a whole lot of weed — festival organizers announced that “Cornbread Mafia,” directed by Louisville native Evan Mascagni and produced by Merry-Kay Poe, CEO of Unbridled Films, will make its world premiere at the annual event.
“This is a true Kentucky grown story and we are really excited and honored to have the film included in the lineup at the 2026 SXSW,” Poe told the Courier Journal. “This is the second largest film festival in the country after Sundance so it’s a big deal for the project and the Kentucky film industry.”
What followed was straight out of Kentucky folklore: lion cubs on the farm, backroad police chases, and a code of silence that baffled prosecutors. Part true crime and part cartoon, the film blends community, the war on drugs, and a whole lot of weed with the humor and heart of the folks who lived it.
“Cornbread Mafia” is scheduled to screen three times at SXSW on March 12, 16 and 18.
“After ‘Cornbread Mafia‘ screens at the festival, our plan is to sell the documentary to a streaming service,” Poe said. “We’d also like to created a scripted series. It’s such a crazy story.”