SXSW Film & TV Festival

SXSW Film & TV Festival

Also known as: South by Southwest (SXSW), SXSW Film & TV Festival & Conference
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SXSW Film & TV Festival presents premieres, independent features, short films, television projects and immersive work in Austin, Texas, United States. Its programme includes narrative and documentary feature competitions, an Animated Short Competition, music videos, independent television pilots and an XR Experience. Headliners and late-night genre screenings sit alongside sections devoted to music, Texas and Latin America.

The festival forms the film and television strand of South by Southwest, organised by SXSW, LLC. Its accompanying Film & TV Conference covers filmmaking, financing and distribution through sessions, workshops, mentor meetings and professional meetups. The dates for the 2027 Film & TV Festival and Conference are 15–21 March 2027 in Austin.

Country

United States (USA)

Dates

15 March 2027 — 21 March 2027

Awards and prizes

The Film & TV Awards recognise work across the festival's film, television and XR programme. Jury competitions include narrative and documentary features; narrative, documentary, animated, midnight and Texas shorts; music videos; independent television pilots; and XR experiences. The festival also presents Audience Awards in the programme's different sections and Special Jury Recognition.

Festival rules

For SXSW 2027, projects must be completed in 2025 or 2026, or on track for completion in early 2027. The festival accepts feature films, narrative, documentary and animated shorts, television projects, music videos and XR experiences. Short-film submissions must be under 40 minutes; feature-film submissions must be over 40 minutes. Films are submitted through a secure online viewing link that remains accessible through March 2027. Only the first submitted cut is guaranteed review. Work-in-progress cuts are accepted; trailers and rough assemblies are not. Invited films are screened on DCP. Regular submissions for the 2027 edition close on 1 October 2026; late entries require a coupon.

Contacts

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