SXSW provides the game-changing buzz every filmmaker dreams about for the premiere of their feature film, short, episodic or XR project.

The SXSW Film & TV Festival is the only place in the world bringing together creative people from so many different industries, making the SXSW Film & TV Festival an unparalleled experience at the forefront of discovery, creativity, and innovation.

Submissions for the 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival are now closed. Stay tuned for announcements coming later in the season.

If you still have any questions regarding the SXSW Film & TV Festival, please email us at filmfest@sxsw.com and stay tuned to SXSW News and subscribe to our event newsletters for the latest updates.

Feature Film Screening Sections

Narrative Feature Competition Ten world premieres, ten unique ways to celebrate the art of storytelling.

Documentary Feature Competition Ten world premieres, ten real world stories that demonstrate innovation, energy and bold voices.

Headliners Big names, big talent: Headliners bring star power to SXSW, featuring red carpet premieres and gala film events with major & rising names in cinema.

Narrative Spotlight High profile narrative features receiving their World, North American or U.S. premieres at SXSW.

Documentary Spotlight Shining a light on new documentary features receiving their World, North American or U.S. premieres at SXSW.

Visions Visions filmmakers are audacious, risk-taking artists in the new cinema landscape who demonstrate raw innovation and creativity in documentary and narrative filmmaking.

Midnighters Scary, funny, sexy, controversial – provocative after-dark features for night-owls and the terminally curious.

24 Beats Per Second Showcasing the sounds, culture & influence of music & musicians, with an emphasis on documentary.

Global A diverse selection of International filmmaking talent, featuring innovative narratives, artful documentaries, premieres, festival favorites and more.

Festival Favorites Acclaimed standouts & selected previous premieres from festivals around the world.

Special Events Live soundtracks, cult re-issues & much more. Our Special Events section offers unusual, unexpected & unique one-off film events.

TV Screening Sections

TV Premieres Presenting world premieres of prestige serials slated for release and accompanied by show-runners, directors and cast members featuring extended Q&As.

Independent TV Pilot Competition A pilot showcase introducing fresh work from bright new talent, many with an eye towards finding production, completion funds, or a release platform.

Short Film Screening Sections

Narrative Shorts A selection of original, well-crafted films that take advantage of the short form and exemplify distinctive and genuine storytelling.

Documentary Shorts Slices of life from across the documentary spectrum.

Animated Shorts An assortment of stories told using traditional animation, computer-generated effects, stop-motion, and everything in-between.

Midnight Shorts Bite-sized bits for all of your sex, gore, and hilarity cravings.

Music Videos A range of classic, innovative, and stylish work showcasing the scope of music video culture.

Texas Shorts An offshoot of our regular narrative shorts program, composed of work shot in, about, or somehow relating to the Lone Star state.

XR Experience Screening Sections

XR Experience Competition, XR Experience Spotlight, and XR Experience Special Events
The immersive arts are finding new ways to enhance our ability to perceive the world that surrounds us, and in many instances they are redefining how we experience the world. The projects presented in our XR Experience emphasize storytelling, ingenuity and also showcase how other industries are embracing this new medium.

The SXSW Film & TV Festival recognizes the following types of premiere status:

• World Premiere: Your project has not screened theatrically prior to SXSW, whether at a film festival or other ticketed public theatrical exhibition, and has not been broadcast or streamed on television or the Internet or released via any home video or other public distribution platform (Blu-ray, DVD, streaming, VOD, etc.) in any country prior to SXSW.

• International Premiere: Your project has not screened theatrically outside of its country or countries of origin prior to SXSW, whether at a film festival or other ticketed public theatrical exhibition, and has not been broadcast or streamed on television or the Internet or released via any home video or other public distribution platform (Blu-ray, DVD, streaming, VOD, etc.) in any country prior to SXSW.

• North American Premiere: Your project has not screened theatrically in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico prior to SXSW, whether at a film festival or other ticketed public theatrical exhibition, and has not been broadcast or streamed on television or the Internet or released via any home video or other public distribution platform (Blu-ray, DVD, streaming, VOD, etc.) in any country prior to SXSW.

• U.S. Premiere: Your project has not screened theatrically in the U.S. prior to SXSW, whether at a film festival or other ticketed public theatrical exhibition, and has not been broadcast or streamed on television or the Internet or released via any home video or other public distribution platform (Blu-ray, DVD, streaming, VOD, etc.) in any country prior to SXSW.

• Texas Premiere: Your project has not screened theatrically in Texas prior to SXSW, whether at a film festival or other ticketed public theatrical exhibition, and has not been broadcast or streamed on television or the Internet or released via any home video or other public distribution platform (Blu-ray, DVD, streaming, VOD, etc.) in any country prior to SXSW.

• Austin Premiere: Your project has not screened theatrically in Austin prior to SXSW, whether at a film festival or other ticketed public theatrical exhibition and has not been broadcast or streamed on television or the Internet or released via any home video or other public distribution platform (Blu-ray, DVD, streaming, VOD, etc.) in any country prior to SXSW.

• Not a Premiere: Your project has screened theatrically in Austin at a film festival prior to SXSW, it has been released in a country other than the U.S. via television broadcast or theatrical screening before SXSW, or has been broadcast, streamed on television or the Internet as part of a limited-time virtual festival event.

The premiere status of your film is an important factor so be sure to review eligibility listed for your screening section. Explore the Film Submissions FAQ for specific questions about submitting your film, premiere status, eligibility, and more.

Submission Confirmation

Once you have submitted your project, you will receive a confirmation email from SXSW within 48 hours. This email will confirm that your film has been submitted correctly. If you do not receive this email within 48 hours, please follow up by emailing filmfest@sxsw.com to ensure your film has been submitted properly and is under consideration.