SXSW Film Festival

The most important festival for genre film,

comedy, and music-driven cinema in the US.

SXSW has a strong track record for launching

commercially successful independent films.

The Austin audience is enthusiastic and

industry-savvy.

SXSW wants films with energy, personality,

and cultural currency. They programme genre

work seriously — horror, sci-fi, thriller —

and have a strong documentary competition.

They value films that feel connected to

contemporary culture and have passionate

potential audiences.

Get Out, Whiplash, The Cabin in the Woods,

Supersize Me, Dear White People

SXSW is highly accessible for first-time

filmmakers compared to Sundance. The genre

sections are genuinely competitive but more

navigable. Submit to the most specific

applicable section — Midnighters for horror,

Narrative Feature Competition for drama.

The Austin audience will make your film

feel loved.