2 months ago
South by Southwest coming announced its Film & TV Festival Jury and Special Award winners. They admit “superlative productivity and talent demonstrated by filmmakers and designers successful nan SXSW Film & TV program.”
Wishful Thinking, starring Lewis Pullman and Maya Hawke took nan Narrative Feature prize, while Susan Kent’s activity successful The Snake won nan Special Jury Award for Performance.
“This week reminded me, erstwhile again, why we do this,” said Claudette Godfrey, VP, Film & TV. “The world has felt heavy. But wrong our theaters, thing bonzer happened. Strangers became collaborators, audiences showed up pinch their full hearts, and filmmaker aft filmmaker reminded america precisely why we gather. We are truthful proud to observe this year’s assemblage and typical grant winners. Trust us, you’re going to beryllium proceeding a batch much from them.”
All 2026 Film & TV Festival projects will beryllium eligible for category-specific Audience Awards. That ballot will reason connected Wednesday, March 18. Winners will beryllium announced via sxsw.com later this week.
See beneath for each SXSW Film & TV Festival Jury and Special Award winners, pinch quotes provided by class jurors:
NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION
Winner: Wishful Thinking directed by Graham Parkes
“Taking audiences connected a funny, wild, and amazingly poignant ride, this movie follows an electrical mates who person a once-in-a-lifetime connection, but soon recognize their combustible power has drastic consequences to nan extracurricular world. Remarkable performances conjure grounded, seldom explored moments successful mundane relationships while balancing dramedy pinch a genre twist successful an awesome accomplishment that deserves precocious praise.”
Special Jury Award for Performance: Susan Kent, The Snake
“With a fearless cognition and a wished spirit, this character won complete nan assemblage pinch her showstopping performance. Playing nan film’s cardinal character, a chaotic kid looking to make amended decisions aft a life of antagonism from her mother and a drawstring of disappointing men, she holds small backmost while surviving retired her character’s worst impulses. Yet she finds nan tender, quiet moments for her characteristic to rebuild her life distant from anger. Her capacity is simply a masterclass successful really nan correct character transforms a domiciled and demands to beryllium seen.”
Special Jury Award for Screenwriting: Robb Boardman, Cory Loykasek, Donny Divianian and Frankie Quinones, Plantman & Blondie: A Dress Up Gang Film
“How cleanable that a caper drama astir solitary men connecting pinch their neighbors is itself a tribute to collaboration. Together, 4 screenwriters assembled a book of awesome intricacy and ambition that’s astatine erstwhile superior astir nan situation of societal isolation, while besides being a ace silly goodtime. The themes are universal; nan jokes and callbacks are tight, circumstantial and hilarious. Best of all, each characteristic successful this gigantic ensemble gets a infinitesimal to shine. Now that’s teamwork.”
Narrative Feature Competition Jury: Monica Castillo, Freelance Critic, RogerEbert.com; Amy Nicholson, Film Critic, Los Angeles Times; and Gregory Ellwood, Editor At Large, The Playlist
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
Winner: Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story directed by Ayden Mayeri
“Avidly weaving individual stories into a cohesive whole, this delightful and poignant ode to nan productivity of puerility examines nan bonds of its subjects, and really increasing up eroded them. Rather than stepping into an relationship pinch a predetermined conclusion, nan spectator bears witnesser to really these 4 women navigate nan thorny roadworthy to mending their relationships and reconnect pinch a portion of themselves they had agelong neglected.”
Special Jury Award: The Last Critic directed by Matty Wishnow
“A charming, smart, friendly and affectionate communicative pinch a likable down-to-earth subject. But what makes it exceptional is really nan head seamlessly builds retired a larger context. Through nan lens of his subject’s astonishingly long-lived career, nan movie becomes a wistful representation of aged New York, an introspection of nan ways nan media and euphony industries person changed complete nan years, and a ceremony of a often misunderstood but vibrant and basal creation form.”
Special Jury Award: Stormbound directed by Miko Lim
“An exquisite illustration of ocular storytelling, this movie takes audiences into nan oculus of nan astir terrifying hurricanes. The Director, Cinematographer and nan film’s protagonist utilized nan camera to create a visceral acquisition that is unparalleled among this year’s competition.”
Documentary Feature Competition Jury: Carlos Aguilar, Film Critic, Freelance; Tatiana Siegel, Writer astatine Large, The California Post; and Angie Han, Critic, The Hollywood Reporter
NARRATIVE SHORT COMPETITION
Winner: Souvenir directed by Renée Marie Petropoulos
“Led by moving, earthy performances, this movie meets viewers successful an friendly space. Layering nan complexities of love, trust, and nan vulnerability of being perceived, this short is simply a beautiful portion of storytelling that sheds ray connected nan astir intrinsic and intimidating aspects of relationships and girlhood.”
Special Jury Award: Supper directed by Savannah Braswell
“The Special Jury Award honors this task for refusing to beryllium nan movie you expect, and for astonishing nan assemblage pinch a twist that challenges our assumptions. In this integer era of parasocial relationships, this communicative meets america precisely wherever we are and dismantles our assumptions astir existent relationship done a moving and generous lens.”
Narrative Short Competition Jury: Ryan Koo, Founder, No Film School; Rheagan Kearney, Creative Executive, Ley Line Entertainment; and Kara Durrett, President and Head of Film & TV, Pinky Promise Films
DOCUMENTARY SHORT COMPETITION
Winner: In The Morning Sun directed by Serville Poblete
“This movie thoughtfully captures nan propulsion of returning to a spot erstwhile called home. The beautifully crafted imagery reveals a family communicative afloat of humor, fearfulness and heart. With honesty and care, it balances nan lightness of puerility pinch nan weight of loss, shaping a movie that feels intimate, clear, and profoundly human.”
Special Jury Award: Eructation directed by Victoria Trow
“A fun, informative, activity of caller aerial that is visually playful and encourages sonic curiosity. This movie is simply a quirky characteristic study that demonstrates ambition tin beryllium applied to moreover nan astir obscure pursuits. Delightful and surprising.”
Documentary Short Competition Jury: Opal H. Bennett, Senior Producer, POV, and Executive Producer, POV Shorts; Anna Klein, Director of Documentary Programming, HBO; Alexis Galfas, Manager, Cinetic Media
ANIMATED SHORT COMPETITION
Winner: Paper Trail directed by Don Hertzfeldt
“Starting, arsenic an creator must, connected a blank page, nan filmmaker takes america connected an highly friendly travel successful an wholly caller way. To watch nan protagonist turn crossed a life – done thing but his scribbles – is visceral, nostalgic, and emotional. It’s intolerable for nan assemblage not to beryllium transported into their ain memories, hopes, and fears.”
Special Jury Award: Hag directed by Anna Ginsburg
“The 1 connection that each nan jurors kept repeating for this short was VOICE. This communicative is some relatable and wholly bonkers successful nan champion way, acknowledgment to nan craftsmanship and auteurship of nan filmmaker. Its zany, high-wire joke is matched by crisp deliberate imaginative choices that ne'er suffer show of character. We would beryllium excited to rewatch this movie complete and complete again.”
Animated Short Competition Jury: Ellen Willis Brenner, Creative Executive, Netflix Animation Studios; Adrian Molina, Director, Pixar Animation Studios; and Kirsten Lepore, Director and Animator
MIDNIGHT SHORT COMPETITION
Winner: Tongue directed by Lim Da seul
“Offering a sharp, satirical sensation of a woman suffering nether nan nonstop talking of her mansplaining husband, nan head pulls america afloat into nan wife’s unsocial constituent of position without her uttering a azygous word, relying alternatively connected an awesome score, meticulous sound design, and master acting. The movie demands our attention, marking Lim arsenic a captious caller sound whose modulation into characteristic filmmaking cannot travel soon enough.”
Special Jury Award: Man Eating Pussy directed by Emily Lawson
“For this typical Avant-garde prize, we grant a activity of uncompromising audacity that ventures acold retired to present a imagination arsenic imaginative arsenic it unapologetic. A conceptually bold, daring, and visceral short that lingers agelong aft nan credits roll. With its gorgeous mise-en-scène, nan movie strikes a decadent equilibrium betwixt lowbrow provocation and high-art sophistication. It shocked america and near america laughing uncomfortably successful each nan champion ways.”
Midnight Short Competition Jury: Rebekah McKendry, PhD, Professor of Cinematic Arts astatine nan University of Southern California; Adam Hendricks, Co-Founder, Divide/Conquer; and Dana Gills Mycoo, EVP of Production & Development, Monkeypaw Productions
TEXAS SHORT COMPETITION
Winner: Forcefield of Love directed by Liz Moskowitz and Riley Engemoen
“This movie captivates done nan vibrancy of its characters and an innovative, imaginative attack to storytelling. Balancing intimacy, truth, and authenticity, it reveals a profoundly quality hunt for an unconditional, nonjudgmental emotion that we tin each aspire to.”
Special Jury Award for Standout Ensemble: Stalin Boys directed by Ora DeKornfeld and Bianca Giaever
“Within this unique coming-of-age story, a group of inspiring students navigate an evolving acquisition scenery pinch imagination and courage. What emerges is thing boldly extracurricular nan container yet profoundly personal—an exploration of personality done creation that reflects a procreation eager to study beyond nan limits of textbooks. In nan end, Malachi, Cayden, Jurem, and Lyric stole our hearts.”
Texas Short Competition Jury: Ryan McQuade, Executive Editor, AwardsWatch; Seckeita Lewis, Co-founder, Lewis Taylor Productions; and Andrew Logan, Screenwriter, Producer and Journalist
MUSIC VIDEO COMPETITION
Winner: Rawayana and Bomba Estereo – ‘Fogata’ directed by Paola Ossa
“Through its nuanced, creator approach, this video conveys a consciousness of emotion that’s powerful and sincere. A gorgeous communicative unfolds done nan director’s prime of shots, cinematography, and sound design. The actors’ performances consciousness understated and natural, leaving nan spectator invested successful nan relationship betwixt nan characters. A sublime illustration of little being more, and creation moving done galore mini moments to execute thing universal.”
Special Jury Award: Doechii – ‘Anxiety’ directed by James Mackel
“This euphony video is an illustration of each constituent of filmmaking firing connected each engines. Every prime is intentional, wherever nan full conception useful brilliantly pinch nan song’s taxable of navigating neurosis calved from intelligence chaos without being heavy-handed. A existent collaboration betwixt a magnetic creator putting her vulnerability connected show and a head who is capable to bring a striking imagination to life.”
Music Video Competition Jury: Marc Fort, Radio Producer, Host and DJ, KUTX 98.9, KUT News, and KOOP 91.7; Warren Fu, Music Video Director; and Julyssa Lopez, Deputy Music Editor, Rolling Stone
INDEPENDENT TV PILOT COMPETITION
Winner: In My Blood from Showrunner and Director Alex Bendo
“Driven by precise storytelling, stellar cinematography and a visceral sound design, this genre-bending aviator takes america connected a gruesome travel that explores nan obsessive quality successful pursuit of perfection. In a grounded world, pinch twisted family dynamics, a riveting enigma to unfold and buried secrets to uncover for episodes to come, we’re thrilled to coming nan assemblage grant to In My Blood.”
Special Jury Award: Son of a Bikram from Showrunners and Screenwriters Ash T and Johnny Rey Diaz and Director Johnny Rey Diaz
“This unsocial rotation connected taste personality situation takes its spectator into a surreal and bizarre beingness wherever you should ne'er meet your heroes. For blending play and drama and infusing it pinch chopped and memorable characters Special Jury nickname goes to Son of a Bikram.”
Independent TV Pilot Jury: Kat Candler, Writer, Director and Producer; Billy Luther, Writer and Director; and Lindsey Villarreal, Writer and Director
XR EXPERIENCE COMPETITION
Winner: Body Proxy by Danny Cannizzaro and Samantha Gorman
“This task impressed nan assemblage pinch its exemplary usage of AI successful work of genuinely innovative storytelling. Playful, sharp, and highly original, it was 1 of those uncommon useful that is instantly nosy while continuing to echo afterwards.”
Special Jury Award: The Forgotten War by Hayoun Kwon
“Through embodiment and testimony, this task reminds america that warfare leaves each assemblage marked and each federation pinch wounds that tin stay unfastened for generations. For its powerful and profoundly quality usage of immersive multiplayer storytelling, nan assemblage is proud to grant nan Special Jury Prize to The Forgotten War.”
XR Experience Jury: Katayoun Dibamehr, Producer; Fred Volhuer, Executive and Co-Founder, Atlas V; and Michele Ziegler, Executive Director, NewImages
SPECIAL AWARDS
Agog Immersive Impact Award
Thank you to our sponsor: Designed to animate creators and changemakers to usage XR for good, nan Agog Immersive Impact Award recognizes projects that thief america each ideate and activity toward a much conscionable and sustainable world.
Winner: A Long Goodbye directed by Kate Voet and Victor Maes
“This task moved nan assemblage pinch its hauntingly beautiful portrayal of emotion and representation astatine nan separator of disappearance. By placing america successful nan characters’ shoes, it uses VR pinch awesome sensitivity to make nan acquisition of dementia intimate, tender, and profoundly human. For its powerful creator imagination and lasting affectional impact, nan assemblage is proud to grant nan Impact Prize to A Long Goodbye.”
Green Lens Award
Launched this twelvemonth successful business pinch nan Sustainable Entertainment Alliance, nan Green Lens Award honors nan TV aliases Film task that champion reflects our changing world, nan quality acquisition of surviving done nan property of ambiance change, aliases pathways to a much sustainable future.
Winner: Plantman & Blondie: A Dress Up Gang Film directed by Robb Boardman
“A refreshingly imaginative reflection connected connection, responsibility, and what it intends to attraction for nan world astir us, this movie uses joke and absurdity to research our narration pinch quality and nan powerfulness it has to bring america together. The story’s contrasts sharpen its biology themes. The movie highlights nan quiet but meaningful enactment of nurturing life, reminding america that moreover mini gestures of attraction tin situation ignorant and spark change. We dream comedies for illustration this promote creatives to return connected a ‘Green Lens’ successful their stories crossed immoderate genre, truthful that nan early of ambiance and biology contented tin proceed to subordinate to a wide assemblage pinch laughter, love, and immoderate genuinely crazy capers.”
Janet Pierson Champion Award
Winner: Benjamin Wiessner
“The Janet Pierson Champion Award highlights personification pinch an independent spirit, a collaborative nature, and a valiant protagonist of nan independent movie ecosystem. This year’s recipient is prolific shaper Benjamin Wiessner, whose outstanding activity ethic and clear passion fits each of nan criteria and past some.”
NEON Auteur Award
As an award-winning champion of not conscionable films, but filmmakers and movie festivals, NEON is simply a guiding unit successful independent cinema.
Winner: The Peril astatine Pincer Point directed by Jake Kuhn and Noah Stratton-Twine
“It’s a occurrence erstwhile immoderate movie is made, but it’s peculiarly miraculous erstwhile a movie is truthful quixotic and singular that it someway feels for illustration it’s consenting itself into beingness arsenic you’re watching it. That’s surely nan lawsuit pinch Jake Kuhn and Noah Stratton-Twine’s The Peril astatine Pincer Point, a genuinely awesome find astatine this year’s festival.”
Redbreast Unhidden Award
In collaboration pinch SXSW Film & TV Festival and Andrew Scott, Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is championing nan find of bold and original stories done nan Redbreast Unhidden Award — an honour recognising an independent short filmmaker whose activity brings caller perspectives to nan screen. The Redbreast Unhidden Award intends to observe nan astir breathtaking emerging talent successful short movie astatine this year’s festival.
Winner: We Were Here directed by Pranav Bhasin
“A clever and funny position connected nan mundane infiltration of exertion into our lives. The communicative is wonderfully simple, yet manages to inquire large questions astir humanity, our narration pinch technology, and pinch each other. In conscionable 10 short minutes, this head captures nan equilibrium betwixt nan absurd, nan alarming, and nan all-important powerfulness of imperfect love. This filmmaker has a agleam early up of them!”
SXSW Best of Texas Award
Winner: Stages directed by Ryan Booth
“Ryan Booth’s Stages is some a heartfelt tribute to what it takes to strengthen successful an often unforgiving industry, and a moving image of life arsenic an creator successful and astir Texas. It’s filled pinch analyzable emotion, moving music, and a heavy admiration for nan Lone Star State.”
Vimeo Staff Pick
Winner: Mantis Stream! Like & Subscribe directed by Lincoln Robisch and Sarah Maerten (CLUSTERFUCK!)
“A disturbing downward spiral into nan underworld of nan internet, this movie is simply a bosom attack, a kink-fest, and a ceremonial for our attraction span each successful one. We applaud nan measurement it holds up a reflector to nan quality choreography of shame online that is nan insufferable, relentless pursuit of nickname and fame while ne'er losing its ferocious comic nerve.”
Film & TV projects receiving Jury Awards were selected from nan Narrative Feature and Documentary Feature Competition categories, positive each different juried sections, including Shorts, Independent TV Pilots, Music Videos, Poster Design and XR Experience Awards. Special Awards announced see nan Agog Immersive Impact Award, Green Lens Award, Janet Pierson Champion Award, NEON Auteur Award, Redbreast Unhidden Award, SXSW Best of Texas Award and nan Vimeo Staff Pick.
