Actor LaKeith Stanfield, actor Rami Malek, actress Kaitlyn Dever, director Destin Cretton of the film "Short Term 12," actress Brie Larson and actor John Gallagher Jr. pose with the Grand Jury Award for Narrative Feature at the 2013 SXSW Film Awards. Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for SXSW.
Take a look back at previous winners of the SXSW Film Awards across multiple categories including Narrative Feature Competition, Documentary Feature Competition, Design, Shorts Program, and Special Awards.
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NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION Presented by Panavision
Winner: I Love My Dad
Director/Screenwriter: James Morosini, Producers: Bill Stertz, Patton Oswalt, Sean O'Grady, Dane Eckerle, Phil Keefe, Daniel Brandt, Sam Slater
“A bold, funny film that marks an impressive feature debut for writer-director-star James Morosini, I Love My Dad finely threads the needle with its tale of an estranged father (Patton Oswalt) who catfishes his son (Morosini) in an attempt to reconnect. Working from a screenplay based on his own real-life story, Morosini displays massive empathy as a filmmaker to get into the mind of the father he feels betrayed by, and also as an actor portraying the impact of that betrayal. He’s aided by a great cast, particularly Oswalt.”
Special Jury Recognition for Extraordinary Cinematic Vision: Cast and Crew, It is In Us All
“Every creative element of It Is In Us All, from its editing andmusic to its performances and cinematography, works in tandem to craft a haunting atmosphere. Writer-director-actor Antonia Campbell-Hughes’ extraordinary feature debut is a remarkable example of how the various artistic facets of a movie can converge to create something cinematic, in the purest and most soulful sense: a work that accesses some part of you that feels hidden away.”
Special Jury Recognition for Breakthrough Performance: Elizaveta Yankovskaya, Nika
“In her first lead role in a feature, Elizaveta Yankovskaya delivers a knockout portrait brimming with rage, joy, despair, uncertainty and 20-something yearning. She plays Nika Turbina, a real-life figure who, after fame was thrust upon her as a child poet, finds herself past her prime before she's 30. Whatever narrative conjectures the intimate drama might make, there isn’t a moment in Yankovskaya’s breathtaking performance that doesn’t ring true with messy emotional complexity, or that doesn’t feel like unpredictable life itself unfolding before our eyes.”
A big thanks to our Narrative Feature Competition presenting sponsor Panavision, the global provider of optics, cameras, and end-to-end services that power the creative vision of filmmakers.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION Presented by IMAX
Winner: Master of Light
Director: Rosa Ruth Boesten, Producers: Roger Ross Williams, Anousha Nzume, Ilja Roomans
“In both substance and form, Master of Light is a gift. The earnest and gifted painter George Anthony Morton embeds viewers in his world as he struggles to render his mother — both on the canvas and in his psyche. Boesten disabuses us of static tropes about America’s merciless drug war and about contemporary art. With astonishing intimacy, the film’s visuals build an artful bridge between two- and three-dimensional realms that are deeply rooted and utterly transcendent. Put this painting of film in a museum, next to a Rembrandt and a Morton.”
Special Jury Recognition for Exceptional Intimacy in Storytelling: Bad Axe
Director: David Siev, Producers: Jude Harris, Diane Quon, Katarina Vasquez, David Siev
“Stories centered on the pursuit of the “American Dream” abound. Rarely do they portray the sacrifices and recurrent trials that the promise of a better life entails the way director David Siev accomplishes with Bad Axe. Examining those closest to him with profound compassion and incisive curiosity, he paints a distinct and easily recognizable portrait of the alienation many feel in the place they call home, by birth or by circumstance. For its ability to reveal something unexpected about the American fabric and the American family, Bad Axe deserves celebration.”
Special Jury Recognition for Acting in a Documentary: Steve Glew, Pez Outlaw
“Steve Glew is the kind of colorful character that most documentarians dream of capturing, a born storyteller with a crackerjack sense of scene-setting and comic timing. In the tradition of Muhammad Ali in The Greatest and Evel Knievel in Viva Kneivel!, The Pez Outlaw’s reenactment sequences cast the only actor who could credibly bring Mr. Glew’s exploits to life: the man himself. There’s something uniquely American about Glew’s mixture of chutzpah, ingenuity, charisma, and grievance that makes him a mesmerizing onscreen presence.”
Since 1970 IMAX Documentaries have immersed audiences in real-life stories told on a grand scale. In 2022 that tradition continues as a new generation of filmmakers turns its lens to a theatrical experience like no other. Today, IMAX is honored to present this year’s documentary award to recognize the future — gifted storytellers who are bringing their stories to audiences in powerful and wondrous ways.
NARRATIVE SHORT COMPETITION
Winner: All the Crows in the World
Director/Screenwriter: Tang Yi, Producer: Haozheng Li
“The jury recognizes All The Crows in the World as the Jury Award Winner, a film that reminded us of the power of short-form cinema as a stand-alone art form on its own. The film's balancing of surrealism, bizarreness, tenderness, and reality was only outdone by its inventive narrative and critiques of patriarchal culture, paired with execution by a director who is clearly in command of her craft.”
Special Jury Recognition for Directing and Community Filmmaking: Glitter Ain’t Gold
Director/Screenwriter: Christian Nolan Jones, Producers: Maia Miller, T. Popps, O. Valerie Nicolas
“The jury awards Glitter Ain’t Gold a Special Jury Recognition for Directing and Community Filmmaking, which stood out for its vibrant narrative and authentically palpable energy filled with compelling visuals and inventive editing harmoniously coupled with powerfully nostalgic music. It was clear that its level of specificity was a direct result of a community that came together to make a profound piece of art that touched us deeply.”
Special Jury Recognition for Outstanding Performances: Aphrodite Armstrong, Kyle Riggs, West By God
“The jury awards a Special Jury Recognition for Outstanding Performances to Aphrodite Armstrong and Kyle Riggs for West by God. Their dynamic and visceral performances beautifully emulate the powerful themes within the film about the human condition and the need for love, no matter what your walk of life.”
DOCUMENTARY SHORT COMPETITION
Winner: Long Line of Ladies
Directors: Rayka Zehtabchi, Shaandiin Tome, Producers: Garrett Schiff, Pimm Tripp-Allen, Rayka Zehtabchi, Sam Davis, Dana Kurth
“Long Line of Ladies presents an affecting perspective on celebrated generational cultural traditions. The tapestry of beautiful cinematography and vivid character moments elevates the filmmakers’ vision, inviting us into a devoted community that is committed to preserving their heritage.”
Special Jury Recognition for Visual Reflection: not even for a moment do things stand still
Director: Jamie Meltzer, Producers: Annie Marr, Jamie Meltzer, Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg
“In a simple, yet profoundly moving way, not even for a moment do things stand still allows us to sincerely reflect on the lives we have lost over the past two years. The poetic visual language gives us a new perspective on a sadly familiar topic of love, life and loss.”
MIDNIGHT SHORTS
Winner: Moshari
Director/Screenwriter: Nuhash Humayun, Producers: Bushra Afreen, Nuhash Humayun
“Moshari is a terrifying, spine-chilling horror tale centering two sisters that renders a fresh take on blood sucking creatures set in an non-traditional post-apocalyptic world. The compelling performances, the haunting visuals and the layered storytelling highlight the director’s command of the genre and make him someone to watch. Nuhash Humayun has the ability to take recognizable elements, flip them on their head and turn them into nightmares. Moshari has created an allegorical story that will resonate with the viewer on a deeper level.”
Special Jury Recognition for Powerful “Short Trip”:Omi
Director: Kelly Fyffe-Marshall, Screenwriters: Tamar Bird, Kelly Fyffe-Marshall, Producer: Tamar Bird
“Unexpected, effective and engaging film that in under three minutes manages to set up the lore, get us invested in the characters, while leaving us fulfilled and still craving more. Kelly Fyffe-Marshall has created a grounded supernatural story that is provocative, mysterious and unforgettable.”
ANIMATED SHORTS
Winner: Bestia
Director: Hugo Covarrubias, Screenwriters: Martín Erazo, Hugo Covarrubias, Producers: Tevo Díaz, Hugo Covarrubias
“Bestia is an exquisite, intimate peek at the dreams and memories of a sadistic secret agent, set in a tactile stop-motion non-wonderland, where a porcelain exterior isn’t enough to keep the damage away.”
Special Jury Recognition for Unexpected Emotion: Les Larmes de la Seine
Directors/Screenwriters: Yanis Belaid, Eliott Benard, Producer: Carlos De Carvalho
“The magic trick of this film is that it describes great tragedy almost entirely with joy. History comes alive as we are immersed in raw beautiful humanity that jokes, laughs, feels nervous, fights, and dies. By illustrating extreme distress with astonishing euphoria, the directors create a fever dream “photo negative” glimpse of what we’ve missed by living with hatred and abuse rather than love and understanding. Like a sad melody played in major key, the film is both haunting and uplifting while stirring emotions like no film we’ve ever seen.”
Special Jury Recognition for Visceral Storytelling: Something in the Garden
Director/Screenwriter/Producer: Marcos Sánchez
“It is so important to keep your brain open to play, and we commend this film's playful spirit combined with its beautiful animation, reminiscent of a graphic novel. It felt at the perfect cross section of horror and ASMR, using impeccable pacing and sound design to take us on a visceral journey that thrilled, scared and delighted us. A brilliant use of the animated short form medium!”
MUSIC VIDEOS
Winner: Desirée Dawson - ‘Meet You At the Light’
Director/Screenwriter: Alexander Farah
“Without a single detail wasted, we were all moved to tears by this powerful story from a first-time music video director. Featuring equally beautiful performances, editing, and cinematography, we present the Best Music Video award to Desirée Dawson - Meet You At the Light by Alexander Farah.”
Special Jury Recognition for Going the Extra Mile: Myd - ‘Let You Speak’
Director/Screenwriter: Dan Carr
“Funny, unexpected, and with a meta wink to the industry, our special jury mention went above and beyond our expectations, taking us around the world to various locations with a group of ragtag misfits that made us LOL along the way. Hence, the ‘Extra Mile’ award. The Special Jury Award for Going The Extra Mile Goes to Myd “Let You Speak” by Dan Carr.”
TEXAS SHORTS
Winner: Folk Frontera
Directors: Alejandra Vasquez, Sam Osborn
“Centered around characters who call the desert borderlands of Texas their home, Folk Frontera turns the traditional documentary form on its head. Filmmakers Alejandra Vasquez and Sam Osborn imbue the documentary with the same magic and surrealism that feels authentic to the Chihuahuan Desert and its communities. Dreamlike visuals and nuanced presentation of the subjects’ stories make for a special experience.”
Special Jury Recognition for Vision: Birds
Director/Screenwriter: Katherine Propper, Producer: Sophia Loffreda
“Katherine Propper’s Birds feels both fresh and warmly familiar to anyone who’s grown up during a Central Texas summer. Members of the film’s exceptional young ensemble shine in natural performances that help us see gorgeously shot scenery in a new light.”
TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL SHORTS
Winner: Honeybee
Director/Screenwriter/Producer: Emilio Vazquez Reyes
“Honeybee is a beautifully-written, thoughtfully-crafted film that unfolds with a gentle and disciplined reveal, helping to humanize the experience of an undocumented immigrant. We felt this film was a graceful way to tell a difficult story, using all of the important elements like cinematography, music and editing to both advance the story and sincerely engage with the audience.”
Special Jury Recognition for Artistic Expression: It’s Getting Bad Again
Director/Screenwriter: Sarah Reyes, Producers: Sarah Reyes, Kenneth Rogers
“As an artist, Sarah Reyes captures a roller-coaster of an emotional exploration that balances darkness, humor and music in a poetic and refreshing way, all the while prompting an important dialogue about mental health awareness.”
A big thanks to our presenting sponsor, IMDbPro. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, IMDbPro is the essential resource for entertainment industryprofessionals. This membership-based service empowers entertainment professionals with information and tools designed to help them achieve success throughout their career. IMDbPro has an ongoing commitment to supporting and collaborating with organizations that create greater diversity, equity and inclusion in the entertainment industry and is a service of IMDb, the #1 movie website in the world. Learn more at www.imdbpro.com and follow @IMDbPro.
MailChimp is another proud supporter of the Shorts program and have created their own award to help further the career of one lucky filmmaker, as well as provided financial prize support for all of the SXSW Shorts Jury Awards winners.
EPISODIC PILOT COMPETITION
Winner: Something Undone
Director: Nicole Dorsey, Screenwriters: Michael Musi, Madison Walsh, Producers: Max Topplin, Jordan Hayes
“The jury honors Something Undone for cleverly rethinking and repurposing oft-used elements of mystery/horror storytelling. The subtlety of the episode’s writing and acting are complemented by specific and stylized direction and cinematography. And above all, Something Undone sets itself apart with its smart use of diegetic sound, establishing quietly humorous commentary on the sounds of the genre at large — while also totally terrifying us in just ten minutes.”
Special Jury Recognition for Unique Vision in Writing and Directing: My Year of Dicks
Showrunner: Pamela Ribon, Directors: Sara Gunnarsdóttir, Screenwriter: Pamela Ribon, Producer: Jeanette Jeanenne
“For its thoughtful curation of imagery combined with a funny and inventive script, the Special Jury Recognition for Unique Vision in Writing and Directing goes to Pamela Ribbon and Sara Gunnarsdóttir for My Year of Dicks. Their bold voices overlap to make for an experience of feminine youth and sexual exploration that is both relatable and entirely its own.”
POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION
Winner: More Than I Remember
Designer: Yen Tan, Maya Edelman
“This poster evokes so many feelings at once, from the captivating gaze to the lush swirl of colors that surround you — it draws you in, tempting you to look harder, to try and unlock whatever secret is hidden just beyond reach. The text and illustration are perfectly integrated to create something powerful and mysterious, catching not just your attention, but your imagination as well."
Special Jury Recognition: The Sentence of Michael Thompson
Designer: Juan Miguel Marin
"Understated intensity and a timeless quality make this poster truly effective — from across the room it immediately catches the eye. Type, design, and image work together to form a complete narrative, one you want to know more about. Understated intensity and a timeless quality make it truly effective."
TITLE DESIGN COMPETITION
Winner: Foundation Title Sequence
Designer: Ronnie Koff
Company: Imaginary Forces
“A beautifully constructed sequence that encapsulates the show’s futuristic setting as humans have colonized the galaxy. Using a particle system to form these incredible images each frame is a visual triumph as we journey through this vibrant main title.”
Special Jury Recognition: The White Lotus Title Sequence
Designers: Katrina Crawford, Mark Bashore
Company: Plains of Yonder
“This title’s distinctive design perfectly sets up the audience for the show and reflects the suffering before enlightenment of its protagonists. Its stunning illustrations capture the soul of the story and are enhanced by the flawless score.”
XR EXPERIENCE COMPETITION
Winner: On the Morning You Wake (To the End of the World)
Directors: Dr. Jamaica Heolomeleikalani Osorio, Mike Brett, Steve Jamison, Pierre Zandrowicz, Arnaud Colinart, Screenwriters: Mike Brett, Steve Jamison, Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio, Producers: Arnaud Colinart, Mike Brett, Steve Jamison, Jo-Jo Ellison
“On The Morning You Wake (To the End of the World) is an emotionally impactful and beautifully told story, delivered with stunning technical craftsmanship. This project explores the potential of immersive experiences, refining the grammar of spatial narrative. This particular story deals with the urgency of nuclear disarmament that has very unfortunately come into sharp focus due to current events. It effectively presents a massive geopolitical issue and grounds it in emotional and personal stories, translating what are usually abstract concepts into an embodied context.”
Special Jury Recognition for Immersive Storytelling: (Hi)story of a Painting: The Light in the Shadow
Directors: Quentin Darras, Gaëlle Mourre, Screenwriter: Gaëlle Mourre, Producers: Charlotte Mikkelborg, Gaëlle Mourre
(Hi)story of a Painting: The Light in the Shadow receives a Special Jury Recognition for immersive storytelling. This experience uses the medium of VR to transport us into history, revealing the story of a lesser known female baroque artist, her resistance to the patriarchy and determination in the face of adversity.”
Fandor New Voices Award
Fandor is proud to present the first ever Fandor New Voices Award, celebrating an outstanding feature making its worldwide premiere this year at the 35th annual SXSW festival. At Fandor, we are delighted to elevate the work of inspiring, imaginative, and independent storytellers, so it is with great pleasure that we present the Fandor New Voices Award to a female or person of color who is making their directorial debut with a Narrative Feature or Documentary. Fandor is and always will be proud to uplift the work of these amazing filmmakers.
Fandor New Voices Award
Presented to: What We Leave Behind
Director: Iliana Sosa, Producers: Emma D. Miller, Iliana Sosa, Isidore Bethel (co-producer)
Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award
In honor of a filmmaker whose work strives to be wholly its own, without regard for norms or desire to conform. The Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award is presented to a filmmaker from our Visions screening category.
Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award Presented to: Chee$e
Director/Screenwriter: Damian Marcano, Producer: Alexa Marcano
Adobe Editing Award
Adobe is committed to celebrating creativity for all and empowering everyone to bring their stories to life. By creating greater opportunity for all voices, we can enact change in our communities and move the world forward. We are proud to celebrate the art and craft of editing as we grant the Adobe Editing Award at the SXSW Film Awards. We are also pleased to spotlight this year’s incredible title and poster designers through the Film Design Awards presented by Adobe.
Adobe Editing Award
Presented to: Everything Everywhere All At Once
Editor: Paul Rogers
Louis Black "Lone Star" Award
To honor SXSW co-founder/director Louis Black, a jury prize was created in 2011 called the Louis Black “Lone Star” Award, presented to a feature film world premiering at SXSW that was shot primarily in Texas or directed by a current resident of Texas. (Opt-in Award)
Louis Black "Lone Star" Award
Winner: What We Leave Behind
Director: Iliana Sosa, Producers: Emma D. Miller, Iliana Sosa, Isidore Bethel (co-producer)
"Iliana Sosa's exquisite documentary What We Leave Behind is a love letter to her Mexican grandfather, whose final decline she chronicles with artful grace. It is also a moving look at a family disconnected by both border and dreams, and how their patriarch, too old now for his monthly 20-hour bus rides from Durango into Texas, worries who will hold the center once he's gone. Eighty-nine year old Julian has the face and gravitas of an old time movie star. Sosa has made a profound, gorgeous movie worthy of her precious subject."
ZEISS Cinematography Award
ZEISS Cine Lenses is honored to be returning this year to support the SXSW film community in the Cinematography category. We believe that by supporting the art within the frame, ZEISS helps filmmakers realize their creative vision.
ZEISS Cinematography Award
Winner: A Vanishing Fog
Cinematographer: Gio Park
Mailchimp Support the Shorts Award
Mailchimp is committed to uplifting and supporting creators. We’re so proud to support SXSW by helping short films win big. We congratulate the honorees of the Support the Shorts Award and Special Jury Recognition as well as the entire SXSW-invited filmmaking community.
Mailchimp Support the Shorts Award
Presented to: The Voice Actress
Director/Screenwriter: Anna J. Takayama, Producer: Joe Skinner
"With its impeccable compositions and captivating lead performance, The Voice Actress offers a sensitive peek behind the scenes of an ever-changing industry. This patient study of imagination and aging achieves extraordinary depth thanks to Anna J. Takayama’s soulful direction, and we are delighted to support the career of such a remarkable talent."
40 Years of Massive Talent Award
Presented to: Nicolas Cage
Thank you to our 2022 jurors and congratulations to all of the winners!
The 2021 Film Festival program included 75 features with 57 World Premieres, 3 International Premieres, 4 North American Premieres, 1 U.S. Premieres, 8 Texas Premieres and 53 films from first-time filmmakers + 84 Short Films including Music Videos, 5 Episodic Premieres, 6 Episodic Pilots, 20 Virtual Cinema projects, 14 Title Design entries, plus 34 Special Events.
“We are so honored by the 2021 filmmakers who entrusted their work to us for this online version of our event, and joined us on this new adventure in such a beautiful way. We are thrilled we could launch great new projects and talent in this pandemic year, and hope the films, sessions, music and gatherings online and in virtual reality, showcased the resilience, perseverance and creativity of our community.” – Janet Pierson, Director of Film
Feature films receiving Jury Awards were selected from the Narrative Feature and Documentary Feature Competition categories. Also included are Shorts, Design, Virtual Cinema, and the following Special Awards: Louis Black “Lone Star” Award; Adobe Editing Award; Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award; Final Draft Screenwriters Award; ZEISS Cinematography Award; the Mailchimp Support the Shorts Award; and the Brightcove Illumination Award which honors a filmmaker on the rise, celebrating the innovation and creativity of new artists within the SXSW Film Festival official selections.
All films, except Special Events, were eligible for the SXSW Film Festival Audience Awards voting which took place following the SXSW Online event on Sunday, March 21. Votes were calculated and then certified by the accounting firm of Maxwell Locke & Ritter.
Explore 2021 Juries and 2021 Winners by category below and watch the ceremony here.
The Fallout
Director: Megan Park
“The Fallout takes us through the emotionally charged healing journey of a young girl whose life is forever changed in the wake of a school tragedy. Writer and director Megan Park delivers a timely, riveting, and thought-provoking film on the toll it takes on a teenager who is facing a world where they no longer feel safe. It is an intense, moving piece that highlights an important issue to which one can’t help but feel connected.”
I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking)
Directors: Kelley Kali and Angelique Molina
“Kelley Kali’s I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking), financed in part by stimulus relief checks, is a marvel of multitasking and resourcefulness. Kali’s film, which she wrote, directed, produced and stars in, winningly captures the pandemic plight of a homeless, roller-skating single mother over a memorable daylong odyssey.”
Islands
Director: Martin Edralin
Actor: Rogelio Balagtas
“Islands gives us the story of a painfully shy man set adrift in the world by the declining health of the parents who sheltered him. This story, of someone blooming late in life, hinges on the tremendously compelling, interior performance from relative newcomer Rogelio Balagtas who can break hearts throughout with his tears and enables the movie to transcend with a single smile.”
Lily Topples the World
Director: Jeremy Workman
“A joyful portrait of grace in artistry and commitment in engineering, Lily Topples the World shows a life online that transcends virality and touches something deeper. In Lily Hevesh, aka Hevesh5, the film features a collaborative, creative soul who comes by community and entrepreneurship naturally. A rare achievement in nonjudgmental subcultural exploration and a gorgeously rendered portrait of burgeoning adulthood that tumbles forward, like Lily’s domino art, into something beautiful.”
Introducing, Selma Blair
Director: Rachel Fleit
“Selma Blair's unflinching and raw vulnerability in Introducing, Selma Blair, coupled with director Rachel Fleit's almost voyeuristic chronicling of her MS diagnosis, invites us not just to feel empathy for the star. More than that, it invites us into her fight, prompting anyone watching to feel joined with her in battle. That level of disarming intimacy is rarely witnessed on screen, particularly from a public figure, making the feat all the more incredible.”
Not Going Quietly
Director: Nicholas Bruckman
“Activist is a word much used in contemporary culture. But few give expression to it like Ady Barkan, a California organizer who, upon being diagnosed with ALS in his early 30s, responds not with self-pitying convalescence but by barnstorming his fight across the country, bringing a movement with him. Barkan’s tale suggests that grace is not incompatible with ardor, and hardship no obstacle to achievement. Bruckman’s film captures him and the powerful women who lead his fight in ways that are richly human, always affectionate and frequently rousing.”
Play It Safe
Director: Mitch Kalisa
“We were so thrilled by the varied, inventive selection of films in the Narrative Shorts competition this year. Of the shorts, we have decided to award the Jury Award to Play It Safe, for approaching oft-addressed topics in a new way, for its incredible main performance, for its thoughtful direction, and compelling cinematography.”
Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma
Directors: Topaz Jones, rubberband.
“We are awarding Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma a Special Jury Recognition for Visionary Storytelling for its bold filmmaking and mix of music, visuals, and documentary footage.”
Like the Ones I Used to Know
Director: Annie St-Pierre
“We are awarding Like the Ones I Used to Know a Special Jury Recognition for Direction, as its weaving between reality and flights of fancy make it a Christmas tale to remember. Congratulations to all of the filmmakers this year, and thank you for your new works!”
Águilas
Directors: Kristy Guevara-Flanagan and Maite Zubiaurre
“Águilas is a film that most poignantly displays the need immigrants feel to come to America — even at the cost of starvation and death. Failed attempts are presented by a backpack, a sweater, and scattered bones. How desperate the dream is of a perfect landing that ends so tragically.”
Red Taxi
Director: Anonymous
“Red Taxi is a film that is being recognized for its courage. The type of courage that spans the definition of the word. The subjects are courageous, the filmmakers are courageous, and the film itself is courageous both stylistically and in the way it speaks on an issue through editing that is measured, considered, and understanding of the complexities of the post-colonial project.”
I Ran From It and Was Still in It
Director: Darol Olu Kae
“Its title invites audiences to expect a wholly distinct storytelling experience and this film delivers. For its audacious storytelling through textured imagery, bold structure and lyrical approach, we award this special achievement to I Ran From It and Was Still In It.”
The Moogai
Director: Jon Bell
“The Moogai is a haunting, psychological thriller that explores postpartum depression in an impressive display of disciplined filmmaking that stuck the landing at every pivotal moment. The cinematography is striking, the actor’s performances are brave, and the underlying commentary on a country’s forced removal of generations of children is heartbreaking. Filmmaker Jon Bell’s film affected us on so many levels that we proudly recognize it with the Jury Award prize.”
Stuffed
Director: Theo Rhys
“Stuffed proudly presents a story grisly and grotesque yet beautifully bittersweet. Director and co-writer Theo Rhys stitches together a world of rot, flesh, and leather, then brings it to radiant life with curious characters and striking songs of dark dreams, lifting love, and the ultimate sacrifice. It is with shock and awe that we award this strange and sensational short a Jury Recognition for Bold Vision.”
Nuevo Rico
Director: Kristian Mercado
“Be prepared for this dystopian tragedy to rip your hair out by the roots and pour liquid vaporwave rainbows directly onto your brain’s tongue. A cautionary tale of friendship and fame, Nuevo Rico slaps convention to the ground and stomps on it with steel toed boots of satisfying stylistic innovation. Kristian Mercado Figueroa doesn’t give a fuck — and gives all the fucks at the same time. If you’ve never wrestled a laser snake in a Lambo going two hundred off a cliff into an iridescent volcano, Nuevo Rico will make you feel like you have.”
KKUM
Director: Kang Min Kim
“An awe inspiring masterclass in creativity, resourcefulness, and innovative lighting and stop-motion techniques. This film manages to elevate simplistic materials to create mesmerizing sequences, while also taking you on a poetic, dreamy, and emotional journey that serves as a beautiful tribute to a mother's love.”
Your Own Bullshit
Director: Daria Kopiec
“We the jury have selected Your Own Bullshit for a Jury Recognition for Storytelling for its masterful and experimental take on a vastly relatable human story. Its stylistic choices, humor, sound design, character development, and pace bring excitement to a topic under which it is not easy to push boundaries. Yet, it does just that.”
Madame Gandhi - 'Waiting for Me'
Director: Misha Ghose
“Of all the wonderful works nominated, Madame Gandhi's 'Waiting for Me', directed by Misha Ghose, soared to the top for its compelling visuals, rich color palettes, and vital message of empowerment and self-expression. The video supported and enhanced both the song and the artist. This video and this artist deserve to be shared, seen, and heard by everyone. Everywhere.”
Waze & Odyssey, George Michael, Mary J. Blige & Tommy Theo - 'Always'
Director: Nelson de Castro
“The Jury would also like to award the music video for 'Always' by Waze & Odyssey with a Special Jury 'How the Hell Did They Do That?!' recognition.”
Kuricorder Quartet - 'Southpaw'
Director: Sawako Kabuki
“The Jury would further like to recognize for pure joy, the music video, ‘Southpaw' by Kuricorder Quartet, directed by Sawako Kabuki.”
Summer Animals
Director: Haley Elizabeth Anderson
“Summer Animals, Haley Elizabeth Anderson’s short film entry for SXSW 2021, captivated us with its naturalistic style and layered approach to storytelling. Ostensibly a story about three siblings and their quest to find a moment of relief — or a pool to cannonball into — during a particularly grueling summer, the film evolves into something else entirely, and is anchored by the cast’s stellar performances and Anderson’s clear-eyed direction.”
O Black Hole!
Director: Renee Zhan
“This imaginative journey explores a literal impression of its title and a figurative one. It’s otherworldly imagery, music and sound design combined for an emotional experience that surprised us at every turn.”
A Really Dark Comedy
Director: Manasi Ughadmathe
“A Really Dark Comedy is a well-crafted comedy short that weaves together great comedic timing, excellent chemistry between its two leads, and some surprising twists. We found it to be a breath of fresh air in a pandemic year where everyone could use a (really dark) laugh.”
Beyond the Model
Director: Jessica Lin
“The power of this documentary comes from the artistry and sensitivity of its director, Jessica Lin. Parts observational and parts reflexive, Beyond the Model’s clear voice stems from a desire to allow its subjects to breathe and share, making for an organic, poignant, and insightful short.”
4 Feet High
Directors: Maria Belen Poncio and Rosario Perazolo Masjoan
“For its beautifully cinematic and heartfelt coming-of-age story, with a confident performance from a standout lead actress, the jury is awarding this year’s top prize to 4 Feet High. The episode is thrillingly unique from its opening minutes, with a strong point of view and an engaging central character whose journey feels keenly specific but also evokes universal high school experiences — and while the story takes its time, there is never a wasted frame. We commend the cast and creative team for telling this a moving story in such an assured way.”
Pretend Partners
Director: Ron Najor
“For their witty script and genuine onscreen chemistry, the Special Jury Recognition for Best Duo goes to Kristin Erickson and Ron Najor for Pretend Partners. As showrunners, screenwriters, producers, and stars of the project (in addition to Najor directing), Erickson and Najor created an inventive take on the romantic comedy that was sweet and hilarious in equal measure, and then carried that story themselves as its central characters.”
Bob Moses Featuring ZHU - 'Desire'
Creative Director: Owen Brown
Art Director and Illustrator: Benjámin Kalászi
Graphic Designer: Diego L. Rodríguez (Paramoidme)
“A visually gripping design, this poster draws you into a surreal moment frozen in time where something you want so badly seems just out of reach. We were struck by the electric color palette, bold typography and dreamy illustration style that evokes flight, time travel, and science fiction. Everything in this poster just feels intriguing and we are so excited to award the Excellence in Poster Design Winner to 'Desire'!”
The Box
Designers: James Burns and Shal Ngo, Aleksander Walijewski
“A mix of bold graphics, creative typography, and emotive imagery, this poster grabs attention and pulls you into the narrative of prisoners in criminal reform systems and isolation. Spending a moment with the imagery feels like a window into the film and the minds of those enduring their own boxes, both tangible and the ones built in our minds. Overall, this poster was interesting, thought provoking, and wove together narrative and design in striking ways. Brava! We’re thrilled to give a Special Jury Recognition to 'The Box'!”
The Queen’s Gambit Title Sequence
Designer: Saskia Marka
“Using simple geometric forms and a restrained palette, these titles spring to life through elegant motion design that captures the spirit of the protagonist’s brilliant mental calculations.”
Birds Of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn Title Sequence
Designer: Michael Riley
“This sequence embodies everything a great title should: The tone is a perfect match for the movie, the style is unique and ownable, and the visual narrative keeps the audience engaged and delighted throughout.”
Samsara
Director: Huang Hsin-Chien
“Samsara provokes existential questions about the future of humanity and consciousness. From the evolution of users’ hands to the rhythmic juxtaposition of vignettes, every detail is weighted in metaphor. The result is a work that compresses a universe into a few minutes; audiences are left to reflect on humanity as a collective macro-organism—as experienced through the machine.”
Reeducated
Director: Sam Wolson
“Reeducated offers a glimpse into a horrifying world obscured from public view. Through illustration and testimony from three people who lived through the internment camps in Xinjiang, we learn about the brutal practices used against the Uyghur ethnic minority. It’s a striking piece of 360 cinema that makes a clear argument for the unique affordances of immersive formats for telling stories, establishing a powerful logic and vocabulary through the use of composition, scale, pace, and perspective.”
The Brightcove Illumination Award honors a filmmaker on the rise, celebrating the innovation and creativity of new artists within the SXSW Film Festival official selections.
The Fallout
Director: Megan Park
“For her empathetic and honest exploration of life after tragedy, inspired craft, and stellar guidance of a talented young cast, we award the Brightcove Illumination Award to Megan Park for her film The Fallout.”
In honor of a filmmaker whose work strives to be wholly its own, without regard for norms or desire to conform. The Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award is presented to a filmmaker from our Visions screening category.
Delia Derbyshire - the Myths and the Legendary Tapes
Director: Caroline Catz
Adobe is committed to celebrating creativity for all and empowering everyone to bring their stories to life. By creating greater opportunity for all voices, we can enact change in our communities and move the world forward. We are proud to celebrate the art and craft of editing as we grant the Adobe Editing Award at the SXSW Film Awards. We are also pleased to spotlight this year’s incredible title and poster designers through the Film Design Awards presented by Adobe.
R#J
Editor: Lam Nguyen
Final Draft, the industry standard in screenwriting software, is proud to support SXSW and provide the second SXSW Final Draft Screenwriters Award. We pride ourselves in shining a spotlight on new voices in the writing and filmmaking community, and coming together with like-minded organizations, such as SXSW, that share the same core values. A huge congratulations to this year’s recipient from all of us at Final Draft!
Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break
Screenwriters: Brook Driver, Matt White, and Nick Gillespie
To honor SXSW co-founder/director Louis Black, a jury prize was created in 2011 called the Louis Black “Lone Star” Award, presented to a feature film world premiering at SXSW that was shot primarily in Texas or directed by a current resident of Texas. (Opt-in Award)
Without Getting Killed or Caught
Directors: Tamara Saviano and Paul Whitfield
“This year's Lone Star Award goes to Tamara Saviano and Paul Whitfield's remarkable Without Getting Killed or Caught, an examination of not just the life of legendary Texas singer-songwriter Guy Clark but the complicated, fascinating relationship between himself, his wife Susanna and his best friend Townes Van Zandt, all of whom made extraordinary work together and apart. The storytelling was graceful, densely layered, and immersive.”
ZEISS Cine Lenses is honored to be returning this year to support the SXSW film community in the Cinematography category. We believe that by supporting the art within the frame, ZEISS helps filmmakers realize their creative vision.
Gaia
Cinematographer: Jorrie van der Walt
Mailchimp is committed to uplifting and supporting creators. We’re so proud to support SXSW by helping short films win big. We congratulate the honorees of the Support the Shorts Award and Special Jury Recognition as well as the entire SXSW-invited filmmaking community.
Chuj Boys of Summer
Director: Max Walker-Silverman
“With its gentle, observant eye, Chuj Boys of Summer offers a vision of unexpected compassion and tender masculinity. Director Max Walker-Silverman and writer Marcos Ordoñez Ixwalanhkej Mendoza know too much about the world to provide convenient answers to the film's complicated questions, so they instead focus on the little gestures that define their characters' lives. Against the grandeur of the San Juan Mountains, these small moments become unspeakably powerful.”
Like the Ones I Used to Know
Director: Annie St-Pierre
“Weaving a Christmas tale filled with familiar indignities, Annie St-Pierre and her talented ensemble deftly transform heartbreak into levity while always staying one step ahead of the audience. As every emotion imaginable plays across the cast's astonishing faces, it's the heroes' crumpled dignity that leaves us smiling.”
Malignant
Director: Morgan Bond and Nickolas Grisham
“In its combination of rich characterization and mysterious camera work, Malignant manages to conjure a uniquely cinematic sense of hallucinatory tension. We honestly can't pinpoint exactly what it is that directors Morgan Bond and Nickolas Grisham have done to create this much unease, but thanks to their mesmerizing talents, Malignant's climax floods the senses and lingers long after the film is over.”
A special thank you to our incredible partners for the SXSW 2020 Film Awards: Adobe, Audio-Technica, Bat City Awards, Cinema Printing Company London, The Criterion Collection, Final Draft, Hive Lighting, LEE Filters; Light Iron, Mild2Wild Leather, Oscilloscope, Panavision, Vimeo, and ZEISS.
Winner: Shithouse
Director: Cooper Raiff
Special Jury Recognition for Directing: Topside
Directors: Celine Held, Logan George
Special Jury Recognition for Acting: Really Love
Director: Angel Kristi Williams
Actors: Kofi Siriboe, Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing
Winner: An Elephant in the Room
Director: Katrine Philp
Special Jury Recognition for Achievement in Documentary Storytelling: The Donut King
Director: Alice Gu
Special Jury Recognition for Breakthrough Voice: Finding Yingying
Director: Jiayan "Jenny" Shi
Winner: White Eye
Director: Tomer Shushan
Special Jury Recognition for Acting: Dirty
Director: Matthew Puccini
Actors: Morgan Sullivan, Manny Dunn
Special Jury Recognition: Darling
Director: Saim Sadiq
Special Jury Recognition: Single
Director: Ashley Eakin
Winner: No Crying at the Dinner Table
Director: Carol Nguyen
Special Jury Recognition: Mizuko
Directors: Katelyn Rebelo, Kira Dane
Special Jury Recognition: Día de la Madre
Directors: Ashley Brandon, Dennis Höhne
Winner: Regret
Director: Santiago Menghini
Special Jury Recognition: Laura Hasn't Slept
Director: Parker Finn
Special Jury Recognition for Creature Design: Stucco
Directors: Janina Gavankar, Russo Schelling
Winner: Symbiosis
Director: Nadja Andrasev
Special Jury Recognition: No, I Don't Want to Dance!
Director: Andrea Vinciguerra
Special Jury Recognition: The Shawl
Director: Sara Kiener
Winner: 070 Shake - ‘Nice to Have’
Director: Noah Lee
Special Jury Recognition for Animation: Mitski - ‘A Pearl’
Directors: Saad Moosajee, Art Camp
Special Jury Recognition for Direction: The Lumineers - ‘Gloria’
Director: Kevin Phillips
Winner: Just Hold On
Directors: Sam Davis, Rayka Zehtabchi
Special Jury Recognition: Coup d’etat Math
Director: Sai Selvarajan
Winner: Wish Upon a Snowman
Director: Miu Nakata
Special Jury Recognition for Narrative: Ultimatum
Director: Kai Hashimoto
Special Jury Recognition for Documentary: Unveiled
Director: Sofia Bajwa
Special Jury Recognition for Animation: The Orchard
Director: Zeke French
Winner: Embrace
Director: Jessica Sanders
Special Jury Recognition for Drama: Chemo Brain
Director: Kristian Håskjold
Special Jury Recognition for Comedy: Lusty Crest
Director: Kati Skelton
Winner: Laura Hasn't Slept
Designer: Olivier Courbet
Special Jury Recognition: The Donut King
Designers: Andrew Hem, Charlie Le
Winner: See
Designer: Karin Fong
Special Jury Recognition: Why We Hate
Designers: Allison Brownmoore, Anthony Brownmoore
Winner: In & of Itself
Director: Frank Oz
Winner: You Cannot Kill David Arquette
Editors: Paul Rogers, Additional Editing by David Darg
Winner: Best Summer Ever
Screenwriters: Michael Parks Randa, Will Halby, Terra Mackintosh, Andrew Pilkington, Lauren Smitelli
Winner: Miss Juneteenth
Director: Channing Godfrey Peoples
Special Jury Recognition for Performance: Bull
Director: Annie Silverstein
Actor: Rob Morgan
Special Jury Recognition for Documentary: Boys State
Directors: Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss
Winner: Vert
Director: Kate Cox
Winner: Echoes of the Invisible
Director: Steve Elkins
Explore SXSW Film Festival Award winners from previous years:
2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999
Grand Jury Winner: Alice
Director: Josephine Mackerras
Special Jury Recognition for Best Ensemble: Yes, God, Yes
Director: Karen Maine
Special Jury Recognition for Breakthrough Voice: Saint Frances
Director: Alex Thompson
Grand Jury Winner: For Sama
Directors: Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts
Special Jury Recognition for Empathy in Craft: Ernie & Joe
Director: Jenifer McShane
Special Jury Recognition for Excellence in Storytelling: Nothing Fancy: Diana Kennedy
Director: Elizabeth Carroll
Presented by Vimeo, an all-in-one video platform that provides creative professionals and businesses with tools technology they need to succeed with video– from hosting, to collaborating, to distributing and monetizing.
Jury Winner: Liberty
Director: Faren Humes
Special Jury Recognition: The Orphan
Director: Carolina Markowicz
Jury Winner: Exit 12
Director: Mohammad Gorjestani
Special Jury Recognition: All Inclusive
Director: Corina Schwingruber Ilić
Jury Winner: Other Side of the Box
Director: Caleb J. Phillips
Jury Winner: Guaxuma
Director: Nara Normande
Special Jury Recognition: Slug Life
Director: Sophie Koko Gate
Jury Winner: "Pa’Lante" - Hurray for The Riff Raff
Director: Kristian Mercado
Special Jury Recognition: "Quarrel" - Moses Sumney
Directors: Allie Avital, Moses Sumney
Jury Winner: I am Mackenzie
Director: Artemis Anastasiadou
Special Jury Recognition: A Line Birds Cannot See
Director: Amy Bench
Jury Winner: Fifteen
Director: Louisa Baldwin
Special Jury Recognition: Double Cross
Director: Amiri Scrutchin
Jury Winner: Maggie
Director: Sasha Gordon
Special Jury Recognition: Revenge Tour
Directors: Andrew Carter, Kahlil Maskati
Jury Winner: Daniel Isn’t Real
Designer: Jock
Design Company: 4twenty limited
Jury Winner: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Directors: Brian Mah, James Ramirez
Special Jury Recognition: The Darkest Minds
Director: Michelle Dougherty
360° Video: Documentary – Send Me Home
Director: Cassandra Evanisko
360° Video: Narrative – Metro Veinte: Cita Ciega
Director: Maria Belen Poncio
Interactive – Runnin’
Director: Kiira Benzing
Storytelling – Gloomy Eyes
Director: Jorge Tereso, Fernando Maldonado
Best Use of Immersive Arts – Home After War
Director: Gayatri Parameswaran
Special Jury Recognition – The Future of Experience - Traverse
Director: Jessica Brillhart
Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship
Presented to: Victoria Chalk
Vimeo Staff Pick Award
Presented to: Milton directed by Tim Wilkime
ZEISS Cinematography Award
Winner: Amazônia Groove directed by Bruno Murtinho
Louis Black “Lone Star” Award
Winner: The River and the Wall directed by Ben Masters
Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award
Presented to: Tito directed by Grace Glowicki
CherryPicks Female First Feature Award
Winner: Alice directed by Josephine Mackerras
CherryPicks Special Jury Recognition:
Winner: Days of the Whale directed by Catalina Arroyave Restrepo
Winner: Saint Frances
Director: Alex Thompson
Winner: For Sama
Directors: Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts
Winner: Long Shot
Director: Jonathan Levine
Winner: The Peanut Butter Falcon
Directors: Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz
Winner: Running With Beto
Director: David Modigliani
Winner: The Garden Left Behind
Director: Flavio Alves
Winner: Boyz In The Wood
Director: Ninian Doff
Winner: Ramy
Show Runner: Bridget Bedard
Winner: Nothing Stays the Same: The Story of the Saxon Pub
Director: Jeff Sandmann
Winner: Cachada: The Opportunity
Director: Marlén Viñayo
Winner: Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins
Director: Janice Engel
Winner: Spider-man: Into The Spider-verse
Directors: Brian Mah, James Ramirez
Grand Jury Winner: Thunder Road
Director: Jim Cummings
Special Jury Recognition For First Feature: The New Romantic
Director: Carly Stone
Special Jury Recognition for Writing: Jinn
Director: Niljla Mu'min
Grand Jury Winner: People's Republic of Desire
Director: Hao Wu
Special Jury Recognition for Best Cast: This One's For The Ladies
Director: Gene Graham
Special Jury Recognition for Best Feminist Reconsideration of a Male Artist:
Garry Winogrand: All Things are Photographable
Director: Sasha Waters Freyer
Presented by Vimeo. Vimeo empowers video creators of all kinds to tell exceptional stories and connect with their audiences and communities.
Jury Winner: Emergency
Director: Carey Williams
Special Jury Recognition for Acting: Shirley Chen Film: Krista
Jury Winner: My Dead Dad's Porno Tapes
Director: Charlie Tyrell
Jury Award Winner: Milk
Director: Santiago Menghini
Jury Winner: Agua Viva
Director: Alexa Lim Haas
Special Jury Recognition: JEOM
Director: Kangmin Kim
Jury Winner: "Second Hand Lovers" - Oren Lavie
Director: Oren Lavie
Special Jury Recognition for Acting: "Territory" - The Blaze
Director: The Blaze
Jury Winner: An Uncertain Future
Director: Iliana Sosa, Chelsea Hernandez
Jury Award Winner: The Night I Lost My Favorite Jacket
Director: Jenna Krumerman
Special Jury Recognition: CCISD Strong
Director: Sofia Rasmussen
Jury Winner: Beast
Director: Ben Strang
Special Jury Recognition: She's the Ticket
Director: Nadia Hallgren
Jury Winner: The Gospel of Eureka
Designer: Matt Taylor
Special Jury Recognition: A Little Wisdom
Designer: Adam Zhu
Jury Award Winner: Counterpart
Director: Karin Fong
Special Jury Recognition: Godless
Director: John Likens
SXSW LUNA® Gamechanger Award - Narrative
Winner: First Match directed by Olivia Newman
Special Jury Recognition:
Unlovable directed by Suzi Yoonessi
SXSW LUNA® Chicken & Egg Award - Documentary
Winner: On Her Shoulders directed by Alexandria Bombach
Special Jury Recognition:
¡Las Sandinistas! directed by Jenny Murray
Louis Black “Lone Star” Award
Winner: Daughters of the Sexual Revolution: The Untold Story of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders directed by Dana Adam Shapiro
SXSW Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award
Presented to: Prospect directed by Zeek Earl, Chris Caldwell
Vimeo Staff Picks Award
Presented to: Krista directed by Danny Madden
Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship
Presented to: Kristin Bye
Winner: First Match
Director: Olivia Newman
Winner: TransMilitary
Directors: Gabriel Silverman, Fiona Dawson
Winner: Isle of Dogs
Director: Wes Anderson
Winner: All Square
Director: John Hyams
Winner: The Dawn Wall
Director: Josh Lowell, Peter Mortimer
Winner: Profile
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Winner: Upgrade
Director: Leigh Whannell
Winner: Vida
Director: Alonso Ruizpalacios, So Yong Kim
Winner:Ruben Blades Is Not My Name
Director: Abner Benaim
Winner: Virus Tropical
Director: Santiago Caicedo
Winner: Science Fair
Director: Cristina Costantini, Darren Foster
Winner: #19 – Offf Barcelona 2017
Directors: Eve Duhamel, Julien Vallee
Grand Jury Winner: Most Beautiful Island
Director: Ana Asensio
Special Jury Recognition for Best Breakthrough Performance: James Freedson-Jackson
Film: The Strange Ones
Special Jury Recognition for Best Ensemble: Matt Jones, Eleanore Pienta and Will Rogers
Film: A Bad Idea Gone Wrong
Grand Jury Winner: The Work
Director: Jarius McLeary, Gethin Aldous
Special Jury Recognition for Excellence in Documentary Storytelling: I Am Another You
Director: Nanfu Wang
Special Jury Recognition for Excellence In Observational Cinema: Maineland
Director: Miao Wang
Presented by OneFifty, a content incubator from Time Warner Inc.
Jury Winner: Forever Now
Director: Kristian Håskjold
Special Jury Recognition for Acting: Tarra Riggs
Film: DeKalb Elementary
Special Jury Recognition: Charlotte Wells
Film: Laps
Jury Winner: Little Potato
Director: Wes Hurley, Nathan M. Miller
Jury Winner: The Suplex Duplex Complex
Director: Todd Rohal
Jury Winner: Wednesday With Goddard
Director: Nicolas Menard
Special Jury Recognition: Pussy
Director: Renata Gasiorowska
Jury Winner: Leon Bridges - "River"
Director: Miles Jay
Special Jury Recognition: Tame Impala- "The Less I Know the Better"
Director: Canada
Jury Winner: The Rabbit Hunt
Director: Patrick Bresnan
Jury Winner: Better Late Than Never
Director: Atheena Frizzell
Special Jury Recognition: Darcy's Quinceanera
Director: Sam Cooper
Jury Winner: FRY DAY
Designer: Caspar Newbolt
Special Jury Recognition: Like Me
Designer: Jeremy Enecio
Jury Winner: Into the Current
Director: Chris R. Moberg, Jared Young
Jury Award Winner Room - Scale: After Solitary
Director: Cassandra Herrman, Lauren Mucciolo
Special Jury Recognition Room-Scale for Innovative Use of Virtual Reality Technology in the Field of Health: Reinvent
Director: Ian Forester, Sook-lei Liew, Phd
Jury Winner 360° Video: Behind the Fence
Director: Lindsay Branham, Jonathan Olinger
Special Jury Recognition 360° Video for Technical Excellence: Dreams of “O"
Director: Félix Lajeunesse, Paul Raphaël
SXSW LUNA® Chicken & Egg Award
Winner: I am Another You director Nanfu Wang
SXSW LUNA® Gamechanger Award
Winner: Inflame directed by Ceylan Ozgun Ozcelik
Louis Black “Lone Star” Award
Winner: Mr. Roosevelt directed by Noël Wells
Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship
Presented to: Leigh Johnson
Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award
Presented to: Assholes directed by Peter Vack
Winner: The Light of the Moon
Director: Jessica M. Thompson
Winner: Dealt
Director: Luke Korem
Winner: Baby Driver
Director: Edgar Wright
Winner:: Mr. Roosevelt
Director: Noel Wells
Winner:: The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin
Director: Jennifer M. Kroot
Winner: Becoming Bond
Director: Josh Greenbaum
Winner: 68 Kill
Director: Trent Haaga
Winner: Dear White People
Director: Justin Simien
Winner: May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers
Director: Judd Apatow, Michael Bonfiglio
Winner: Divine Divas
Director: Leandra Leal
Winner: The Big Sick
Director: Michael Showalter
Winner: Into the Current
Designer: Chris R. Moberg, Jared Young
Winner: Like Me
Designer: Jeremy Enecio
Grand Jury Winner: The Arbalest
Director: Adam Pinney
Special Jury Recognition for Best Actor: Andre Royo
Film: Hunter Gatherer
Special Jury Recognition for Best Actress: Lily Rabe
Film: Miss Stevens
Grand Jury Winner: TOWER
Director: Keith Maitland
Special Jury Recognition for Portrait Documentary: Accidental Courtesy: Daryl Davis, Race & America
Director: Matt Ornstein
Special Jury Recognition for Cinematography: The Seer
Cinematographer: Lee Daniel
Presented by OneFifty, a content incubator from Time Warner Inc.
Jury Award Winner: How Was Your Day?
Director: Damien O’Donnell
Special Jury Recognition for Acting: Jim Cummings
Film: Thunder Road
Special Jury Recognition for Writing: Jocelyn DeBoer, Dawn Luebbe
Film: Greener Grass
Jury Award Winner: These Cksucking Tears*
Director: Dan Taberski
Special Jury Recognition: Dollhouse
Director: Terri Timely
Jury Award Winner: MANOMAN
Director: Simon Cartwright
Special Jury Recognition: Don’t tell Mom
Director: Sawako Kabuki
Jury Award Winner: Glove
Directors: Alexa Lim Haas, Bernardo Britto
Special Jury Recognition: Pombo Loves You
Director: Steve Warne
Jury Award Winner: Childish Gambino - "Sober"
Director: Hiro Murai
Jury Award Winner: The Send-Off
Director: Ivete Lucas, Patrick Bresnan
Special Jury Recognition for Acting: Lindsay Pulsipher
Film: 1985
Jury Award Winner: Lady of Paint Creek
Director: Alexia Salingaros
Special Jury Recognition: The Archer Hadley Story
Directors: Ben Root, Alex Treviño
Jury Award Winner: Miss Me: The Artful Vandal
Designer: MissMe
Special Jury Recognition: Night Stalker
Designer: New Media Ltd
Special Jury Recognition: Eat My Shit
Designer: Octavio Terol
Jury Award Winner: Sunstone
Director: Aimée Duchamp
SXSW Gamechanger Award
Winner: My Blind Brother directed by Sophie Goodhart
Louis Black “Lone Star” Award
Winner: TOWER directed by Keith Maitland
Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship
Presented to: Eileen Meyer
Winner: Transpecos
Director: Greg Kwedar
Winner: TOWER
Director: Keith Maitland
Winner: Demolition
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Winner: From Nowhere
Director: Matthew Newton
Winner: Mr. Gaga
Director: Tomer Heymann
Winner: Jules and Dolores
Director: Caito Ortiz
Winner: I Am a Hero
Director: Shinsuke Sato
Winner: Vice Principals
Directors: Jody Hill, David Gordon Green, and Danny McBride
Winner: Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken
Directors: Brenda Greene Mitchell, Sam Wainwright Douglas
Winner: Ghostland
Director: Simon Stadler
Winner: Gleason
Director: Clay Tweel
Winner: We Are X
Designer: Allison Brownmoore of Blue Spill
Grand Jury Winner: KRISHA
Director: Trey Edward Shults
Special Jury Recognition for Visual Excellence: Creative Control
Director: Benjamin Dickinson
Grand Jury Winner: Peace Officer
Directors: Scott Christopherson, Brad Barber
Special Jury Recognition for Political Courage: Vessel
Director: Diana Whitten
Special Jury Recognition for Directing: A Woman Like Me
Directors: Alex Sichel, Elizabeth Giamatti
Special Jury Recognition for Editing: Twinsters
Editor: Jeff Consiglio
Jury Award Winner: Pink Grapefruit
Director: Michael Mohan
Special Jury Recognition: Share
Director: Pippa Bianco
Jury Award Winner: Boxeadora
Director: Meg Smaker
Jury Award Winner: Kiss Kiss Fingerbang
Director: Gillian Wallace Horvat
Jury Award Winner: World of Tomorrow
Director: Don Hertzfeldt
Special Jury Recognition: teeth
Directors: Daniel Gray, Tom Brown
Jury Award Winner: Paolo Nutini - "Iron Sky"
Director: Daniel Wolfe
Special Jury Recognition: DJ Snake featuring Lil’ Jon - "Turn Down for What"
Directors: DANIELS
Jury Award Winner: The Samaritans
Director: John Bryant
Jury Award Winner: It’s A Thing
Directors: Meredith Morran, Sage McCommas
Jury Award Winner: Manson Family Vacation
Designer: Yen Tan
Special Jury Recognition: The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson
Designer: Jonny Halifax
Jury Award Winner: Manhattan
Designer: Dan Gregoras for Imaginary Forces
Special Jury Recognition: The Fitzroy
Designers: Chris Tozer, Marko Anstice
SXSW Gamechanger Award
Winner: Yvonne Kerékgyártó, Free Entry
Louis Black “Lone Star” Award
Winner: Bill Ross, Turner Ross, Western
Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship
Presented to: Anna Gustavi
Winner: KRISHA
Director: Trey Edward Shults
Documentary Feature Competition:
Winner: Peace Officer
Directors: Scott Christopherson, Brad Barber
Narrative Spotlight: The Little Death
Director: Josh Lawson
Documentary Spotlight: A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story
Director: Sara Hirsh Bordo
Visions: Uncle Kent 2
Director: Todd Rohal
Midnighters: Turbo Kid
Director: RKSS Collective
Episodic: Mr. Robot
Creator/Showrunner/Executive Producer: Sam Esmail
24 Beats Per Second: Landfill Harmonic
Directors: Brad Allgood
SXGlobal: Kings of Nowhere
Director: Betzabé García
Festival Favorites: The Look Of Silence
Director: Joshua Oppenheimer
Title Design: The Fitzroy
Designers: Chris Tozer, Marko Anstice
Poster Design: Pink Grapefruit
Designer: Simon Dargan for Mustaa Luntaa
Grand Jury Winner: Fort Tilden
Directors: Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers
Special Jury Recognition for Courage in Storytelling: Animals
Actor & Screenwriter: David Dastmalchian
Special Jury Recognition for Best Acting Duo: Natalia Tena and David Verdaguer
Film: 10,000KM
Grand Jury Winner: The Great Invincible
Director: Margaret Brown
Special Jury Recognition for Political Courage: Vessel
Director: Diana Whitten
Special Jury Recognition for Editing & Storytelling: Print the Legend
Directors: Luis Lopez & Clay Tweel
Jury Award Winner: Quelqu’un d’extraordinaire
Director: Monia Chokr
Special Jury Recognition: Person to Person
Director: Dustin Guy Defa
Special Jury Recognition for Cinematography: Krisha
Director: Trey Edward Shultz
Jury Award Winner: Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace
Director: Jeff Dupre
Jury Award Winner: Wawd Ahp
Directors: Steve Girard & Josh Chertoff
Jury Award Winner: Coda
Directors: Alan Holly
Special Jury Recognition: Eager
Director: Allison Schulnik
Jury Award Winner: Joel Compass - “Back to Me”
Director: Ian and Cooper
Jury Award Winner: Some vacation.
Director: Anne S. Lewis
Jury Award Winner: Seawolf
Director: Caila Pickett & Max Montoya
Jury Award Winner: Starry Eyes
Designer: Jay Shaw
Jury Award Winner: True Detective
Designer: Patrick Clair for Elastic
Special Jury Recognition: The Lego Movie
Designer: Brian Mah for Alma Mater
SXSW Gamechanger Award
Winner: Jen McGowan, Kelly & Cal
Special Mention: Kat Candler, Hellion
Louis Black “Lone Star” Award
Winner: Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship
Presented to: Colin Nusbaum
Narrative Feature Competition: Before I Disappear
Director: Shawn Christensen
Documentary Feature Competition: Vessel
Director: Diana Whitten
Narrative Spotlight: Cesar Chavez
Director: Diego Luna
Documentary Spotlight: DamNation
Directors: Ben Knight & Travis Rummel
Visions: Yakona
Directors: Anlo Sepulveda & Paul Collins
Midnighters: Exists
Director: Eduardo Sánchez
Episodic: Silicon Valley
Director: Mike Judge
24 Beats Per Second: Take Me To The River
Director: Martin Shore
SXGlobal: The Special Need
Director: Carlo Zoratti
Festival Favorites: The Case Against 8
Directors: Ben Cotner & Ryan White
Excellence in Title Design: True Detective
Designer: Patrick Clair for Elastic
Excellence in Poster Design: Big Significant Things
Designer: Corey Holms
Grand Jury Winner: Short Term 12
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Special Jury Recognition for Best Ensemble: Christopher Abbott, Gaby Hoffmann, Christopher McCann, Dan Bittner, Emily Fleischer, Jacinta Puga, Matt McCarthy and Kelly Aucoin
Film: Burma
Special Jury Recognition for Acting: Tishuan Scott
Film: The Retrieval
Grand Jury Winner: WILLIAM AND THE WINDMILL
Director: Ben Nabors
Special Jury Recognition for Cinematography: Touba
Director of Photography: Scott Duncan
Special Jury Recognition for Directing: We Always Lie to Strangers
Directors: AJ Schnack & David Wilson
Jury Award Winner: Ellen is Leaving
Director: Michelle Savill
Special Jury Recognition: Share
Director: Pippa Bianco
Jury Award Winner: Boxeadora
Director: Meg Smaker
Jury Award Winner: Kiss Kiss Fingerbang
Directors: Gillian Wallace Horvat
Jury Award Winner: World of Tomorrow
Director: Don Hertzfeldt
Special Jury Recognition: teeth
Directors: Daniel Gray, Tom Brown
Jury Award Winner: Paolo Nutini - "Iron Sky"
Director: Daniel Wolfe
Special Jury Recognition: DJ Snake featuring Lil’ Jon - "Turn Down for What"
Director: DANIELS
Jury Award Winner: The Samaritans
Director: John Bryant
Jury Award Winner: It’s A Thing
Directors: Meredith Morran, Sage McCommas
Jury Award Winner: Manson Family Vacation
Designer: Yen Tan
Special Jury Recognition: The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson
Designer: Jonny Halifax
Jury Award Winner: Manhattan
Designer: Dan Gregoras for Imaginary Forces
Special Jury Recognition: The Fitzroy
Designers: Chris Tozer, Marko Anstice
SXSW Gamechanger Award
Winner: Yvonne Kerékgyártó, Free Entry
Louis Black “Lone Star” Award
Winner: Western
Directors: Bill Ross, Turner Ross
Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship
Presented to: Anna Gustavi
Narrative Feature Competition: Short Term 12
Director: destin Daniel Cretton
Documentary Feature Competition: The Short Game**
Director: Josh Greenbaum
Narrative Spotlight: Zero Charisma
Directors: Katie Graham & Andrew Matthews
Documentary Spotlight: An Unreal Dream: The Michael Morton Story
Director: Al Reinert
Visions: Maidentrip
Director: Jillian Schlesinger
Midnighters: Cheap Thrills
Director: E.L. Katz
24 Beats Per Second: A Band Called Death
Directors: Mark Christopher Covino & Jeff Howlett
SXGlobal: The Punk Syndrome
Director: Jukka Kärkkäinen & J-P Passi
Festival Favorites: The Crash Reel
Director: Lucy Walker
Excellence in Title Design: Chasing Shakespeare
Designer: Lucky Post
Excellence in Poster Design: Kiss of the Damned
Designer: Akiko Stehrenberger, Gravillis Inc
Grand Jury Winner: Gimme The Loot
Director: Adam Leon
Special Jury Recognition for Performance:
Jamie Chung
Film: Eden
Besedka Johnson
Film: Starlet
Nico Stone
Film: Booster
Grand Jury Winner: Beware of Mr. Baker
Director: Jay Bulger
Jury Award Winner: The Chair
Director: Grainger David
Jury Award Winner: CatCam
Director: Seth Keal
Jury Award Winner: Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared
Directors: Rebecca Sloan & Joseph Pelling
Jury Award Winner: The Perfect Fit
Director: Tali Yankelevich
Jury Award Winner: (notes on) biology
Director: Danny Madden
Jury Award Winner: Battles - "My Machines"
Director: DANIELS
Jury Award Winner: Spark
Director: Annie Silverstein
Jury Award Winner: Boom
Director: Daniel Matyas & Brian Broder
Jury Award Winner: Man & Gun
Designer: Justin Cox
Special Jury Recognition: Pitch Black Heist
Designer: Andrew Cranston
Jury Award Winner: Les Bleus de Ramville
Designer: Jay Bond, Oily Film Company Inc.
Special Jury Recognition: X-Men: First Class
Designer: Simon Clowes, Prologue Films
SXSW Wholphin Award
Winner: The Black Balloon
Director: Benny Safdie & Josh Safdie
SXSW Chicken & Egg Emergent Narrative Woman Director Award
Winners: Megan Griffiths – Eden and Amy Seimetz – Sun Don’t Shine
Louis Black “Lone Star” Award
Winner: Richard Linklater, Bernie
Special Jury Recognition: Trash Dance
Director: Andrew Garrison
Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship
Presented to: Lindsay Utz
Narrative Feature Competition: Eden
Director: Megan Griffiths
Documentary Feature Competition: Bay of All Saints
Director: Annie Eastman
Narrative Spotlight: Fat Kid Rules the World
Director: Matthew Lillard
Documentary Spotlight: Brooklyn Castle
Director: Katie Dellamaggiore
Visions: LOW & CLEAR
Directors: Kahlil Hudson & Tyler Hughen
Midnighters: CITADEL
Director: Ciarán Foy
24 Beats Per Second: Under African Skies
Director: Joe Berlinger
SXGlobal: Her Master’s Voice
Director: Nina Conti
Festival Favorites: Chasing Ice
Director: Jeff Orlowski
Excellence in Title Design: Bunraku
Designer: Guilherme Marcondes, Hornet Inc.
Excellence in Poster Design: The Maker
Designer: Christopher Kezelos
Grand Jury Winner: Natural Selection
Director: Robbie Pickering
Best Editing: Natural Selection
Editor: Michelle Tesoro
Best Cinematography: A Year in Mooring
Director of Photography: Elliot Davis
Best Score/Music: Natural Selection
Music by: iZLER, Curt Schneider
Best Screenplay: Natural Selection
Writer: Robbie Pickering
Breakthrough Performance:
Evan Ross
Film: 96 Minutes
Rachael Harris
Film: Natural Selection
Matt O’Leary
Film: Natural Selection
Grand Jury Winner: DRAGONSLAYER
Director: Tristan Patterson
Best Editing: Where Soldiers Come From
Editors: Kyle Henry & Heather Courtney
Best Cinematography: DRAGONSLAYER
Director of Photography: Eric Koretz
Best Score/Music: The City Dark
Music by: The Fishermen Three, Ben Fries
Jury Award Winner: Pioneer
Director: David Lowery
Jury Award Winner: Mothersbane
Director: Jason Jakaitis
Jury Award Winner: THE WONDER HOSPITAL
Director: Beomsik Shimbe Shim
Jury Award Winner: Hollerado - "Americanarama"
Director: Greg Jardin
Jury Award Winner: 8
Directors: Julie Gould & Daniel Laabs
Jury Award Winner: ( __ )
Director: Chad Warner
Honorable Mention: Eggs
Director: Gabriel Lopez
Jury Award Winner: Silver Bullets
Designer: Yann Legendre
Jury Award Winner: Blue Valentine
Designer: Jim Helton
SXSW Wholphin Award
Winner:,Mikey Please, The Eagleman Stag
SXSW Chicken & Egg Emergent Narrative Woman Director Award
Winner: Sophia Takal, Green
Louis Black “Lone Star” Award
Winner: Steve Mims & Joe Bailey Jr., INCENDIARY: The Willingham Case
Narrative Feature Competition: Natural Selection
Director: Robbie Pickering
Documentary Feature Competition: Kumaré
Director: Vikram Gandhi
Spotlight Premieres: Becoming Santa
Director: Jeff Meyers
Visions: Weekend
Director: Andrew Haigh
Midnighters: Attack the Block
Director: Joe Cornish
24 Beats Per Second: Love Shines
Director: Douglas Arrowsmith
Lone Star States: Building Hope
Director: Turk Pipkin
Excellence in Title Design: Blue Valentine
Designer: Jim Helton
Excellence in Poster Design: Green
Designer: Adrian Kolarczyk
Grand Jury Winner: Tiny Furniture
Director: Lena Dunham
Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble: Myth of the American Sleepover
Director: David Robert Mitchell
Special Jury Award for Best Individual Performance:
Brian Hasenfus
Film: Phillip the Fossil
Grand Jury Winner: Marwencol
Director: Jeff Malmberg
Special Jury Winner: War Don Don
Director: Rebecca Richman Cohen
Jury Award Winner: Cigarette Candy
Director: Lauren Wolkstein
Special Jury Award: Teleglobal Dreamin'
Director: Eric Flanagan
Jury Award Winner: Quadrangle
Director: Amy Grappell
Special Jury Award: White Lines and The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug
Director: Travis Senger
Jury Award Winner: The Orange
Director: Nick Fox-Gieg
Special Jury Award: One Square Mile of Earth
Director: Jeff Drew
Jury Award Winner: Night Mayor
Director: Guy Maddin
Special Jury Award: Kids Might Fly
Director: Alex Taylor
Jury Award Winner: Cinnamon Chasers - "Luv Deluxe"
Director: Saman Keshavarz
Special Jury Award: Grizzly Bear, "Forest"
Director: Allison Schulnik
Jury Award Winner: Petting Sharks
Director: Craig Elrod
Special Jury Award: The Big Bends
Director: Jason William Marlow
Jury Award Winner: Give the Dog a Bone
Director: Edward Kelley
Special Jury Award: The Sleep Project
Director: Whitney Bennett & Matthew Cunningham
Jury Award Winner: Feeder
Designer: Joseph Ernst
Special Jury Award: Amer
Designer: Gilles Vranckx
Special Jury Award: Equestrian Sexual Response
Designers: Martim Vian & Zeke Hawkins
Jury Award Winner: Zombieland
Designer: Ben Conrad
Special Jury Award: earthwork
Designer: Stan Herd
Special Jury Award: Enter the Void
Designer: Gaspar Noé and Tom Kam
SXSW Wholphin Award
Winner: Quadrangle
Director: Amy Grappell
SXSW Chicken & Egg Emergent Narrative Woman Director Award
Winner: Lena Dunham – Tiny Furniture
Special Award - The Chicken & Egg Pictures "We Believe in You" Award:
Winner: Martha Stephens – Passenger Pigeons
Narrative Feature Competition: Brotherhood
Director: Will Canon
Documentary Feature Competition: For Once in My Life
Director: Jim Bigham & Mark Moormann
Spotlight Premieres: Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission
Director: Mike Woolf
Visions: NY Export: Opus Jazz
Director: Jody Lee Lipes
Midnighters: Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
Director: Eli Craig
24 Beats Per Second: When You're Strange - a film about the Doors
Director: Tom DiCillo
Lone Star States: Thunder Soul
Director: Mark Landsman
Excellence in Title Design: earthwork
Designer: Stan Herd
Excellence in Poster Design: Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission
Designer: Michael Anderson
Grand Jury Winner: Made in China
Director: Judi Krant
Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble: That Evening Sun
Director: Scott Teems
Grand Jury Winner: 45365
Director: Bill Ross IV & Turner Ross
Special Jury Winner: The Way We Get By
Director: Aron Gaudet
Jury Award Winner: Thompson
Director: Jason Tippet
Special Jury Award: Happy 95 Birthday Grandpa
Director: Gary Huggins
Jury Award Winner: Shaman
Director: Luc Perez
Special Jury Award: Sweet Dreams
Director: Kirsten Lepore
Jury Award Winner: Cattle Call
Director: Matthew Rankin & Mike Maryniuk
Special Jury Award: The Idiot Stinks
Director: Helder Sun
Jury Award Winner: Thunderheist - “Jerk It”
Director: That Go-Noel Paul & Stefan Moore
Special Jury Award: Fleet Foxes, “White Winter Hymnal”
Director: Sean Pecknold
Jury Special Mention: New Pornographers, “Myriad Harbour”
Director: Fluorescent Hill
Jury Award Winner: Performance Evaluation
Director: Breannah Gibson
Special Jury Award: TIE
Film: Fresh Fruit
Director: Edward Kelley & Brenden Cicoria
AND
Film: A Hospital Bathroom
Director: Miguel Johnson
Special Judges' Award: Snake
Director: Becky James
Designer: Becky James & Lydia Corkin
Runner-up: Objectified
Director: Gary Hustwit
Designer: Michael C. Place, Build
Best in Show: The Dungeon Masters
Director: Keven Macalester
Designer: David Plunkert, Spur Design, LLC
SXSW Wholphin Award
Winner: Sister Wife
Director: Jill Orschel
SXSW Chicken & Egg Emergent Narrative Woman Director Award
Winner: Judi Krant – Made in China
Narrative Feature Competition: That Evening Sun
Director: Scott Teems
Documentary Feature Competition: MINE
Director: Geralyn Pezanoski
Visions: Motherland
Director: Jennifer Steinman
24 Beats Per Second: Iron Maiden: Flight 666
Directors: Scot McFadyen & Sam Dunn
Lone Star States: The Horse Boy
Director: Michel Orion Scott
Grand Jury Winner: Wellness
Director: Jake Mahaffy
Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble: Up With Me
Director: Greg Takoudes
Cast: Francisco Vicioso, Erika Rivera, Brandon Thorpe, Justin Coltrain, Destiny Waters, Bernice Velos, Matt Timms, Anthony Portillo, Reya Sehgal, Kabeer Parwani
Special Jury Award for Cinematography: Explicit Ills
Cinematographer: Patrice Cochet
Director: Mark Webber
Grand Jury Winner: They Killed Sister Doroth
Director: Daniel Junge
Special Jury Winner: Full Battle Rattle
Directors: Tony Gerber, Jesse Moss
Jury Award Winner: TIE
Film: Warlord
Director: David Garrett
AND
Film: Small Apartment
Director: Andrew T. Betzer
Special Jury Award: The Second Line
Director: John Magary
Jury Award Winner: Madame Tulti-Pulti
Directors: Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski
Special Jury Award: I hate you don’t touch me or Bat and Hat
Director: Becky James
Jury Award Winner: Safari
Director: Catherine Chalmers
Special Jury Award: Upwards March
Director: Kaveh Nabatian
Jury Award Winner: TV on the Radio - “Me-I”
Directors: Mixtape Club, Daniel Garcia
Special Jury Award: TIE
Film: Group Sounds, “Temporarily in Love”
Director: Randy Scott Slavin
AND
Film: Cornelius, “Fit Song”
Directors: Keigo Oyamada, Koichiro Tsujikawa
Jury Award Winner: Picnic
Director: Wesley Bronez
Special Jury Award: Inflections
Director: Matthew Campbell
SXSW Wholphin Award
Winner: Glory at Sea
Director: Benjamin Zeitlin
On Networks Greenlight Award
Best Original Production: The Guild
Director: Jane Selle Morgan
Best Original Series Idea: Knock Off Writer: Brandi-Ann Milbradt
Narrative Feature Competition: Explicit IIIs
Director: Mark Webber
Documentary Feature Competition: They Killed Sister Dorothy
Director: Daniel Junge
Emerging Visions: In a Dream
Director: Jeremiah Zagar
24 Beats Per Second: Throw Down Your Heart
Director: Sascha Paladino
Lone Star States: Cook County
Director: David Pomes
Grand Jury Winner: Itty Bitty Titty Committee
Director: Jamie Babbit
Special Jury Award: Orphans
Director: Ry Russo-Young
Special Jury Award: Frownland
Director Ronald Bronstein
Grand Jury Winner: Billy the Kid
Directors: Jennifer Venditti
Special Jury Award: Cat Dancers
Director: Harris Fishman
Special Jury Award: Audience of One
Director: Michael Jacobs
Jury Award Winner: Pop Foul
Director: Moon Molson
Special Jury Award: Clear Cut, Simple
Director: Vineet Dewan
Jury Award Winner: Tragic Story with a Happy Ending
Director: Regina Pessoa
Special Jury Award: One Rat Short
Director: Alex Weil
Jury Award Winner: Thom Yorke - "Harrowdown Hill"
Director: Chel White
Special Jury Award: Constantines - "Working Full-Time"
Director: Drew Lightfoot
Jury Award Winner: Murder for 9 Points
Director: Brandon Day
Special Jury Award: Daily Routine
Director: Adela Escobar
Narrative Feature Competition: Skills Like This
Director: Monty Miranda
Documentary Feature Competition: Run Granny Run
Director: Marlo Poras
Emerging Visions: The Price of Sugar
Director: Bill Haney
24 Beats Per Second: Dirty Country
Directors: Joe Pickett, Nick Prueher
Lone Star States: Inside the Circle
Director: Marcy Garriott
Grand Jury Winner: Live Free or Die
Directors: Andy Robin, Gregg Kavet
Special Jury Prize - Outstanding Ensemble Cast: AMERICANese
Director: Eric Byler
Special Jury Prize - Outstanding Visual Achievement: Inner Circle Line
Director: Eunhee Cho
Grand Jury Winner: Jam
Director: Mark Woollen
Special Jury Award: Maxed Out
Director: James D. Scurlock
Winner: Hiro
Director: Matthew Swanson
Runner Up: Shortstop
Directors: Risa Machuca, Fanny Veliz
Winner: The Wraith of Cobble Hill
Director: Adam Parrish King
Runner Up: Tall Tales & Other Big Lies
Director: Dano Johnson
Winner: TIE
Film: Sea Change
Directors: Joe King, Rose Pedlow
AND
Film: Marion
Director: Ry Russo-Young
Runner Up: Stadtplan
Director: Reynold Reynolds
Winner: Ralfe Band - "Women Of Japan"
Directors: Nigel Coan, Ivana Zorn
Runner Up: The Sad Little Stars - "Don’t Fuck With Love"
Directors: Rachel McIntosh, Jim Starace
Winner: Maikafer
Director: Chris Hergert
Runner Up: Weathered
Director: Elizabeth Mims
Winner: AMERICANese
Director: Eric Byler
Winner: Darkon
Directors: Scott Christopherson, Brad Barber
Winner: High Score
Director: Jeremy Mack
Runner Up: Manhattan, Kansas
Director: Tara Wray
Winner: Air Guitar Nation
Director: Alexandra Lipsitz
Runner Up: The Refugee All Stars
Directors: Zach Niles, Banker White
Winner: State VS Reed
Directors: Ryan Polomski, Frank Bustoz
Runner Up: Slam Planet: War of the Words
Directors: Mike Henry, Kyle Fuller
Grand Jury Winner: Hooligans
Director: Lexi Alexander
Runner Up: Cavite
Directors: Ian Gamazon, Neill Dela Llana
Grand Jury Winner: Cowboy Del Amor
Director: Michele Ohayon
Runner Up: The Boys of Baraka
Directors: Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady
Winner: The Raftman’s Razor
Director: Keith Bearden
Runner Up: All White People Are French
Director: Katja Straub
Winner: Orpheus & The Underworld
Director: Nathan Jurevicius
Runner Up: Elegy
Director: Nadine Takvorian
Winner: Badly Drawn Boy - "The Year of the Rat"
Director: Monkmus
Runner Up: Slipknot - "Vermillion"
Director: Tony Petrossian
Winner: Termination
Director: Paul Alvarado-Dykstra
Runner Up: Once and Future Asshole
Director: Spencer Parsons
Winner: Comic
Director: David McGinnis
First Runner Up: Working Students
Directors: Donna Marie Miller, Taylor McBride
Second Runner Up: Life of a Pencil
Director: David Vass
Winner: Hooligans
Director: Lexi Alexander
Runner Up: Waterborne
Director: Ben Rekhi
Winner: Cowboy Del Amor
Director: Michele Ohayon
Runner Up: The Boys of Baraka
Directors: Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady
Winner: The Puffy Chair
Director: Jay Duplass
Runner Up: Four Eyed Monsters
Directors: Arin Crumley, Susan Buice
Winner: The Education of Shelby Knox
Directors: Marion Lipschutz, Rose Rosenblatt
Runner Up: Troop 1500
Director: Ellen Spiro
Grand Jury Winner: Luck
Director: Peter Wellington
Special Jury Award: Mind the Gap
Director: Eric Schaeffer
Grand Jury Winner: A Hard Straight
Director: Goro Toshima
Special Jury Award: Witches In Exile
Director: Allison Berg
Winner: Gretchen and The Night Dange
Director: Steve Collins
Special Jury Award: 9:30
Director: Mun Chee Yong
Winner: Pan With Us
Director: David Russo
Special Jury Award: Subsidized Fate
Director: Lance Myers
Winner: dissolve
Director: Aaron Valdez
Special Jury Award: Roothold
Director: Eric Patrick
Winner: 54 Seconds - "Better?"
Director: Tracie Laymon
Runner Up: Dizzee Rascal - "Fix Up, Look Sharp"
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Winner: Underground
Directors: Aimee Lagos, Kristin Dehnert
First Runner Up: The Climactic Death of Dark Ninja
Director: Peter Craig
Second Runner Up: We Have Decided Not To Die
Director: Daniel Askill
Third Runner Up: Excursion
Director: Cris Jones
Winner: Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story
Director: Brant Sersen
Winner: A League of Ordinary Gentlemen
Director: Christopher Browne
Winner: The Naked Feminist
Director: Louisa Achille
Winner: Mojados: Through The Night
Director: Tommy Davis
Runner Up: A Few Good Dykes
Director: Mocha Jean Herrup
Grand Jury Winner: Sexless
Director: Alex Holdridge
Special Jury Award: Happy Here and Now
Director: Michael Almereyda
Grand Jury Winner: Flag Wars
Directors: Linda Goode Bryant, Laura Poitras
Special Jury Award: Jon E. Edwards Is in Love
Directors: Chris Bradley, Kyle La Brache
Winner: Mboutoukou
Directors: Victor Viyuoh, David Dill
Runner Up: Family Tree
Director: Vicky Jenson
Winner: Nutria
Director: Ted Gesing
Runner Up: The Ocularist
Director: Vance Malone
Winner: Intelligent Life
Director: Jeff Spoonhower
Runner Up: Stiltwalkers
Director: Sjaak Meilink
Winner: Ablution
Director: Eric Patrick
Runner Up: TIE
Film: Powwow
Director: Kristin Pepe
AND
Film: Post Mark Lick
Directors: Sonia Bridge, David Brown
Winner: Precarious Warehaus Dwellers - "Nutella and Gummi Bear Sandwich"
Director: David Zellner
Special Jury Recognition: Roy Davis and Thomas Bangalter - "Rock Shock"
Director: Joel Lava
Winner: Sexless
Director: Alex Holdridge
Winner: Melvin Goes to Dinner
Director: Bob Odenkirk
Winner: girlhood
Director: Liz Garbus
Winner: The Flute Player
Director: Jocelyn Glatzer
Grand Winner: Manito
Director: Eric Eason
Runner Up: The Misanthrope
Director: Allen Colombo
Grand Jury Winner: Spellbound
Director: Jeff Blitz
Runner Up: Escuela/School
Director: Hannah Weyer
Winner: For Our Man
Director: Kazuo Ohno
Runner Up: TIE
Film: Gym Short
Director: Doug Schachtel
AND
Film: Modern Daydreams: Islands In The Sky
Director: Mitchell Rose
Winner: In Between Days
Director: Lori Lovoy-Goran
Runner Up: Hazlo Por Cuba
Director: David Ellsworth
Winner: TIE
Film: Nougat
Directors: Tibor Szakaly, Bill Fiala
AND
Film: Interview With Spike Jonze
Director: Jonah Kaplan
Winner: Profiles In Science
Director: Wes Kim
Runner Up: TIE
Film: Populi
Director: David Russo
AND
Film: Vessel Wrestling
Director: Lisa Yu
Winner: N.EW Y.ORK C.ASINO
Director: Kyle Henry
Runner Up: Candide
Director: John Davis
Winner: Dandy Warhols - "Bohemian Like You"
Director: Courtney Taylor
Runner Up: Cornelius - "Drop"
Director: Koichi Tsujikawa
Winner: By Hook Or By Crook
Directors: Harry Dodge, Silas Howard
Winner: TIE
Film: Made-Up
Director: Tony Shalhoub
AND
Film: Modern Daydreams: Islands In The Sky
Director: Mitchell Rose
Winner: Mai’s America
Director: Marlo Poras
Winner: Lifetime Guarantee: Phranc’s Adventures In Plastic
Director: Lisa Udelson
Grand Jury Winner: Low Self Esteem Girl
Director: Blaine Thurier
Runner Up: The Zero
Director: John Ryman
Grand Jury Winner: Hybrid
Director: Monteith McCollum
Runner Up: TIE
Film: Arnato: A Love Affair With Opera
Director: Stephen Ives
AND
Film: Okie Noodling
Director: Bradley Beesley
Winner: Helicopter
Director: Ari Gold
Runner Up: TIE
Film: Cleave
Director: Hollie Lavenstein
AND
Film: Delusions In Modern Primitivism
Director: Daniel Loflin
Winner: Atomic Ed & The Black Hole
Director: Ellen Spiro
Runner Up: Hotel Jidajet
Director: Kelly Nathe
Winner: Sub!
Director: Jesse Schmal
Runner Up: Ramblin’ Man
Director: Aaron Augenblick
Winner: Insect
Director: Julian Dahl
Runner Up: Thermostat
Director: Kevin Everson
Winner: The Zeros
Director: John Ryman
Winner: The Journeyman
Director: ames Crowley
Winner: Okie Noodling
Director: Bradley Beesley
Winner: Los Trabajadores (The Workers)
Director: Heather Courtney
Winner: Tilsammans (Together)
Director: Lukas Moodysson
Winner: Supertroopers
Director: Jay Chandrasekhar
Winner: Wave Twisters
Directors: Syd Garon, Eric Henry
Winner: Ladyporn Directors: Maggie Carey, Elena Carr
Grand Jury Winner: TIE
Film: Rollercoaster
Director: Scott Smith
AND
Film: Wildflowers
Director: Melissa Painter
Winner: The Target Shoots First
Director: Chris Wilcha
Runners Up: TIE
Film: The Ballad Of Ramblin’ Jack
Director: Aiyana Elliot
AND
Film: Just, Melvin
Director: James Ronald Whitney
Winner: Five Feet High And Rising
Director: Peter Sollett
Winner: Kingdom Of Poet O
Director: Dennis Karsten
Winner: When The Day Breaks
Directors: Wendy Tilby, Amanda Forbis
Winner: The Drowning Room
Directors: Reynold Reynolds, Patrick Jolley
Winner: Lamb - "B-line"
Director: Hammer & Tong
Winner: Loving Jezebel
Director: Kwyn Bader
Winner: The Woman Chaser
Director: Robinson Devor
Winner: The Target Shoots First
Director: Chris Wilcha
Winner: Beyond The Mat
Director: Barry Blaustein
Winner: Outside Out
Director: Mike Gordon
Winner: Dark Days
Director: Marc Singer
Grand Jury Winner: La Ciudad
Director: David Riker
Runner Up: Drylongso
Director: Cauleen Smith
Grand Jury Winner: The Life And Times Of John C. Holmes
Director: Cass Paley
Runner Up: TIE
Film: Hill Stomp Hollar
Director: Bradley Beesley
AND
Film: Secret People
Director: John Anderson
Winner: Culture
Director: Ari Gold
Runner Up: TIE
Film: Mutiny
Director: Henry Griffin
AND
Film: Peep Show
Director: Charlie Call
Winner: The Last Guy To Let You Down
Director: Rolf Gibbs
Runner Up: Gimme Some Larry
Director: Elizabeth Sikes
Winner: More
Director: Mark Osborne
Runner Up: The Song About The Spirit Of Cheese
Director: Irina Smirnova
Winner: Seven Days Til Sunday
Directors: Reynold Reynolds, Patrick Jolley
Runner Up: 5 Seconds
Director: Eric Komoroff
The SXSW Film Festival program is always a rich trove of new and emerging film and series talent, edgy genre fare, crowd-pleasing headliners, world class documentaries and narratives, astounding XR projects and so much more.
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Actress Lupita Nyong'o and writer/director Jordan Peele attend the "Us" premiere during SXSW 2019. Photo by Ismael Quintinilla/Getty Images for SXSW.
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