Happening This Week • March 12–18, 2026
South by Southwest • Austin, Texas

SXSW Film & TV Festival

Grand Jury Prize • est. 1994 • 33rd Edition in 2026

Austin’s annual convergence of film, TV, music, and technology. The premier launch platform for independent cinema — where Get Out, Whiplash, and Napoleon Dynamite all had their first moments.

1994
First film edition
33rd
2026 edition
March
Held annually
Austin
Texas
Now
2026
In Progress • March 12–18

33rd SXSW Film & TV Festival

Opening night film: I Love Boosters (Boots Riley). Opening Night TV: Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer). Grand Jury winners announced March 17–18.

Full 2026 Guide →
SXSW Discovery Engine

Films that premiered at SXSW and went on to define their era.

Get Out
2017 • Jordan Peele
Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. $255M worldwide on a $4.5M budget.
Whiplash
2014 • Damien Chazelle
Grand Jury Prize winner. 5 Oscar nominations, 3 wins including Best Film Editing.
Napoleon Dynamite
2004 • Jared Hess
Audience Award winner. $46M worldwide on a $400K budget.
Knives Out
2019 • Rian Johnson
World premiere. $311M worldwide. Spawned a major franchise.
The Cabin in the Woods
2012 • Drew Goddard
Midnight screening. Became a defining work of modern horror.
Swiss Army Man
2016 • Daniels
Grand Jury Prize. The film that launched the directors of Everything Everywhere All at Once.
It Follows
2015 • David Robert Mitchell
Broke out of Midnight to become one of the most influential horror films of the decade.
Thunder Road
2018 • Jim Cummings
Grand Jury Prize winner. Shot in one take as a short, expanded into a feature.
Coverage by Year
2020s
2026 ★ 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020
2010s
2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010
2000s
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
1990s
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
Grand Jury Prize Winners
Year Narrative Feature Documentary Feature
2026 TBA — March 17–18 TBA — March 17–18
2025 SlantedAmy Wang ShuffleBenjamin Flaherty
2024 Bob Trevino Likes ItTracie Laymon Grand Theft HamletSam Crane & Pinny Grylls
2023 Raging GraceParis Zarcilla Angel ApplicantKen August Meyer
2022 I Love My DadJames Morosini Master of LightRosa Ruth Boesten
2021 The FalloutMegan Park Lily Topples the WorldJeremy Workman
2020 ShithouseCooper Raiff An Elephant in the RoomKatrine Philp
2019 AliceJosephine Mackerras For SamaWaad al-Kateab & Edward Watts
2018 Thunder RoadJim Cummings People’s Republic of DesireHao Wu
2017 Most Beautiful IslandAna Asensio The WorkJairus McLeary & Gethin Aldous
2016 The ArbalestAdam Pinney TowerKeith Maitland
2015 KrishaTrey Edward Shults Peace OfficerScott Christopherson & Brad Barber