Tier 3
Austin, Texas, United States
Last verified 12 June 2026
Founded in 1987, South by Southwest dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals through conferences and festivals.
National premiere required. Protect your premiere status before you submit, as it is a one-time resource.
South by Southwest Film Festival takes place in Austin, Texas, United States.
South by Southwest Film Festival is a legitimate, established film festival: it is listed in Circkit's curated, human-vetted festival database, which deliberately excludes known scam festivals and certificate mills. As with any festival, confirm the current deadline and fee on the official site before you pay. You can also run South by Southwest Film Festival through Circkit's free Scam Radar for an independent safety check.
Want an independent check? Run South by Southwest Film Festival through the free Scam Radar.
Read the guide
How to submit to SXSW
Eligibility, premiere rules, and how programmers actually decide, for filmmakers targeting South by Southwest Film Festival.
Circkit scores this festival against your film, protects your premiere, and tracks the deadline for you. Free to start.