Austin, Texas – The 2025 SXSW Film and TV Festival’s grand jury awarded its top narrative prize to “Slanted,” a provocative film directed by Amy Wang. This year’s festival held in Austin highlighted groundbreaking works that push cinematic boundaries, but it was “Slanted” that caught the jury’s eye for its daring exploration of race and identity through a satirical lens.
“Slanted” delves into the life of Joan Huang, a high school senior who participates in an experimental procedure to change her race as part of a desperate bid to fit in and clinch the title of Prom Queen. The film navigates through themes of racial identity and the extreme lengths individuals go to in order to conform with societal pressures.
The jury, comprised of notable critics including Clayton Davis from Variety, Rebecca Ford from Vanity Fair, and Ryan Lattanzio from IndieWire, praised the film for its intense narrative and the strong performances delivered by the cast. The jurors highlighted that while the film addresses the specific experiences of Asian Americans, its underlying message about the agonizing need for acceptance has universal resonance.
The narrative competition also recognized standout performances and achievements in other entries. Special jury awards were given to Annapurna Sriram for “Fucktoys” and Amanda Peet for “Fantasy Life,” celebrating their roles in multihyphenate talents and acting, respectively.
Another highlight from the festival includes Benjamin Flaherty’s “Shuffle,” a film that tracks the plight of three individuals caught in a relentless and exploitative cycle of addiction treatment fueled by the insurance industry.
The films presented at this year’s SXSW festival continued to challenge audiences with their unflinching narratives and innovative storytelling techniques, setting a high bar for future film and television productions.
In the landscape of rapidly evolving social themes in cinema, “Slanted” represents a bold step forward in discussing race and identity. As audiences and critics continue to reflect on the impact of these films, it is clear that the filmmakers at SXSW are not shying away from tough conversations.Our current cinematic landscape suggests a promising future where film can serve as both a mirror and a catalyst for critical societal changes.
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