The SXSW Film & TV Festival, an influential platform for creative minds in the entertainment industry, is set to unveil its awards at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. The ceremony, a crucial event on the film festival calendar, will be broadcasted live on Instagram, with a full list of winners to be announced shortly after on the SXSW official website.
SXSW is recognized as an official qualifying festival for the Academy Awards Short Film competition, which underscores its significance in the entertainment landscape. Winners of the Best Animated, Best Narrative, and Best Documentary Short Film at SXSW are automatically eligible for consideration at the Oscars. Additionally, any British Short Film or Animation featured at SXSW may qualify for a BAFTA nomination, enhancing the festival’s role as a critical stepping stone for filmmakers aiming for the highest accolades in cinema.
The festival has announced an esteemed panel of jurors for this year’s competitions across various categories including Narrative Features, Documentary Features, and more. The jurors are tasked with evaluating entries in a diverse array of competitions such as Narrative and Documentary Features, Shorts Programs, Music Videos, Poster Design, and XR competitions.
In the Narrative Feature category, jurors include Clayton Davis, the Senior Awards Editor at Variety and a two-time Emmy-nominated host; Rebecca Ford, Senior Awards Correspondent at Vanity Fair; and Ryan Lattanzio, Deputy Editor of Film at IndieWire. Their collective experience and insight into film critique and journalism are expected to enrich the adjudication process.
The Documentary Feature section will be judged by Tim Grierson, Senior U.S. Critic for Screen International; Aisha Harris, an NPR culture critic and podcast co-host; and Jen Yamato, a freelance journalist whose critiques are regularly featured in the Washington Post. Their broad expertise in critique across multiple platforms sets a high bar for documentary filmmakers entering the competition.
Other jurors across different categories include Amy Beecroft from Verve Ventures, Jaycie Luo from MRC, and Sara Diya Rastogi from HOORAE in the Narrative Shorts Jury; Christina Lee Storm who leads in storytelling and new technologies, Caspar Sonnen founder of IDFA DocLab, and Diana Williams CEO of Kinetic Energy Entertainment in the XR Jury. Their backgrounds showcase a blend of independent film expertise and cutting-edge entertainment technology.
Among those judging Music Videos and Poster Design are well-known industry names like Britt Daniel, co-founder of the band Spoon, known for its enduring influence on the music scene; Yen Tan, a celebrated graphic designer and filmmaker; along with Zuzu, an Austin-based visual artist who pioneers creative collaborations through her production house, Pink Hair Productions.
Specialized juries such as the Texas Shorts jury spotlight regional talent, with judges Megan Creydt of Texas Monthly, James Faust from Dallas Film Society, and Michael Garcia, a seasoned producer with extensive experience in television series production.
Each juror brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective, promising a thorough and exciting evaluation of this year’s submissions. By assembling such a diverse and accomplished group of industry experts, SXSW continues to highlight its dedication to fostering creative talent across all aspects of film and multimedia entertainment.
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