How to Submit a Film to SXSW

If you're an aspiring filmmaker, consider entering your film in the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival. Since 1994 this private company, which develops conferences and festivals in the entertainment and related media fields, has held the SXSW Film Festival. SXSW accepts film submissions in a few categories only during certain times of the year and in certain formats.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Check the SXSW website in August to find out how to apply to enter your film for consideration. Find out submission details prior to the November deadline.

2. Finish your film. SXSW doesn't accept works in progress. Your film must be complete to be considered for entry in the SXSW Film Festival. Make sure it falls into one of the categories the films are be screened in, which the SXSW website lists.

3. Put the film on a DVD. SXSW does not accept submissions sent via YouTube, MySpace, Quicktime or any other URL. Label the spine of the DVD case with the film's title.

4. Fill out the online application and send it along with the required entry fee, which you can pay by credit card. The fee is lower for shorts and slightly higher for feature films. Fees for both types of entries increase after the initial deadline.

5. Submit the film entry no later than the last deadline in December. The festival doesn't accept entries after this date. The initial deadline is in November.

Tips & Warnings

• Films under 40 minutes are considered shorts.
• Enter your film into one category only. If you think the film fits into more than one category, choose a single category and submit it in that one.
• Registration rates for SXSW are cheaper for filmmakers with accepted submissions. Wait to hear back from SXSW whether your film has been accepted before registering for the festival.
• Check the website for accepted film formats every year. This may change year to year. For SXSW 2007, films on 35mm and HDCam were accepted; for SXSW 2008, only DVDs are acceptable.
• Send your film to the post office box address, not the street address, as SXSW prefers to receive the films at their P.O. box.
• Don't send your only copy of your film. SXSW does not return materials.

Resources

• Get details about the 2008 SXSW competition here.