Deadline update — October 3
The October 1 final deadline has passed. SXSW's public information still identifies October 1 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time as the end of the 2027 Film & TV Festival submission window. Applicants should not assume a late entry will be accepted unless SXSW confirms it directly.
Submissions for the 2027 SXSW Film & TV Festival are now scheduled to be closed. The festival is set for March 15–21, 2027, in Austin.
For people who submitted on time, the next job is recordkeeping: save the confirmation, keep the screening link active, and watch the email address attached to the application.
Featured photo: Elijah Flores, via Wikimedia Commons, dedicated to the public domain under CC0 1.0. The image is illustrative and is not connected to SXSW.
Why it matters
After a major-festival deadline, a broken screener or forgotten password can create a preventable problem. Submitters should preserve the exact link, credentials, contact information, and version they sent rather than treating the application as finished paperwork.
What applicants should do now
- Save the confirmation email, receipt, and a copy of the submitted information.
- Keep the screening link and password working through March 2027.
- Test the screener in a private browser window without relying on an existing login.
- Monitor the application email address and spam folder.
- Contact SXSW directly if a required link or password must change.
What happens next
SXSW says applicants should receive confirmation within 48 hours of submission and will be notified of their status no later than February 9, 2027. A submission remains subject to the festival's category, eligibility, and premiere rules.
The closed categories covered feature films, short films, music videos, television projects, and XR experiences. This article no longer presents October 1 as an upcoming opportunity.
Update note
Published September 24 and updated October 3, 2026, after the scheduled final deadline passed. Spotlight News will update this article if SXSW announces another official submission window.
Deadline-day update — October 1
SXSW's official submission page still lists today as the final deadline for 2027 Film & TV Festival entries. Applications close at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Submitters should verify the live portal, fee, screening link, and category rules before paying.
Filmmakers planning to submit a feature, short, music video, television project, or XR experience to the 2027 SXSW Film & TV Festival have until Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
The festival is scheduled for March 15–21, 2027, in Austin. The October date is the final deadline, and final-round application fees apply.
Featured photo: Elijah Flores, via Wikimedia Commons, dedicated to the public domain under CC0 1.0. The image is illustrative and is not connected to SXSW.
Why it matters
A major-festival deadline can affect a film's premiere strategy, delivery calendar, and submission budget. The useful question is not simply whether a cut exists, but whether it is the strongest version the festival will see: SXSW says it reviews the first submitted cut and will not re-watch a more complete replacement.
What can be submitted
SXSW lists five submission paths for 2027: feature films, short films, music videos, television projects, and XR experiences. Narrative, documentary, and animated work is accepted in the applicable film categories.
The official feature application says eligible work must have been completed in 2025 or 2026, or be on track for completion in early 2027. Filmmakers should confirm the detailed eligibility and premiere-status rules for their category before paying a fee.
Before you press submit
- Upload the most complete version you want programmers to evaluate.
- Use a secure online screening link—not a trailer—and test it in a private browser window.
- Keep the link and any password working through March 2027.
- Verify credits, runtime, contact information, and category selection.
- Review the final fee and the category-specific rules on the official application page.
SXSW says applicants should receive a confirmation email within 48 hours and will be notified of their status no later than February 9, 2027. Saving the confirmation and a copy of the submitted information can prevent confusion later.
Update note
Published September 24 and checked again October 1, 2026, using SXSW's live submission and support pages. Applicants should confirm the live portal before paying or submitting.