The South by Southwest film festival, launched in Austin, Texas in 1994, is one of the buzziest film festivals on the calendar for independent filmmakers from around the world to showcase their movies.
SXSW was born as a music festival in March 1987 and has grown from 700 registrants to more than 161,000 attendees in 2018 making it one of the most successful festivals in the United States.
The fest handed out its first award for the Narrative Feature Competition in 1999 to director David Riker’s film La Cuidad (The City) featuring Anthony Rivera, Joseph Rigano and Miguel Maldonado. Since then it has showcased quirky films that have gone on to win the coveted award. Winners include The Fallout (2021); Shithouse (2020); Thunder Road (2018); Krisha (2015) and Tiny Furniture (2010).
Scroll through the photo gallery for all the SXSW Narrative Feature Competition Grand Jury Award winners.
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I LOVE MY DAD, 2022
Image Credit: Magnolia Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection Dir. James Morosini, starring Patton Oswalt and James Morosini.
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THE FALLOUT, 2021
Image Credit: Warner Bros. /Courtesy Everett Collection Dir. Megan Park, starring Maddie Ziegler and Jenna Ortega.
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SHITHOUSE, 2020
Image Credit: IFC Films / Courtesy Everett Collection Dir. Cooper Raiff, starring Dylan Gelula and Cooper Raiff.
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ALICE, 2019
Image Credit: Visit Films / Courtesy Everett Collection Dir. Josephine Mackerras, starring Emilie Piponnier, Martin Swabey and Chloé Boreham.
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THUNDER ROAD, 2018
Image Credit: The 10 East /Courtesy Everett Collection Dir. Jim Cummings, starring Jim Cummings, Kendal Farr and Nican Robinson.
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MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND, 2017
Image Credit: Samuel Goldwyn Films/courtesy Everett Collection Dir. Ana Asensio, starring Ana Asensio, Natasha Romanova and David Little.
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THE ARBALEST, 2016
Image Credit: Fake Wood Wallpaper Dir. Adam Pinney, starring Mike Brune, Tallie Medel and Matthew Stanton.
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KRISHA, 2015
Image Credit: A24 / courtesy Everett Collection Dir. Trey Edward Shults, starring Krisha Fairchild.
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FORT TILDEN, 2014
Image Credit: Orion Releasing / courtesy Everett Collection Dir. Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers, starring Clare McNulty and Bridey Elliott.
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SHORT TERM 12, 2013
Image Credit: Cinedigm/courtesy Everett Collection Dir. Destin Daniel Cretton, starring Brie Larson and Keith Stanfield.
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GIMME THE LOOT, 2012
Image Credit: Everett Collection Dir. Adam Leon, starring Tashiana Washington and Ty Hickson.
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NATURAL SELECTION, 2011
Image Credit: Cinema Guild/courtesy Everett Collection Dir. Robbie Pickering, starring Matt O’Leary and Rachael Harris.
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TINY FURNITURE, 2010
Image Credit: IFC/Courtesy Everett Collection Dir. Lena Dunham starring Laurie Simmons and Lena Dunham.
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MADE IN CHINA, 2009
Image Credit: Beachwood Pictures Dir. Judi Krant, starring Bronwyn Cornelius, Deng Juan and Jackson Kuehn.
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WELLNESS, 2008
Image Credit: Everett Collection Dir. Jake Mahaffy, starring Paul Mahaffy and Jeff Clark.
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ITTY BITTY TITTY COMMITTEE, 2007
Image Credit: Power Up Films Dir. Jamie Babbit, starring Melonie Diaz, Ana Mercedes and Cecile Rivore.
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LIVE FREE OR DIE, 2006
Image Credit: Film/Courtesy Everett Collection Dir. Andy Robin, Gregg Kavet, starring Zooey Deschanel, Paul Schneider, Aaron Stanford and Judah Friedlander.
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GREEN STREET HOOLIGANS, (a.k.a. HOOLIGANS), (aka GREEN STREET), 2005
Image Credit: Freestyle Releasing/Everett Collection Dir. Lexi Alexander, starring Terrence Jay (far left), Kieran Bew, Charlie Hunnam (4th from left), Elijah Wood, Ross McCall and Rafe Spall.
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LUCK, 2004
Image Credit: The Film Farm Dir. Peter Wellington, starring Luke Kirby, Sarah Polley and Noam Jenkins.
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SEXLESS, 2023
Image Credit: Everett Collection Dir. Alex Holdridge, starring Alex Holdridge, Brian McGuire and Kelly Dealyn.
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MANITO, 2002
Image Credit: Everett Collection Dir. Eric Eason, starring Leo Minaya, Jessica Morales and Franky G.
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THE LOW ESTEEM GIRL, 2001
Image Credit: The Blue Curtain Productions Inc. Dir, Blaine Thurier, starring Corrina Hammond, Rob McBeth and Ted Dave.
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WILDFLOWERS, 2000 (TIE)
Image Credit: Fries Film Group/courtesy Everett Collection Dir. Melissa Painter, starring Daryl Hannah, Clea DuVall and Tomas Arana.
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ROLLERCOASTER, 2000 (TIE)
Image Credit: British Columbia Film Commission Dir. Scott Smith, starring Brendan Fletcher, Birkett Turton, Crystal Bublé.
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LA CUIDAD (THE CITY), 1999
Image Credit: Journeyman Pictures Dir. David Riker, starring Anthony Rivera, Joseph Rigano and Miguel Maldonado.
