Australian filmmakers who are keen to use the 2016 SXSW Film Festival as a launching pad for features, documentaries and shorts have plenty of time to apply.
The “official” deadline for submissions is this Thursday October 1 US time but the final “late” deadline is Tuesday November 3.
“While hitting the official deadline will save you a bit of cash, we never want filmmakers to rush their films, as we will only consider the first cut submitted,” the organisers say.
“So take your time, decide which deadline is best for your film, and get your film in its best form before submitting.”
To be eligible for the 2016 edition which runs March 11-19 in Austin, Texas, films must have been completed in 2014, 2015 or be on track to be completed in early 2016.
Features may not be posted online or available for download or purchase on any platform, including VOD, digital download or DVD/Blu-ray.
Shorts can be available online without affecting their eligibility. As an Oscar qualifying festival for short films, the rules define a short film as anything that runs 40 minutes or less. A feature is defined as any film with a runtime over 40 minutes.
At SXSW this year Josh Lawson’s The Little Death had its US premiere while Yianni Warnock’s Happy with Bear and Tim Marshall’s Followers screened in the Narrative Shorts section and Northern Pictures/ SBS Online’s Cronulla Riots: The Day That Shocked the Nation, directed by Jaya Balendra, was a finalist for the Interactive Innovation Award for Visual Media Experience.
Here's how to apply: http://www.sxsw.com/film/festival/submit.