About Screen Festival submissions for SXSW Sydney 2023

Entries for the SXSW Sydney 2023 Screen Festival open on 18 January 2023. SXSW Sydney only accepts submissions via our website – you can start the submission process here.

SXSW Sydney requires all projects to be submitted digitally, via URL link. If you change this link without contacting SXSW Sydney, your submission may become ineligible for consideration.

• Your submission link must be to a secure, online version of your film via an external site (i.e. your own website, Vimeo, etc.) and must be working before you submit your application.
• If you submit a project which contains dialogue in a language other than English, please include English subtitles.
• Please do not send physical copies (e.g. DVD, Blu-Ray) as physical media will not be considered.

For more information visit our SXSW Sydney 2023 Screen Festival submissions page. Once you’ve read through that information, submit your film or project!

• Feature Film: over 40 mins.
• Episodic/TV: no time restrictions on Episodic submissions.
• Short Film: under 40 mins.
• Music video: must be under 10 minutes in length.
• XR Experience: no time restrictions.

• Submission Open: 09:00AM AEDT, Wednesday 18 January 2023.
• Final Deadline: 11.59PM AEDT, Sunday 14 May 2023.

You must submit a link to your project at the time of making your submission. Please send your project in its most complete and finished form. SXSW Sydney cannot accept cuts of more complete versions after your submission has been made; we will only review the version you submitted first as part of your completed application.

The premiere status of your submission is an important factor. However, it is not absolute. All things being equal, a higher premiere status will get the spot. Premiere requirements will vary by screening section.

SXSW Sydney recognises the following premiere statuses:

• World Premiere: your submission has never screened before, online or at a physical festival or cinema.
• Australian Premiere: your submission has* screened outside of Australia.
• Sydney / NSW Premiere: your submission has* screened in Australia, but not in Sydney or the State of NSW in Australia.
• Not a premiere: your submission has* screened in Sydney or the State of NSW in Australia.

*Already has or will have by October 2023.

SXSW Sydney does not place any restrictions on the premiere status of music videos. We recognise that the vast majority of music videos screened at SXSW Sydney 2023 will have premiered online prior to the festival.

It’s important to note that only OFFICIAL ARTIST APPROVED music videos are eligible for SXSW Sydney, meaning that the music video should be the official music video for that song by that artist, that is, the artist and/or label commissioned the video and have approved the creation. SXSW Sydney will require proof of approval if your music video is selected.

• Features: $95.00, including GST
• Shorts / Music Videos / XR / Episodic: $55.00, including GST

Unfortunately not.

Information about our policies regarding refunds and use of credentials can be found here in our terms and conditions. Please make sure to read and understand these before making any purchases.

No. SXSW Sydney cannot accept any materials regarding submissions outside of the official SXSW Sydney Screen Festival submissions platform. Unfortunately, we receive too many submissions to accept stills, trailers, EPKs or other assets. Additionally, our audience will only be seeing your project, so our team makes its programming decisions based on the work itself.

Aligning with our goal to make SXSW Sydney a green event, we also request that you do not send any physical media kits, photos or any other extraneous material.

You will receive three emails from SXSW Sydney after successfully making your submission:

1. Receipt for your SXSW Sydney Screen Festival submission fee.
2. Submission confirmation — email confirmation that SXSW Sydney has received your submission within 24 hours of you making it through our Screen Festival submissions portal. If you do not receive this within 24 hours, please email screenfest@sxswsydney.com to ensure your submission has been received and is under consideration.
3. Screen Festival decision — it takes several months for the SXSW Sydney programming team to finalise the selection process. SXSW Sydney will send notifications beginning mid 2023. All applicants will be informed of their submissions’ status no later than 1 Sept, 2023.

A submission is a request to be considered for a screening slot at the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival. A Screen Badge is a credential that allows the holder to attend SXSW Sydney events.

You do not need to purchase a badge to make a Screen Festival submission. All Screen Festival applications, whether their submissions are accepted or not, will be able to buy a badge to attend SXSW Sydney at the lowest rate after notification of status, if they choose to do so. If you buy a badge at a higher rate or decide not to attend if you are not offered a showcase, refunds are not available.

We will require a DCP (Digital Cinema Package) file for exhibition playback at all SXSW Sydney Screen Festival events. A backup format may be required in addition to the DCP. You can email screenfest@sxswsydney.com for further questions concerning exhibition playback.

All XR Experiences accepted as part of the festival may be required to provide their preferred supported devices and additional technical support for the duration of the exhibition during SXSW Sydney 2023. Please email screenfest@sxswsydney.com if you have any further questions.

No. SXSW Sydney provides a limited number of complimentary SXSW Sydney Screen badges for applicants whose projects are accepted into the SXSW Sydney 2023 Screen Festival. Successful applicants must cover their own travel and accommodation costs and will not be compensated monetarily.

Opportunities for filmmakers and screen creatives do not stop at screenings. The SXSW Sydney 2023 Conference offers informative panels, mentor sessions, artist and industry leader interviews, attendee lounges and parties, endless opportunities to network, and more. As a SXSW Sydney 2023 Screen Festival applicant, if you are not offered a showcase, you can purchase a SXSW Sydney 2023 Badge at the lowest rate and access the many benefits of SXSW Sydney.
Email screenfest@sxswsydney.com for questions.

If selected for the SXSW Sydney 2023 Screen festival, each film will receive two SXSW Sydney Filmmaker Accreditations.
Each successful team also has an option to purchase additional discounted SXSW Sydney 2023 Screen badges at the early bird price.

The SXSW Sydney 2023 Filmmaker accreditation provides you with the opportunity to make the most of SXSW Sydney 2023 by providing the same access as a SXSW Sydney 2023 Screen badge PLUS access to the offical SXSW Sydney filmmakers lounge.

Enjoy primary access to:

• Conference Keynotes
• Conference Panels and Featured Sessions
• SXSW Sydney Tech & Innovation Expo
• Screen Festival Screenings and Events
• Screen Festival Exclusive Premieres
• Screen Industry Workshops and Mentor Sessions
• Screen Industry Meet-ups, Networking Events and Parties
• Screen Industry Showcases, Launches and Exclusive Events

And secondary access to all other activities across the week, including:

• Tech Industry Meet-ups, Networking Events and Parties
• Tech Industry Showcases, Launches and Exclusive Events
• Startup Pitch
• Games Ex
• Games Festival
• Games Industry Meet-ups, Networking Events and Parties
• Games Industry Showcases, Launches and Exclusive Events
• Music Festival Shows and Events
• Music Industry Meet-ups, Networking Events and Parties
• Music Industry Showcases, Launches and Exclusive Events

We recommend booking your hotel rooms as soon as you receive your acceptance.

Please send your film in the most complete and finished form possible. While SXSW Sydney does accept work-in progress cuts, we will not consider more complete versions after your application has been submitted. Note that work-in-progress cuts must be at picture lock; temporary sound or colour is acceptable.

As part of your application, you will be asked to provide a list of incomplete elements, which should include detail on the state of your work’s colour-correction, sound mix, special effects, etc.

To reiterate: SXSW Sydney will only review the first submitted cut. Please do not submit trailers, screenplays, press kits, or anything else in lieu of a completed (or near-completed) film.