These are the Music Video eligibility requirements for SXSW:
Eligible — To be eligible for SXSW 2025, your project must have been completed in 2023, 2024 or be on track for completion in early 2025.
SXSW does not place any restrictions on the premiere status of music videos. The vast majority of music videos screened at SXSW will have premiered online prior to the festival. It’s important to note that only OFFICIAL ARTIST APPROVED Music Videos are eligible for SXSW.
"OFFICIAL ARTIST APPROVED" means that the music video should be the official music video for that song by that artist. As in, the artist and/or label commissioned the video and have approved its creation.
These are the SXSW Music Video Premiere Status Definitions:
World Premiere - Your project has:
- not screened theatrically in any country prior to SXSW, whether at a film festival or other ticketed, public theatrical exhibition
- not been broadcast or streamed on television in any country prior to SXSW
- not been available via the Internet for any period of time prior to SXSW
- not been released via any home video or other public distribution platform (Blu-ray, DVD, streaming, VOD, etc.) in any country prior to SXSW
International Premiere - Your project has:
- not screened theatrically outside of its country or countries of origin prior to SXSW, whether at a film festival or other ticketed, public theatrical exhibition
- not been broadcast or streamed on television in any country prior to SXSW
- not been available via the Internet for any period of time prior to SXSW
- not been released via any home video or other public distribution platform (Blu-ray, DVD, streaming, VOD, etc.) in any country prior to SXSW
North American Premiere - Your project has:
- not screened theatrically in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or any other North American territory prior to SXSW, whether at a film festival or other ticketed, public theatrical exhibition
- not been broadcast or streamed on television in any country prior to SXSW
- not been available via the Internet for any period of time prior to SXSW
- not been released via any home video or other public distribution platform (Blu-ray, DVD, streaming, VOD, etc.) in any country prior to SXSW
U.S. Premiere - Your project has:
- not screened theatrically in the U.S. prior to SXSW, whether at a film festival or other ticketed, public theatrical exhibition
- not been broadcast or streamed on television in any country prior to SXSW
- not been available via the Internet for any period of time prior to SXSW
- not been released via any home video or other public distribution platform (Blu-ray, DVD, streaming, VOD, etc.) in any country prior to SXSW
Texas Premiere - Your project has:
- not screened theatrically in Texas prior to SXSW, whether at a film festival or other ticketed, public theatrical exhibition
- not been broadcast or streamed on television in any country prior to SXSW
- not been available via the Internet for any period of time prior to SXSW
- not been released via any home video or other public distribution platform (Blu-ray, DVD, streaming, VOD, etc.) in any country prior to SXSW
Austin Premiere - Your project has:
- not screened theatrically in Austin prior to SXSW, whether at a film festival or other ticketed, public theatrical exhibition
- not been broadcast or streamed on television in any country prior to SXSW
- not been available via the Internet for any period of time prior to SXSW
- not been released via any home video or other public distribution platform (Blu-ray, DVD, streaming, VOD, etc.) in any country prior to SXSW
Not a Premiere - Your project has either:
- screened theatrically in Austin at a film festival prior to SXSW
- been released in a country other than the U.S. via television broadcast or theatrical screening before SXSW
- been broadcast or streamed on television
- been available publicly via the Internet
To submit your music video to SXSW, click here.