The 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival officially returns to Austin, TX, from March 12–18, showcasing innovative storytelling from both emerging artists and industry veterans. This year, AFI Conservatory Alumni will debut an exciting slate of films and TV series and music videos, marking another milestone in their creative journeys. Join us in celebrating their achievements and the bold storytelling that continues to establish AFI graduates as leaders in the film and television industries.

HEADLINER

THEY WILL KILL YOU

-John Schoenfelder (AFI Class of 2000), Executive Producer

NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION 

BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY

-Maria Ines Manchego (AFI Class of 2016), Cinematographer

BRIAN

-Thomas Mahoney (AFI Class of 2008), Producer

-Alexander I. Rudolph (AFI Class of 2020), Associate Producer

-Anisha Acharya (AFI Class of 2014), Editor

-Edgar Lacey Rosa (AFI Class of 2014), Line Producer

-Mo Faraji (AFI Class of 2018), 1st Assistant Editor

-Rich Song (AFI Class of 2012), Post Production Supervisor

SENDER

-Gemma Lagna Doll-Grossman (AFI Class of 2019), Cinematographer

NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT

BASIC 

-Veronica Bouza (AFI Class of 2020), Cinematographer

CHILI FINGER

-Jo Henriquez (AFI Class of 2014), Producer

HE BLED NEON

-Tim Cairo (AFI Class of 2011), Writer

-Jake Gibson (AFI Class of 2011), Writer

KILL ME

-Brett Bachman (AFI Class of 2011), Editor

 PIZZA MOVIE

-Bella Gonzales (AFI Class of 2018), Cinematographer

POETIC LICENSE

-Jay Cassidy (AFI Class of 1976), Executive Producer/Editor

-Jeffrey Waldron (AFI Class of 2005), Cinematographer

THE SAVIORS

-Jon Keng (AFI Class of 2015), Cinematographer

-Ying-Te Julie Chen (AFI Class of 2014), Production Designer

SEEKERS OF INFINITE LOVE

-Tim Suhrstedt (AFI Class of 1976), Cinematographer

UGLY CRY

-Rhianon Jones (AFI Class of 2007), Producer

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

THE AI DOC: OR HOW I BECAME AN APOCALOPTIMIST

-Diane Becker (AFI Class of 2006), Producer

COOKIE QUEENS

-Antonio Cisneros (AFI Class of 2012), Cinematographer

JOYBUBBLES

-Rhianon Jones (AFI Class of 2007), Executive Producer

DOCUMENTARY SPOTLIGHT

FIRST THEY CAME FOR MY COLLEGE

-Sara Kinney (AFI Class of 2021), Cinematographer

SUMMER OF ’94

-Sara Bernstein (AFI Class of 1988), Writer

THE TRUTH AND TRAGEDY OF MORIAH WILSON

-Nick Higgins (AFI Class of 2002), Cinematographer

THE WAY WE MOVE

-Edouard Favier de Lachomette (AFI Class of 2013), Producer

MIDNIGHTER

GRIND

-Yaron Levy (AFI Class of 2000), Cinematographer

IMPOSTERS

-Allie Schultz (AFI Class of 2017), Cinematographer

NEVER AFTER DARK (Japan) (*WINNER AUDIENCE AWARD)

-Patrick Ouziel (AFI Class of 2017), Cinematographer

GLOBAL

MICKEY (Mexico) (*WINNER AUDIENCE AWARD)

-Joceline Hernandez (AFI Class of 2011), Producer

INDEPENDENT TV PILOT COMPETITION

ARE WE STILL MARRIED?

-Joachim Gautier (AFI Class of 2017), Co-producer

IN MY BLOOD (*WINNER INDEPENDENT TV PILOT COMPETITION)

-Mingjue Hu (AFI Class of 2023), Cinematographer

NARRATIVE SHORT COMPETITION

IMAGO

-Colt Kozal (AFI Class of 2023), Producer

VISITORS

-Ivano Pulito (AFI Class of 2016), Co-Producer

DOCUMENTARY SHORT COMPETITION

I GOT MY BROTHER (*WINNER AUDIENCE AWARD)

-Victor K. Gabriel (AFI Class of 2020), Director

-Robert Hunter (AFI Class of 2020), Cinematographer

MIDNIGHT SHORT COMPETITION

A STABLE MARRIAGE

-Cecilia Cereijido-Bloche (AFI Class of 2024), Associate Producer  

24 BEATS PER SECOND

NOAH KAHAN: OUT OF BODY

-James Adolphus (AFI Class of 2011), Cinematographer

THE RISE OF THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS: OUR BROTHER, HILLEL

-Jeffrey Powers (AFI Class of 2009), Cinematographer

Ranked one of the top film schools in the nation, the AFI Conservatory has over 50 years of history training filmmakers who have gone on to create award-winning and critically acclaimed films and television shows. Learn more at AFI.edu.