The 2025 SXSW TV & Film Festival is set to once again ignite Austin, Texas, with its signature blend of boundary-pushing cinema, groundbreaking television premieres, and dynamic industry conversations. Known for championing bold storytelling and fresh voices, SXSW has long been a launchpad for innovative projects that shape the cultural landscape.
This year’s festival promises an exciting lineup of high-profile premieres, indie gems, and thought-provoking documentaries, alongside immersive experiences and panel discussions featuring some of the biggest names in entertainment. As streaming and theatrical landscapes continue to evolve, SXSW 2025 stands at the forefront, offering a glimpse into the future of storytelling across screens both big and small. Whether you’re a filmmaker, critic, or fan, SXSW remains the ultimate destination for discovering what’s next in film and television. Here’s a selection of must-see films and TV shows to check out at the festival while you’re in Austin.
$POSITIONS
$Positions, directed by Brandon Daley, is a darkly comedic, anxiety-fueled exploration of financial desperation and addiction in the digital age. The film follows blue-collar Midwesterner Mike Alvarado (Mike Kunicki), who, in a bid to lift his family out of poverty, recklessly pours their savings into speculative cryptocurrency investments. What starts as a hopeful gamble quickly spirals into a full-blown addiction, driving Mike into a frenzied nightmare of financial ruin, paranoia, and self-destruction. As his obsession consumes him, his relationships with his girlfriend, his developmentally disabled brother, and his recovering addict cousin begin to crumble. Prepare to yell at Mike through this journey, as you endure this wild ride with him as the passenger to a vehicle he’s driving that is going way off-course. Humor, heart-inducing panic and learning about the nature of human desperation sums up the experiences of what this film will bring.
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BOXCUTTER
This Toronto-based gem directed by Reza Dahya, is a high-energy drama about ambition, self-doubt, and the pursuit of artistic validation. The film follows Rome (Ashton James), a talented but insecure aspiring rapper who refuses to share his music without a celebrity endorsement. When he learns that legendary producer Richie Hill (Rich Kidd) is making an appearance in Toronto’s Queen Street West, Rome sees it as his golden opportunity — until disaster strikes. A break-in at his apartment leaves him without the only copy of his album, forcing him into a frantic race against time. With the help of his activist-artist friend Jenaya (Zoe Lewis), Rome embarks on a determined mission to track down his four producers and rebuild the album before the life-changing event. Boxcutter is a gripping story of self-belief and it captures the hustle, setbacks, and triumphs of chasing a dream in the modern music industry. This is worth checking out if you enjoy stories of resilience.
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ASSEMBLY
Artist Rashaad Newsome, whose groundbreaking project Being (the Digital Griot) premiered at Sundance, comes to SXSW with his debut documentary feature Assembly, co-directed with Johnny Symons. A visually stunning and thought-provoking cinematic journey that reimagines art as a tool for resistance and community-building. Set within a former military facility transformed into a radical utopia, the film follows Newsome as he creates an immersive exhibition featuring dancers, musicians, poets, and a non-binary AI named Being.
Through electrifying performances and decolonization workshops, Assembly delves into themes of Black and queer identity, systemic oppression, and resilience. The film spotlights the power of collective creativity, with performances honoring Black trans women, the Black queer community’s response to the AIDS crisis, and vogue fem as a global art form. As artists confront marginalization through movement, music, and storytelling, Assembly becomes both a celebration of artistic expression and a call for liberation, showing how art can forge solidarity and inspire change. If you enjoy the intersection of activism with technology, keep this one on your shortlist.
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COTTON CANDY BUBBLE GUM
If you’re looking for an over-the-top comedy that’s sure to make you laugh then be sure to check out Cotton Candy Bubble Gum. Directed by J Pinder, this SXSW selection is an absurdly hilarious coming-of-age comedy about one young man’s disastrous attempt at proving his independence. Carter (Nick Darnell), a 21-year-old mama’s boy still living at home, finds himself in a race against time after his mom gets engaged to a ruthless cop who wants him out of the house. His only hope? Securing a paid promotion at his internship by the end of the day.
But his boss hands him a near-impossible to-do list: get his Jeep detailed (it gets towed), babysit his teenage son (he loses the kid), set up his birthday party (a model overdoses on the floor), and retrieve a compromising sex tape (which leads to a world-famous rapper kidnapping his best friend). As the day spirals further into chaos, Carter must navigate one outrageous disaster after another, proving whether he’s ready for the real world or doomed to remain under his mother’s roof forever. Packed with wild mishaps, sharp humor, and unexpected heart, Cotton Candy Bubble Gum is a wildly entertaining ride.
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THE DUTCHMAN
Any movie with Andre Holland in it at a film festival, is one you have to place on your shortlist and The Dutchman is no exception. Directed by Andre Gaines, the film is a gripping psychological thriller that reimagines Amiri Baraka’s 1964 Obie Award-winning play of the same name for a modern audience. Andre Holland plays Clay, a successful yet deeply troubled Black businessman, who is struggling to repair his fractured marriage through therapy with his wife, Kaya (Zazie Beetz). However, their enigmatic therapist (Stephen McKinley Henderson) begins to appear outside of their sessions in unsettling ways, hinting at a deeper mystery.
Clay’s reality takes a darker turn when he encounters Lula (Kate Mara), a seductive yet menacing white woman, on a New York subway train. As their conversation unfolds, Lula slowly dismantles Clay’s sense of self, pulling him into a dangerous psychological game that threatens his identity, sanity, and even his life. To survive the night and return to his wife, Clay must unravel the truth behind this encounter while confronting the racial and existential tensions that haunt him.
With a contemporary spin and a gritty take, The Dutchman remains a searing examination of race, power, and identity in America, delivering a tense and provocative cinematic journey. This is a film that will leave viewers unpacking dense conversations around what they just experienced.
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THE INFINITE HUSK
The Infinite Husk, directed by Aaron Silverstein, is a sci-fi drama that explores exile, identity, and the nature of humanity through the eyes of an alien outsider.
Vel committed an unspeakable act, one so taboo that she was cast out from her people and banished to Earth. Her only shot at redemption? A near-impossible mission: infiltrate the life of another exiled alien, uncover his secret research, and report back. But there’s a catch, Vel must navigate this world trapped inside a human body, experiencing firsthand the beauty and pain of human existence.
Thrown into the vast sprawl of Los Angeles, Vel’s journey becomes more than just espionage. As she adapts to her new form, she begins to understand the complexities of emotion, connection, and desire. Meanwhile, her target is playing a dangerous game of his own, pushing the boundaries of science in ways that could change everything.
A cerebral, emotionally charged sci-fi tale, The Infinite Husk blends espionage with existential discovery, questioning what it truly means to be human. If you’re interested in out-of-this-world storytelling this is worth checking out.
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GOVERNMENT CHEESE
Government Cheese is under the TV premiere category at SXSW Film & TV Festival. The Apple TV+ series is a fantastical comedy about a family set in the vibrant, dream-chasing world of 1969 San Fernando Valley. The film follows the Chambers family, an eccentric yet determined group relentlessly pursuing their ambitions, blissfully detached from the harsh constraints of reality.
When Hampton Chambers (David Oyelowo) is released from prison, he anticipates a joyous reunion with his wife, Astoria (Simone Missick), and their sons, Einstein (Evan Ellison) and Harrison (Jahi Di’Allo Winston). However, during his absence, his family has formed an unconventional dynamic of their own, and his sudden return sends their world into chaos.
Blending sharp comedy with surrealist storytelling, Government Cheese explores themes of family, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem. With showrunners Paul Hunter and Aeysha Carr at the helm, and an impressive lineup of executive producers that include Hunter, Carr, Oyelowo, Charles D. King, Jelani Johnson, and Ali Brown — the film delivers a unique, offbeat take on the meaning of family and belonging. The 10-episode series will debut its first 4 episodes on Apple TV+.
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SEEN & HEARD
Another selection in the TV category is the HBO docuseries Seen & Heard. Directed by Giselle Bailey, Phil Bertelsen and executive produced by Issa Rae, the two-part documentary chronicles the evolution of Black representation in television. Through a dynamic, time-traveling narrative, the film weaves a rich, ever-changing landscape of Black talent — from the fight to be seen on screen to the power of being heard behind the scenes.
Exploring the profound impact of Black creatives on today’s Golden Age of Black television, Seen & Heard highlights the struggles, triumphs, and cultural shifts that have shaped the industry. With archival footage, interviews, and firsthand accounts, the documentary not only celebrates Black excellence in television but also examines the ongoing journey toward equity, visibility, and creative freedom.
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NIGHT FIGHT
Seven years ago, director Khary Saeed Jones was followed by a vigilante down back roads in rural Canada, an experience that left lasting scars. Since then, he’s been piecing together the versions of himself that were born that night. In this haunting documentary, he returns to the town where it happened, and he faces a bigger question: does he want answers, or is he searching for something else? Night Fight is a deeply personal meditation on trauma, identity, and the challenge of sharing the past with his young son. If you are a fan of hard-hitting documentaries, this is one worth checking out for sure.
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IT ENDS
A late-night food run turns into a waking nightmare when a group of recent grads accidentally veers onto a never-ending, two-lane road surrounded by unknowable horrors. Trapped inside their Jeep Cherokee with no end in sight, they must confront the terrifying reality of their new existence or risk everything to escape. With no signs, no exits, and no way to turn back, tensions rise, paranoia sets in, and reality itself begins to unravel. Is escape even possible, or are they doomed to drive forever? This film is a chilling blend of cosmic horror and psychological suspense. What you will get in It Ends is a classic road trip that turns into a claustrophobic mind-bending fight for survival. If you want to watch a flick that explores the limits of friendship, sanity, and the terrifying unknown be sure to check out the screening for It Ends.
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THE MAKING OF CURTIS MAYFIELD
Music fans will appreciate this one. Grammy and Academy Award-winning artist H.E.R. takes viewers on a deeply personal journey into the life and legacy of Curtis Mayfield, one of the most influential musicians of all time. Blending intimate conversations, rich musical performances, and archival footage, the documentary explores Mayfield’s groundbreaking songwriting, innovative guitar work, and his profound impact on film soundtracks. From civil rights anthems to timeless love songs, The Makings of Curtis Mayfield celebrates his enduring influence on generations of artists, highlighting the genius that shaped the sound of soul, funk, and beyond. A celebration of legacy, creativity, and cultural impact, this documentary cements Mayfield’s place as one of the most essential voices in modern music history.
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The 2025 SXSW TV & Film Festival will take place from March 7-15th in Austin, TX.
