The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival last night announced the 2018 Jury and Special Award winners of the SXSW Film Festival Awards at the awards ceremony hosted by actor and comedian Jim Gaffigan. Thunder Road directed by Jim Cummings won the award for Best Narrative Feature Film, and People’s Republic of Desire directed by Hao Wu won the award for Best Documentary Feature Film.
SXSW continues showing films through Saturday, March 17.
2018 SXSW Film Festival Awards:
Feature Film Grand Jury Awards
NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION
Winner: Thunder Road
Director: Jim Cummings
Special Jury Recognition For First Feature: The New Romantic
Director: Carly Stone
Special Jury Recognition for Writing: Jinn
Director/Screenwriter: Niljla Mu’min
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
Winner: People’s Republic of Desire
Directors: Hao Wu
Special Jury Recognition for Best Cast: This One’s For The Ladies
Director: Gene Graham
Special Jury Recognition for Best Feminist Reconsideration of a Male Artist:
Garry Winogrand: All Things are Photographable
Director: Sasha Waters Freyer
Short Film Grand Jury Awards
NARRATIVE SHORTS
Winner: Emergency
Director: Carey Williams
Special Jury Recognition for Acting:
Actor: Shirley Chen from Krista
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Winner: My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes
Director: Charlie Tyrell
MIDNIGHT SHORTS
Winner: Milk
Director: Santiago Menghini
ANIMATED SHORTS
Winner: Agua Viva
Directors: Alexa Lim Haas
Special Jury Recognition: JEOM
Director: Kangmin Kim
MUSIC VIDEOS
Winner: “Second Hand Lovers” – Oren Laviev
Director: Oren Lavie
Special Jury Recognition for Acting: “Territory” – The Blaze
Director: The Blaze
TEXAS SHORTS
Winner: An Uncertain Future
Director: Iliana Sosa & Chelsea Hernandez
TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL SHORTS
Winner: The Night I Lost My Favorite Jacket
Director: Jenna Krumerman
Special Jury Recognition: CCISD Strong
Director: Sofia Rasmussen
INDEPENDENT EPISODICS
Winner: Beast
Director: Ben Strang
Special Jury Recognition: She’s the Ticket
Director: Nadia Hallgren
SXSW Film Design Awards
EXCELLENCE IN POSTER DESIGN
Winner: The Gospel of Eureka
Designer: Matt Taylor
Special Jury Recognition: A Little Wisdom
Designer: Adam Zhu
EXCELLENCE IN TITLE DESIGN
Winner: Counterpart
Director: Karin Fong
Special Jury Recognition: Godless
Director: John Likens
SXSW Special Awards
SXSW LUNA® Gamechanger Award – Narrative
Winner: First Match
Director: Olivia Newman
Special Jury Recognition: Unlovable
Director: Suzi Yoonessi
SXSW LUNA® Chicken & Egg Award – Documentary
Winner: On Her Shoulders
Director: Alexandria Bombach
Special Jury Recognition: ¡Las Sandinistas!
Director: Jenny Murray
SXSW Louis Black “Lone Star” Award
To honor SXSW co-founder/director Louis Black, a jury prize was created in 2011 called the Louis Black “Lone Star” Award, to be awarded to a Texas film in content, filmmaker residency, or primary shooting location. (Opt-in Award)
Louis Black “Lone Star” Award
Winner: Daughters of the Sexual Revolution: The Untold Story of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Director: Dana Adam Shapiro
SXSW Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award
In honor of a filmmaker whose work strives to be wholly its own, without regard for norms or desire to conform. The Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award is presented to a filmmaker from our Visions screening category.
SXSW Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award
Presented to: Prospect directed by Zeek Earl & Chris Caldwell
Vimeo Staff Picks Award
In celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the Staff Picks channel, Vimeo Staff Pick Award here at SXSW. Films featured in the Narrative, Documentary, Animation, and Texas Shorts competitions are eligible for this award, which includes a $5,000 cash prize and, of course, a Vimeo Staff Pick. The Winning film will be released on Vimeo on Wednesday, March 14.
Vimeo Staff Picks Award
Presented to: Krista directed by Danny Madden
SXSW Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship Presentation
The Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship is a year-long experience that encourages and champions the talent of an emerging documentary editor. Awarded annually, the fellowship was created to honor the memory of gifted editor Karen Schmeer.
Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship
Presented to: Kristin Bye for X