South by Southwest Festival 2026

SXSW 2026 Michigan Theater

Once a year, The Michigan Daily Arts writers make their way to Austin, Texas to attend one of the most prestigious and well-known film festivals in the country: South By Southwest. This March, four writers experienced all the creativity, passion and excellence the Austin film scene had to offer; from documentaries to slasher-thrillers to television pilots waiting to be picked up, this year presented one of the most unique lineups yet. After navigating the bustling, cinephile-filled streets of Texas and fighting for our lives in hour-long lines for movie screenings, we’re here to share our thoughts and offer behind-the-scenes interviews on several of the incredible pieces screening in 2026.

TV Beat Editor Ana Torresarpi, Daily Arts Writer Eilene Koo, Daily Arts Writer Nicolas Eisenberg and Daily Arts Writer Natasha Shimon can be reached at atorresa@umich.edu, ekoo@umich.edu, niceisen@umich.edu and nshimon@umich.edu respectively. 

A woman lies curled up on the floor, in a black br and underwear.
SXSW 2026: ‘American Dollhouse’ is anything but picture perfect
5 horrified people looking down at something
SXSW 2026: Don’t trip, ‘Pizza Movie’ is stupidly funny 
The Gasoline Gypsies play in San Jac Saloon, Austin Texas.
SXSW 2026: Port Huron Band plays at Austin 
A girl looking out of a kitchen window with a man outside
SXSW 2026: An interview with director Kit Steinkellner about ‘ARE WE STILL MARRIED?’
A black-and-white image with 2 people looking forward, with one of them holding a torch
SXSW 2026: ‘Black Zombie’ rises from the grave to reclaim Haitian Vodou
A man and a woman have a heated conversation standing across a table from each other.
SXSW 2026: ‘Over Your Dead Body’ kills the vibe 
Women stand in a line wearing head garments
SXSW 2026: An interview with director YuHan Tsai on ‘Dua Ji’
Keira from “Souvenir,” played by Tanzyn Crawford, poses for a photo in a mirror, holding a camera.
SXSW 2026: An interview with ‘Souvenir’ director Renée Marie Petropoulos
Bob Odenkirk as Ulysses speaking into a walkie-talkie with people behind in a dimly lit room.
SXSW 2026: ‘Normal’ is as average as the name suggests
Two figures stand in a dim room in a still from short film “Them That’s Not.”
SXSW 2026: An interview with director Mekhai Lee on ‘Them That’s Not’
Lisa Kudrow as Valerie in “The Comeback.”
SXSW 2026: The final comeback of ‘The Comeback’ 
Students and faculty rally at New College in Florida. Signs read “No Fascist Curriculum” and “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion.”
SXSW 2026: ‘First They Came for My College’ is an intimate look at higher education in America
A panel of people standing and staring at two people in chairs sitting down.
SXSW 2026: ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’ might be a sophomore slump, but that’s okay
A woman kneels staring at a laptop in front of a room filled with cardboard boxes
SXSW 2026: ‘Sender’ doesn’t quite deliver the message
A pink haired woman looking up with an awed expression.
SXSW 2026: ‘I Love Boosters’ is a deliciously dialectical riot
A singer at the Tokyo Calling Festival at 2026’s SXSW.
SXSW 2026: An interview with BANSHIMOKU and GOKUMON
Taylor Misiak and Dustin Milligan as Jack and Laura in “Are We Still Married?”
SXSW 2026: Independent TV Pilot Program