Though attention out of the event this year has largely been on larger studio movies such as “Everybody Wants Some,” “Keanu” and “Sausage Party,” the South by Southwest Film Festival has also long been a vital launching pad for new talent. Past competition wins have been important moments of discovery for filmmakers and performers in films such as “Tiny Furniture,” “Short Term 12” and last year’s winner “Krisha.”
This year, the festival’s narrative feature grand jury award went to Adam Pinney’s “The Arbalest,” a dry, offbeat story of obsession. The documentary feature grand jury winner was Keith Maitland’s “Tower,” a multimedia look at the mass school shooting at the University of Texas in 1966.
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“It’s something that I don’t understand,” said Maitland in accepting the documentary award. “But what I’ve come to understand over the last four years of working on this film is the resilience of the human spirit and the opportunity to grow and learn from just talking.”
In accepting the narrative prize, Pinney said, “In filmmaking you have to surround yourself with a lot of people who support you and you support them and you try to make each other’s dreams come true. And that’s happening right now.”
The evening at Austin’s Paramount Theatre was hosted by comedian Mike Birbiglia, who was at the festival premiering his new film as director, writer, producer and actor, “Don’t Think Twice.”
In his opening remarks, Birbiglia noted that, regardless of who won or lost, this was a room full of people who had all managed to make something, and that “It’s important to remember that art is not a competition; but if it were, tonight we would be celebrating the winners.”
Special jury prizes for the narrative competition were given to Lily Rabe for best actress for her performance in “Miss Stevens” and Andre Royo for best actor for his performance in “Hunter Gatherer.”
A special jury prize for portrait documentary was given to Matt Ornstein for “Accidental Courtesy: Daryl Davis, Race and America.” The documentary jury also gave a special jury prize for visual design to Laura Dunn’s “The Seer,” shot by cinematographer Lee Daniel.
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Kelly Rowland speaks during her “Chasing Destiny” SXSW interview at the Austin Convention Center on March 19.
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DJ Steve Aoki poses with a fan at the Pandora Discovery Den on March 19.
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The Roots brought their legendary Jam Sessions to the festival for the first time during an exclusive performance at the Bud Light Factory on March 19.
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Rapper Tory Lanez performs at the Pandora Discovery Den on March 18.
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Actor Paul Reubens answers questions at the premiere of “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday” at the Paramount Theatre on March 17.
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Actors Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara attend the premiere of “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday” at the Paramount Theatre on March 17.
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Wynonna Judd, center, with her band the Big Noise attend the Pandora Discovery Den on March 17.
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DNCE perform at Music Is Universal Styld.by Gap presented by Marriott Rewards and Universal Music Group at the JW Marriott Austin on March 17.
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Rae Sremmurd take the stage at the Bud Light Factory during the Interscope Showcase on March 17.
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Har Mar Superstar performs on a table at the McDonald’s Loft on March 17.
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The Cactus Blossoms perform onstage during the Pandora Discovery Den on March 17.
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Iggy Pop performs at ACL Live the Moody Theater on March 16.
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Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry performs at the MTV Woodies/10 for ’16 taping on March 16.
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Anderson.Paak performs at the MTV Woodies/10 for ’16 taping on March 16.
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Ryan Adams performs at Music Is Universal on March 16.
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John Legend headlines the AXE Collective + Crew on March 17.
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Musicians Thao Nguyen, center, and the Avett Brothers attend a screening of “A Song For You: The Austin City Limits Story” on March 17.
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Actor-director Don Cheadle attends the screening of “Miles Ahead” on March 16,
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First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at the South by Southwest festival on March 16.
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Big Boi performs at South by Southwest Interactive’s closing party at Stubb’s on March 15.
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Actor Don Cheadle poses in the Samsung Studio at the South by Southwest festival on March 15.
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Aluna Francis of AlunaGeorge performs at Spotify House during the South by Southwest festival on March 15.
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From left, recording artists Sleepy Brown, Ray Murray and Rico Wade of Organized Noize attend a screening of “The Art of Organized Noize” at the Paramount Theatre during the South by Southwest festival on March 15.
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Texas meets Hollywood near the Paramount Theatre as the South by Southwest festival kicks off in Austin, Texas.
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A general view of “The Powerpuff Girls” parade and screening at SXSW on March 14.
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Seth Rogen, left, and Evan Goldberg answer questions at the premiere of the work-in-progress “Sausage Party” at the Paramount Theatre on March 14.
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Actor Greg Poehler, from left, actress Rachel Blanchard, “You Me Her” creator John Scott Shepherd and actresses Priscilla Faia and Melanie Papalia attend the SXSW premiere of AT&T’s Audience Network’s “You Me Her” on March 15.
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Actors Melanie Papalia, from left, Priscilla Faia and Greg Poehler attend a brunch celebrating the premiere of AT&T’s Audience Network’s “You Me Her” on March 15.
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Bella Thorne, a “Shovel Buddies” cast member, attends the movie’s South by Southwest screening on Monday.
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Motivational speaker Tony Robbins attends the screening of the documentary “Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru” on Monday.
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Andrew Jarecki, director of the documentary “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst,” speaks at SXSW on Monday.
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Actor Craig Robinson, at SXSW with the movie “Morris From America,” poses for photos in the Samsung Studio on Monday.
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Comedian Hannibal Buress serves as host at the Spotify House on Monday.
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Rapper Tory Lanez performs at the Spotify House on Monday.
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Actors Dominic Cooper, from left, Ruth Negga and Joseph Gilgun attend the screening of “Preacher” at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas on Monday during the South By Southwest festival.
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Directors Evan Goldberg, left, and Seth Rogen attend the screening of “Preacher” at Paramount Theatre during SXSW on Monday.
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Director J.J. Abrams speaks after the screening of “Secrets of the Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey” at the Paramount Theatre during SXSW on Monday.
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R2-D2 attends the screening of “Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey” at the Paramount Theatre during SXSW.
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Sia performs at Samsung Galaxy Life Fest at SXSW on March 13.
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Sia, background, and dancers perform at Samsung Galaxy Life Fest.
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Willie Nelson performs at the Spotify House during SXSW on March 13.
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James Caan attends a screening of his new film “The Waiting” at the Paramount Theatre on March 13.
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Andrei Dementiev, wearing the GoPro camera setup, attends a screening of “Hardcore Henry” at the Paramount Theatre on March 13.
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Singer Elle King performs onstage at Samsung Galaxy Life Fest at SXSW on March 13.
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Actor Johnny Galecki experiences Samsung Gear VR at the Samsung Studio at SXSW.
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Actresses Kate Micucci, left, Alia Shawkat and Gillian Jacobs at the Samsung Studio on March 13.
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Director Mike Birbiglia attends a screening of “Don’t Think Twice” at the Paramount Theatre on March 13.
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“Scandal” actress Kerry Washington speaks during South by Southwest at the Austin Convention Center.
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“Mr. Robot” actor Rami Malek speaks during South by Southwest.
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“Mr. Robot” actor Christian Slater speaks during South by Southwest.
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Anthony Bourdain speaks during South by Southwest at the Austin Convention Center.
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Jake Gyllenhaal, left, Jean-Marc Vallée and Bryan Sipe arrive at the screening of “Demolition” during South by Southwest at the Paramount Theatre.
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Actor Alexander Skarsgård, left, director John Michael McDonagh and actor Michael Peña at a screening of their new movie “War on Everyone” during the South by Southwest Film Festival.
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Actors Jordan Peele, left, and Keegan-Michael Key attend the screening of “Keanu” during the 2016 SXSW Music, Film + Interactive Festival in Austin.
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Miguel performs as part of the SteelHouse Concert Series during the South by Southwest Interactive Festival.
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Burt Reynolds sits on a 1977 Pontiac Trans-Am at the world premiere of “The Bandit” during the South by Southwest Film Festival.
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Ellen Page speaks at a panel discussion during South by Southwest.
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“Vice Principals” Georgia King, left, David Gordon Green, Jody Hill, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Danny McBride and Walton Goggins gather during the South by Southwest Film Festival.
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Zoey Deutch arrives at the premiere of “Everybody Wants Some” at the Paramount Theatre.
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Director Richard Linklater at the premiere of “Everybody Wants Some” at the Paramount Theatre.
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Actors Glen Powell, left, Juston Street, Austin Amelio and Wyatt Russell at the Samsung Studio at SXSW.
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Dallas Mavericks wwner Mark Cuban speaks during “Sports and VR,” presented by Gear VR, at the Samsung Studio at SXSW.
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Festival goers experience Samsung Gear VR at the Samsung Studio at SXSW.
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Actors Nathan Parsons and Ksenia Solo at the Samsung Studio at SXSW.
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President Barack Obama, right, talks with Texas Tribune Editor in Chief/CEO Evan Smith at the Center for Performing Arts in Austin as part of the South by Southwest Festival.
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President Barack Obama waves upon his arrival on Air Force One at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. He’ll speak at SXSW and attend two Democratic National Committee fundraisers.
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The First Order, from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” has landed at SXSW.
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The Austin Convention Center is ready for the public’s arrival on the first day of South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, on Friday.
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A state trooper and a volunteer walk through the hall inside the Austin Convention Center before the public was let in on the first day of the South by Southwest festival.
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People line up inside the Austin Convention Center to register on the first day of SXSW.
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People wait in line to see President Obama participate in a South by Southwest interactive panel on March 11 in Austin, Texas.
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Visitors look over movie posters inside the Austin Convention Center at SXSW.
(Larry W. Smith / EPA) Three special awards were also announced. The SXSW Gamechanger award for female directors went to Sophie Goodhart for “My Blind Brother.” The Louis Black “Lone Star” award for Texas film went to Maitland’s “Tower.” The Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship, given to documentary film editors, was given to Eileen Meyer, who edited the recent doc “Best of Enemies.”
Damien O’Donnell’s “How Was Your Day?” won the narrative short award, while Dan Taberski’s colorfully titled “These ... Tears” won the documentary short prize. Simon Cartwright’s “MANOMAN” won for midnight short and Alexa Lim Haas and Bernardo Britto’s “Glove” won for animated short.
A prize for excellence in poster design went to Miss Me for “The Artful Vandal.” The excellence in title design prize went to Aimée Duchamp for “Sunstone.”
The 2016 SXSW Film Festival ends Saturday, when audience award winners will be announced.
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