SXSW 2025 Film & TV Festival to Open with Star-Studded Apple TV+ Premiere
Photos Courtesy of MGN
By Clara Faulkner
The SXSW 2025 Film & TV Festival will kick off this March with the world premiere of “The Studio,” a new Apple TV+ series created by and starring Seth Rogen.
The series, which also features Catherine O’Hara, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, and Kathryn Hahn, follows Matt Remick, the newly appointed head of Continental Studios. As Remick navigates the pressures of reviving a struggling studio, he faces constant challenges from eccentric artists and ruthless corporate executives. Rogen, who is the series’ writer, director, and executive producer, explores filmmaking’s high-stakes chaos with humor and drama.
The festival’s Headliner category will showcase significant premieres from renowned filmmakers and rising stars. One highlight is “The Accountant 2,” directed by Gavin O’Connor, which brings Ben Affleck back as Christian Wolff. The sequel follows Wolff as he teams up with his estranged brother to solve a murder tied to a conspiracy.
Flying Lotus’s “Ash” offers a sci-fi thriller starring Eiza González and Aaron Paul, where a survivor investigates the brutal massacre of her space station crew. Another anticipated premiere is “Death of a Unicorn,” directed by Alex Scharfman. Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega find themselves ensnared in a billionaire’s twisted plan after hitting a unicorn with their car. Mimi Cave’s “Holland” stars Nicole Kidman and Matthew Macfadyen in a suspenseful tale of secrets and betrayal in Michigan.
The broader festival lineup will feature films across numerous categories, including the Narrative and Documentary Feature Competitions, Midnighters, and the Global section presented by MUBI. In addition to its robust TV programming, which includes premieres and independent pilots, SXSW will spotlight short films, immersive XR experiences, and genre-defying projects. Audience Awards will also return, allowing festivalgoers to vote for their favorite entries.
Claudette Godfrey, SXSW’s VP of Film & TV, emphasized the festival’s mission to celebrate bold, boundary-pushing creators. “The same undeniable creative electricity in “The Studio” runs through our 2025 program — you can feel a bit of magic happening in every film, series, and immersive experience we’ve curated this year,” she said in a press release. “When our incredible SXSW community gathers in March to experience these stories, the energy and inspiration is going to be absolutely transformative.”
With a lineup that promises to celebrate fearless storytelling and cutting-edge filmmaking, the SXSW 2025 Film & TV Festival is set to deliver an unforgettable experience in Austin, Texas.
View the full lineup of the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival