The SXSW 2020 event was nixed this year, due to the coronavirus, but the SXSW Film Festival found a way to screen its content. And it will still award its jury prizes.
Amazon Prime Video has agreed to stream various films from this year’s cancelled festival — free — for 10 days. Participating filmmakers will receive a screening fee, reports IndieWire.
Called “Prime Video Presents the SXSW 2020 Film Festival Collection,” it streams in late April. No word yet on the specific titles, but once it kicks off, the public can access it without being an Amazon Prime user. They just need a free Amazon account.
Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke stated: “We’re honored to be able to provide a space for the SXSW filmmakers to share their hard work and passion with audiences for the first time.” She added the company supports other indie film fests and wanted to “showcase artists and films that audiences might otherwise not have had the chance to see.”
Separately, boutique distributor Oscilloscope Laboratories and tech company Mailchimp created an online platform to screen SXSW 75 shorts for free here.
The spring Tribeca Film Festival was also canceled due to COVID-19. But to help during a crisis, TFF is also screenings its films free for fans. “A Short Film a Day, Keeps Anxiety Away” is TFF’s series. The postponed festival will offer a film daily, including online premieres. The series will run throughout April at tribecafilm.com for a limited time.