The films at this year’s South By Southwest (SXSW) Festival Online 2021 beautifully represented the shared experiences of people around the world — battling the pandemic, oppressive regimes, racial caste systems and the climate crisis.

While being culturally fluid is not an emerging trend, there is an emerging trend of highlighting the stories of those who straddle more than one culture or race. Often times those who have a foot in many cultures struggle to feel an authentic sense of belonging and may find creating community a challenge.

SXSW is not just a festival that happens once a year in Austin. It’s a global community that enriches my life all year round.

Amy Webb, founder of the Future Today Institute during her presentation on emerging trends for 2021.

Due to the proliferation of online gatherings, it has become quite apparent that contact and collaboration are not limited to one festival but ongoing work throughout the year. Keep an eye out for our Culturs festival favorites in the coming months as films are distributed.

SXSW — Short Not Sweet

Shorts (films no longer than 40 minutes) are a draw for festival goers and for the filmmaker. Accolades from the audiences and the critics can lead to turning a short into a full-length feature. One of our favorites was also a jury favorite: “Nuevo Rico” won best animated short and was directed by Kristian Mercado. It is an incredible futuristic vision told through music and vibrant animation in a style that is uniquely Mercado’s.

This award-winning short film is currently playing through the festival circuit. Click here to see where it is possible to screen in the future.

“Chuj Boys of Summer” is the story of a Guatemalan teenager beginning his new life in rural Colorado. The film won the MailChimp Support the Shorts competition at SXSW. More than 25 short films are now available to watch for free on Mailchimp Presents.

(Editor’s Note: We want your reviews! After you watch tag @cultursmag and use the hashtags #SXSW #SupportTheShorts with your “short review!” Show these incredible SXSW filmmakers from around the world some love using #SupportTheShorts.)

SXSW — Untold Stories: Women

A premiere at top-tier film festivals such as Sundance, Tribeca, or Cannes is an honor and potential boon. Another emerging trend is for industry reps to scout film festivals for buzzy films and purchase those films for extremely high prices. If a film becomes an international “festival darling,” this reputation can bolster the success of a film outside of the creators nation of origin.

Hopefully, this will be the case with “Trapped.” Directed by boundary-pushing female director Manal Khaled, “Trapped” boasts an all-female cast and a primarily female crew.

“Trapped” revolves around a number of women from different walks of life whose destinies are tied together. As events unfold, the women reflect on the shackles imposed by a patriarchal society.

This incredible film sheds light on how the fight for women’s equality is not an emerging trend, it’s an ongoing battle.

SXSW — Untold Stories: Immigrants

“Ayar” tells the story of a first-generation American Latina, who returns home to reunite with her daughter. Ayar’s mother, who has been caring for her daughter, refuses to let her see her due to COVID-19.

Ayar is confronted by the many roles she’s been forced to play, including the role in this film. Magical realism combined with the very real pandemic make for a fascinating and at times heartbreaking film.

SXSW — Are the Kids Alright?

In “Fruits of Labor” directed by Emily Cohen Ibañez, a Mexican-American teenage farmworker dreams of graduating high school until ICE raids in her community threaten to separate her family and force her to become her family’s breadwinner.

This project is an example of what a documentary film can look like when its creator is passionate and dedicated to telling an important story. This is Cohen Ibañez’s first feature as well as her first SXSW experience. The reality of the struggles of the undocumented will resonate long after the credits roll.

“Inbetween Girl” is a coming-of-age tale centered around mixed-race teen artist Angie Chen (played by Emily Galbraith). The film is director Mei Makino’s directorial debut.

In an interview with Pop Sugar, Makino spoke about her personal experience as a mixed race Asian-American.

“Talking about and feeling like my feelings were valid was really hard,” she said. “There was a big part of me that did feel fraudulent in my Asian-ness because I’m actually half-Japanese. And I can’t speak Japanese. That was a big element that I brought to Angie’s character, the insecurity of dealing with all of that. ”

In “The Fallout” (SXSW 2021 Narrative Feature Competition winner), high schooler Vada navigates the emotional fallout she experiences in the wake of a school tragedy. Relationships with her family, friends and view of the world are forever altered.

Yes, There is Racism In America

Racial inequality exists around the world. Time and place matter for these types of discussions. Understanding systemic oppression worldwide is no easy task. However, films (both narrative and documentary) often provide much-needed context and information presented in an easily digestible format.

“Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism In America” features ACLU lawyer Jeffery Robinson’s shattering talk on the history of U.S. anti-Black racism. The film is an exploration of the legacy of white supremacy and the U.S.’s collective responsibility to overcome it — important viewing for anyone wishing to understand the racial problems that have plagued the US since the country’s inception.

Robinson moderated a panel during SXSW which examined the work of activists to take control of the historical narrative surrounding the 1921 massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This history survived because of the dedicated efforts of Black Tulsans, including the descendants of survivors.

These descendants have made it their life’s work to uncover what really happened. There is also an emerging trend of featuring these untold stories. The Tulsa Race Massacre is featured in HBO’s “The Watchmen,” “Lovecraft Country” as well as CNN’s new documentary; “Dreamland: The Burning of Black Wall Street.”

Love, Grief and Dominos

“The Hunt for Planet B” follows a pioneering group of scientists — many of them women — on their quest to find another Earth among the stars. Featuring NASA’s high-stakes, not-yet-launched James Webb Space Telescope, this is not just any space documentary, it’s also a meditation on grief, humanity and the healing power of love across the stars.

“Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché” follows Celeste Bell, daughter of iconic punk rocker Poly Styrene. Styrene was the first woman of color in the UK to front a successful rock band.

Bell traverses three continents to better understand Poly the icon and Poly the mother. Featuring unseen archive material and rare diary entries and narrated by Oscar nominee Ruth Negga. This film will undoubtedly introduce a new generation of girls to a woman rebel and revolutionary and inspire mothers to tell their daughters their stories.

Lily Hevesh, domino artist and transracial adoptee, is an example of how to build a global community. “Lily Topples the World,” directed by Jeremy Workman, won the documentary feature competition. Film critic Richard Whittaker of The Austin Chronicle wrote, “If SXSW decides to bring any title back next year for the return to in-person events, ‘Lily Topples the World’ should be top of the list, if only for the chance to see Hevesh in action, on the floor of the Austin Convention center.”

Hevesh’s creations are incredible, check out her Youtube channel, it will knock you over!

For a complete list of winners and access to available SXSW content, visit: 2021 SXSW Film Awards winners.

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