Short Film News (SFN) - The South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival announced that the winning short films featured at the festival will qualify for consideration in the short films category of the Academy Awards without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy Rules.

Friday, December 12 was the final deadline to submit a film for the 16th SXSW Film Festival.

The festival will take place March 13 - 21, 2009 and will reveal its complete film lineup in early February.