Along with the opening of badge registration, the submissions process for the main SXSW strands in 2013 are also open. Having your film screened at SXSW 2013 starts with the submission process on the main SXSW site.

As usual, there are three deadlines, October 4th 2012, the late deadline on November 1st 2012, and the last-minute deadline on November 15th 2012. (Texas High School submissions have until December 14th 2012 if they need that long). Rough cuts cannot be updated, you can send just one version, so decide carefully which to send.

Following the normal procedure, we’d expect the first wave of successful films to be announced in early February 2013.

With SXSW firing the gun on the 2012 season, it’s time to highlight the submission processes for the three major strands of Music, Film and Interactive.

First up is Music, and the only way to submit your band is via Sonicbids. Head to www.sonicbids.com/sxsw to upload you Electronic Press Kit (which should naturally include some music, along with images and some bio details). If you’re not a member of Sonicbids, you get a two week trial as part of the registration process, and no, you don’t need to stay a member of Sonicbids once the SXSW application is in.

A few things to stress.

• SXSW are only accepting electronic submissions, via Sonicbids. Don’t send CD’s or Press Kits to SXSW. And if any company offers help to bypass or speed up the process, tread with extreme caution.
• International submissions are allowed (around a third of music acts are from outside the 50 states) but you need to sort out your visa yourself.
• If accepted, your reimbursement from SXSW will be in a small cash payment, or a music wristband for all the performers. Hotel, travel, food and the riders are your responsibility, not the organisers of SXSW.
• Bands will have a reply by January 27th 2012.

It does cost to submit your music… $30 if before October 7th 2011, or $40 from then until the closing date of November 4th 2011. And that’s not refundable.

You can find out more at the SXSW Music Showcase FAQ, and get started here. Best of luck!