AceShowbiz - South by Southwest has unveiled the first lineup of its world film program and keynote speakers for the upcoming SXSW London, scheduled from June 1 to June 6.

The festival's Screen Festival segment will spotlight prominent creatives and executives from both film and television industries, highlighting their work and discussing the future of screen storytelling. Leading the keynote speakers are multi-BAFTA winner and acclaimed actress, writer, producer, and director Sharon Horgan; renowned screenwriter and producer Russell T Davies; and Tom Quinn, CEO and founder of the Oscar-winning U.S. independent film company Neon.

Sharon Horgan is celebrated for her role as creator, co-writer, executive producer, and star of the critically acclaimed series Bad Sisters. This show has garnered multiple BAFTAs, Emmy nominations, and international awards. She also co-created the popular comedy Motherland and currently executive produces its spinoff, Amandaland. Horgan recently secured a two-year first-look deal with HBO, kicking off with the original comedy series Youth. In this new series, she will star as a 50-year-old divorcee navigating the complexities of seeking romance while balancing caregiving responsibilities for her ailing parents and managing her grown-up son.

Russell T Davies brings a distinguished career to the festival, having received the 2006 Dennis Potter Award from BAFTA for his contributions to television writing and an OBE in the Queen’s 2008 Birthday Honours for services to drama. His prominent works include creating Queer as Folk and revitalizing the iconic Doctor Who series. Davies also adapted the critically praised A Very English Scandal and penned the BBC One/HBO series Years and Years. He has an upcoming original five-part drama titled Tip Toe set to air on Channel 4.

Tom Quinn established Neon in 2017, a U.S. independent film company that has made a significant impact on the international film scene. Over the past nine years, Neon films have earned 57 Oscar nominations and secured 11 wins, including two for Best Picture with Parasite and Anora. Neon has also won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival six years in a row, with the latest recipient being It Was Just an Accident. In 2024, Neon was honored as The Hollywood Reporter's Independent Studio of the Year. Upcoming projects under Neon include Steven Soderbergh’s The Christophers, Hokum starring Adam Scott, and the Sundance hit Leviticus.

Alongside the keynote announcements, SXSW London revealed the first slate of films set to be featured in the Screen Festival. This segment aims to highlight films from across the globe, with more than 43 countries represented in 2025. For this year’s edition, films from 22 countries have already been confirmed. Festival organizers emphasize that this international scope reflects London’s multicultural nature and facilitates connections between emerging global talent and the U.K. film industry.

Anna Bogutskaya, head of Screen at SXSW London, explained the vision behind the festival, saying, "SXSW London Screen Festival is not designed to be just another film festival. What we're building here is a bridge between international talent and the U.K., between film and the wider creative industries, and points of connection between film, music, art and technology." She continued, "The program we have curated is celebrating those filmmakers and artists who are exploring and exploding the possibilities of filmmaking. London is a global city, and cinema is an international language. What we're looking for—and what we are excited to bring to London audiences this summer—is that electricity of discovering something truly groundbreaking from places they weren’t looking in."

The selected films, accompanied by their official loglines, offer a diverse and compelling array of stories:

Feast or Famine (Dir: Adrian Choa & Michael Boccalini) (U.K.) - World Premiere
Narrated by Marco Pierre White, this documentary follows the London restaurant 'Angelina' as it competes for a Michelin Star while overshadowed by a dominant French tire company that significantly influences chefs' careers.

The Remedy (Dir: Alex Kahuam) (U.S.) - World Premiere
A troubled young man cares for his terminally ill mother and mentally ill sister. When attempting to save his mother, he inadvertently unleashes a supernatural entity that feeds on human flesh.

All Night Wrong (Dir: Jason James) (Canada) - World Premiere
Gary and Ell’s blind date spirals out of control when they steal a killer’s car containing a dead body and $40,000.

Amoeba (Dir: Siyou Tan) (Singapore, The Netherlands, France, Spain, South Korea) - U.K. Premiere
In a country where chewing gum and feeding pigeons are banned, four teenage girls form a gang as an act of rebellion.

Becoming (Dir: Zhannat Alshanova) (Kazakhstan, France, The Netherlands, Lithuania, Sweden) - U.K. Premiere
Seventeen-year-old Mila escapes turmoil at home by joining an open-water swimming team. When her spot is threatened, she risks everything to maintain the delicate balance she’s found.

On the Road (Dir: David Pablos) (Mexico) - U.K. Premiere
A drifter who sleeps with truckers meets a reserved driver and joins him on freight hauls across northern Mexico. As their bond grows, the drifter’s past threatens their lives.

Father (Dir: Tereza Nvotová) (Slovakia) - U.K. Premiere
After a tragic mistake shatters a man’s life and marriage, he faces prison and must seek forgiveness. The film explores whether love can endure beyond unbearable guilt.

Hijra (Dir: Shahad Ameen) (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, U.K.) - U.K. Premiere
Twelve-year-old Janna embarks on the Hajj pilgrimage with her strict grandmother Sitti and rebellious sister Sarah. When Sarah vanishes, Janna and Sitti undertake a tense search that reveals deep family secrets and spiritual redemption.

It Would Be Night in Caracas (Dir: Mariana Rondón, Marité Ugás) (Mexico) - U.K. Premiere
In a crumbling Caracas, after burying her mother, Adelaida’s home is seized by armed militia. With society collapsing, she risks everything, including her identity, to survive.

Maddie’s Secret (Dir: John Early) (U.S.) - U.K. Premiere
A food influencer secretly battles bulimia while managing online fame, friendships, and a painful past.

Remake (Dir: Vladlena Sandu) (U.S.) - U.K. Premiere
This film explores how the cycle of violence that shapes children across generations might be broken.

Sicko (Dir: Aitore Zholdaskali) (Kazakhstan) - U.K. Premiere
A young couple overwhelmed by debt concocts a plan to fake a terminal illness to raise money through a viral charity campaign. As donations flood in, their deception spirals out of control.

Whistle (Dir: Christopher Nelius) (Australia) - U.K. Premiere
Details about this film’s storyline are forthcoming, but it is included in the official festival lineup.

The diverse slate of films demonstrates the festival’s commitment to showcasing global voices and innovative storytelling. With an emphasis on cross-cultural exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration, SXSW London aims to position itself as a unique platform facilitating connections between filmmakers, artists, and audiences worldwide.

As the event approaches, attendees and industry professionals alike anticipate an exciting convergence of talent, new projects, and groundbreaking cinematic experiences that reflect the evolving landscape of international film and television.