SXSW: Brie Larson Starring Drama ‘Short Term 12’ Wins Grand Jury Prize

…and just like that, the end is nigh. The ribs, beer, parties and oh yeah, movies, will soon be put away as the 2013 SXSW Film Festival draws toward a close. Last night, awards were handed out in Austin, with a number of films getting a boost as they leave Texas.

Leading the pack was “Short Term 12,” the second feature from writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton, which took the Grand Jury prize for Narrative Feature. Starring Brie Larson, Rami Malek (“The Master“) and John Gallagher Jr. (“The Newsroom“), the drama tracks the lives of workers at an adolescent foster care facility. The picture was a favorite of many at SXSW, and our own A grade review called it “a roller coaster of every emotion, managing to be both heartwarming and heartrending.” So one to keep an eye out for in the months to come.

On the documentary side, the Grand Jury honors went to “William And The Windmill,” about a young Malawian who earned worldwide fame by building a energy generating windmill from spare parts. 

Check out the full list of winners below.

Special Jury Prize (Cinematography): “Tuba”

Special Jury Prize for Directing: “We Always Lie to Stangers”

Narrative Feature

Grand Jury Winner: “Short Term 12”

Special Jury Prize (Ensemble Cast): “Burma”

Special Jury Prize (Acting): Tishuan Scott, “The Retrieval”

Short Film Jury Awards

NARRATIVE SHORT
Winner: “Ellen Is Leaving”
(Honorable Mentions: “Sequin Raze” and “Skin”)

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Winner: “SLOMO”

ANIMATED SHORTS
Winner: “Oh Willy”

MIDNIGHT SHORTS
Winner: “The Apocalypse”

MUSIC VIDEOS
Winner: Vitalic, “Stamina”

Texas High School Short Film Jury Award:
Winner: “The Benefactress”

SXSW Film Design Awards

EXCELLENCE IN POSTER DESIGN
Winner: “Kiss of the Damned”

EXCELLENCE IN TITLE DESIGN
Winner: “Joven Y Alocada”

SXSW Special Awards

SXSW CHICKEN & EGG EMERGENT NARRATIVE WOMAN DIRECTOR AWARD
Winner: Hannel Fiddel, “A Teacher”
(Honorable Mention: “Zero Charisma”)

LOUIS BLACK LONE STAR AWARD
Winner: “Loves Her Gun”

KAREN SCHMEER FELLOWSHIP
Jim Hession