#WhileBlack to World Premiere at SXSW 2026

We’re proud to announce that #WhileBlack will have its World Premiere at the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival.

Directed by WIRED journalist Sidney Fussell in his longform directorial debut, and co-directed by Jennifer Holness, #WhileBlack is a powerful and urgent documentary that examines the human cost of viral footage in the digital age. Through unprecedented access to citizen journalists like Darnella Frazier, who filmed the murder of George Floyd, and Diamond Reynolds, who livestreamed the killing of Philando Castile, the film confronts how social platforms and corporations profit from viral Black trauma—while those who bear witness face lasting psychological, physical, and personal consequences.

More than a documentary about viral videos, #WhileBlack is a meditation on modern witnessing, accountability, and the unequal risks of telling the truth while Black. Its world premiere at SXSW marks a major moment for the film and a powerful entry into one of the world’s most influential festivals for urgent, conversation-shaping work.

👉 Explore the full SXSW Film & TV lineup here:https://bit.ly/sxsw-film-lineup

We can’t wait to share #WhileBlack with audiences in Austin and beyond.