Celebrating the intersection of film + music, Sound Unseen has been a pioneer since its debut in 1999. Originally launched in Minneapolis/St. Paul, the festival quickly became one of the country’s premier niche events, earning recognition from MovieMaker Magazine as:

• “One of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” (2016 & 2019)

• “One of the 20 Great First-Time Moviemakers Festivals” (2022)

Austin joined the festival family in 2020, and the city’s deep musical roots and creative culture have helped establish Sound Unseen Austin as a must-attend event for filmmakers, musicians, and passionate fans of both.

In 2026, Sound Unseen Austin levels up and becomes an independently produced, Austin-led festival with a four-day program of premieres, panels, live music, and filmmaker and artist mashups found nowhere else.