Developers and publishers must submit their games for consideration to the festival organizers prior to a deadline; these games generally must have had public release in the preceding calendar year to the festival (for example, for the inaugural 2014 awards, games had to be released in 2013). The Gamer's Voice awards are exceptional to these: they are limited only to
indie games released in the previous calendar year or the current year, and which any member of the public may nominate. The festival organizers select multiple games (typically more than five) after playing through each as nominees for the award. These games are featured in playable form at the SXSW festival to allow attendees to try them before they vote for their favorite. The awards ceremony is held near the end of the SXSW event, with celebrity and gaming hosts presenting the awards. The 2020 SXSW event was cancelled in light of the
COVID-19 pandemic, but the award winners were still named online on March 24, 2020. == Ceremonies ==