For most of his films Swanberg has acted as director, producer, writer, and editor as well as cinematographer. His feature films include Kissing on the Mouth, LOL, Hannah takes the Stairs, Nights and Weekends, Alexander the Last, Uncle Kent, Silver Bullets, Art History, The Zone, Autoerotic, Caitlin Plays Herself, V/H/S, Marriage Material, All the Light in the Sky, Drinking Buddies, 24 Exposures, Happy Christmas, Queen of Earth, and Digging for Fire. As an actor he has appeared in most of his own films and has starred in other movies including Thou Wast Mild and Lovely, Proxy, The Sacrament, White Reindeer, and You’re Next. In 2013 he won Best Film at the Vail Film Festival for Drinking Buddies.