Sat, Mar 14

Conflict is interesting in art. It forces conversations, and asks questions that often still need to be answered. On “Black’s Law”, the third body of work from Irish quintet Bricknasty, some of society’s most complex topics are explored — religion, political disillusionment, nationalism, human mentality. For mercurial frontman/guitarist Fatboy and co, it’s less about seeing the light themselves — and more pointing others in the right direction.

Grocery Bag are the latest in a new breed of face-melting rock & roll straight out of Austin, Texas. The garage rock-psych-punk 4 piece, led by diminutive singer Bella Martinez, have been tearing up stages around Texas since 2023, being handpicked by the likes of Osees, Frankie & The Witch Fingers & Farmer's Wife to support on multiple shows as well as a critically-acclaimed set at Levitation Festival 2024. Following this breakthrough performance, the band were added as main support on Psychedelic Porn Crumpets tour in April/May 2025, playing 22 shows & solidifying their reputation as one of the best live bands in the country. Their debut album 'Break You' (released in Nov 2023) is a great raw snapshot of young talented musicians creating something exciting, to-the-point, that leaves you replaying time & time again. New music is expected early 2026!

A child of Baltimore, Lauren grew to embrace the fatalistic spirit of the city in her work and art, with stunningly raw, haunting tones and “delightfully gut-churning shoegaze”’. On her next album Deadlights, set for release on Riding Easy Records on May 8, 2026, she conjures a shifting reality—one defined by both distortion and clarity. Indebted to shoe gaze and ’90s alt rock, it's filled with ethereal vocals, melodic guitars, and a heavy low end.

If there's one thing Panic Shack know, it's how to have a good time. Comprised of Sarah, Meg, Romi, Em and Nick, the band formed in 2018 as a middle-finger to the “members-only club” atmosphere of indie and punk scenes – not just because they’re male-dominated, but because they make playing music seem out of reach or, even worse, boring. This carefree approach gives Panic Shack’s music the same effect as popping a bottle of Prosecco – explosive, intoxicating, and delightfully chaotic. With barely any music available online, they built a word-of-mouth following off the back of their live shows, which have been praised for fusing “thrashy early LA-style punk with choreography that owes something to the Go-Go’s and Iron Maiden all at once” (The Guardian).Released in 2022, their acclaimed Baby Shack EP bottled the lightning they have on stage, cementing their ability to blend killer hooks with a contagious sense of humour.

Samy Sharif moved to Los Angeles in mid 2023 to launch a solo effort after having spent the prior decade in the Chicago-based Alternative quartet, Bonelang.

Sorry Youth is a power trio formed by guitarist Weni, bassist Giang Giang, and drummer Chung-Han. Taiwanese lyrics are an essential base of their songwriting as well as a hallmark of Sorry Youth, and the song arrangements capture a strong sense of live performance. They have established one of the unique features of the Taiwanese-rock sound nowadays with the essence of their music that is deeply influenced by bands from the 80s and 90s, such as The Cure, Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, Mogwai, The National, and Wilco, etc. As one of the leading acts in Taiwan’s independent music scene, Sorry Youth has sold out numerous headline shows and performed at major festivals including Summer Sonic (JP), Megaport Festival (TW), Shima Fes SETOUCHI (JP), Mori Michi Ichiba (JP), and SXSW (US). Their international tours have taken them across Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Hong Kong, among others. As they enter their 20th year, Sorry Youth continues to expand their global reach, with upcoming performances at CLANG Music Festival 2025 (SG), Busan International Rock Festival (KR), and a new Japan tour in 2025.

The Red Eye Gamblers are a psychedelic southern rock band with a uniquely Austin, Texas sound. They bridge elements of rock, bluegrass, and jammy psychedelia to create a new experience with every show.

Emerging from Merced, CA, 60 JUNO (sixty juno) leads Central Valley Post-Punk with his own distinct blend of DIY indie-rock and dark-wave elements that create a truly notable sound worth remembering.

Leo Kalyan (he/they) is a singer, songwriter & music producer known for fusing high fashion, poetic storytelling & emotionally resonant music. Their work explores gender, cultural duality & queerness through a visual language that is both bold & ethereal. Blending R&B, Afrobeats, Bollywood & Futurism, Leo's sound transcends genre - just as their imagetranscends gender. A BRIT & Ivor Novello-nominated songwriter, Leo co-wrote the global #1 platinum hit Head & Heart by Joel Corry ft. MNEK, and performed at Coachella in 2023 and 2024. With over 180K followers across platforms & a growing global cult audience, Leo is building a multimedia universe where music, fashion & narrative converge.Based in Los Angeles Leo is completing his debut album and developing a TV series with a Los Angeles production company.

Radium Dolls are one of Australia’s most exciting rising rock bands, known for explosive live shows, razor-sharp lyricism, and a sound that balances grit, heart, and swagger in equal measure. Formed in Brisbane the four-piece have built a fiercely independent momentum, with their debut album "Legal Speed" (2024) earning national airplay, critical acclaim, and a Queensland Album of the Year nomination. Their sophomore album "Wound Up" debuted at #2 on the ARIA Australian Albums Chart, marking a major breakthrough and driving another fully sold-out national tour. The band have achieved major streaming and editorial success with singles including “Scorching Heat”, “Golden Boy", "Moving" and "Daddy", while their breakout track “Tractor Parts” has recently surpassed one million streams. The band has even caught the attention of music tastemaker Derrick Gee who named Radium Dolls his “favourite band of the moment”. With their debut American tour ahead and SXSW appearances, Radium Dolls are poised to introduce North America to the next era of Australian rock.

Sunforger is a band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Their music has been described as “fast slowcore,” “weird punk,” and “post-everything”. They’ve made a box big enough to hold post-punk, grunge, college rock, shoegaze, and post-hardcore, and Sunforger is still firmly outside it. Their effortless uniqueness is built on rhythmic and percussive guitars, infinitely repeatable cadences, and emotive hypnagogia. The name Sunforger is spoken with reverence in DIY circles across North America, disseminated over half a decade of Bandcamp deep-diving, touring, festivals, a self-titled album, and a 7-minute EP. Sunforger’s eagerly awaited second album, entitled Weight, arrives May 2026 via the labels Cooked Raw and Julia’s War.

Jenna Shaw is an Austin, TX based dj/producer who focuses on the developing psytechno genre, as well as hard dance and DNB. Her sound has been evolving to include more psytrance and drum and bass elements to the musical experience.

If you’re tapped into the heart of the UK music underground, Silva Bumpa will be on your radar. Amid a current resurgence of UKG, bassline and speed garage, a crop of producers and friends are pushing a new scene forward, with the Manchester-based artist a key player. Silva Bumpa’s sounds combine UK bass grit with the singalong bounce of club classics, bottling the effervescent spirit of mid-noughties bassline with solid songwriting. Following releases on influential labels, Silva Bumpa is grace iconic imprint Locked On with EP – What About The DJ?, and more recently signed to label giants Columbia Records imprint Room 2 beginning this releasing hit record ’I Don’t Want U’ with viral DJ sensation Diffrnt. Proving himself as a headline name within the most exciting, important and rapidly growing scene in music. Silva Bumpa’s sounds combine UK bass grit with the singalong bounce of club classics, bottling the effervescent spirit of mid-noughties bassline with solid songwriting. 2024 saw a sold out UK headline tour, notable festival slots at Glastonbury, Boomtown + Outlook. Silva Bumpa's rapidly growing fan base across Europe and Australia has rooted him as a key UKG name in live circuits overseas. Only a month into 2025 his recently announced UK headline shows have sold out, and his upcoming live schedule of top festival bookings and sold out tours across the EU , Australia + Asia reflects the rapidly growing demand. For Silva Bumpa. Rounding up his unstoppable success with in the scene with Silva Bumpa's debut Boiler Room debut premiered on the Feb 28th watch here. Harry Eagle grew up in Sheffield, a city ingrained with the pumping sounds of organ house and bassline. He learned the piano as an early teen, and Aphex Twin, Arca and Mura Masa would be his entry point into electronic music. At 16, he was going to raves in the Peak District. Friends started showing him “old school bassline, free party jacking house, speed garage, more like the Birmingham Ecko Records stuff”. It flipped a switch in his brain: “It gave me the kind of same intensity of the instrumental electronic stuff, but you could write a song over it – have weird square wave stuff but it still be a banging tune, a really cool R&B-influenced melody.” Now, among a growing scene, Silva Bumpa is supported by peers including Interplanetary Criminal, Main Phase and Soul Mass Transit System, as well as bonafide bassline OGs such as Tom Shorterz, Big Ang and Joe Hunt, who are happy to share stages and b2bs with the relative newcomers. That community is “everything,” he says. “One of the best things about underground dance music is having your crew and working together to build up a scene.” That underground success has been steadily spilling over into the mainstream, thanks to Radio 1 plays and Spotify support. Silva Bumpa's 2024 releases included a 4 track EP with legendary label Locked On Records, a release with Diffrnt on Room 2 (Columbia), and single releases with fellow UKG headsie labels EC2A + ATW. Supported by peers including Interplanetary Criminal, Main Phase, for Silva Bumpa the community in the scene is “One of the best things about underground dance music is having your crew and working together to build up a scene.” That underground success has been steadily spilling over into the mainstream, thanks to continuous Radio 1 and DSPS After a jam-packed summer playing festivals around the world UKG DJ, songwriter and producer Silva Bumpa is ready to bring it back to the clubs. Taking immense inspiration from the sounds of Northern nightlife – particularly Sheffield’s legendary Niche nightclub – Silva Bumpa combines his producing know-how and pop sensibilities to the heady worlds of Organ House and UK Garage with a brand new 4-track EP. With this release comes the title track-new single ‘Check Dis Out’. Silva Bumpa explains “this Ep is a combo of a few sounds I’ve been experimenting with over the last year or so. Still vocal heavy but with more techy elements and big ravey buildups. It’s deffo a club record and probably the release I’ve been most excited to put out !” With an increasingly busy gig calendar, Silva Bumpa’s also got his eye on an album which is set to showcase more of his love of writing huge, club-indebted tunes. “I'm sitting on my best work, I think,” he grins.

Experiencing Sex Mask live is all gas, no brakes. The band’s artsy, electric fusion of proto-post-punk and writhing no-wave cool leaves little room for breathing space – and not least of all because shirtless frontman Wry Gray will often find himself directly within the immediate peripheral of anyone close to the front.

Haters are an Australian indie punk/garage band formed by Jai Sparks (vocals/guitar), James Priest (drums), and Kaito (Kaitlyn Hold – bass/vocals). For fans of Fontaines D.C., The Beths, IDLES, and Wunderhorse. Their songs are drenched in emotion and exist to make you feel something, they speak of real life, friendship, mental health, profound loss and the beauty of the human experience.

rinahamu is a Tokyo-based artist, songwriter, composer, producer, and DJ.Rooted in electronic music, she creates a distinctive world that seamlessly blends music, fashion, and culture.In addition to her solo work, she is also active as a vocalist for BPM15Q and Tokyo Den-Nou, both projects from Den-On-Bu.

Based out of Austin, TX, Mugger is a supergroup featuring members of Creepoid, The Well, and Radioactivity. The music is abrasive, aggressive, and feels like being jumped in a dark alley on the way home from a night of heavy drinking. It's equal parts hardcore and vintage punk rock.

SRI is a Brooklyn-based DJ, producer, and artist crafting futuristic club music through a South Asian lens. Known for percussive, high-energy sets and hypnotic vocals, she builds immersive worlds that feel both cinematic and visceral.

Featuring five musicians who grew up in El Paso, Lubbock and Amarillo, the West Texas Exiles draw upon the wide-open western reaches of the Lone Star State with a wide-ranging, Americana-centered sound. Rising from the embers of the Dirty River Boys, which Marco Gutierrez co-founded in 2009, the Austin band features a triple-threat of songwriters in Gutierrez, Daniel Davis and Colin Gilmore (son of legendary Texas troubadour Jimmie Dale Gilmore), plus seasoned bassist/producer Eric Harrison and latter-day Dirty River Boys drummer Trinidad Leal. The Exiles' 2023 debut EP paved the way for their first full-length album, 8000 Days. Since its September release the album has steadily risen to #8 on the Americana radio charts and has drawn critical praise. The recordings build upon the live chops the group has honed through a weekly residency at Austin’s legendary Continental Club plus gigs at key local events such as SXSW and Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion, as well as high-profile touring appearances at Nashville’s Americanafest, Braun Brothers Reunion and San Francisco’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival.

Winona Fighter is a high-energy punk band known for their explosive live shows, razor-sharp hooks, and unapologetic attitude. Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, the band blends classic punk urgency with modern alternative grit, delivering fast, catchy songs packed with raw emotion and biting wit. Fronted by Coco Kinnon, alongside Dan Fuson and Austin Luther, Winona Fighter channels themes of frustration, self-empowerment, and chaotic young adulthood into anthems that feel both cathartic and fun.

YARD are the electrifying three-piece electropunk band from Dublin. Known for their intense and immersive live shows, YARD bridges the gap between electronica and post-punk, creating an auditory onslaught that leaves audiences sweaty, energised, and strangely unnerved.

Forget hype cycles. The real story of 2026 is bigger, stranger, and closer than you imagine. At SXSW, futurist Amy Webb, CEO of the Future Today Strategy Group and professor at NYU Stern, will take you on a mind-bending exploration of the forces reshaping business, culture, and society. With her signature wit and data-driven approach, Amy will decode the emerging technologies that demand your attention and reveal scenarios that challenge how we think about the future. If you’ve joined Amy’s packed sessions in past years, you know to expect startling insights, big shifts in perspective, and ideas you’ll be talking about long after the session ends. This year, though, there’s a twist you won’t see coming—one that could change the way we track, understand, and act on trends forever. The theme is Creative Destruction. While there's no official dress code for the session, we do recommend you wear black.

This is a live broadcast of the session happening in the Hilton Austin Salon HJK. The Simulcast can be viewed in any of the following locations: Hilton: Salon D

This meetup will foster connections, dialogue, and collaboration within the Black entrepreneurial and startup ecosystem. Explore pathways to success, share insights on overcoming challenges, and discuss opportunities for growth and impact. Whether you're launching a startup, seeking funding, or aiming to scale, this meetup is designed to cultivate a supportive community and inspire action towards greater diversity and inclusion in entrepreneurship.

This workshop is focused on the strategic brand positioning of your innovative company and cutting-edge technology. We will be firmly situated on the market side of product-market fit. We will start by investigating your target market(s) and then your competitive set. Then we will work together to articulate the qualities of your company and technology that are differentiated and valuable to your next investor or client. All with the goal of helping your company to stand out in an unprecedented time of innovation.

What if the biggest barrier to innovation isn’t lack of talent, but cultural dissonance silencing brilliant minds? After nearly 10 years of Latinas sharing their secrets with me, I’ve discovered how collective mindset conditioning clashes with individual-focused business culture. Latinas taught that visibility, ambition, and self-promotion are taboo unconsciously sabotage their potential. One executive never pitched her game-changing strategy - not from imposter syndrome, but because visibility felt like betraying her cultural values. This session reveals how to break these codes while honoring our culture.

AI is reshaping how information is created, distributed, and trusted. But it’s not just a threat - it’s an opportunity to reimagine what media can be. We will explore how AI is transforming business models, content incentives, and consumer expectations. From the rise of creators to the reinvention of trust, we’ll unpack what’s breaking, what’s possible, and how to build what’s next.

The climate crisis is now a public health emergency. Heatwaves, floods, and droughts are worsening chronic conditions and disrupting healthcare infrastructure. This panel brings together global experts in health, science, and technology to showcase real-world solutions that are strengthening health system resilience—from predictive models using climate and health data to AI tools and digital platforms enabling remote care in vulnerable regions. Technology can be the bridge between collapse and adaptation.

What if fashion could rewire your brain? Neuroscientist Dr. Heather Collins discusses Neurostyle: How shoes and clothing activate memory, mood, and neural storytelling—boosting focus, emotional resonance, and curiosity. From color-triggered cognition to texture-based associations, fashion activates neural empathy through shared aesthetic choices. Discover how style shapes brain states and how professionals—from designers to technologists—can harness fashion’s cognitive power to craft more inclusive, immersive, and high-performing environments, from runways to boardrooms.

In the digital age, creator relationships based on trust and long-term investment are the ultimate innovation. These relationships not only empower creators as content engines but as culture-shaping collaborators who drive full-funnel results. Learn how real influence begins when creators start in the strategy room and long-term partnerships are not only established but fostered.

We’re conditioned to play it safe—but what if the wild, unpolished ideas are actually the smartest bets? In this talk, you'll hear real stories of bold ideas that went from "no way" to "how did they do that?" It's a rallying cry for creators and leaders to stop self-editing, embrace bold thinking, and protect the unthinkable—because that’s where the magic (and real impact) happens.

What happens when filmmakers stop pitching to gatekeepers and start building their own audiences? They become creators—turning fans into financiers and evangelists. In this hands‑on workshop you'll dissect two campaigns that blew past their goals. You'll see the exact blueprint: pre-launch email lists, social teasers, personal stories, assembling a volunteer team, and designing a campaign video and page with eye-popping visuals. Leave with tactical takeaways you can apply to your projects immediately to build your strategy, craft your narrative, and turn backers into lifelong fans.

More than a gay hit, HBO’s “Heated Rivalry” is a massive phenomenon at the center of an unprecedented wave of LGBTQ+ content now shaping culture (think: “Stranger Things,” “The Hunting Wives”). It reflects the larger truth that queer is now mainstream, and that’s exactly how marketers need to think about LGBTQ+ content and consumers to seize a huge opportunity. Execs from GLAAD, Do The WeRQ, PrideNOW, and Mark Allen & CO. unpack this moment and present new data for brands, as the time is now to pivot to queer storytelling.

Work culture gaps remain unbridgeable at many companies, yet failing to shrink them in today's multi-generational work world is like ignoring the oil light on your dashboard. You're not avoiding a breakdown—you're scheduling it for later. Join this remarkable line-up of today's top work culture experts to hear what keeps driving the divides—and how these designers are helping firms shift traditional career models, link people strategy to business value and use AI and new narratives to improve how people experience work, not as a demographic challenge, but as a design and strategy imperative.

We’re wired to search. With billions of search queries per day, marketers have long known where and how to find their audiences.Now with the rise of generative engines and AI, the search landscape is facing its biggest upheaval in decades. Traditional search, long the backbone of digital strategy, is being rapidly replaced by generative engine optimization (GEO), fragmented user journeys, and new discovery ecosystems. This session will highlight immediate threats to legacy approaches and inspire strategies for brands, marketers, and advertisers to reclaim visibility and influence.

Marketing playbooks are dead. In this hands-on session, Erik Huberman—founder of Hawke Media—dives into what actually drives brand growth when algorithms shift daily, consumer trust is eroding, and AI-generated content floods the feed. You’ll learn how to test faster, adapt smarter, and build a resilient marketing engine in an era of uncertainty. No fluff. Just a strategy that works when nothing else makes sense.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Content Strategy/Production, Entrepreneurship.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Business Development, Entrepreneurship, Fashion/Retail, Funding, Marketing/Advertising/PR.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Journalism, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Art.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Marketing/Advertising/PR, Storytelling, Business Development.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Entrepreneurship, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in XR, Nonprofits, Storytelling.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Entrepreneurship, Storytelling, Marketing/Advertising/PR, Content Strategy/Production.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Entrepreneurship, Fintech, Funding.

Over the past few years, the Mexican music scene has undergone a powerful transformation—from a local ecosystem to a global force. This conversation explores how genres are crossing borders, why Spanish and Regional Mexicano have gained global prominence, and how Mexican festivals are attracting international artists and audiences. It will also examine the rise of music-driven tourism and Mexico’s growing influence as a global reference point for music, culture, and live entertainment.

The best companies come from founders who don't quite fit in. Steve Vassallo (Foundation Capital, former IDEO designer) calls them "missionary misfits,” founders who weave different disciplines together instead of mining one vertical. He believes these cross-domain builders create the most transformative companies. Steve will sit down with Framer co-founder, Jorn van Dijk, whose misfit position helped him and his co-founder spot the dysfunction between design and development, and create a company now worth $2B. Learn why being an outsider might be the ultimate competitive advantage.

Brands are increasingly turning to beloved songs and artists from the past to craft compelling narratives that resonate across generations. We’ll examine the symbiotic relationship between marketers, musicians, and music companies, showcasing how this approach revitalizes classic tracks while providing new revenue streams and exposure for artists and alternately, how advertisers creatively leverage nostalgia to boost sales and reinforce brand identity and cultural relevance. We'll discuss past campaigns and illuminate why this remains such an effective and enduring storytelling strategy.

Japan has a long history of developing fermentation technologies, which have served as the foundation for the growth of its biotechnology industry. Additionally, Japanese anime and games have garnered a large global fan base, generating excitement around new business opportunities utilizing these IPs. In this session, four speakers will share real-time insights from diverse perspectives on the forefront of Japan’s deep tech and IP businesses, as well as the emerging global ventures centered around them!

OPEN TO SXSW PANELPICKER EVALUATORS ONLY! Come meet your fellow SXSW PanelPicker Evaluators! This is your opportunity to network and chat with other professionals in our SXSW community who shape our Conference each year.

Ireland is redefining grid reliability as it races toward 80% renewable integration by 2030. Learn how EirGrid is pioneering solutions for one of the world’s most ambitious energy transitions. From advanced storage to AI-driven forecasting, discover the innovations making high-renewable grids stable, resilient, and future-ready.

No expedition survives without intelligent energy management.Not a body. Not a mountain. Not a planet.The “energy transition expedition” is not just about replacing fuels. It is about redesigning systems under pressure. Energy intelligence means integrating critical minerals, industrial capacity, grid modernization, digital infrastructure, regulation, and capital discipline into coordinated strategies.This panel examines how governments, startups and companies are leading the change to power sustainable growth in a high-stakes global transition.

Prof G Markets breaks down the news that’s moving the capital markets, helping you build financial literacy and security. Join Scott Galloway and Ed Elson for no mercy, no malice insight on high flying stocks, booming sectors, and master of the universe CEOs.

At Spotify, we’ve been developing tools to help artists and their teams build hype for new music and connect with new fans across the release cycle — from pre-release to release day and beyond — right on the platform where music is streamed. Join the Spotify music team to learn how to best leverage our products — like Countdown Pages, Clips, Music Videos, Marquee, Showcase, and more — across all phases of an artist’s journey.

Check out the SXSW Bookstore to browse the latest work authored by this year’s conference participants. Support your favorite speakers and find something you connect with to take back home. Open daily on the 6th floor of the Hilton Austin Downtown.

The SXSW Pitch provides a platform for early-stage technology startups to present their groundbreaking products and services to a panel of distinguished industry experts, influential media professionals, and leading venture capitalists and angel investors.

In the US and globally, civil society is facing existential challenges due to significant funding shortfalls resulting from cuts by the US and other traditional donors. For many nonprofits, this has meant imposing program cuts and layoffs, jeopardizing their ability to deliver on their missions sustainably.We plan to discuss the following challenges (or “snakes” according to Indigenous prophecy) undermining digital rights and how to overcome them: the shrinking of resources, the increasing power of Big Tech, data colonialism, the rise of war crimes, and energy-demanding technologies.

Depletion and disengagement are everywhere. Leaders are in crisis—decision-fatigued, over-optimized, and white-knuckling their way through weeks. AI, efficiency, and metrics aren’t answers.

Newsletters are increasingly going beyond just the written word, expanding into podcasts, in-person events, digital products, and more. This session goes deep inside the explosion of the newsletter industry and offers a pulse on where things are headed next. That evolution is opening the door for creators to turn small, loyal audiences into real businesses. But while every breakout creator starts with a small but highly engaged audience, turning that early traction into predictable income is where most get stuck. In this candid, tactical conversation, beehiiv CEO and co-founder Tyler Denk joins Jasmine Enberg, co-founder of creator economy media company Scalable, to unpack what actually drives sustainable growth in the creator economy today. Together, they’ll explore: 1. How early-stage creators identify and keep their highest-value audience. 2. What separates creators who break out from those who stall. 3. The first revenue streams that create real momentum and how newsletter models are evolving beyond writing (including Scalable). 4. The systems and workflows to scale your newsletter business. 5. The most common traps new creators fall into — and how to avoid them. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of the state of the newsletter industry and how to turn small audiences into long-lasting businesses.

AI is quickly becoming an active thinking partner, completely changing scientific discovery. That means, potentially faster cures, new drug uses, and insights to combat viruses. But it sparks key philosophical questions: Who owns AI-generated insight? How do we validate it? Are we more innovative or dependent? Join experts to explore AI's role in surfacing new questions, defining co-discovery, and navigating its risks/rewards for human health. A critical conversation on AI's radical impact on discovery.

Forget decks and buzzwords—this is a build-first session. In this interactive workshop, founders will use Vibe Coding, a fast, intuition-driven method for turning ideas into real products. Using LEGO® to spark rapid collaboration and system-level thinking, participants will physically map app components before we Vibe Code them into working software. Along the way, we’ll explore what it actually takes to build an enterprise-ready app—covering usability, security, reliability, and scalability—so speed doesn’t come at the expense of quality. Expect hands-on collaboration, high energy, and an open-source prototype you can keep building after SXSW. No coding expertise required—just ideas, creativity, and collaboration.

Today’s creators aren’t choosing between “the big screen” and “the second screen” - they’re working across both. This panel explores how visual storytelling shifts across platforms and formats, and how three very different filmmakers pursue the same goal: crafting compelling images for a media landscape that’s rapidly reshaping traditional production, distribution, and viewing habits. From a 30-second vertical reel to a full cinematic sequence, we’ll examine what changes, what stays the same, what creators can borrow from each space, and what it all signals about the future of filmmaking.

SailGP is transforming water into the world’s most thrilling sports arena. Founded by Larry Ellison and Sir Russell Coutts, this high-speed, data-driven, climate-positive sailing league is built for the digital age. With 60mph races in iconic cities, real-time data, and immersive broadcasting, SailGP delivers scroll-stopping content for Gen Z. It’s not just a sport—it’s a purpose-driven movement redefining how fans experience live competition and putting them at the heart of the action.

From the flickering screens of Hollywood horror, to the haunted cane fields of colonial Haiti, "Black Zombie" unearths the buried origins of the zombie, reclaiming it as a symbol of survival and spiritual resistance.

Authentic storytelling that captivates, surprises, and excites!

The Smiths have gathered once again on their quaint family farm to make the latest in a string of low-budget horror movies. No, the movies aren't particularly "successful." Some might even call them "bad." But at least the family is together, and that's what matters to Jack and Ellen. Their adult children, on the other hand - Trent and Ula - are working up the courage to leave this particular family tradition behind. Simmering family dysfunction turns to pure chaos when a real dead body shows up on set. Can they come together to keep the movie on track, or will this be the Smith family's final act?

Moments after surviving an all-out attack from the Le Domas family, Grace discovers she’s reached the next level of the nightmarish game — and this time with her estranged sister Faith at her side. Grace has one chance to survive, keep her sister alive, and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins rules it all.

Sixty years & a million records ago, Robert Christgau invented Rock music criticism. Anyone who has ever read or written a Pop music review has been influenced by Christgau, who canonized legends from The Ramones to Public Enemy & infuriated icons from Lou Reed to Billy Joel. Now in his eighties, Bob is still at it—amazingly with the same vigor, wit, concision and craft that has defined his expansive career. But in a world where albums are irrelevant, where print is dead & where algorithms have eclipsed critics we are forced to ask: What happens next—for Bob, but also for all music criticism? Is this the end of something? Is Robert Christgau the last critic?

Renowned Icelandic poet and author Andri Snær Magnason is chasing something elusive. As the glacial ice of his homeland melts, he constructs a cinematic time capsule to hold onto this moment and send it to the future, before everything he loves slips away. Using his own collected archives, his grandparents’ photographs, and films, as well as traditional songs and folktales, Andri interlaces his family’s story with that of the land around him. From Academy Award®-nominated director Sara Dosa, "Time and Water" is a universal reflection on the power of home and what it means to be alive amid profound epochal change.

Amy Webb will be signing copies of “The Big Nine, Signals Are Talking and Genesis Machine” at the SXSW Bookstore.

Inspired by the Emmy-Award winning short documentary of the same name (Netflix, 2023), "The Dads" chronicles fathers of trans and nonbinary children as they are forced to choose between country and family when a new right-wing administration and conservative Supreme Court take hold in the United States. Filmed over the course of a year spanning retreats in rural Maine and Minnesota, protests, family milestones, a pivotal U.S. Supreme Court decision, and the collapse of gender-affirming care for youth, "The Dads" captures this national reckoning with remarkable intimacy through verite footage and interviews with the film’s main protagonists. This is fatherhood as an act of radical resistance.

Everyone has that one idea. The big, unruly, “what if?” thing. The idea that feels exciting... and terrifying. Ambitious Things is a creative-philosophical talk about how to turn ambitious ideas into ambitious realities. Drawing on decades of experience leaping into the unknown, writer, director, and Studio Farland founder Hal Kirkland shares the small steps that help us start, keep going, and stay inspired enough to finish, without waiting for permission, certainty, or perfect conditions. A talk for anyone cradling the weight of a wild idea and who need a boost to finally make it real.

It’s estimated that 90% of content will be AI generated by 2026. But what does that actually mean for creators? The impending boom of AI generated content will create an algorithm shift. In a world where AI tools can create content that can instantly copy any aesthetic, sound, or format, trends will no longer be the path to relevance, but a path to fatigue. This presentation shares actionable insights to embrace radical individuality and make sure that content creators of today are not the ones that get left behind tomorrow.

Entrepreneurship is one of the last viable paths to economic mobility in America—offering ownership, stability, and long-term wealth. But that path is narrowing fast. Early-stage funding to women and underrepresented founders has dropped nearly 50% since 2020 (Crunchbase, 2023), while systems like childcare, capital access, and mentorship remain fragile. This session brings together cross-sector leaders to ask: What must we build now to keep entrepreneurship within reach for the next generation?

As creators become the cultural vanguard, brand marketing must evolve. Author of the ICYMI newsletter Lia Haberman joins Mike McGarry, SVP of Marketing at Patreon, in a conversation on how to build campaigns that don’t just feature creators — they center them. Learn actionable insights from Patreon's marketing strategy which amplifies authenticity, drives relevance, and builds loyalty across both creator and fan communities. Through viral case studies and creator-led activations, this session will arm marketers, CMOs, and creatives with the tools to thrive in a world where creators are the brand.

For this panel our moderator will chat with the Cinematographer and CLT of hit HBO Series, The Pitt. Our conversation will focus on lighting the ER of The Pitt and capturing the chaos of such a high stress environment of Season 1 & 2. We will dive into camera and lighting workflows, unique challenges of the shoot, and fun never-before-heard stories from life on set of The Pitt.

Building a music career today requires mentorship, community, and access. This panel brings together artists and brand leaders for an honest conversation about how brands can create platforms that nurture emerging talent and shape the next wave of music culture. Drawing from real experiences and programs like JBL’s Music Academy, panelists will talk about the tools and resources that help artists find their footing early on. The discussion will also explore how brands can show up in ways that feel genuinely helpful and rooted in creative growth.

Lithium, niobium, graphite, and rare earths are essential elements for batteries, electrification, and green technologies. The world is experiencing a new geopolitical era driven by these resources. The panel explores how global companies are investing in cleaner, more efficient supply chains aligned with energy security and ecological transition.

Electric vehicles are often discussed as a climate solution or a technological milestone, but their most powerful benefits may be human. Beyond emissions, EVs have the potential to change how our cities sound and feel, how people experience daily movement, and how transportation impacts health, stress, and overall quality of life. In this panel, ALSO President and Co-Founder Chris Yu and Rivian Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe explore the science behind why EV adoption can meaningfully improve everyday life, why EV adoption leads to better public health and more time spent outdoors, and the broader systems required to make electric mobility feel intuitive, enjoyable, and worth choosing every day.

Join Virginie Berger (Forbes) as she moderates a hard-hitting session with Kato On The Track, Michael MJ Jacob (CTO of BeatStars), and a leading industry voice to separate hype from harm. We’ll unpack real cases training data, rights and licensing and give creators the practical rules and tools they need to protect their work and profit from AI, not be erased by it.

Each year, MIT Technology Review reporters and editors assemble a list of the top breakthrough technologies that will change the world. We ask ourselves: What will really matter in the long run? And while we can’t see the future, we expect these technologies to affect our world in a big way, for decades to come. Niall Firth will share the publication’s list of ten breakthrough technologies with the SXSW audience, explaining each one and how it will impact the way we live and work.

Welcome to Albuquerque, home of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and now Pluribus! Creator Vince Gilligan will be joined by Rhea Seehorn (Pluribus' Carol and Better Call Saul's Kim) as well as composer Dave Porter, costume designer Jennifer Bryan, and producer Trina Siopy. The conversation will explore the collaborative process behind some of television's most acclaimed series, Albuquerque’s role as a creative anchor, and the close partnerships that have been cultivated over more than a decade working together. The group will also reflect on the longevity of a franchise that remains a juggernaut in the cultural zeitgeist, as well as the challenges of inventing a new universe in a familiar city.

The economic model that has funded the Internet for three decades is breaking. AI systems now provide answers directly instead of sending users to websites, and AI agents are beginning to handle transactions without people ever visiting a site. Content creators are losing traffic and revenue, and nobody has figured out what replaces it.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Doc Filmmakers, Funding/Artist Support, Producers/Production.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Development, Doc Filmmakers, Funding/Artist Support.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Funding/Artist Support, Programming.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Doc Filmmakers, Narrative Filmmakers, Screenwriting.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Funding/Artist Support, Development, Narrative Filmmakers, Doc Filmmakers.

While everyone is focused on channels like TikTok and Instagram, B2B creators are quietly building the next $100M wave in the creator economy. These "professional creators" aren’t chasing trends, they’re trusted experts turning LinkedIn, newsletters, and podcasts into engines for influence and revenue. This panel brings together leading voices from both sides of the ecosystem (Brand and Creator) to explore how creators are transforming B2B go-to-market strategies, reshaping brand trust, and unlocking new ways to drive growth in high-consideration industries.

This candid conversation goes behind the scenes of two original, one-location genre films that did the impossible. COHERENCE began as a micro-budget, largely improvised experiment made with a group of friends in a single house, and went on to build a global cult following that’s still growing more than a decade later. IT’S WHAT’S INSIDE, an underdog midnight selection from first-time filmmakers, premiered at Sundance and shocked the industry with a $17M sale. Together James and Kate will unpack how these mind-bending films were made outside the traditional system, how creative constraint becomes the engine instead of the obstacle, and why trusting audiences to lean into complexity might be the smartest move a filmmaker can make right now.

The objective of this session is to get more Early-Stage companies to apply for funding through the 200+ Angel Groups and Funds across the US. The strategy is to explain how the "Industry" actually works, from the perspective of people on the inside of one of the most active Angel groups in the US (Central Texas Angels) and a highly experienced Angel investor (investments in 110 companies through Angel Groups). This is a chance to demystify a process which a lot of entrepreneurs see as too difficult to be worth doing---and to help get the broad-based US innovation economy back in gear again.

You’ve seen the viral humanoid demos—now meet the people actually shipping them. From hospitals to warehouses, humanoid robots are already on shift. They ride elevators, open doors, and work alongside people in busy environments. But making that leap from prototype to real-world, reliable performance? It’s hard. This panel brings together renowned founders and researchers who’ve built and deployed some of the first real humanoids at scale. Join us for a behind-the-scenes conversation about what's working, what’s not, and what it really takes to get robots out of the lab and into the world.

Starting a business is exciting, but skipping legal basics can lead to expensive mistakes. In this session, attorney and founder Morgan Ipanema breaks down the essential steps to legally protect and scale your business. From choosing the right structure to safeguarding your brand and client relationships, this session gives women-led startups, creatives, and freelancers the tools to grow confidently—without the legal overwhelm.

So you've written or gotten your hands on a great screenplay...now what? Emily Robinson (UGLY CRY), Michael Lukk Litwak (MOLLI & MAX IN THE FUTURE), and Hannah Pearl Utt (BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, CORA BORA) are here to tell you how they did it. Making your first narrative feature is a daunting process. Come take a fascinating peak behind the lens to hear how these three extraordinary filmmakers did it. We'll look at how they collaborated with their producers and dozens of other craftspeople and artisans to create masterpieces with small budgets but great vision.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Accessibility, XR, Entrepreneurship.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Women in Music, Startups, Marketing/PR.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in A&R, Audio/Production (Recording/Mixing/Mastering), Publishing, Songwriting, Sync/Licensing.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Entrepreneurship, Storytelling, Funding.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Marketing/Advertising/PR, Future of Work, Storytelling.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Product Management/Development, Future of Work, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Sync/Licensing, Emerging Technologies, Music Tech.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Sync/Licensing, Women in Music.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Merchandise, Music Tech, Sales & Sponsorships.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Business Development, Entrepreneurship, Marketing/Advertising/PR, Product Management/Development.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Funding, Product Management/Development, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Marketing/PR, Health & Wellness, Women in Music.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Marketing/PR, Nonprofits, Startups.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Management, Songwriting, Women in Music.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Business Development, Entrepreneurship.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Marketing/Advertising/PR, Entrepreneurship.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Business Development, Entrepreneurship.

The problem isn’t AI — it’s our leadership model. We’re still leading like humans are the only ones in the room… as the room quietly fills with AI agents. In the very near future, every decision will be co-authored by humans, AI agents, and live ecosystem signals — and the leaders who master this orchestration will rewrite how business works. Near Futurist Neil Redding shows how leadership must evolve in the Agentic Era, from command and control to the orchestration of human–AI symbiosis. You’ll leave with a clear mental model for leading in systems where humans and AI participate together, plus daily leadership rituals for thriving as business capabilities evolve in real time.

An offbeat comedy about friendship, purpose, and trying to grow something real in a city built to keep people apart. Cory is a lonely, doomscrolling thirty-something whose most consistent relationship is with his Instagram algorithm. His apartment? An emotionally vacant, sterile, void. His fridge? Mostly Celsius. And his idea of connection is dodging calls from the one person who still tries: Fox, a soft-hearted, ex-con with terrible advice rooted in institutional paranoia and his love of films. Everything shifts when Cory has a run-in, literally, with Plantman, a rogue horticultural crusader armed with a mysterious dossier of negligent plant owners.

From skincare routines grounded in clinical science to fitness journeys fueled by community, modern brands live inside consumers’ daily rituals. In a world shaped by real-time insight and AI-enhanced personalization, these marketing leaders will explore how they transform precision into passion — turning data-backed credibility and performance metrics into emotionally resonant stories. This conversation examines how technology can sharpen relevance, while human-centered storytelling builds trust, inspires action, and creates lasting connection.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in "Sales, Acquisitions, & Distribution", Publicity & Marketing, Producers/Production.

An extension of our popular Mentor Sessions, our Round Table Sessions not only allow attendees to learn from the industry experts that sit at each of the three tables in this session but they also allow attendees to learn from the questions and experiences of their peers as well. This Round Table Session will bring together industry experts and SXSW attendees for an enlightening discussion on Producing.

Join us for networking and collaboration at our SAAS Professionals Meet Up! Whether you’re in business developement, a developer, marketer, entrepreneur, product manager, or account manager this event is designed to bring together passionate individuals from the software as a service (SAAS) community.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Doc Filmmakers, Narrative Filmmakers, Producers/Production, "Sales, Acquisitions, & Distribution".

When Rana’s visa application is denied, she faces the reality of returning home to Iran. That is, until Adam – her wealthy boss’s son and her summer fling – proposes a green card wedding. Wrestling with the implications of his offer, Rana enlists help from a questionable shaman, Adam’s pure-hearted mom, and most importantly her two Iranian best friends Nadia and Setareh, who arrive on Cape Cod for a wedding weekend full of opinions, chaos, and drama with their own American boyfriends. Just as total disaster approaches, the three women come together in a transformative moment of acceptance, growth, and coming of age – evolving this weekend into one that will change them all forever.

A vibrant meetup for South Asians across entertainment, media, startups, and beyond. Whether you're an artist, creative, filmmaker, standup comedian, or a founder, join this space to build meaningful connections, share ideas, and find your crew. From diaspora storytelling to cross-industry collabs, this session is where South Asian excellence meets SXSW energy. Open to all who want to grow community and amplify our voice.

In the summer of 2000, four pre-teen friends formed a band called X-Cetra and burned a homemade album onto a few CD-Rs. The following year, consumed by adolescent concerns of boys and drug store shoplifting, their labor of love was quickly forgotten.... Until 20 years later, when someone uploaded it online. At first, it garnered a small base of outsider-art fans, but soon it was discovered by record labels, sampled by mainstream artists, and eventually the subject of a Rolling Stone article. With their teen dreams of pop stardom coming true decades later, X-Cetra reunites to see if they can rekindle the unselfconscious girlhood they’d captured in the album those many years ago.

The SXSW Pitch provides a platform for early-stage technology startups to present their groundbreaking products and services to a panel of distinguished industry experts, influential media professionals, and leading venture capitalists and angel investors.

The Agency Owners Meet Up is a place for founders, owners, managers, and directors of creative and digital agencies to come together in the midst of the whirlwind that is SXSW. You are not alone, whether you are one person in a home office or a team of hundreds, we all share similar challenges in the daily struggles of running a successful agency. When agencies talk with each other and collaborate, it benefits everyone! Join your speakers and agency professionals from around the world as we take a moment to network, connect, share, collaborate, and spark ideas.

Sports fandom is evolving from passive viewership to active, always-on participation. Fans, Athletes, and Creators are reshaping how culture is made, shared, and celebrated. This session explores how brands can authentically tap into the new dynamics of fandom, from game days to off-seasons. Learn how Athletes are the new storytellers, how fan communities are driving cultural moments, and how marketers can show up with relevance and purpose in this new era of sports and engagement.

Storytellers reveal truths that connect us—uncovering hidden patterns, holding up mirrors to society, exploring our shared humanity, and amplifying voices at the margins. Individual stories gain power when they accumulate, from the #MeToo movement to documentaries that change how we see the world. But decades of human choices—about technology, distribution, and who profits -—have left storytellers without basic infrastructure to tell stories that matter. How do storytellers preserve their power to reveal, connect, and transform?

The panel brings together artists using immersive tools — from AR and AI to dance and gaming — to explore how we can reimagine archives, reclaim erased histories, and create portals into the past and future. Each of us approaches this through different mediums, but with a shared urgency around memory, embodiment, and speculative technology. The idea is to explore how immersive practices can act as a kind of time travel: allowing us to move through historical absence and presence, remix narratives, and build alternate realities where marginalized voices take center stage.

What does it take to turn raw, real-life moments into a binge-worthy, culture-shifting unscripted hit? From the rise of reality competition shows to docuseries that dominate streaming charts, the unscripted genre is having a serious moment. But while the content may be “real,” the strategy behind it is anything but improvised. Join Ryan O’Dowd, President of Unscripted at BBC Studios, Sharon Vuong, EVP of Unscripted Programming at NBC, Jilly Pearce, SVP of Unscripted for ABC & Hulu and Emily Longeretta, Sr. TV Features Editor at Variety, as they dive into the magic of making unscripted content that travels globally. We’ll explore how formats are born, why authenticity matters more than ever, and how producers are adapting to shorter attention spans, TikTok culture, and the binge-all-in-one-weekend model. Whether it’s turning everyday people into breakout stars or local stories into international sensations, this panel pulls back the curtain on what works, what flops, and what’s next in unscripted.

Big brands have big budgets, but scrappy brands win by embracing "weird"—something their larger counterparts can’t replicate. This session unites "CPG Avengers": founders, creative leaders, and brand stewards who've built fanatic communities from scratch. They're forging businesses with great scale and impact in record time. Hear how they're redefining the GTM playbook by inventing their own. We'll cover everything from cults to clubhouses to coffins. These experts shaped modern brand-building and will reveal unconventional strategies that continue to outmaneuver giants.

Can industry partnerships lead to scientific breakthroughs? Can climate science support business interests? Partnerships lead to win-win outcomes: business needs sparking scientific “Eureka!” moments and science innovation supporting business decisions. Join the non-profit University Corporation for Atmospheric Research for a talk at the nexus of science and industry: a research institution connecting climate science to real-world users, a startup using quantum sensors to detect oil and gas leaks, and an exploration company realizing efficiencies and reducing emissions with new technologies.

What if the traits you need to succeed are the exact opposite of what you’ve been told?

Status - one of the biggest determinants of our quality of life and career success - is poorly understood and rarely discussed. Professor Alison Fragale, organizational psychologist and bestselling author of Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve, sheds light on the science of status and its relationship to power in the workplace: what it is, why it matters, and how we leverage it for individual and collective success.

Jenn Whitmer will be signing copies of “Joyosity” at the SXSW Bookstore.

From her crumbling estate on the Potomac, Yolanda Signorelli von Braunhut is engaged in a David-and-Goliath battle to wrest control of her late husband Harold’s iconic toy Amazing Live Sea Monkeys! back from the corporate men who she insists stole them from her. Harold von Braunhut and Yolanda Signorelli worked together for forty years before Harold - a genius magician, scientist and inventor – passed away and left his iconic novelty toy in Yolanda’s care. Yolanda alone possesses the true Sea-Monkeys secret formula and she alone must free them, not only from their captors, but also from the stain of her husband’s dark legacy.

Girl Tones, of planet Earth, are a high-energy rock duo brought to life by two sisters named Kenzie and Laila. Both classically trained musicians, Kenzie transitioned from cello to guitar and Laila from piano to drums in an effort to electrify sentient beings from this galaxy to the next. Their debut releases were produced by Brad Shultz of Cage The Elephant and released via his label Parallel Vision in partnership with Big Loud Rock.Their first offerings have earned the praise of Rolling Stone, VICE, Consequence, PAPER, NME, DORK and many others with Flaunt saying, “Their sound is fluid, and yet with each release, they evolve as a harmonious group, developing their unique sound as one.”Girl Tones has toured with Cage The Elephant across the globe, as well as The Velveteers, hey, nothing. and Silversun Pickups in North America. Making their unignorable festival debut at Lollapalooza, Shaky Knees, Austin City Limits and more, Rolling Stone said, “While the White Stripes — their most obvious comparison — were about controlled energy, Girl Tones are proudly imperfect.”As the band jumps into 2026, they have no shortage of new music and new tour dates up their sleeves.

Are you an aspiring music industry professional or emerging artist? Come learn more about GRAMMY U, the Recording Academy's membership program for full-time college students, or those aged 18-29, pursuing a music career.GRAMMY U Representatives Ily Aguilar (National Projects Rep) and Mykel Merritt (Texas Chapter Rep) will kick things off by discussing the member benefits that come with GRAMMY U, which is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year. Afterward, network with Recording Academy staff, Texas Chapter Board members, and fellow industry peers who are excited to take the next step in their music careers.

Nora is late. Alice unceremoniously brought her partner, whose name no one can remember. Jayae doesn't want to be around "these" people...but came anyway? And Genevieve, the host, has put an unhealthy amount of pressure on this eviction funeral (kinda cringe, right?) to solve all of their problems. As they barrel through the evening, this disintegrating friend group, delirious from the heat and lack of food, desperately throws Hail Marys, caution to the wind, and lamb against the wall, trying to harness some semblance of what they used to have. ...and then their dead friend shows up.

Q&A moderated by Kara Swisher. Set inside the bubble of Silicon Valley, The Audacity takes on the warped dreams, outsized egos, and ethical lapses of the self-styled inventors of the future. In a world of jaded billionaires, psychiatrist-gurus, bio-hacked tech bros, AI labs and disillusioned teens being optimized in elite private schools, an audacious data-mining CEO (Billy Magnussen) strives to turn insight and influence into profit and power. The darkly comedic drama confronts reality, privacy, and the delusions fueling our ever-changing world.

"Daughters of the Forest" is a story of entanglements: between humans and mushrooms; the visible and the invisible; generational knowledge and modern science. This sci-fi documentary invites us to reconsider the experiences of both human and non-human inhabitants of our world. We follow Lis and Juli, two young scientists from indigenous communities that have long lived in symbiosis with the many mushrooms in their regions. The world they know is changing, and their pursuits are threatened by deforestation, lack of opportunity, and loss. Still, they share how mushrooms show us different possibilities of coexistence, helping them overcome obstacles to reshape their lives and futures.

Jenny Wood will be signing copies of “Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It” at the SXSW Bookstore.

Famous Friend is the sun-bleached, indie surf solo project of ASCAP award-winning artist and producer Zachariah Carlson. Born out of the fame-soaked dreamscape of West Los Angeles, Famous Friend began as an alter-ego, a playful mirror of the city’s obsession with image. His music blends washed-out indie surf guitars with sparkling dream pop production and post-punk drums, balancing joy and heartbreak in equal measure.

Internationally acclaimed artist Tom Sachs transforms everyday materials into visionary works and inimitable worlds. From his New York studio, Sachs leads his team in a multidisciplinary art practice across sculpture, painting, ceramics, industrial and graphic design, and movie making. His body of work notably includes his bricolage Space Program, NikeCraft, and the recently published Tom Sachs Guide (Phaidon). He has exhibited at institutions such as The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, The Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, and the Mori Art Museum, Tokyo. In this session, Sachs discusses the path from idea to execution to exhibition, shares the rituals and obsessions that perpetuate curiosity and creativity, and explains his latest and biggest conceptual work, I.S.R.U–and how you can be part of it.

This is a live broadcast of the session happening in the Hilton Austin Salon HJK. The Simulcast can be viewed in any of the following locations: Hilton Austin Downtown: Salon B Austin Marriott Downtown: Waller Ballroom C JW Marriott: Salon D The LINE: Topaz Ballroom 1-3 Omni Downtown: Bridge Ballroom AB Downright Austin: Capital Room ABCD Fairmont: Next Stage (Manchester Ballroom) Innovation Clubhouse Film & TV Clubhouse Music Clubhouse SP House

Grace Sorensen is one of the fastest independent-rising stars in the music scene. As a multi-hyphenate singer, songwriter, and dancer, she’s been dubbed "Austin's Wonderkid" and “Austin’s R&B Cool Girl” by the Austin Chronicle and KUTX. In her young career she has already been featured on Joe Budden’s “Sleeper Picks,” collaborated with BLK ODYSSY, been inducted to the Recording Academy's Class of 2025, played Austin City Limits Festival, SXSW Austin & London, and surpassed one million organic streams on her single "Digits.” She debuted her versatile album "BLUEPRINT" February 2025 and has exciting expectation of new collaborations, visual projects, and records.

When Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny (Nick Jonas) during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves - even if it means risking everything he cares about. From writer-director John Carney (Sing Street, Once), POWER BALLAD is a feel-good story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition. Lionsgate presents, in association with 30WEST + Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, a Likely Story / Distressed Films production, in association with Treasure Entertainment.

In the summer of '69, Lenny Baker and his best friend Calvin Reddick went to Woodstock. What they witnessed there changed their lives, so much so that they decided to never go home again. Armed with a vision of a new path forward, they built a life in upstate New York alongside Rebecca and Lizzy, two women they met at the festival and married soon after. Decades of willful detachment followed, but every trip has its comedown. Now, more than half a century later and with his marriage up in smoke, Lenny is forced to face a hard truth: the better world they once envisioned never quite arrived… and if it ever does, he won't be around to see it. Calvin's sudden death makes that painfully clear.

Teen birth rates in America’s Heartland are among the highest in the nation. And in the wake of the landmark Dobbs decision, a Christian maternity home in Arkansas becomes a crossroads in the lives of three pregnant teenagers. Filmed over two years with intimate verite access, baby/girls follows Olivia, Grace and Ariana as they give birth and attempt to break the cycle of poverty, addiction, and abuse that has marked their own childhoods. With rare proximity and emotional clarity, baby/girls offers a powerful portrait of young women coming of age in a place where choice, faith, and generational traumas collide.

Isaac “Drift” Wright, a self-taught photographer and Army veteran haunted by trauma, finds healing through breathtaking, illegal climbs of the world’s tallest structures. But his pursuit of art sparks a high-stakes battle with law enforcement in this intimate portrait of risk, resilience, and freedom in modern America.

Tom Sachs will be signing copies of “Toms Sachs Guide” at the SXSW Bookstore.

Successful brand–creator relationships have moved beyond one-off sponsored posts. Now, brands are building long-term collaborations grounded in authenticity — not just treating creators like media buys. Join Lia Haberman as she discusses the future of this evolving landscape with brand leaders Carly Gomez, Josh Line and John Sullivan. They’ll discuss current trends like co-creation and employee brand ambassador programs as well as the future of where they think these relationships are heading.

Artist Demo Listening Sessions, Presented by Discovr Radio, at SXSW are an interactive format where attendees have the opportunity to play demos for music experts, sparking real-time feedback and meaningful industry connections. You must be present to have your music in the running to be heard! SXSW attendees not having demos played are encouraged to attend and listen in on the fun! Each session will be followed up a social hour. Physical submissions will not be accepted at the door. Demo’s will be played on a first-come, first-served basis and attendees must submit their demo’s prior to the day of the session by 11:59pm. Please carefully read and fill out the form below to officially submit your demo: https://airtable.com/appYFNh7bkKd8nmwh/pagfBEWaVPizme5jr/form

As storytelling expands into extended reality media, such as immersive films, VR, MR, AI glasses and location-based installations, spatial audio is emerging as one of the key narrative forces.

What if a city could be beta tested like an app? In South Downtown Atlanta, tech entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders are transforming 16 acres of historic real estate into a living lab for innovation, equity, and urban reinvention. This panel brings together the visionaries behind the movement to explore how startups, real estate, and even robot dogs are converging to reimagine what cities—and civic life—can look like in the 21st century.

Every artist has a story, but not every artist knows how to tell it consistently. This session explores how musicians can define their brand identity and build a sustainable content strategy that supports long-term growth. We’ll break down practical methods for clarifying your creative voice, designing visual and emotional cohesion, and developing a posting rhythm that amplifies your music without burning you out. Perfect for emerging and mid-level artists looking to strengthen their connection with fans, media, and industry partners.

What if you could spend an hour at SXSW… at grief camp? A place where everyone’s been through something hard, and no one pretends they’re “fine.” Experience Camps is flipping the script on how we process grief through play, connection, and clinically informed practices. In this immersive workshop. clinically-trained counselors and facilitators will guide you through activities designed to explore the expression and processing of grief. It’s playful, messy, cathartic, and it’s for anyone ready to rethink grief and connection. Grievers and non-grievers are welcome!

After a lifetime studying consciousness, famed neuroscientist Dr. Christof Koch had a profound, "no self, no memories, no time, no space, just terror and ecstasy" experience after deliberately taking a potent psychedelic. He argues, if we claim to be students of consciousness, we must explore its most dramatic manifestations. This story launches into the most urgent questions of our time: What is consciousness, really? As AI rapidly advances and we grow complex "mini-brains" in labs, understanding what it means to "feel" or "be" is no longer just philosophy—it's critical for our future.

Join former Navy SEAL turned master storyteller John Allen (aka MrBallen) fresh off his new deal with SiriusXM for a riveting conversation about captivating storytelling, podcasts’ role in the creator economy, and working with brands. With over 10M subscribers on YouTube alone and a loyal community of listeners who tune in weekly for his creative brand of “strange, dark, and mysterious” stories, MrBallen unveils how he’s redefining the true crime genre across audio, video, social, and live, and the opportunity for brands to tap into one of the most passionate fandoms in podcasting.

Authentic storytelling that captivates, surprises, and excites.

Creators and users are locked in digital “serfdom” by corporate social media’s algorithms and business models. Rabble, Bridget Todd, and Rudy Fraser will tackle how to break free from the feudal overlords of tech, and explain why Musk buying Twitter aided the move to decentralized apps. They’ll dig into new financial models, open protocols, and new community apps that empower creators and users without enriching platform owners. Learn how to create strategies that sustain social communities, and why open, user-first social apps are gaining in popularity with creators and audiences alike.

Listen to live audio sessions from this venue, and get closed captions on your device.

Let's be honest: many managers would rather eat glass than tell you why you really didn't get the promotion, assignment, raise, or bonus. But their avoidance is creating a bigger problem - when leaders dodge difficult conversations, they create a vacuum where perceptions of unfairness flourish. Workplace expert Amy Gallo reveals how the inability (or unwillingness) to have hard conversations is eroding trust in organizations. You'll learn what transparency really looks like, how to demand the feedback you deserve, and why meritocracy is impossible without managers who can handle the heat.

A hands-on session for artists, storytellers, and makers of all kinds. Build visuals, music, and media experiences - no code required. Every creative idea starts with a feeling: a scene in your mind, a sound in your head, or a story you keep coming back to. This workshop is for anyone who wants to bring those ideas to life, with a little help from generative AI. You’ll explore how tools like Veo (for video), Lyria (for music), and Nano Banana (for images) can help you shape what you imagine into something you can actually see, hear, and share. Laptop & headphones/earbuds recommended.

In a time of global rupture, this SXSW Campfire brings founders, builders, and ecosystem leaders together to create new connections. Led by Brenda Balmares (Monterrey, Mexico) and Kevin Koym (Austin, Texas), the meetup centers on bridge-building, cross-border collaboration, and relationships that help navigate what comes next—and turn change into opportunity.

Cherokee Film sits down with leading Native American directors and writers to discuss breaking into the industry, working in Hollywood, what's up next for independent film, and what they're binge watching right now.

The mesopelagic zone, or Ocean Twilight Zone, where light begins to disappear, is home to creatures that are crucial to regulating our climate through the largest migration on the planet that locks away 2-6 gigatons of carbon every year. With improving technology and increasing demand for fish protein, industry is exploring ways to exploit these deep-sea animals for uses like fish oil and pet food. This session will showcase the amazing animals that live in the deep, their role in regulating our planet’s climate, and international efforts to keep this vital carbon pump functioning like it should.

Monica Nassif didn’t just build a brand—she bottled a legacy. I Bottled My Mother is the gritty, hilarious, heartfelt origin story behind Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, the cult-favorite cleaning line inspired by Monica’s real-life mom, Thelma Meyer: a whip-smart, no-nonsense Midwesterner who raised nine children with little more than elbow grease, common sense, and a garden full of vegetables. Part startup manual, part memoir, this is the candid story of how one woman turned domestic skills into corporate strategy, and a small soap company into a household name.

From assessing pitches to staffing writers’ rooms to offering script notes and more, Universal Studio Group’s television executives dive-deep into their development processes and share what makes for a strong, mutually advantageous relationship between creators and a studio. Gain insights from the people behind recent & upcoming series, including The Five-Star Weekend, Ponies, We Were Liars, Cape Fear, Too Much, All Her Fault and many more.

How do you take a character from one TV spot to icon and keep her relevant, beloved & funny for 15+ years?Join the creative team and the woman behind the white apron: Stephanie Courtney, AKA Flo. Alongside Progressive Insurance (brand), Arnold (agency) and Station (production) , she’ll help unpack how one ad grew into a universe of characters, comedic styles and unforgettable moments. From Flo’s personas, to red carpet parodies and blockbuster genre spoofs, this campaign has done it all. Expect BTS stories, comedic insights and lessons on longevity in an industry that often chases the new.

Beyoncé did it. Kendrick did it. Taylor did it. Now it’s your turn. This immersive workshop (with a killer soundtrack) turns rejection, rivalry, and resentment into creative fire. From The Count of Monte Cristo to Kill Bill, we’ll channel iconic revenge arcs, neuroscience insights, and pop power plays. In doing so, we'll reframe past slights as story fuel, sharpen your personal or professional brand, and turn petty into power moves. Part life strategy, part anti-hero training camp, this is your chance to alchemize grudge into growth. Who said motivation had to be pure?

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in A&R, Management, Women in Music.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Art, Business Development, Content Strategy/Production, "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion", Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Future of Work, Journalism, Marketing/Advertising/PR, Nonprofits, Policy, Product Management/Development, Storytelling, Sustainability.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Business Development, Content Strategy/Production, Marketing/Advertising/PR.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Marketing/Advertising/PR, Content Strategy/Production.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Management, Streaming & Programming.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Content Strategy/Production, Journalism, Storytelling.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in MedTech, Entrepreneurship, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Entrepreneurship, Future of Work, Marketing/Advertising/PR, Storytelling.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Business Development, Entrepreneurship, Marketing/Advertising/PR.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Management, A&R, Women in Music.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Business Development, Entrepreneurship, Marketing/Advertising/PR.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Marketing/PR, Media/Journalism, Women in Music.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Contracts & Agreements, IP & Copyright, Sync/Licensing.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Music Tech, Sync/Licensing, A&R.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Streaming & Programming, Marketing/PR, Distribution.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Storytelling, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Future of Work.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Business Development.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in A&R, Sync/Licensing, Publishing.

Making is evolving from traditional craft to digital storytelling. In the era of social media, we’re finding more creators showcase their physical talents online. This Meet Up brings together modern makers working with diverse materials, platforms, and disciplines who are redefining what it means to create today. Whether you’re building by hand, sharing your process online, or blending the physical and digital, this is a space to connect, exchange ideas, and find others shaping the future of making.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Development, Narrative Filmmakers, Screenwriting.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Narrative Filmmakers, Screenwriting, Producers/Production.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Acting, Development, Funding/Artist Support, Narrative Filmmakers, Producers/Production, Screenwriting.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Acting, Doc Filmmakers, Narrative Filmmakers, Producers/Production, Screenwriting, Development.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Narrative Filmmakers, Screenwriting, Producers/Production.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Narrative Filmmakers, Acting, "Sales, Acquisitions, & Distribution".

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Producers/Production, Narrative Filmmakers, VR/XR Filmmaking.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Agents & Managers, Narrative Filmmakers, Acting.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Doc Filmmakers, Narrative Filmmakers, Producers/Production.

Most creators don’t get screwed in dramatic blowups. They sign their rights away quietly in contracts that look “standard.” In fact, 6 out of 10 creators don’t realize they’ve given up ownership until it’s already gone. This isn’t a legal lecture. It’s a hard reset on how creators should think about IP, licensing, and leverage before agreeing to the deal. The Creator CEO Playbook shows how to spot ownership traps early and stop trading long-term assets for one-time checks.

Synthetic media (AI-generated photo and video) increasingly undermines public trust in news imagery at a time when democratic resilience depends on accurate, verifiable information. This panel unpacks the adaptation of “radical” transparency as a tool for re-establishing public trust and cultivating audience literacy in the face of AI’s growing influence. Visual journalists and strategists will tackle how to establish image integrity in an AI-saturated world; why robust attribution and transparency is a key path forward in rebuilding public trust and is a news sustainability practice.

We all know elections are won in the middle so why aren't politicians giving the people what they want? In a live taping of their podcast Raging Moderates, professor and entrepreneur Scott Galloway and political strategist and The Five co-host Jessica Tarlov will give those of us who reside somewhere between the center left and the center right their takes on the latest politics all through a centrist lens.

An extension of our popular Mentor Sessions, our Round Table Sessions not only allow attendees to learn from the industry experts that sit at each of the three tables in this session but they also allow attendees to learn from the questions and experiences of their peers as well. This Round Table Session will bring together industry experts and SXSW attendees for an enlightening discussion on Acting.

As AI agents begin to act on our behalf—signing contracts, moving value, and managing data—we face a new crisis of authority: How does an autonomous system prove it truly represents you? Ian Rogers, Ledger CXO, explores the evolution of ownership and control in an AI-native world. This session moves beyond protecting assets to securing human intent. Discover why cryptographic signing and hardware-backed control are the essential layers for a responsible agent economy. Learn how to embrace the massive potential of AI without sacrificing autonomy or the human root of trust.

Have an idea that could launch the space industry into its next era? Join a vibrant gathering of space tech pioneers, passionate enthusiasts, and established space professionals. This is your platform to pitch innovative concepts, receive feedback on new and expanding ideas, and forge powerful connections. Come to share, learn, and collaborate with the brightest minds charting the future of space.

Superconnectors' - those who seem hyper-connected to large networks of people - are naturally drawn to SXSW. They thrive in a creative and innovative environment like SXSW which affords countless opportunities to meet interesting people. In its third year at SXSW, the Superconnectors Meet Up is intentionally designed to give business development professionals a place to network with other business leaders.

The SXSW Pitch provides a platform for early-stage technology startups to present their groundbreaking products and services to a panel of distinguished industry experts, influential media professionals, and leading venture capitalists and angel investors.

AI is transforming work fast, but humans aren’t always keeping pace. Change rarely stalls on technology; it stalls when people lack clarity, safety, or inclusion. This panel, led by Workhuman, gets practical about the culture mechanics behind transformation. We’ll explore how to gain AI’s speed and scale while amplifying human strengths, build alignment during change, and use everyday signals to measure new ways of working. Expect candid stories, real tradeoffs, and a playbook for keeping humans at the center.

This session explores the cultural phenomenon of “the debrief” in creator-brand collaboration. Industry experts in creator partnerships and branded content strategy will discuss how brands can rethink outdated briefing processes, focusing on building trust, embracing transparency, and creating content that fits naturally into creators' lives. Attendees will gain fresh insights on working with creators authentically, moving away from rigid briefs, and integrating brands seamlessly into their content.

Work is not disappearing.It is being redistributed — between humans, machines, and the systems that connect them.As humans become augmented by data and algorithms, the architecture of work — jobs, skills, organizations, and even nations — is being rewritten.This session explores how AI infrastructure, talent ecosystems, and strategic policy are redefining global power dynamics. If work as we knew it is over,who controls what comes next? Do we need controls?And how should leaders, workers, and societies prepare for this shift?

In today’s market, the challenge isn’t finding opportunities, it’s finding signal in the noise. Join Nizar Tarhuni, EVP of Research & Market Intelligence at PitchBook, and a leading investor for a data-driven conversation on where capital is flowing in 2026, the signals investors care about most, how AI is reshaping sourcing and diligence, and what current dynamics mean for fundraising and valuation strategy. Founders will gain a clear view into how investors are making decisions—and how to position their companies to stand out and get funded.

The age of passive music consumption is ending. Today’s fans don’t just stream, they are stepping into the role of creator, collaborator, remixer. Driven by intuitive platforms, mobile-first production tools, and immersive technologies, the barriers to entry for music creation have never been lower. This panel explores how this shift is transforming the roles of artists, brands and platforms,from how songs are made to how artists connect with fans, and what tools and strategies are shaping this new creative era.

For decades, the open movement championed sharing as the path to knowledge equity—billions of works freely accessible and reusable across research, education, and culture. But AI weaponizes that openness: what was built to democratize knowledge now trains models that concentrate power and profit. Open data scraping. Closed model development. Free content fueling extraction. As we mark Creative Commons' 25th anniversary, we confront an impossible question: how do we keep knowledge open without enabling its exploitation?

From the pay gap and barriers to safer spaces and breakthrough wins — women and gender-expansive voices in music are demanding more than representation. They’re building a new industry. This session brings artists, execs, and advocates together to explore where we are, what’s still in the way, and how we move forward. Expect bold ideas, real talk, and actionable steps to drive change and empower the next generation.

It’s never been easier to get 10 million views—and never harder to turn that into a fan who buys a ticket. This advanced session breaks down how top artist teams use fan signals from short-form content to build brands that outlast trends. Hear real stories of how UGC patterns, platform data, and community insights drive visuals, merch, partnerships, and tours—turning virality into real demand. Expect honest lessons on what flops, what scales, and why every viral moment needs a long-term loyalty plan.

Homeownership remains one of the most powerful drivers of generational wealth, shaping financial security, stability, and long-term opportunity. This panel will unpack the cost of waiting to buy a home, the rising influence of intergenerational transfers, and the different forms of wealth a home creates. Together, we’ll explore what it will take to preserve homeownership as a pathway to prosperity for future generations.

This summer, the world’s greatest sporting event FIFA WORLD CUP returns to the U.S. for the first time in three decades. But this isn’t just any event, FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 promises to deliver a cultural moment that defines a generation. FOX Sports broadcasters and U.S. Soccer legends Alexi Lalas, Stu Holden and Carli Lloyd talk with acclaimed host and reporter Jenny Taft, reflecting on the evolution of the beautiful game in America and preview what’s in store for millions of viewers when FOX presents the biggest World Cup ever.

This panel will focus on user centered design (UCD) as the crux of successful product development - with inclusion at the core. Founders with disabilities will discuss their experiences developing technology and services - focusing on how they undertook UCD, identified testers in their communities, and ultimately - funded those initiatives and brought them to market.

Join iconic psychotherapist Esther Perel for a special live-taping of her acclaimed podcast, Where Should We Begin?, where she speaks with real people in search of insight baring the raw, intimate, and profound details of their stories.

Data is essential—but it can also be a hiding place. When we over-rely on dashboards, chase the same trends as competitors, and optimize for algorithms, we play it safe, yet lose relevance. There's a better approach for cultural resonance: stop chasing culture and begin shaping it. Through frameworks, case studies, how-to's and data, we'll explore how organizations can move beyond reactionary trend hijacking, and instead author preferred futures alongside communities. The most culturally resonant brands aren't chasing, they're making. What future will you build?

In this 30-minute keynote, Michelle Schneider explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping not just jobs, but the very architecture of work. Moving beyond the simplistic narrative of “automation versus humans,” she examines how tasks are being reorganized, how expertise is being redefined, and what it truly means to design work in the age of intelligent systems. Drawing on two decades leading high-performing teams at global technology companies and her current work at the frontier of AI transformation, Michelle offers a clear and provocative framework for understanding what comes next — and how leaders can prepare. Following the keynote, Michelle will be joined by Ian Beacraft and journalist Cris Pelajo for a core conversation, expanding the dialogue and exploring practical, human-centered implications for organizations, workers, and society.

What happens when AI meets the world’s most iconic sporting events? Join IBM for a future-focused conversation on powering the fan experience with generative AI — led by peeling back the curtain on the world-class technology and data operation tradition of the Masters, which begins in a few short weeks. The conversation will also explore how AI innovation is fueling the racing precision of Scuderia Ferrari, the legendary stage of Wimbledon and more. From crafting smarter operations to boosting hyper-personalized real-time engagement, learn how technology is redefining sports in real time.

Women in Film & Television Austin hosts Connect & Collaborate, a meet-and-greet meant to be a fun pause in the day where creatives come together. It’s about conversation and community.

In this rare cross platform conversation, moderated by acclaimed creator strategist Antonia Alakija, creator partnerships leaders from Meta, YouTube & Snapchat come together to break down what creators should focus on in their first 90 days of taking content seriously. We’ll explore how fast growing creators structure early momentum, the common pitfalls that derail progress & strategies for building an audience with intention. From platform-specific insights to proven growth frameworks, this session offers an honest tactical roadmap for turning creative potential into a lasting personal brand.

Legendary composer, inventor, and the unofficial “Fourth Beastie Boy,” Money Mark has been rewriting the sonic playbook since ’75. With a career spanning Billboard #1s and collaborations with icons like David Byrne, Jack White, Miley Cyrus, and Beck, he is the ultimate musical pivot point. Part virtuoso, part mad scientist, Mark currently spends his time inventing new instruments and using unconventional experiments to find the sounds of tomorrow.

When Jessica Lipki discovers a severed human finger in her bowl of chili, she recognizes an opportunity to seize control of her stagnating life. Jess blackmails the regionally-beloved fast-food chain for $100,000 in return that she and her blissfully ignorant husband, Ron, keep quiet about the incident. Unbeknownst to Jess, her stunt has caught the attention of "the" Blake Junior, the plutocratic founder behind the "Blake Junior’s" food empire. He recruits his ex-marine buddy, Dave, to investigate Jess and discover the truth behind the chili finger...

"Manhood" follows Dallas entrepreneur Bill Moore as he attempts to make penis enlargement as commonplace as Botox. Along the way, an OnlyFans star and a father of five put their bodies—and their insecurities—on the line. Blending dark humor with unexpected empathy, "Manhood" examines shame, addiction, and the fragile myths of American masculinity. From Oscar-winning Executive Producer Sheila Nevins ("Citizenfour"), World of Wonder ("The Eyes of Tammy Faye"), Penny Lane ("Hail Satan"), Producer Kerry Mack ("Proof of Concept"), and Director Daniel Lombroso ("White Noise").

A father-to-be tries to figure out what is happening with the AI insanity, exploring the existential dangers and stunning promise of this technology that humanity has created.

Katharina, Ricky, Malou, and Victoria live in a self-made anarchist group home - no parents, no school, no rules. Under the loose watch of social worker Ballack, things are going pretty well. But Katharina doesn’t want to live past 18, and her birthday is two weeks away. Her friends scramble to hide her suicide attempts, afraid the truth will destroy the only “home” they’ve ever had. In this darkly comedic tale of rebellion, abandonment, and surviving the absurd, "Thanks For Nothing" is the kids' collective FU to the adults who’ve abandoned or failed them.

An unsung pioneer of 1970s Texas Progressive Country, Steven Fromholz had a knack for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Revered by legends like Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett & John Denver, he remained commercially unknown. He sought redemption on the Rio Grande as a river guide until a debilitating stroke erased his musical memory, stripping Fromholz of his artistic identity. This intimate and impressionistic portrayal, bolstered by newly discovered archives as well as never-before-heard recordings, unveils the evolution of Fromholz, and reshapes the notion of success and artistic fortitude.

The Point. is a genre-blending music trio that infuses many different cultures' folk musics with electric influences ranging from Ethiopian Jazz, Saharan guitar music, dub, Thai Morlan, and the avant-garde. Formed in 2017 by then class mates Jack Montesinos and Joe Roddy, the two best friends added Toulousian ex-pat drummer Nico Leophonte to join the creative journey. This small but mighty sonic ensemble symbolizes the vibrant and experimental voyage of psychedelic beat music from abroad with a western "jam" approach.

The Sophs is a multi-genre six-piece hailing from Los Angeles, California, who’s confessional lyrics and nostalgic instrumentation make a statement regardless of whether they intend to or not

When Delaney's boyfriend leaves town to shoot a splashy zombie movie, she becomes obsessed with a character she’s auditioning for after she learns the producers think she has an "ugly cry." But when she tries to make her cry prettier, her performance suffers. Can she contort herself, and her face, to have the perfect cry? Her attempts to change herself cause Young Delaney to haunt her, catapulting present day Delaney deeper down the rabbit hole. She isolates herself and grows increasingly delusional, and interested in physical fixes to her acting problem. How can she make the world see her as she sees herself? How can she become and become and become? She will become famous. Or die trying.

It sucks to be Brian. He’s smart, funny, and capable, but his mental health issues make it hard for anyone to see it - especially when compared to his effortlessly cool older brother. At school, Brian harbors an unrequited crush on Brooke: she’s smart, kind, pretty… and very much his teacher. A disastrous drama club audition leads to yet another one of Brian’s trademark public meltdowns. Thus begins Brian’s search for his new “thing”. On paper he’s chosen the worst possible fit: running for class president. With help from his therapist and the new kid, Justin, Brian launches his high-stakes campaign and sparks a messy, exquisitely awkward journey toward self-acceptance.

It's make or break time for Ben Garza as he embarks on his solo first tour after the collapse of his band. By his side are Rita, his former tour manager stepping away from her stable life to help him, and Parker, a remaining bandmate who joins Ben as a utility player. However, Rita also secures Jessie Ramos as the opening act, a rising star whose sudden surge in popularity will completely destabilize Ben. Throughout this musical odyssey, Ben will face characters on the road who challenge his ideas of success, relevance, and purpose. Some encounters offer hope; others deepen his doubt. By the tour’s end, Ben must decide whether to keep chasing the life he once had—or chart a new path forward.

Monica Nassi will be signing copies of “I Bottled My Mother” at the SXSW Bookstore.

Join us for an engaging fireside chat featuring Influential Chief Communications Officer, Chris Detert, in conversation with one of today’s most recognizable digital personalities, Jordan “The Stallion” Howlett. Known for his infectious energy, unfiltered honesty, and viral storytelling across platforms like TikTok, Jordan has become a leading voice in the creator economy. From his signature food reviews to his candid takes on everyday life, he’s built a devoted community by staying true to himself—while navigating the business of brand deals, audience engagement, and online growth.

Chris Perez and his partners Michael Donaldson and Dale Nelson will be back for another lively(and surprisingly entertaining) update on the many legal developments affecting the indie filmcommunity.

This conference examines how AI, beyond cost reduction and visual effects, inaugurates a post-photographic rupture. Cinema's factuality—rooted in photographic capture of what was—confronts AI's counterfactuality: statistical generation of what could be, freed from indexical constraints. After metabolizing cinematic language, AI opens unprecedented fictional territories: evolving generative narratives, multiversal storytelling, dissolution of boundaries between creation and reception. We explore these new fictions that transcend filming constraints and classical narration, revealing how counterfactual generation catalyzes an anthropological mutation of our fictional regimes, and a means of resistance to the dissolution of common truth.

As AI transforms how we create and consume media, quiet revolutions are happening behind the scenes: creators, producers, agents, and technologists are building the infrastructure to track, protect, and monetize creativity across its entire lifecycle. This panel brings together a first-time filmmaker, a veteran distributor, a top agent, and an AI platform CEO to explore how attribution, metadata, royalty tracking, and ethical packaging are becoming essential to creative business.

What if festivals became the basis for long-term economic systems for their communities? This panel explores how festivals contribute and can evolve into living ecosystems that create value for creatives, businesses, and entrepreneurs through relationships, continuity and shared context. Drawing inspiration from SXSW and Latin American experiences like HackTown, in Brazil, the panel will examine how festivals may become durable cultural and economic infrastructure, beyond dominant global centers.

In uncertain times, creativity and decisive action matter more than perfect plans. This hands-on workshop draws on Stanford d.school methods to help you navigate ambiguity, make bold decisions with incomplete information, and design possibilities others can't yet see. Through rapid prototyping exercises, you'll practice moving from "what if" to "what now"—building muscles to act confidently in ambiguous times. Bring real challenges; leave with new approaches and free design books. Stay for the afterparty.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Doc Filmmakers, Producers/Production.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Cinematography and Editing.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Doc Filmmakers, Producers/Production.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Producers/Production, Doc Filmmakers, Narrative Filmmakers.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Doc Filmmakers, Funding/Artist Support, Producers/Production, "Sales, Acquisitions, & Distribution".

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Doc Filmmakers, Funding/Artist Support, Producers/Production.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Below the Line, Development, Doc Filmmakers, Legal, International, Producers/Production, Publicity & Marketing, "Sales, Acquisitions, & Distribution".

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Narrative Filmmakers, Doc Filmmakers.

In the foresight world, staying brilliant in the Age of the Algorithm demands more than just tech fluency—it requires radical creativity. In this book reading, technofuturist Sarah DaVanzo and AI pioneer Miro Dimitrov explore how we can outthink AI using paradox, taboo, and cognitive disobedience. Drawing from Sarah’s forthcoming book Exotic Thinking, the session offers a provocative path to rewiring human ingenuity in a future shaped by machines.

Join fellow creatives, artists, producers, and brand and agency leaders for an engaging meetup centred on experiential marketing and immersive experiences. Whether you're here to exchange ideas, find collaborators, or get inspired, this event is designed to spark meaningful connections. A fun, participant-led icebreaker will help kickstart the conversation.

We’re in an age of experiences. More than ever, the proliferation of virtual connection has driven a hunger for IRL experiences that blend physical and digital to create “wow” moments and lasting memories. In this session, Bonnie Rosen, GM of the Disney Accelerator, will speak with the founders of Liminal Space and Haddy about how holographic displays and custom AI-powered 3D printing techniques can transform any space to create immersive moments, and how quickly these materials can be reconfigured, reused, and reimagined again and again for new audiences.

Hear from the President & CEO of Y Combinator. In addition to his Featured Session, Garry Tan will co-emcee the SXSW Pitch 2026 Award Ceremony.

For years, crypto was criticized as a solution searching for a problem. The on-chain creator economy failed to gain momentum, and the concept of ownership reflected less on community governance and more on self-custody. But something shifted. As crypto activity became increasingly financialized, the infrastructure built to support it quietly unlocked something bigger—new pathways for creators and everyday users to participate in capital markets once reserved for institutions. Join Pedro Miranda, Head of Consumer at the Solana Foundation, and Rodolfo Gonzalez from Foundation Capital as we examine what's changed in the on-chain economy and explore the emerging consumer crypto landscape that's democratizing access to financial opportunity.

Digital ad spend will hit $600 billion this year, with brands expected to shift more budget to creators. But how can creators themselves tap this massive opportunity? Rhett & Link, legendary creators and hosts of Good Mythical Morning, will discuss their innovative brand partnership model — built on 360 campaigns, programmatic ads, sponsorships, direct integrations, and the latest brand matching technology — and how other creators can unlock new revenue opportunities to create lasting careers.

Born in the age of the internet and now Generative AI, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are the most digitally savvy segments we’ve ever seen. But they also have differing expectations for authenticity, connection, and IRL experiences. How well brands meet their unique needs could make or break their ability to foster long-term loyalty. Marketing executives will discuss the nuances, as well as the tactics already in place to reach Gen Z and prepare for Gen Alpha. Both generations continue to raise the bar, and the pressure is on brands to deliver IRL connections now and in the years to come.

Homeownership remains one of the most powerful drivers of generational wealth, shaping financial security, stability, and long-term opportunity. This panel will unpack the cost of waiting to buy a home, the rising influence of intergenerational transfers, and the different forms of wealth a home creates. Together, we’ll explore what it will take to preserve homeownership as a pathway to prosperity for future generations.

While AGI, generative AI, and humanoid robots dominate the spotlight, reinforcement learning (RL) is quietly powering the next chapter of AI. Unlike other methods, RL enables systems to learn by doing – adapting through trial and error in dynamic environments. In this session, one of the world’s leading RL minds will explore why this approach is essential for building truly autonomous, intelligent systems, and how today’s breakthroughs are laying the groundwork for the next wave of transformative AI.

An honest, wide-angle conversation about technology, art, and possibility at a moment defined by polarization, climate disruption, and media fatigue. Neither a defense nor a rejection of technology, this panel explores what emerging and immersive media enable when paired with human agency, creativity, and care. Panelists grapple with real harm and real possibility, discussing how storytelling can connect us rather than divide us and help move beyond doom-and-gloom toward inspiration, imagination, and collective repair.

Brands are racing to adopt efficient, prompt-driven systems. But as we continue building a world optimized for machines, how do brands stay meaningful to people?

Growing up on her family's farm in Mount Russell, regional Australia, Melanie Dyer started crafting her stories into songs at the age of twelve. With an authentic blend of her down-to-earth farm girl roots, dynamic stage presence and catchy contemporary songwriting chops, Melanie has performed at some of the world's biggest country festivals, including CMA Fest in Nashville, CMC Rocks, and the Big Red Bash in Australia. As a talented artist and songwriter, Melanie has racked up multiple #1 country radio hits and earned three nominations for Most Performed Country Work at the APRA Awards. With over 12.5 million streams, her chart-topping albums Fresh and Between You and Me have garnered her prestigious Golden Guitar nominations and the coveted APRA Professional Development Award. Her breakout hit Memphis T-Shirt catapulted her into the mainstream spotlight on commercial radio networks and a remarkable six-week stint at number one on the Australian Country Hot 50 Chart. In 2025 Melanie relocated to Nashville, Tennessee to chase her dreams of building a global audience and sharing her music across the USA.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in A&R, Management, Publishing, Sync/Licensing.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Marketing/PR, Women in Music, Nonprofits.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Funding, Entrepreneurship, Storytelling, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Business Development, Energy, MedTech, Fintech, Product Management/Development.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Storytelling, Marketing/Advertising/PR.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Distribution, Music Tech, Emerging Technologies, Startups.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in XR, Immersive Technology, Content Strategy/Production.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Content Strategy/Production, Storytelling.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Business Development, Storytelling, Entrepreneurship.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Education, Emerging Technologies, Live Events.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Marketing/PR, Data, Startups.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in A&R, Management, Marketing/PR.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in A&R, Music Tech, Sync/Licensing.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Marketing/Advertising/PR, Content Strategy/Production, Immersive Technology.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Marketing/PR, Touring, Women in Music.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Business Development, Content Strategy/Production, Entrepreneurship.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Business Development, Marketing/Advertising/PR.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Business Development, Content Strategy/Production, "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion", Marketing/Advertising/PR, Storytelling.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Business Development, Entrepreneurship, Marketing/Advertising/PR.

You’ve dropped the track and pushed the promo. Now what? In a world where music moves fast, long-term visibility can still be more powerful than launch-week hype. In this panel, we’ll cover how artists and their teams extend the life of a release well beyond its debut. We’ll dig into smart reusable content, creative repackaging, how to keep songs fresh for fans, and how to turn "catalog" tracks into new campaign strategies. Expect practical strategies that keep fans engaged, music marketing momentum moving, and allow artists to stay in the spotlight for longer. With the right game plan, one release can sustain impact for years.

Listen to live audio sessions from this venue, and get closed captions on your device.

How do you scale AI without losing the human touch? In this session, leaders from the San Antonio Spurs and OpenAI share how they’re using AI to create more meaningful experiences for fans, partners, and communities. From personalized fan engagement and family-focused experiences to internal productivity and decision-making, the Spurs offer a real-world look at how purpose-built AI tools are being used on and off the court. Attendees will walk away with practical lessons on responsible AI adoption, concrete use cases from a global sports franchise, and a blueprint for putting people first while bringing cutting-edge technology to the courtside.

When we can't open our phones without being bombarded with deep fakes and half-truths, when we are told not to believe what we see with our own two eyes—it's hard not to feel destabilized Centered on the upcoming film The Weatherman, this panel explores how extreme weather survivor stories create the shared understanding that drives powerful social movements and policy change. Join filmmakers, local survivors, and policymakers to discover how real stories about the personal and economic impacts of extreme weather—told through the lens of film—can lead to real change.

Dive into the future of real‑world immersion as we explore how XR transforms theaters, museums, retail, and enterprise spaces into living digital playgrounds. This session dives into spatial computing, mixed reality, interactive environments, and AR wearables, revealing how creators reshape physical spaces into dynamic, programmable worlds. Experience how XR blurs physical and digital boundaries and stay for live demos showcasing these innovations. These hands‑on demonstrations will highlight how immersive technologies can transform familiar locations into unforgettable shared adventures.

In a disruptive era, innovation needs to be agile, inclusive, and driven by purpose. It’s essential to move quickly and address issues by transitioning from endless MVP cycles to iterative approaches that integrate technology with human-centered design, ethics, and resilience. This panel discusses how founders, creators, and corporate innovators can leverage AI, automation, and digital collaboration to balance profit with purpose, support internal disruptors, and foster cultures where innovation delivers genuine value.

An extension of our popular Mentor Sessions, our Round Table Sessions not only allow attendees to learn from the industry experts that sit at each of the three tables in this session but they also allow attendees to learn from the questions and experiences of their peers as well. This Round Table Session will bring together industry experts and SXSW attendees for an enlightening discussion on Development.

Sober Space is a welcoming gathering place for people in all forms of recovery during SXSW 2026. This space hosts all-format recovery meetings for Friends of Bill and all SXSW attendees who are seeking a supportive meeting environment during the festival. Participants are invited to sit together and share experience, strength, and hope in a confidential, judgment-free setting. Meetings are facilitated by The SIMS Foundation alongside trusted leaders from the recovery community.

Abe Batshon (BeatStars) and Curtiss King map how creators are building careers on their own terms — from publishing and direct monetization to growing audiences and protecting IP. Expect actionable tactics, honest tradeoffs, and a live Q&A that gives producers and indie artists the step-by-step playbook to level up.

The royalty landscape has never been more fragmented — or more ripe for missed income. As short-form video, UGC remixes, micro-sync, and AI-generated content explode, artists and rights holders are fighting to keep payments transparent and fair. This session brings together leaders to unpack where the biggest royalty “black holes” are hiding now, why legacy collection models can’t keep up, and how direct licensing, better data, and new tech are helping close the gap. Expect real-world examples of found money and clear steps artists can take to plug revenue leaks before they happen.

Whether you’ve been a fan since “Beautiful Eyes,” or you just discovered her when you were dragged to see “The Eras Tour” in theaters by a fanatical friend, you’re welcome at this Meet Up for Swifties at SXSW. Friendship bracelet trading encouraged but not required.

The SXSW Pitch provides a platform for early-stage technology startups to present their groundbreaking products and services to a panel of distinguished industry experts, influential media professionals, and leading venture capitalists and angel investors.

Tefi is your favorite work bestie who’s always ready to yap about celebrities, read their star charts, give romantic advice, and be your best excuse to avoid the actual work. In this special live episode of her podcast Tefi Talks, you can expect sharp reflections on celebrity, astrology, and modern life featuring a special guest.

Exhaustion is no longer just a personal issue—it’s now an economic concern. Leaders across industries are burning out, leading to short-term thinking and diminished organizational resilience. Dr Daniel Motta will draw on research in economics, organizational behavior, and leadership to show how exhausted executives impact everything from market performance to employee engagement and introduces new frameworks for fostering sustainable leadership that safeguards both people and performance.

Pop culture isn't just consumed—it's lived. A song or movie will spark IRL activity like themed workouts, sold-out dining experiences or fan meetups (e.g. Love Island events +4,950% in the past year). This shift from passive watching to active gathering reshapes culture and moves people–physically. Fandoms are inspiring creator-led experiences, turning local spaces into cultural venues overnight. In this panel Julia Hartz (Eventbrite), Dani Calogera (What/If), Kate Wolff (Lupine Creative) & David Salazar (Fast Company) explore how pop culture becomes a springboard for real connection.

New generations are redefining consumption, choosing balance, moderation, meaning, and authenticity over excess. Using Georgetown University’s case study of AB InBev’s Global Smart Drinking Goals, this session explores how brands can leverage marketing expertise and innovations that meet consumers’ desire for more balanced choices, such as lower and no-alcohol beer, and influence to shape social norms and create shared value. The discussion highlights how purpose-driven strategies can drive behavior change, reinforce positive behaviors, promote moderation, and deliver sustainable growth.

In a world of endless scrolling, a new wave of YouTube creators is choosing depth over speed. Led by Kariza Santos—known for her poetic voice and cinematic eye—this panel explores how treating uploads like short films, not content drops, is reshaping audience expectations and production norms. Together, we’ll examine why a slower, more intentional approach isn’t just possible in today’s fast-paced landscape—it’s essential to the future of digital storytelling.

A behind-the-scenes look inside a real comedy writers’ room with Seth Green, his Robot Chicken co-creator, and his writing team. Watch as they break stories, chase punch lines, and riff in real time onstage, using Superhuman as a creative collaborator.

Can a song become a world? This panel explores how composer Philippe Cohen Solal transformed a music album into an expanded transmedia narrative. We’ll dive into the creation process to adapt music compositions to new forms of immersive interaction that led to the creation of the VR musical experience INSIDER-OUTSIDER. From DJ culture to tango revival, outsider art and virtual reality, we’ll discuss how culture remix and hybrid musical formats fuel new creative languages and audience engagement across physical and virtual spaces.

Get ready for a unique blend of hilarity and introspection as Audible presents a live episode of What Else What Else, featuring the talented comedian Michael Cruz Kayne (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Sorry for Your Loss) and special guest comedian, Chloe Radcliffe. Michael, known for his sharp wit and poignant observations, brings his distinctive brand of humor to the SXSW stage by offering an intimate look into the world of stand-up comedy. Special guest Chloe Radcliffe will kick off the performance with 30 minutes of  jokes and new material. Following her set, Michael and Chloe will share an unfiltered, candid discussion about the art of stand-up, the craft of comedy, the inspiration behind the jokes, and the ever-evolving landscape of comedy in the digital age. Join us for an unforgettable blend of laughter and learning that showcases the power of comedy to connect, provoke, and entertain.

In an era of dashboards, real-time metrics, and predictive analytics, it’s easy to mistake data for direction. But transformative brand moments don’t come from simply following what the numbers say; they come from leaders who interpret data through an informed and insightful lens — who see patterns others miss, ask better questions, and make bold decisions that single data points alone would never justify. This panel explores how modern CMOs use data not as a safety net, but as a springboard.

Amy Gallo will be signing copies of “Getting Along” at the SXSW Bookstore.

Jon Gabrus & Adam Pally are hitting SXSW with a special LIVE episode of their SmartLess Media podcast, Staying Alive. The two 40 something year-old friends are following up their TV series, "101 Places to Party Before You Die", with a comedic look at wellness, health & life improvement. Find out what Pally & Gabrus and special guest Jared Freid do to Stay Alive.

Jim Baitte, a layabout sound designer desperate to prove himself, is working on a new horror flick from the tyrannical yet lauded b-movie director P.W. Griffin. Accused of lacking vision and creative courage, Jim is sent to the remote island where the film was shot to capture a sound powerful enough to elevate the film's finale. Once there, eerie local fables surface: for years, ambitious and headstrong youth have lost their souls to a ghostly sea captain for his spectral crew. As Jim entangles himself further into the bizarre locals, scenery, and prophecy, he can’t help but ponder the ever-confirming legend, and if recording it might just cost him more than his career.

When the ooligan vanishes from Bella Coola, its absence remains like a scar, pointing to a history that reaches far beyond the river. From ramshackled Nuxalk Radio, voices rise through crackling airwaves to trace the forces no one was meant to uncover. What begins as a local broadcast becomes an awakening as testimony, watercolour animation and rare archival weave a story of survival, return and the quiet revolution of an Indigenous Nation that refuses to disappear.

A dysfunctional couple head to a remote cabin to supposedly reconnect, but each has secret plans to kill the other.

When Abby’s boyfriend drops out of the high school play, she finds herself helping a school outlier step into the role opposite her. They spend a long night wandering around their town, examining their futures and unearthing surprises from their past.

Mor Cohen and Polaris Banks did the impossible, made a movie with just two people, while camping, with a script based on their real arguments. Most couples would kill each other under those conditions. They were no exception.

A whirlwind tour of hand drawn, stop-motion, and digital revelries.

Julia was fired three weeks ago. She also got sober three weeks ago. She’s starting over in a suburban rental, and doing a lot of online shopping to help make the space her own, fast. When packages she didn’t order start showing up at her door — a blender, a corkscrew, her signature shade of lipstick — they feel so unnervingly tied to her past that it starts to feel like someone is watching her. The shopping site Smirk denies responsibility. But increasingly paranoid, Julia tumbles down a rabbit hole to find the identity of her anonymous sender.

The Stand brings its acclaimed 10 for 10 podcast of record to life on stage at SXSW, turning intimate, no-holds-barred conversations into an unforgettable live experience. 10 for 10 is The Stand's signature series celebrates a decade (and counting) of the club's raw, transformative impact on stand-up comedy. Each episode dives deep with a standout comedian who calls The Stand home- unpacking the grind, the bombs, the breakthroughs, the green-room chaos, and the nights that changed everything. Past guests include Jim Gaffigan, Shane Gillis, Ari Shaffir, Janeane Garofalo, T.J. Miller and more!

A new generation of parents, teens, and reformers are fighting back against Big Tech’s agenda to define the future of human connection. From Kristin, a mother pursuing legislative reform after losing her son, to Trisha, a young programmer building technology to stop cyberbullying, the film reveals how deeply the attention economy is reshaping us. Blending intimate human stories with insights from leading experts in tech reform and digital wellbeing, "Your Attention Please" asks some of the most urgent questions of our time: Can we reclaim our autonomy? Can technology be redesigned to serve humanity? And what does a healthier relationship with the digital world look like for us and our kids?

Summer 2006, 14-year-old Sid is caught between her own burgeoning sexual curiosity and acceptance from an older group of girls. As she delves deeper into rebellion, she leaves behind a trail of destruction as she goes. Big Girls Don’t Cry is a love letter to all the women that still feel shame scars from this time of their lives; who did things they wished they hadn’t, or didn’t do things they wished they had; to hold up a mirror and say yes; that was f#&*ed up.

A dynamic mix of creativity and stylish visuals where music and storytelling collide.

In the Dominican town of Cabarete, bachata is a way of life. While fans across the globe dance to it with fervor, on the island where it was born, Bachata is a spiritual fabric. With five years of filming, director Frank Pavich (Jodorowsky’s Dune) captures the coming of age of Dominican child musicians, their island and the music they are poised to inherit. Generations collide, and the children struggle for balance. Along the way, they’re mentored by Martires de Leon, a world-famous guitarist and teacher at a school devoted to the music that has become the Dominican Republic’s primary export.

Alex and her boyfriend Joey head into the wilderness for a romantic getaway. When Alex turns down Joey's surprise proposal, he abandons her in the woods. She’s rescued by Kianna and Matt, an enigmatic young couple living off the grid. Stranded and shaken, Alex accepts their invitation to stay at their remote campsite. As she’s drawn into their intoxicating world, complicated emotions and unexpected connections begin to surface. But when she learns they’re fugitives wanted for a string of violent bank robberies, Alex must navigate the blurred lines between desire, loyalty, and survival.

As part of SXSW, Deadline is partnering with Don’t Tell Comedy for a special edition of Don’t Tell Comedy All Stars, set to take place Saturday, March 14 at The Creek and The Cave in Austin, TX. The evening will feature a live comedy showcase performed by five standout alumni from Don’t Tell Comedy’s acclaimed Secret Sets Series, spotlighting some of the most exciting voices working in stand-up today. Lineup coming soon!

Hania Derej (20) - composer, pianist, arranger and conductor. Student of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (jazz composition and arrangement) and the Music Academy in Kraków (symphonic conducting). Author of over 130 compositions she creates music in a variety of styles, including illustrative, jazz, chamber, film or electronic music. She has won multiple composition and performance awards including the Grand Prix of Energa Ladies Jazz Festival in Gdynia, Main Prize in “Sanki” 2025, music contest of “Gazeta Wyborcza” newspaper (the new hope of the polish music scene), the Main Prize of the first “Jazz Talents” competition within the 21st edition of Jazz Spring Zakopane 2025, Triton Award for the greatest artistic personality of the 54 th edition of FAMA Festival 2024 in Świnoujście, a special award for compositions and arrangements at the Junior Jazz Festival 2023 in Wadowice, and the “Young Composer 2023” award funded by the Polish Composers’ Union in Warsaw during the International Piano Forum in Sanok. Within this Piano Forum, Hania also received piano awards, such as a distinction for the performance of a concert with the National Polish Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and a concert with the Lviv Chamber Orchestra “Academy.” As a conductor, Hania has had the opportunity to lead concerts with the National Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra (Poland), Elblag Chamber Orchestra (Poland), Lviv Chamber Orchestra “Akademia” (Ukraine) and the Moravian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra (Czech Republic), among others. Hania also participates in international music projects and conferences in Europe, such as European FAMES Orchestra (Macedonia), The Playground Residence (Germany, The Netherlands), International Sync Camp (Poland), International Jazz Platform (The Netherlands, Norway, Poland), Music Export Academy in Poland, Global Conservatory and Eastern European Music Export Academy (Ukraine), “Iceland Airways networking mission”, ESNS Showcase Festival & Conference networking mission (The Netherlands) and Jazzahead 2025 (Germany). Last but not least - in the JAZZTOP 2024 music critics’ survey of the international magazine JAZZFORUM, Hania Derej won the “New Hope” award for her solo work and came 5th in the “New Hope - Ensemble” category (for her work as Hania Derej Quintet). In April 2025, Hania was awarded a distinction in the nationwide “Young Promoter of Poland” Contest, under the Honorary Patronage of the Wife of the President of the Republic of Poland, for young Poles whose activities contribute to the popularization of knowledge about Poland and building a positive image of Poland in the world.

Originally from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina but currently living between LA, NYC and Richmond, VA; Lucaa (she/they) is the brainchild of singer/producer Stepha, who is a 2 spirit Afro-Indigenous artist whose genre-bending indie/alt-pop brand of music features raw and deceptively deep songwriting that pulls from their experiences as a young model in NYC, and being a queer BIPOC artist.

After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.

Stalefish is a 6 piece rock/pop band based in Austin, TX. Coming off of their 2025 EP, 'New Pop Experiments Vol. 1', the band is currently finishing their 3rd LP, 'Bueno', recorded in the first two weeks of 2026.

Mallory, plagued by fears of being unremarkable, joins her playwright boyfriend Sam on a retreat to coastal Maine. When she learns he once brought his glamorous ex, Louise, there, she’s struck with an obsessive curiosity about his past. As her jealousy takes hold, Mallory becomes convinced she’s being haunted by the ghost of Louise herself... Pulled into a journey that slips between past and present, rivalry and affection, melancholy and creativity, Mallory drifts further from her old life and toward something essential. "Mallory’s Ghost" is a psychological and playful exploration of envy, and the strange path it can lead back to the Self.

Camila Rivers is an emerging force in the Austin R&B scene, celebrated for her soulful voice and emotionally honest songwriting. Drawing from inspirations like Jazmine Sullivan and Joseph Solomon, Camila blends classic R&B with modern soul by exploring themes of love, relationships, and self-discovery. As a self-proclaimed “lovergirl,” Camila’s live performances create an intimate experience rooted in raw vulnerability and a touch of magic.

With the rock’n’roll panache of a dive bar matador and the emotional force of a knife in the guts, Hemi Hemingway makes music that thrills, spills and breaks hearts. The effortlessly slick New Zealand star has a connoisseur’s ear for the finest parts of musical history, sweeping 60s rock, 50s sheen and 80s romanticism into the present day, refurbishing and refashioning them into something new and fresh. At home in the spotlight, he’s a showman in the best troubadour traditions, but one with real depth, showcasing swagger and vulnerability in equal measure.

POSAVANT is a band founded by music producers/multi-instrumentalists Nick and SirK. The band's identity is rooted in a desire to revitalize rock in the modern world and bring controversy back to a genre that has long been bereft of individuality. The band has an unwavering motto of making "real" music, unaffected by digital changes and the plastic nature of modern rock.

Prissy P is a Bay Area–raised DJ and curator based in Austin, TX. Shaped by Northern California’s cultural diversity, her sound blends R&B, hip hop, reggaeton, Afrobeats, and global rhythms into sets rooted in feeling, movement, and connection.

Still Blank’s sound is a unique blend of shoegaze haze, folk intimacy, and emotionally raw ambient alt-rock grit. With lyrics steeped in people-watching, dreams, nature, and existential observation, their songwriting draws from both introspection and their surroundings. Ben and Jordy met by chance in Liverpool 2 years ago sparking a lightning-in-a-bottle creative partnership. What started as casual jam sessions in a basement quickly evolved, with sessions ranging from stripped-back recordings on a broken classical guitar to studio lock-ins fuelled by long walks through rural Wales and a shared commitment to imperfection. In May 2025 they performed their first show as a band at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Debut single "What About Jane" is a grungy, folk-inflected reflection on identity, societal perception, and the expectations we’re forced to confront to uncover who we really are.

Xrarestboy is an emerging artist known for blending melodic rap, atmospheric production, and emotionally raw lyricism. With a sound that fuses elements of underground hip-hop, alternative trap, and experimental vibes, Xrarestboy creates music that feels both introspective and immersive. His work often explores themes of isolation, ambition, heartbreak, and self-discovery, resonating with listeners who connect to authentic, mood-driven storytelling. As he continues to evolve creatively, Xrarestboy is building a distinct lane marked by vulnerability, aesthetic vision, and genre-fluid expression.

Ryan Dove is a hip hop artist based in Austin, Texas, making alternative rap that’s fun, lighthearted, and easy to connect with. His music mixes humor, honest storytelling, and creative production, turning everyday thoughts and experiences into songs that feel real without taking themselves too seriously. Inspired by artists like Tyler, the Creator, BROCKHAMPTON, Teezo Touchdown, and MF DOOM, his sound blends playful energy with sharp lyricism and a left-of-center approach to hip hop.Known for bringing good energy to every performance, Ryan focuses on making music that feels human, relatable, and genuine. Whether he’s joking through a verse or reflecting on personal moments, his songs invite listeners into his world, where creativity, individuality, and having a good time matter just as much as the message itself. Rooted in Austin’s independent music scene, Ryan Dove continues to carve out his own lane in alternative hip hop by staying authentic and making the kind of music he’d want to hear

The Bantu & Boundless artist, Zola Marcelle, is a Zimbabwean-born, London-based multidisciplinary artist. With a rare mix of Shona and Sotho heritage, her journey through music, culture, and history is steadily shaping her into an exciting contemporary voice of her generation. Raised partially in Bulawayo with a family steeped in music, Zola grew up with a deep connection to song and her African roots.

Formed in 2020, Bristol’s melodic alt-indie four-piece Adult Leisure have fast become one of the UK’s most promising new bands. After making an instant impact with debut single ‘Things You Don’t Know Yet’ and acclaimed EPs ‘The Weekend Ritual’ and ‘Present State of Joy and Grief’, championed by BBC Radio 1, Under The Radar Magazine, Wonderland Magazine, The Telegraph, Jake Gosling and RTE, the band now arrive with their debut album ‘The Things You Don’t Know Yet’, released on October 3rd 2025.

Aivila is an emerging artist whose work lives at the intersection of vulnerability and renewal. Shaped by a transformative chapter in her life, her music captures the quiet strength found after collapse and the clarity that follows survival. Through atmospheric soundscapes and emotionally precise lyricism, Aivila turns introspection into art-offering listeners a sense of recognition, release, and hope. Telling stories not of brokenness, but of becoming.

“I like that the better joy sound’s evolving; it’s what we do as people, so it’s only natural the sound grows with me” says Bria Keely, better known by her stage name - better joy. A vivid indie-pop guitar project backed by a band, better joy fuses sparky melodies with strong guitars and pulsating bass lines, coated in lyrics that delve deep into all things vulnerable. The upcoming EP ‘at dusk’, a sister EP to her debut ‘heading into blue’, reflects a moment in her life “where I just stopped trying to please anyone or caring whether the music I wrote ‘fit’ a mold. It’s not on anyone else to define what better joy is: it’s on me”.

Introducing Buckets: The Los Angeles-based fearsome foursome are a powerhouse of nostalgic indie punk. Piecing together shredding guitar, screaming gang vocals, and dynamic extremes from track-to-track, or even verse-to-verse, the Southern California outfit aren't shy about who they are or what they're all about. Consisting of members from across North America, Tanner Houghton, Sasha Massey, Mitch Rossiter, and Hiram Sevilla pull together their shared DIY ethos and vast experience in music to craft an emotionally powerful performance. From the studio to the stage, the group never disappoints.

Danny Ritmo: The High-Energy Pulse of the StageWith over 15 years of experience behind the decks and on the mic, Danny Ritmo has solidified his reputation as Austin’s finest DJ and MC. Known for an electrifying stage presence that blurs the line between performer and crowd leader, Danny doesn't just play music—he creates an atmosphere.Career HighlightsDanny has brought his signature high-energy sets to some of the industry's most prestigious stages, including:• SXSW Festival: Commanding the iconic Billboard Stage.• Rumbazo Fest: Taking the heat to the Las Vegas strip.• Artist Support: Trusted to set the tone for high-profile Latin artists, seamlessly blending global rhythms with modern club energy.Whether he’s navigating a massive festival crowd or an intimate high-stakes event, Danny Ritmo’s veteran instincts and bilingual charisma make him a powerhouse in the Latin music scene and beyond.

Easy Honey sounds like the starry nights, sunny graveyards, and small-town college Dairy Queens of the South, where the band took form. The group's songs have quickly become anthems of nostalgia for their indie rock audience of daydreamers and night seekers. Easy Honey released their album, Cupidity Unlimited, with contributors such as Adam Lochemes (Arlie, Zach Bryan), Jon Gilbert (Mt. Joy, Adam Melchor, Arcy Drive), and Charlie Stavish (Phoebe Bridgers, Jenny Lewis). The band's raucous yet sentimental live show delivers the realness that people crave in a post-COVID/internet-driven world.

In partnership with The Stand Comedy Club, Funny Or Die is resurrecting their legendary live comedy legacy - think the spirit of the original epic Oddball Festivals, back, and blessed by the comedy gods themselves. This isn't just another stand-up show; it's a hand-picked, ruthlessly curated night of comedy that's earned the ultimate stamp: Funny or Die Approved. Hosted by Pete Lee. Full lineup coming soon!

Just Jim is a multidisciplinary creative living in Austin, Texas. Known locally as a club DJ, he has carved out a reputation as a tastemaker behind the decks. He has an instinct for connecting with the crowd, and is beloved for his ability to communicate with music. His sets are as genre-defying as they are expansive, which provides the source code for his unique style of production. Although labeled as "house music," elements of Hip Hop, R&B, jazz, experimental, and world music are seamlessly incorporated to make for a rich sound full of hidden gems.

Ryley Hall is a multi-talented musician, singer, and actor. She was born in Covington, Louisiana and raised in San Antonio, Texas. She began her music career in elementary school, performing in choir and school plays. During her years in high school, she began writing original music with Chelsea Guy and together they wrote her debut album Moments. On her sixteenth birthday, she was gifted a guitar by her grandmother and began playing acoustic shows locally. Ryley graduated from the University of Incarnate Word in May of 2025, where she majored in Music Industry Studies. She recently released her single, "F U" in February 2026.Ryley's love for music stems from the joy and escape it gives to the listener. She feels that when we listen to music we are all equal, because music touches us at our core and brings out emotions we have all experienced in our lives. She is equally passionate about acting and voice over work, and is actively pursuing these careers along with her music. Regardless of the form it takes, Ryley dreams of building her career in the arts. Her goals include becoming a full-time entertainer and touring the world.

Formed over the Fall of 2022, Shunk is a four piece from Montreal. Drawing from a vast catalog of musical influences, their sound ranges from shimmering French love songs, to cataclysmic rock. The band's live performances are intense and mesmerizing, the whimsical lyrics and cutting riffs fashion a distinctive sound.