South by Southwest, better known as SXSW, takes place annually in March, in Austin, United States and is considered one of the biggest technology, music, film and cultural events in the world.
Therefore, the event is aimed at global professionals and offers a wide range of activities such as lecture sessions, varied presentations, film and TV product screenings, networking opportunities, technology competitions, awards ceremonies and much more.
In 2024, the edition will take place from March 8th to 16th.
Where did this come from?
SXSW was founded in 1987 with a series of long discussions about the future of entertainment and media that took place privately in the offices of The Austin Chronicle. At the time, music was the uniting factor, but the group also shared a taste for art and ideas. Inclusion and the search for new things were fundamental values.
The first event, held in March of that year, saw the expected number of 150 registrants increase to 700 on the opening day. Growth was steady during the first seven years. In the 1994 edition, singer Johnny Cash performed and two new events were introduced into the program: Film and Interactive.
Over the years, important names have graced the SWSX stages. This is the case of Barack Obama, who at the time was in the last year of his second term as President of the United States and discussed his leadership and feelings about the position, as well as his vision for the country.
Another notable presence at SXSW was the participation of Oprah Winfrey during an event on education, in 2021. The focus of the discussion was childhood trauma and how its neurological impacts affect people as they grow and develop.
This year’s edition has confirmed the participation of the six-time Grammy-winning band, The Black Keys. In addition to them, attractions from all corners of the globe will be present.
The event will also feature screenings of Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt’s action comedy “The Fall Guy” and “Road House” with Jake Gyllenhaal.
Furthermore, “The Idea of You”, a film starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine, will close the film and TV festival.
