By now, many of you have heard that the South by Southwest Festival (also known as “South By” or “SxSW”) will be happening in Austin soon. The ten days that comprise the three main festivals (SxSW Interactive, SxSW Film and SxSW Music) occur March 11-20. Begun in 1987, South by Southwest is one of the premier events for the film, music and tech industries in the United States.
Film
The Film Conference & Festival runs March 11-19 and celebrates both the creative process of making films and the business savvy required to effectively market them. In addition to film screenings, there will be mentor sessions, 20-minute moderated interviews with film insiders, interactive workshops on cinematography and social media, panels and discussions.
Music
As the world’s top music industry event, there’s certainly a lot happening within a short time span. The convention center hosts the Music Gear Expo among other activities but the real fun happens at night.
Interactive
During the five-day Interactive Festival, slated for March 11–15, there is a series of presentations and panels from some of the most renowned entrepreneurs responsible for driving new technologies. The Interactive portion of the conference focuses on the future of technology, with the core values of innovation, inspiration and creativity at the heart of many conversations.
How to Schedule
Feeling overwhelmed by the events? South by Southwest has some successful tips on how to navigate SxSW. If this is your first time at South by Southwest, the official website has provided a useful guide for first timers. Finally, as the conference can be rather pricey, you can still experience the fun with little to no money with free events. Be sure to reserve the free events before you attend. The conference advertises “badges” but you do not have to buy one to wander around the various venues.
There will be traffic issues throughout the week of South by Southwest, so plan slightly longer commutes across town.