Health/Disability/Illness
Politics
Technology
Social Issue

Sara Robin

Sara Robin is a German filmmaker, telling stories at the intersection of documentary and science-fiction. Her sci-fi script SWITCH, a dark comedy about virtual relationships, won the 2023 HollyShorts screenwriting contest. Alongside her independent work, Sara directs and produces commercials for clients including Lego, Jordan, and Lululemon.

Alamo Lamar 9

Time and Water

Archival Materials Courtesy of Andri Snær Magnason

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?

Your Attention Please

English, Dutch; Flemish, Italian, Spanish; Castilian

A quiet revolution is underway: As AI reshapes every part of our lives, ordinary people are pushing back against addictive tech. "Your Attention Please" asks whether we are willing to reclaim autonomy and human connection before it’s too late.

Joni Siani
Winston MacDonald
Abulrahman Khawj
David Graves
Ziyad Alghamdi
Elizabeth Gilcreast
Alysse Houliston

Kristin Bride, Trisha Prabhu, The Offline Club, Kevin McCaskill, Tristan Harris, Cal Newport, Vivek Murthy, Sherry Turkle, Frances Haugen, Laura Marquez-Garrett


Mentor Session: Grace Morton (Powell Communications )

Grace Morton

Account Executive

Grace Morton is a dynamic Account Executive at Powell Communications, where she brings stories to life through sharp strategy, media savvy, and a genuine love for connection. With a Master’s in Communication Studies and a background in rhetoric and liberal arts from Texas State University, Grace blends analytical thinking with creative flair. She's passionate about building relationships—whether it’s with clients, reporters, or teammates—and thrives on crafting narratives that make people care. Known for her positive energy, attention to detail, and collaborative style, Grace delivers PR campaigns that are as thoughtful as they are impactful. She’s the kind of communicator who doesn’t just talk—she listens, learns, and leads with intention.

Room 400-402

Mentor Session: Ali Tager (National Cryptocurrency Association)

Mentor Session: Aniesia Williams (dreambloc)

Mentor Session: Avantika Bagri (Centana Growth Partners)

Mentor Session: Brittan Heller (Stanford Law School)

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

MENTOR SESSION: GRACE MORTON (POWELL COMMUNICATIONS )

Brand & Marketing track sponsored by Youtube


Mentor Session: Gary Forni (Central Texas Angel Network)

Gary Forni

Board Chair

Gary Forni’s focus is on starting, mentoring, investing in, and growing startups in Central Texas. As an investor, his focus is innovation and disruptive technology. As a member of the business community, he works with accelerators to maximize the success of entrepreneurs at Capital Factory, TechStars, Austin Technology Incubator, and as a founding investor and mentor in SKU. As an entrepreneur, he has worked to bring eight new businesses to market.

In the distant past, he was an executive at Marvell Semiconductor and Intel Corp. At Intel, he was part of starting four new businesses, including the flash memory business, which exited for $1.2B, and the XScale cellular business, which exited for $600M.

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

MENTOR SESSION: GARY FORNI (CENTRAL TEXAS ANGEL NETWORK)


Mentor Session: Joseph Liu (CTAN Sidecar Fund / TCA Venture Group)

Joseph Liu

Managing Partner

MENTOR SESSION: JOSEPH LIU (CTAN SIDECAR FUND / TCA VENTURE GROUP)


Mentor Session: Victoria Dominguez-Edington (University of Texas at Austin)

Victoria Dominguez-Edington

PhD Student/Researcher

Victoria Dominguez-Edington is a PhD student in the Department of Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin. Informed by her background working with startups and investors, Victoria's dissertation examines the startup fundraising process. Victoria is also a research consultant for Stanford University under the direction of Dr. Alicia Sheares (Department of Management Science and Engineering) on a Russell Sage Foundation funded project about entrepreneurship in the United States.

Before working in the Austin startup community, Victoria spent nearly a decade working in education as a Director at a local tutoring center. Victoria holds a BA from Southwestern University and an MA from the University of Texas at Austin.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Entrepreneurship, Funding, "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion".

MENTOR SESSION: VICTORIA DOMINGUEZ-EDINGTON (UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN)


Featured Session: How to Support Resilient Youth in an AI World

Miriam Schneider

Director of Learning Initiatives

Miriam Schneider is a trusted leader with two decades of experience in edtech, building products and programs at the intersection of cutting edge technology and educational impact. She currently serves as the Director of Learning Initiatives at Google DeepMind, where she leads efforts to explore how the future of AI can help advance and augment teaching, learning and human development. She’s deeply committed to cultivating collaboration across the broader education ecosystem to ensure that AI is grounded in learning science, built responsibly, researched rigorously, distributed equitably and fosters durable outcomes.

Miriam’s fingerprints are etched throughout Google’s history in learning and education. During her tenure, she has built and led high-performing marketing and strategy teams across the company’s broad portfolio of education products, including Google Classroom and Chromebooks. She has been a foundational architect of Google’s holistic approach to education, dating back to the company’s early days roadtripping to college campuses in an iconic 1970s biodiesel school bus. More recently, she introduced LearnLM — the world’s most pedagogical AI — and has helped establish global advisory boards, student-focused programs, and communities of practice to enhance engagement with leading industry experts, practitioners and learners.

Miriam is known for her unwavering passion for her work, innate desire to elevate and celebrate educators, and steadfast belief that everyone deserves access to high quality learning experiences. She believes the world runs on relationships and that curiosity is our currency of connection.

She is an avid crafter (letterpress and calligraphy), active mother (to Poppy and Owen), podcast enthusiast (welcomes all recommendations!) who tries to forest bathe as much as possible. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA and studied French at the Sorbonne.

Martin McKay

Executive Chair & Founder

Martin McKay, Executive Chair & Founder, Everway

Martin founded Everway (formerly Texthelp) in 1996 with a mission to create technology that empowers everyone to communicate more effectively. What started as a company focused on supporting individuals with speech and dexterity challenges has evolved into a leader in neuroinclusive technology, helping people of all abilities read, write, and express their ideas more fluently.

Martin's vision is to unlock the potential of every brain by developing tools that address the unique needs of individuals. Under his leadership, Everway has impacted over 250 million people worldwide, with a goal of reaching one billion by 2030.

Everway now employs 600 people across North America, Europe, and Australia and is backed by Five Arrows, the private equity arm of the Rothschild family. Martin’s dedication to improving literacy and communication has earned him recognition, including the Presidential Award from the International Dyslexia Association for his lifetime contribution to dyslexia and literacy.

In 2022, Martin was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Ireland), celebrating his vision and leadership in making neuroinclusive technology accessible to all.

Maureen Polo

CEO

Maureen Polo is the CEO of Hello Sunshine, a multichannel media company that places women at the center of every story it creates, celebrates, and discovers. An award-winning leader with over 20 years of experience scaling high-growth media businesses, she was elevated to CEO in 2025 after joining Hello Sunshine in 2022 as Head of Direct-to-Consumer. In that role, she oversaw social, editorial, marketing, communications, and DTC brands, driving significant expansion of the company's direct-to-consumer offerings.

Prior to Hello Sunshine, Maureen ran marketing strategy and solutions for Warner Media’s entertainment properties including HBO Max, TBS, truTV, Turner, Adults Swim, and Cartoon Network. In her previous role as General Manager at Fullscreen, Maureen ran the 400-person next generation entertainment company. Throughout her career Maureen has worked at a mix of traditional agencies and media companies where she excelled at leading start-up digital businesses specializing in the development and execution of cutting-edge cross-platform marketing and branded entertainment. She spent almost a decade at Conde Nast, led the sales and integrated marketing solutions team for Allrecipes.com, and worked with Rachael Ray & CBS to build and sell bespoke in-show, digital, and social integrations- essentially helping to build the industries original digital celebrity. Polo has been consistently recognized for their industry-leading work, including Shorty, Cannes Shortlist, OMMA, Streamy, RealScreen, Brandweek Constellation, and Digiday awards. Polo has also won Ad Age 20 under 30, She Runs It: Changing the Game Awards, and Cynopsis Top Women in Digital. Polo has also been profiled in Thrive Global’s Women Leadership series and featured in Forbes and Inc.

Rebecca Winthrop

Senior Fellow And Director

Rebecca Winthrop is a leading global authority on education, the director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. She is dedicated to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive in life, work, and as an engaged citizen. She leads cutting-edge research and initiatives aimed at transforming education systems around the world to better support children's learning and development.

Rebecca is a trusted advisor to both school communities and national and international organizations. Her expertise is sought by many including parent networks, schools, district education leaders, the White House, the United Nations, and Fortune 500 companies. Rebecca's work is centered on developing and advocating for evidence-based strategies that bring people together—families, educators, policymakers, and companies—to help children maximize their potential.

She holds a PhD from Columbia University’s Teachers College, an MA from its School of International and Public Affairs, and a BA from Swarthmore College.

Hilton Grand Ballroom (Salon HJK)

Featured Session: Moonshots that Move the Needle

SXSW Community Service Awards Recognition: The Bell

Featured Session: Strategy in the Times of Chaos: Imagining Futures of Education

Featured Session: Social Health Trends & Predictions: Connection is the New Frontier

Generative AI is rapidly reshaping how young people learn, connect, and understand themselves. From AI tutors and creative tools to always-on digital companions, these technologies promise new opportunities, but also raise urgent questions about children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. Rather than focusing on whether AI should be used in education, how do we ensure AI strengthens—rather than undermines—young people’s capacity to think, relate, and thrive?

Drawing from the recent Brookings report "A New Direction for Students in an AI World: Prosper, Prepare, Protect,” with data across 50 countries, this panel will include a rich mix of perspectives and explore what it truly means to support resilient youth in an AI-saturated world.

American Sign Language
Open captioned
Closed captioned

FEATURED SESSION: HOW TO SUPPORT RESILIENT YOUTH IN AN AI WORLD


Mentor Session: Matthew Klar (The Greater)

Matthew Klar

Partner & Head of Strategy

Matt is a Partner and Head of Strategy at the greater – a strategy consulting firm based in Toronto with deep sector experience advising Sport organizations. Matt brings experience leading strategy teams and consulting with Boards, Management Teams and Marketing Leaders across corporate, brand, and sponsorship strategy. Prior to the greater, he was VP, Strategy at MKTG Canada (Dentsu) where he oversaw the delivery of strategic planning and creative services to leading brands across Canada investing in sponsorships across sport, entertainment, art, and cause. Matt has been recognized by the 5 to Watch Awards which honors Sports Business leaders under 40, teaches part-time in George Brown College's Sport marketing program and is a Board Member for PS43 Foundation (Pascal Siakam's charity).

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

MENTOR SESSION: MATTHEW KLAR (THE GREATER)


Mentor Session: Patches Seely MBA, BSN, RN, CAVRN (Providence Health)

Patches Pace Seely, MBA, BSN, RN, CAVRN

Product Manager

Patches Seely MBA, BSN, RN, CAVRN has served the healthcare industry as a Clinical
Executive for 20+ years in both the provider and healthcare services sectors. Patches has
spent over half of her career in both clinical and operational leadership roles ranging from
inpatient care delivery, clinical informatics & analytics, patient logistics, ambulatory and
diagnostic scheduling, clinical surveillance, and virtual nursing services inside a large,
multi-state, integrated delivery organization.
In healthcare services, she served as the EVP of Clinical Solutions providing clinical strategy
development to a healthcare engagement organization who served health plans, providers, and
employers from all 50 states and the Philippines.
Patches is currently consulting as a Clinical & Business Advisor to a health technology
companies (mid-size & start up) as well as health systems focusing in on clinical and operational
outcomes, workflow enhancements, workforce management & leadership techniques for
change management and go-to-market strategy.
Additionally, Patches is a co-founder in a data security company with potential to make
organizations and subsequently consumers, more protected from breaches in their data.
When she started her own consultancy, she began working with organizations whose mission
was grounded in access, quality care and a commitment to building a culture of excellence. The
vastness of Patches’ experience affords her the ability to lead on multiple fronts, communicate
with all roles and role types and find and foster the best in individuals.
Patches has spoken nationally on topics like AI, cybersecurity, virtual nursing, command center
approaches to care, virtual/remote team dynamics, communications and the impact to clinical
safety. Her influence has reached academia through her participation in a virtual nursing
certification and continued virtual nursing practice standards. Additionally, she’s participated in
podcasts covering topics like AI, drug diversion, safety & high reliability principles and recently
brought her body of qualitative research on Being a Professional in Transition to a webinar.
Patches has deep expertise in organizational adoption of new ways of working, technology,
process automation and disruption of work through innovation. She has experienced the
healthcare system as a registered nurse, a leader, a patient, an advocate for aging family
members and is continually inspired to keep “fixing” a system that is cumbersome for those we
love.
Patches received her Bachelors in Psychology from Louisiana State University, her Bachelors in Nursing from LSU Health Sciences Center and her MBA from University of Texas at Tyler.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Business Development, Content Strategy/Production, Data Science, "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion", Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Future of Work, Nonprofits, Policy, Product Management/Development, Storytelling, Sustainability.

MENTOR SESSION: PATCHES SEELY MBA, BSN, RN, CAVRN (PROVIDENCE HEALTH)

Workplace track sponsored by University of Cincinnati


Mall Rats Reborn: How Hot Topic is Using Entertainment to Revitalise Retail

Mikayla Hopkins

Head Of Marketing

Mikayla Hopkins is Head of Marketing at Tracksuit, the always-on brand tracking platform helping marketers measure and grow brand impact with clarity and confidence. With experience spanning consumer and SaaS brands, she combines strategic rigour with creative storytelling to build B2B marketing that’s distinctive, human and commercially effective.

Duncan Joseph

Creator / Comedian

Duncan Joseph, known online as duncanyounot, is a leading digital creator and has built a devoted global audience of over 9.5 million fans and established him as a standout voice in the creator world. Now expanding his career into fashion, hosting, acting, writing, and directing, his newest merch line, “You Can’t Arrest a Diva,” highlights his growing presence in style and his long-term vision of developing his own fashion brand. Duncan is also building out original concepts, including a new interview series that connects online creators with talent across entertainment and culture. With an evolving creative portfolio and a distinctive comedic point of view, Duncan is shaping his path as a multi-hyphenate talent in both digital and traditional media.

Katherine Miller

Director, Social Media

Katherine Miller is the driving force behind Hot Topic's vibrant online presence, leveraging over 15 years of expertise in social media strategy and execution. Her journey began in entertainment, navigating various roles within recording labels before finding her passion in ""new media.""

Currently leading Hot Topic's social media department, Katherine has propelled the team from two to nine specialists, achieving a reach of over 15 million. Her keen eye for emerging trends and audience dynamics allows her to craft authentic connections, setting new benchmarks for brand engagement.

With a dedication to innovation, Katherine is committed to shaping the future of brand and retail strategies. She eagerly shares her insights and experiences with fellow industry leaders, driven by a mission to revolutionize digital storytelling and foster customer loyalty.

Dan Salkey

Founder

Dan Salkey is Strategy Partner at Small World, the entertainment-first agency behind work for brands like Duolingo, Oatly, and Dr. Squatch. He helps brands act less like advertisers and more like entertainers, building creative teams of un-standard talent and turning marketing into culture. Dan also co-authored the Entertain or Die report, a global index ranking the most entertaining brands on Earth. His mission: help brands earn attention by being worth watching.

Salon E

Turning Up the Heat: Climate Content That Clicks

Growing Intelligence: Youth, AI, and the Future of Ag

Culture Under Fire: Storytelling for Public Power

How to Win Friends and Overthrow Systems

Malls may be losing commercial relevance, but some brands are reclaiming their cultural relevance. In a widely successful experimental pilot, Hot Topic has launched two social-first sitcoms shot entirely in malls, casting creators from punk, goth, and cosplay scenes to reclaim its ALT roots. As Gen Z flocks back to IRL hangouts and “third places,” the brand is transforming shopping centres into entertainment stages. It’s part of a wider shift toward entertainment-first marketing, echoing moves by brands like Dick’s Sporting Goods, which have built in-house studios to power the growth of their own and partner brands. Hear from Hot Topic and their agency partners Small W•rld about how to pull this strategy off successfully.

MALL RATS REBORN: HOW HOT TOPIC IS USING ENTERTAINMENT TO REVITALISE RETAIL


Pedagogy, Politics, & Place: Video PD for a Polarized Age

Tricia Patrick

Irani Foundation Director of Education

Tricia Patrick is an arts administrator who believes in the arts as a catalyst for conversation and change. Her pursuit of a performance career took her across the country and beyond, eventually landing in Berlin, Germany. There she developed her skills as an educator and workshop facilitator. Upon her return to the United States, she took on the leadership of a small children's theater company in New York City. She has worked as the Director of Community Engagement for Working Theater and the Director of Education and Public Engagement at MCC Theater in New York City. Tricia was a member of the inaugural 2020 BIPOC Leadership Circle and in the spring of 2022, she completed the Theater Producers of Color, Producing 101 certificate program.

Mia Nagawiecki

Senior Vice President, Education

Mia Nagawiecki is leading Colonial Williamsburg’s ambitious new digital and educational outreach initiatives, seeking to bring early American history and civic engagement efforts to tens of millions of people. Under her direction, Colonial Williamsburg is building a national coalition of history museums and civic education organizations to build collaborative digital resources to serve K-12 teachers and students, all to ensure that the nation’s 250th anniversary is a moment of collective learning for the nation. Prior to joining Colonial Williamsburg, Nagawiecki served as the Center for Civic Education’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, where she worked to advance the Center’s mission of providing civic and constitutional education to students, teachers, and citizens.

Brenda Barr

Director of Education & Research

Dr. Brenda Barr is the Director of Education and Research at Makematic, where she leads the design of ClassSpark courses and oversees research, scripting, and factual accuracy across Makematic productions. Prior to this, she served as Senior Director for Educator Networks and Programs at National Geographic. Her career includes roles as a social studies teacher, state content specialist in Mississippi, district curriculum leader and principal in Colorado, and Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning at the Colorado Department of Education. With over 30 years of experience in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and educational media. Dr. Barr has presented at multiple conferences, including at NCSS, throughout the country.

Alissa Oginsky

Director of K-12 Education

Alissa Oginsky is the Director of K-12 Education at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. She is responsible for managing a team of amazing museum educators in supporting teachers and students nationwide through the facilitation of professional development programming, signature student leadership programs, and classroom resources. Prior to joining Mount Vernon in 2018, Alissa spent eleven years as a classroom teacher in Grades 3-6 and educational leader for her collaborative team, social studies department, district curriculum team, and in various roles in museums and cultural organizations. She holds an M.A. in Art Museum and Gallery Education from Newcastle University and a B.S. in Elementary Education from York College of Pennsylvania.

Paramount I-II

AI & the Brain: As We Embrace AI, Let’s Not Forget Our Minds

Code Switch: Defending Black EdTech amid AI Crackdowns

With the 250th anniversary of the United States nearing, the need for accurate, engaging, and factual instruction has never been more urgent. Educators need professional development that is both flexible and trustworthy. Museums and nonprofits - longstanding partners in education - are responding to this moment by reimagining professional learning through video-based formats that preserve the power of place and story. This panel explores how these organizations are using video to support educators in navigating today’s polarized educational landscape with clarity, confidence and integrity.

PEDAGOGY, POLITICS, & PLACE: VIDEO PD FOR A POLARIZED AGE


Future-Ready Frameworks for Higher Ed's Title IX Challenges

Maureen Holland

Attorney

As a member of the Institutional Response Group at Cozen O'Connor, Maureen's practice is focused on helping educational institutions improve policies, procedures, and systems for preventing and addressing discrimination, harassment, and interpersonal harm, including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, sex- and gender-based harassment, identity-based discrimination and harassment, hazing, retaliation and other forms of conduct prohibited by Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the Clery Act (as amended by the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act), and related federal and state laws.

Maureen helps schools design and implement effective institutional responses that integrate the complex federal and state regulatory framework with the unique dynamics of interpersonal harm. She provides hands-on assistance in building centralized offices of institutional equity, writing policies and procedures, conducting investigations, serving as an external decision-maker and appellate authority, and developing and delivering training programs for Title IX Coordinators, institutional equity personnel, decision-makers, investigators, and other implementers and leaders.

Institutions regularly call upon Maureen to conduct external policy audits regarding Title IX, Title VI, and other civil rights laws; reviews of institutional responses to current or historical reports of sexual and gender-based harassment and violence; and child protection audits. She also assists schools in meeting federal compliance obligations and responding to investigations by the Office for Civil Rights and the Clery Compliance Division of the U.S. Department of Education.

As a seasoned investigator, Maureen manages and conducts Title IX and civil rights investigations. She also serves as an external hearing officer, panel chair, and legal consultant to decision-makers in Title IX, discrimination, harassment, and related conduct cases.

Maureen served as Interim Director of Civil Rights and Title IX at Amherst College (2024); Interim Director of Investigations at a large state university, restructuring their intake and investigative processes (2018-2019); and Interim Title IX Coordinator at Baylor University, helping to build Baylor’s Office of Institutional Equity (2017-2018). She currently leads a team of IRG attorneys who serve as equity consultants for Michigan State University, reviewing policies, procedures, and case files and reporting on legal compliance and effective practices.

Maureen co-chairs the firm’s Education Industry team, helping identify, develop, and connect education leaders with legal advisors and experienced professionals within and outside of Cozen O’Connor. Maureen is also actively involved in the firm’s diversity initiatives and has previously served on the firm’s Member Committee and Hiring Committee. Maureen currently serves on the boards of Face to Face Germantown and Central Division Victim Services (CDVS) and is the co-chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association's LGBTQ+ Rights Committee. In 2020, Maureen was recognized as one of the best LGBTQ+ Lawyers under 40 by the LGBT Bar. In 2024, the Legal Intelligencer recognized Maureen as an “Unsung Hero” for her behind the scenes leadership in important matters. Maureen and her wife live in Philadelphia.

Lorie Dakessian

Attorney

Lorie Dakessian represents clients in campus discipline cases, Title IX litigation, white-collar and internal investigations, and legal and medical malpractice matters.

As Co-Chair of the Title IX & Campus Discipline practice (www.titleix.law), Lorie represents college students and faculty members nationwide who are under investigation for, or who have been disciplined by their colleges or universities for, alleged violations of sexual harassment and misconduct and academic misconduct. She also represents faculty members who are under investigation by their universities and federal agencies for allegations of sexual harassment or research misconduct. She brings litigation against colleges and universities when a resolution cannot be reached at the disciplinary level.

Lin-Chi Wang

Attorney

Lin-Chi is a sexual misconduct investigator, focusing on Title IX, Title VII, Title VI, and anti-discrimination consulting, investigations, adjudications, and advising. She brings extensive experience serving in interim Title IX and Equal Opportunity positions for higher education institutions, writing policy, conducting high-profile investigations, and serving as a decision-maker in sexual misconduct adjudications. Her approach is not only fair and impartial, but also centers humane, culturally appropriate, and trauma-informed practices.

Waterloo Ballroom 5-6

Building a New, Future-Proof University in 2026

A Model for Culturally Responsive STEAM Ecosystems

How to Raise Changemakers: Lessons from Brazil’s Youth

Our panel of experienced lawyers brings different perspectives to the evolving Title IX legal landscape. We are student advocates, policy designers, and on-the-ground implementers. We will share strategies for transforming Title IX challenges into opportunities and explore how forward-thinking institutions can move from reactive approaches toward sustainable, sound policies and fair processes that serve all students. Through case studies and practical frameworks, participants will learn strategies for balancing legal requirements with institutional values in the classroom and beyond.

FUTURE-READY FRAMEWORKS FOR HIGHER ED'S TITLE IX CHALLENGES


The Big Blur: Rethinking the Transition from School to Work

Russell Lowery-Hart

Chancellor

Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart is the Chancellor of Austin Community College District, where he leads with a philosophy rooted in love and equity. He previously served as president of Amarillo College, which earned national recognition—including the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence—under his leadership. A passionate advocate for student success and systemic transformation, Russell holds a PhD in interpersonal communication with a focus on gender and diversity.

Luke Rhine

Vice President

Luke Rhine is Vice President for Postsecondary Success at Rodel, focused on bridging education, workforce, and economic systems. He previously served in the Biden-Harris administration as Acting Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education. He also held senior roles in the Delaware Department of Education, helping launch the nationally recognized Delaware Pathways initiative. A former teacher and Fulbright scholar, he brings deep expertise in systems change.

Joel Vargas

Vice President, Education

Joel Vargas is vice president of the Education practice at JFF, where he leads initiatives to improve learning systems and outcomes nationwide. An expert in aligning high school, college, and career pathways, he has shaped state policy agendas, created model legislation, and provided technical assistance to education leaders. He previously launched JFF’s West Coast office and holds an EdD from Harvard and a BA in journalism from Boston University.

Jarrad Toussant

Senior Vice President, Education & Workforce

Jarrad Toussant is Senior Vice President of Education and Workforce at the Dallas Regional Chamber, where he leads efforts to build regional talent pipelines and expand economic mobility. A Texas native and public school graduate, Jarrad has held leadership roles with the Texas Education Agency, Teach For America, Citizen Schools, and the City of Newark. He holds master’s degrees in public and business administration from Rutgers and is a champion of education innovation and equity.

Waller Ballroom D

Media That Matters: Nuclear Weapons & the Next Generation

Rethinking Higher Education to Build an AI-First Workforce

Building AI Pathways for HBCU Talent & Community Impact

The Fandom Force: How to Create a Fan-First Social Approach

From Field to Fan: The Future of Sports Storytelling

What if high school, college, and career weren’t separate systems—but one seamless experience designed to help today’s learners succeed in a fast-changing world of work? This panel explores “The Big Blur,” a bold vision to redesign how we educate 16–20-year-olds by erasing the boundaries between K–12, higher education, and work. Panelists will share how they’re building learning models that integrate academics, career-connected learning, and real credentials—starting in high school. Hear how these efforts are creating real opportunity for students and what it will take to scale nationwide.

BIG BLUR: RETHINKING THE TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO WORK


Glowing Brains & Robosuits: Terminating the AI Cliché

Jacqueline O'Reilly

Professor at the University of Sussex Business School & Co-Director of the ESRC Digital Futures at Work Research Centre (Digit)

Prof. Jacqueline O’Reilly, Director of Digit, the ESRC Digital Futures at Work Research Centre, unpacks how AI is shifting work, identity and collaboration, grounding future vision in new perspectives and real-world research. Jacqui leads international projects on the digital transformation of work and labour markets. With a doctorate from Oxford and a career spanning Europe and the US, she blends academic insight, policy expertise, and cultural analysis. A Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and former President of the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics, Jacqui brings rigorous evidence and a human lens to AI’s impact on society, making her a vital voice in shaping equitable, inclusive futures for work and learning.

Alex Calder

Head of Innovation

Alex Calder, Head of Innovation at Jagged Edge, brings a sharp lens on future-facing design and storytelling, bridging tech and culture with a consulting strategist’s eye.

Waterloo Ballroom 1-2

Engineering Confidence: Raising Girls to Build Companies

Afraid of AI? In Cleveland, It’s Enabling Economic Mobility

Higher Ed Needs Caring & Liberatory Leadership to Thrive

The metaphors we use shape the futures we create. While the whole world becomes human-AI hybrid, we still talk about AI like a god, ghost or omnipotent spreadsheet.
Corporate ‘cyborg-centaur’ sci-fi clichés trap organisations in macho, mechanistic tropes. We urgently need new myths to think with. Bring your sledgehammer as we deconstruct the lazy visual language of AI. Whether you’re designing tech, making art or building teams, the models unveiled in this session will give you the tools you need to take control and make AI an effective, equitable partner in the redesign of the new workplace.

GLOWING BRAINS & ROBOSUITS: TERMINATING THE AI CLICHE


Unleashing Students' Tech Genius to Improve Mental Health

Lisa Marsch

Director, Center for Technology and Behavioral Health

Lisa Marsch, PhD, directs Dartmouth’s Center for Technology and Behavioral Health and is a professor of psychiatry and biomedical data science. A global leader in digital therapeutics, she pioneered the first FDA-authorized digital treatment for opioid addiction, transforming mental healthcare. Her work focuses on developing additional therapeutics for HIV prevention, mental health, binge eating disorder, and more, blending cutting-edge technology with rigorous science. She is currently overseeing a student-led project that is developing a new AI tool that provides personalized real-time insights and recommendations to promote mental health and flourishing in student life. Lisa has previously given keynote speeches at the White House, World Bank, U.N., and Congress to share her work.

Keene Dampal

Student

Keene Dampal is a Dartmouth student from Davao City, Philippines. As someone who studies Neuroscience on the Pre-Med track, he is deeply passionate about youth mental health. He is actively involved with the Student Wellness Center as a Peer Wellness Coach, where he underwent specialized training to provide effective mental health support to students through wellness check-ins. He is also a pioneering project assistant at Evergreen, a student-led AI mental health project, where he contributed to content creation and ensured the inclusion of motivational interviewing in the platform's development. Outside the mental health sphere, he enjoys working with children at the Dartmouth College Child Care Center.

Asli Tavasli

Student

Asli a computer science and biology major with a minor in human-centered design, with a passion about using technology to make healthcare more accessible, preventative, and equitable. Originally from Istanbul, Türkiye, she hopes to bring a global perspective to the intersection of wellness and innovation. She’s worked on projects that improve healthcare delivery from both provider and patient perspectives by combining computer vision with traditional pathology tools to bridge digital and global diagnostic workflows, and translating text into musical patterns to support speech therapy. As an active contributor to a student-led AI mental health project, she focuses on developing applications that expand access to mental health solutions.

Waterloo Ballroom 4

Game On: Reimagining Career Exploration Through Play

Early Days Again: What AI Makes Possible for New Schools

Panelists will discuss emerging tech-driven mental health solutions and the importance of involving end users – in this case, college students – in their development. Centered on the student-led creation of a first-of-its-kind AI tool to support mental health, this discussion with the project’s researchers and students, moderated by Pulitzer-prize winning wellness journalist Tara Parker-Pope, will emphasize the need to let research guide how we integrate AI into healthcare to harness its benefits without creating new harms, all while empowering students to become ethical stewards of AI.

UNLEASHING STUDENTS' TECH GENIUS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH


Let’s Talk Spanglish

Xiomara Rivera Pagán

Founder

Dr. Xiomara Rivera Pagán brings 10+ years of experience with multilingual learners and programs. Her doctoral work explored how language policy impacts outcomes for English learners. She co-founded Cultura Plenera and serves on the boards of Cultura Plenera and The 3rd, creating spaces that celebrate Puerto Rican traditions like Bomba and Plena while advocating for inclusive, community-rooted language learning.

Guadalupe

What We’re Unlearning on Supporting Education Systems

Shaping Education in a Culture x Tech World

Independent Film Publicity: How to Earn Media Attention

4D Volumetric Video & Gaussian Splats for XR Creators

Meet up with Spanish- and English-speaking peers to practice bilingualism in a welcoming, judgment-free space designed for educators. Participants will explore the power of linguistic diversity in learning environments, experience a low-stakes card-based activity that fosters authentic language use, and reflect on how social interaction supports language development. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to build inclusive, multilingual classrooms and communities.


Chalk & Gavel: Navigating the Tides of an Education Law Sea Change

Jamie Kudlats

Jamie Kudlats, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of educational leadership at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he prepares aspiring school and district leaders through research-informed and practice-oriented instruction. A former middle school math teacher and principal, his scholarship explores the more humanistic aspects of school leadership, particularly the principal-student relationship, leadership identity, and stress, coping, and well-being. His work also focuses on legal issues in schools and increasing educators’ legal literacy to strengthen leadership practice. He is the co-creator/host of the education law podcast Chalk & Gavel.

Christopher Thomas

Dr. Christopher Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Florida and co-host of the Chalk & Gavel podcast. A former high school English teacher and practicing school law attorney, he holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and a J.D. from The Ohio State University. His research focuses on the intersection of education law, policy, and democratic governance. He is the author of Reclaiming Democratic Education (Teachers College Press).

Waterloo Ballroom 3

Hsu Untied: Beyond Numbers: Decision-Making in the Math Classroom

The Learning Geeks: How to Think When Machines Think Faster

Beyond Voting: Defending Truth in Education: AI, Equity, & Power

Forget Moments Marketing: Welcome to Worldbuilding

Tradwives, Throuples, Trends: What Modern Love Means for Ads

In this live recording of Chalk & Gavel, education law professors Drs. Jamie Kudlats and Chris Thomas will explore the current legal landscape reshaping K–12 schools—from book bans and parental opt-out policies to religious liberty disputes and protecting our most vulnerable students. Jamie, a former middle school math teacher and principal, and Chris, a former English teacher and school attorney, will break down major legal shifts, key issues, and share insights to empower educators and advocates to navigate an evolving legal and political landscape.

CHALK & GAVEL: NAVIGATING THE TIDES OF AN EDUCATION LAW SEA CHANGE


Higher Ed's Losing Global Talent & the Bill Is Coming Due

Esther Benjamin

CEO

Esther T. Benjamin has been a global executive in the public, private, and civil society sectors for more than 25 years. Before joining WES as CEO and executive director, Esther worked with Laureate Education, Inc., a leading global higher education organization. Esther served as the Associate Director for Global Operations of the U.S. Peace Corps, and held senior management roles with the International Youth Foundation and the International Partnership for Microbicides.

Karin Fischer

Senior Writer

Karin Fischer is a senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education, covering international education and the politics of college access. She authors Latitudes, a popular global education newsletter, and her work has appeared in NPR, The New York Times, and EdSource. Karin is a research associate at UC Berkeley’s Center for Studies in Higher Education and a fellow at SUNY Albany. She’s received fellowships from the East-West Center and the International Reporting Project, with honors from the Education Writers Association, National Press Foundation, and Poynter Institute.

Fanta Aw

NAFSA Association of International Educators

CEO

Dr. Fanta Aw is the executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the world’s largest international education association. A former NAFSA president (2013–2016), she is a thought leader on internationalization, DEI, global trends, and student mobility. Dr. Aw spent over 30 years at American University, where she held senior leadership roles and earned her PhD in sociology. A sought-after speaker and global voice, she has been featured in CNN, The New York Times, The Economist, and more.

Omar Chihane

Global General Manager

As GM of TOEFL, Omar leads the strategic direction and growth of the TOEFL iBT, drawing on his global experience as a tech entrepreneur and executive. Before joining ETS in 2024, he founded englease, an English teaching startup serving the Middle East and Africa. He previously held leadership roles at Siemens, Nokia, and Microsoft. Omar holds an MBA from London Business School and is a venture partner with Antler, mentoring emerging tech startups.

Waller Ballroom C

From TikTok to Toolbelt: Preparing Gen Z for Work

It Takes a Region: Cybersecurity Pathways in Rural Alabama

Rethinking Discovery Algorithms for the Creator Economy

Breaking the Sound Barrier: Making Creativity Accessible to All

International students drive innovation, fill urgent workforce gaps and contributed more than $45B to the U.S. economy last year, yet global demand for U.S. study is slipping fast. This session dives into why enrollment is declining and what institutions must do now to compete. Expect sharp insights on shifting student expectations, career-aligned pathways, smarter English-language readiness, affordability pressures and the policies shaping where talent goes next. A must-attend for anyone rethinking international recruitment and preparing for the next era of global mobility.

HIGHER ED'S LOSING GLOBAL TALENT & THE BILL IS COMING DUE


Reigniting STEM Interest: A 7,700-Student Study

Tomáš Mejzlík

Managing director

Tomáš Mejzlík is a public innovation leader and advocate for STEM education and creative technology. As director of FabLab Brno, the first open digital fabrication lab in the Czech Republic, and current head of VIDA! Science Center, he designs national-scale initiatives that inspire youth to engage with science, engineering, and innovation. He is the creator of the FabLab University Truck, a mobile makerspace that has introduced digital fabrication to over 35,000 students across hundreds of schools. Tomáš also spearheaded the Czech Republic’s successful bid to host FAB25, the world’s largest digital fabrication summit.

Waller Ballroom B

AI’s Rise, Talent’s Fall: Fixing the Skills Deficit

Empowering Students for the Jobs of Tomorrow

Cracking Higher Ed: Why Startups Miss the Mark

Startup Lessons from the Baby-Sitters Club

The Future is Low-Tech: Lessons from the Early 2000s

In an era of global challenges—from clean water to AI ethics—we need an avalanche of young innovators, yet STEM interest drops during the middle-to-high school transition. A 7,700-student study reveals 6 levers that raise engagement: meaningful experiences, parent influence, unlocking girls’ participation, courage/agency, clear career images, and reframing difficulty. Take away a shared language, tested patterns, and next steps for applying them through Activation → Identity → Career.

REIGNITING STEM INTEREST: A 7,700-STUDENT STUDY


Brazil Creative Economy Meet Up

Paulo Aguiar

CREATOR

Paulo Aguiar is an AI-first creator and creative partner for global brands. In the last year, he published 150+ original pieces on generative AI and creative experimentation, generating 100+ million organic views and building a community of 500K+ followers across platforms. He travels globally producing content, consulting, and speaking at leading industry festivals and conferences, including Cannes Lions, SXSW, Innovation Summit and CES. He also runs an education platform focused on practical, creator-led generative AI.
He has created and starred in campaigns for brands including NVIDIA, L’Oréal, Google, Meta, Samsung, Canva, and Chevrolet. Prior to going full-time as a creator, Paulo was a globally awarded Creative Director with 15+ years spanning creative leadership, marketing leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Vanessa Mathias

Co founder

Vanessa Mathias is a speculative futurist, strategist, and co-founder of White Rabbit, a futures research and experience design studio based in Brazil. She’s the author of Radical Reimagination and a frequent speaker at SXSW, TEDx, and international festivals. Her work explores how imagination, discernment, and decision-making are being reshaped by technology — and how to protect cognitive sovereignty in a world driven by automation. She’s known for creating immersive, participatory sessions that challenge and activate.

Room 408

Convene, Collaborate, & Cultivate Connection: Moms Meet Up

Brazil has one of the most innovative creative economies in the world. It is influenced by its multicultural background, versatility and diversity that shape and inspire its creative economy ecosystem. Come meet some of Brazil's communication professionals, audio-visual producers, designers, publishers, brands and startups, where a fluid exchange of ideas, business models and collaborations will take place. This is a place of encounter to develop a mutual and beneficial culture of exchange between all SXSW attendees and the Brazilian creative community.

Creator Economy track sponsored by Yamaha


The Story of Stories—The Million Year History of Storytelling

Kevin Ashton

Author

Kevin Ashton is a visionary technologist. He coined the term the Internet of Things, and cofounded the Auto-ID Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Story of Stories: The Million-Year History of a Uniquely Human Art is his second book; his first book, How to Fly a Horse: The Secret History of Creation, Invention, and Discovery, was named 2015's Porchlight Business Book of the Year. Kevin's writing about innovation and technology has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic Monthly, Politico, and Wired, and he gives talks about storytelling, the future, and innovation to audiences all over the world. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Salon D

Who’s Funding the Future—and Who’s Getting Left Out

Thrive or Survive: Why Creativity is the Key to an AI-Future

Skills You’ll Need To Succeed in the Post-AI Age

Through the Noise: The State of Science Storytelling

How Death Became the New Wellness Frontier

"Language did not give us stories; stories gave us language." Kevin Ashton coined the phrase "the Internet of Things" and led the development of the Internet of Things at MIT. His latest book THE STORY OF STORIES explores the intrinsic human nature of storytelling; delves into how stories are deeply embedded in our lives; and traces the evolution of storytelling from night fires to digital screens, social media, AI, and beyond. Kevin will read from the book, discuss its big ideas, take questions, and, after the talk, sign books at the SXSW bookstore.

STORY OF STORIES?THE MILLION YEAR HISTORY OF STORYTELLING


LGBTQ+ & Friends Meet Up

Luis Gramajo

Founder

I grew up knowing I had a gift: I could make anyone feel comfortable. I could read a room, ask the right question, see the joy in someone even when they're hiding it. For a long time, I didn't know what to do with that.

Then I picked up a camera.

Now I run Sunday Afternoon Project and Storytellers Photo Lab. With my photography I don't chase technical perfection. I chase real moments. Connection. Vulnerability mixed with confidence. I create spaces where people's walls come down, and that's when the actual magic happens. That's when you see yourself the way I see you, powerful, joyful, genuinely yourself.

My mission is simple: help people realize they're way more interesting, way more beautiful, way more capable than they give themselves credit for. And then prove it in photos and everything I do.

Because here's what I believe: you deserve to see yourself joyfully. And I'm here to help you get there.

Hans Schrei

Founder

Born and raised in Guatemala, Austin is home now. Ever wondered why some stories stick while others fade? As a former marketer turned cookie entrepreneur and nonprofit founder, I've found the answer: authenticity. At The Sunday Afternoon Project, we’re redefining storytelling. Our Fearless Storytelling™ workshops blend data with drama, creating authentic connections in a world of artificial engagement. My passion? Making complex ideas simple and engaging. Whether it’s the story behind a cookie or a life journey, I transform the intimidating into something accessible and impactful. Curious how your story could be a game-changer? Let’s chat—because in life’s big story, we’re all co-authors.

Strait

Health Moonshot: Healthy Students, Educators, Communities

PanelPicker & More: Engaging at SXSW EDU 2027 Meet Up

This is a space to pause, breathe, and connect. We bring bubbles for your inner child, stories that spark connection, and space to show up exactly as you are. Join LGBTQ+, friends, creatives and  storytellers, for an authentic gathering rooted in curiosity, community, and queer joy. Come curious, leave connected. We can honestly say that for 4 years that we've done it for SXSW, this is the space where we had made the most unique and stronger connections!


Charmageddon: Robots That Steal Hearts and Jobs

Afshin Mehin

Founder

Afshin Mehin is the founder of Card79, a design studio dedicated to exploring future forms and emerging technologies. With a background spanning mechanical engineering and product design, Afshin builds products that operate in both digital and physical domains, from robotics to neurotechnology. He has collaborated with leaders at Neuralink and MIT’s Media Lab, refined his craft at acclaimed studios like Barber Osgerby and Terence Conran, and partnered with industry leaders including Amazon, Lululemon, and Ford to launch transformative products and businesses. Prior to founding Card79, Afshin was part of the design teams at IDEO and Whipsaw in the Bay Area.

Salon A

The Creative Power of Letting Go: Why Quitting Can Be Your Biggest Breakthrough

Shortchanged: Gen Z, the Economy, and Brands

SWIFTYNOMICS: How Women Mastermind and Redefine Our Economy

Prune or Perish: Cut Toxic Leadership for a Thriving Culture

Robots are no longer confined to factories. Today, they work in offices, live in homes, and support people in hospitals. But even the most advanced technical performance doesn’t ensure success. What often makes the difference? Likeability.

In this talk, we explore how product strategy, design and character development help robots go from impressive machines to trusted companions. Through real-world case studies, we’ll show how emotional connection can be just as important as capability.

CHARMAGEDDON: ROBOTS THAT STEAL HEARTS AND JOBS


Exploring the Future of Space and Japan's Deep-Tech

Tomoki Osato

CEO

During his university years, he belonged to a “Birdman” club-Japan’s human-powered glider competition-and served as a pilot. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Physics and Materials Engineering from Nagoya University and conducted research as a Special Research Fellow at JAXA, focusing on carbon-nanotube-based composite materials. He later completed a master’s degree in Scientific and System Engineering at Nagoya University. After working in production engineering at IHI, a major Japanese heavy-industry manufacturer, he joined Sora Material and now serves as its CEO.

Nanako Hirano

Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support Co., Ltd.

Senior Consultant

As a Senior Consultant at Deloitte , She leverages her expertise in start-up consulting, emerging markets, and sustainable development to drive the creation and implementation of innovative business schemes. Her work focuses on fostering impactful solutions for startups addressing pressing social and environmental challenges in Japan and emerging markets. She previously served as an Associate Manager at Accenture and worked in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as an International Development Consultant for local enterprises. In her current role, she supports startups in their global expansion, including assisting space-related startups through Aichi Prefecture’s U.S. market programs as part of a local government initiative.

Jarek Khoilian

Investor

Jarek Khoilian leads the Aerospace, Space and Defense investment vertical at Woven Capital, Toyota's global growth stage venture fund. He has led strategic investments in Stoke Space, which is developing fully reusable rockets for next generation space access, in a US based satellite communications provider, and in Machina Labs, an advanced manufacturing company serving the aerospace and defense sectors. In 2025, he was named one of the Top 50 Rising Stars by Global Corporate Venturing.

Next Stage (Manchester Ballroom)

Hidden Brilliance Revealed: Reimagining Leadership in a Fragmented World

Frontier Firms in Action The Playbook for AI Skills Adoption

Pitches to Pipelines: Accelerating Circular Water Economy

Japan is rapidly emerging as a bold new force in space mobility. This session brings together Woven Capital, Innovative Space Carrier, Sora Material, and Deloitte to reveal how Japan’s deep-tech breakthroughs—reusable launch systems, orbital transportation architectures, and ultra-light materials that almost float in air—are reshaping the future of Earth-to-Orbit-to-Moon mobility. From Toyota’s global investment strategy to Japan’s first private U.S. VTVL launch, the speakers will share frontier insights and new opportunities for global collaboration with Japan’s rising space industry.

EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF SPACE AND JAPAN'S DEEP-TECH


The Lie That You’re Not Creative

Jodie King

Founder & CEO

Jodie King is an Austin-based artist, educator, and mentor whose work focuses on creativity as an essential human skill rather than an artistic talent. Through years of teaching, community work, and one-on-one mentorship, she has helped people reconnect with creativity to navigate change, regain clarity, and build resilience during periods of transition. Jodie teaches globally through courses, workshops, and live programs, and hosts a widely followed podcast exploring creativity, identity, and meaningful work. She serves on the board of Art for the Streets (Austin, TX), bringing creative access into underserved communities, and was named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Austin in 2025. Her work has been featured by Forbes and NBC.

Paramount III

CTRL + SHIFT: Reimagining School Engagement Through Esports

American Exchange Project: Experiential Civics in Action

The Art Gallery is the New Gym: Get Creative, Get Smarter

Reducing the Cognitive Cost of Change to Drive Innovation

Creativity is no longer a “nice to have.” As technology takes over efficiency and execution, creativity has become the essential human skill – fueling clarity, adaptability, and connection in times of rapid change. This session reframes creativity not as talent, but as a core capability anyone can access. Through practical tools and real-world examples, participants will learn how creativity helps us navigate uncertainty, think more flexibly, and stay grounded, resilient, and human in an increasingly automated world.


Poh Si Teng

Poh Si Teng is the producer of the Oscar-nominated "St. Louis Superman" and Emmy award-winning EP of Patrice: The Movie. She is a former creative exec for ABC/Disney, former doc commissioner for Al Jazeera English, former IDA grants director, and former New York Times journalist. American Doctor marks her debut as a feature documentary director.

Alamo Lamar 3

I Got Bombed at Harvey's

Biography
Crime
Documentary
Drama
Thriller

I Got Bombed at Harvey's (aka 1,000 Pounds of Dynamite)

American Doctor is a vérité non-fiction film following three prominent physicians–Palestinian, Jewish and Zoroastrian—friends who couldn’t be more different but are bound by the shared oath to heal. Dr. Thaer Ahmad is measured, Dr. Mark Perlmutter is blunt, and Dr. Feroze Sidhwa is steeped in scholarship. Filmed in unfolding, on-the-ground scenes, the story follows them from a Gazan hospital under siege, to the halls of Congress. Together they fight to keep a promise to their Palestinian colleagues and patients, which is to continue the struggle where it matters most: the United States.

American Doctor

When three American doctors–Palestinian, Jewish and Zoroastrian–enter Gaza to save lives, they find themselves caught between medicine and politics, risking everything to expose the truth.

United States of America
Denmark
Malaysia
Qatar

Simon Kilmurry
Hamza Ali
Rasha Mansouri
Hassan Elmasry
Poh Si Teng
Rami Elghandour
Andreas Dalsgaard
Mehdi Hasan
Juan Pablo Raymond
Kiran Alvi

Ibrahim Al Otla
Chris Renteria
Arthur Nazaryan
Poh Si Teng
Ramzy Haddad

Dr. Thaer Ahmad, Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, Dr. Mark Perlmutter

Co-Producer: Mohammed Sawwaf, Co-Producer: Kasper Lykke Schultz


Brian Tetsuro Ivie

Brian Tetsuro Ivie is a Japanese-American filmmaker, film producer, and the co-founder of Kebrado, a celluloid-only media company based in New York City. His most recent producing work includes the Oscilloscope-released, "Wildcat," starring Maya Hawke, Laura Linney, and Cooper Hoffman, which debuted at both the Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals before premiering on the Criterion Channel, “Even in the Wind,” starring Sonoya Mizuno, which premiered at Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, and the upcoming 16mm workplace comedy, "Concessions," starring Michael Madsen, Steven Ogg, and Josh Hamilton. Brian is currently writing an original science-fiction series with Cary Joji Fukunaga for David Oyelowo's Yoruba Saxon Productions based on his family's own experience with Japanese incarceration. As a director, he is in post on "Serenity," an intimate 16mm documentary about a multi-generational family in the Pacific Northwest. "Anima," starring Sydney Chandler and Takehiro Hira, is Brian's narrative feature film debut.

Alamo Lamar 5

Seahorse

African American
Health/Disability/Illness
Social Issues
Women

After being let go from her robotic companion start-up, Beck, an anti-social engineer, finds herself in the offices of a new company claiming to preserve a person's consciousness inside a cloud system. Her first assignment: drive the company's most valuable client, Paul, a lonely button manufacturer, to his final appointment.

Anima

A young woman and an old man embark on a road trip to preserve his consciousness at an experimental facility.

Kimberly Atwood
Atty Cleworth
Gregory Daniel King

Harrison Allen
Brian Tetsuro Ivie
Chloe Rahal
Alexander Lycette
Jason Pamer
Brev Moss

Sydney Chandler, Takehiro Hira, Marin Ireland, Lili Taylor, Maria Dizzia, Tom McCarthy, Emil Wakim, Maximilian Lee Piazza


Dir: Richard E. Williams. DOP: Julian Panetta

Richard E. Williams

Richard E. Williams by Anita Alice Photography

With an uncompromising sense of urgency, Richard E. Williams has forged a bold path in independent cinema. From his debut "White Blood" to his ambitious POV sophomore feature "Dead Eyes", he pushes cinematic boundaries while championing a distinctly authentic Australian voice.

Alamo Lamar 6

#Skyking

Health/Disability/Illness
Politics
Social Issues

The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel

Black Zombie

African American
Education
Politics
Social Issue

Sean and his fiancée, Grace, enter a remote forest to find Sean’s missing father, Paul, who vanished after the death of his youngest daughter, Lilly. Returning to the site of Lilly’s death forces Sean to confront his inner demons, which begin to materialize externally. Their search takes a terrifying turn, revealing Paul’s secret. He’s been conducting cloning experiments, aimed at resurrecting Lilly. The forest is now inhabited by cannibalistic mutant girls, each a clone of Lilly, battling to prove their identity as the 'real' Lilly. As Sean and Grace uncover the grim truth, they face terrifying creatures and grapple with unsettling questions about life and death.

Dead Eyes

A first person (POV) horror experience. After the death of his sister, Sean ventures into a remote forest with his friends to find his missing father, only to discover his grief has become the bridge between the living and the dead.

Dead Eyes

Mischa Heywood as Lilly - Dir. Richard E. Williams

Anthony Buckner

Alliance Media Partners International Ltd

Ana Thu-Nguyen, Mischa Heywood, Rijen Laine, Charles Cottier, Alea O'Shea, Stephen Phillips, Freya Callaghan

Camera Operator: Nathan Frost, Special Effects Makeup: Steve Boyle, Special Effects Makeup: Jason Baird, First AD: Aimee Robertson, Stunt Coordinator: Darko Tuscan, Colourist: Kali Bateman


Education
Indigenous Culture
International
Latino
Social Issues
Children
Developing World
Social Issue
Youth/Teen

Frank Pavich

Frank directed "N.Y.H.C." (1999), on New York's hardcore music scene. He co-produced "Die, Mommie, Die!," winner of Sundance’s 2003 Special Jury Prize. His "Jodorowsky’s Dune" (2013) premiered at Cannes Quinzaine and was nominated for Golden Camera. The film received numerous prizes and acclaim.

Benjamin de Menil

Agridulce is de Menil's first feature film. He has for more than 25 years produced music recordings, videos, live tours, and educational materials related to Dominican music and dance. In 2013, he founded La Academia de Bachata, the world's first music school dedicated to bachata.

In the Dominican town of Cabarete, bachata is a way of life far from the dance halls that it occupies overseas. A snapshot of four children, each confronting an existential challenge, Agridulce shows how music guides their journey of self discovery. With five years of filming, director Frank Pavich (Jodorowsky’s Dune) captures pivotal moments of the children’s coming of age.

Generations collide, and the children struggle for balance in a world troubled by conflict. Along the way, they’re mentored by teachers of a school devoted to bachata, the once denigrated music that has become the Dominican Republic’s primary cultural export.

Agridulce (Bittersweet)

Spanish; Castilian with English Subtitles

An intimate portrait of four children coming of age and the role of music in their journey. The children tell their stories through Bachata, a once proscribed music that has become the Dominican Republic’s primary cultural export.

United States of America
Dominican Republic

Jose Villa Castillo
Yerian Castillo
Frandy Direze
Orianny Bonilla

Edickson Garcia Disla, Frandy Direze, Orianny Bonilla, Yerian Castillo, Carmen Bonilla, Enrique Garcia Zapata, Jose Villa Castillo, Michiline Julien, Nativida Disla, Martires de Leon

Editor: Pablo Chea, Project Advisor: Sonia Herman Dolz, Production Sound: Oscar Chabebe, Asociate Producer: Vivien Wu, Co-Producer: Laura Amelia Guzman, Co-Producer: Israel Cardenas


Chandler Levack

Chandler Levack grew up in Burlington, Ontario and lives in Toronto, where she studied cinema at the University of Toronto and screenwriting at the Canadian Film Centre.

She started her career as a music critic, writing for SPIN, The Village Voice and The Globe & Mail. She has directed numerous music videos for bands that include PUP and Jeremy Dutcher, earning two JUNO nominations.

In 2022, Levack's debut as a writer/director I LIKE MOVIES, premiered at TIFF in 2022. The film is a coming of age comedy and is based on her experiences working at Blockbuster Video in the early 2000's. It was named to TIFF’s annual year-end Canada’s Top Ten list for 2022 and won four awards at the Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards 2022 (including best Film and best Screenplay).

Chandler is currently in post on the Netflix/Happy Madison feature ROOMMATES, written by Jimmy Fowlie and Ceara O’Sullivan, and starring Sadie Sandler. Her second feature, MILE END KICKS, will premiere as the opening night film of TIFF's Special Presentations lineup this year. The film is based on Levack's experiences as a young female rock critic living in Montreal’s Mile End,  at the time when Grimes and Mac DeMarco were beginning their careers. It stars Barbie Ferreira, Jay Baruchel, Devon Bostick and Stanley Simons.

Grace Pine, a driven though easily distracted 23-year-old. She leaves her quirky parents’ home for a shared apartment found on Craigslist to devote herself to writing the next great book in the 33 1/3 album exploration series. Hers will be on the iconic Alanis Morissette opus Jagged Little Pill. Loft parties introduce Grace to two paramours. Unfortunately, they are members of the same rock band, Bone Patrol. And instead of sequestering herself away to complete her draft, she uses her music industry know-how to get in with the band as their publicist.Through wine-fuelled poetry readings and other ill-advised choices, Grace is in the trenches of self-discovery.

Mile End Kicks

A 24-year-old music critic gets romantically involved with members of an indie band she decides to publicize, set against Montreal's indie music scene in 2011.

Barbie Ferreira, Devon Bostick, Stanley Simons, Juliette Gariépy, Jay Baruchel


Texas High School Shorts Screening & Q&A

Noor Zaman

Student

Derian Herrmann

Student

Ashlie Crosson

2025 National Teach Of The Year

Courtney King

Student Filmmaker

Charlie Waldman

Student

Davis Knocke

Student

Waller Ballroom A

From Who to What to You: The Weird AI-Infused Future of the Creator Economy

From Viral to Viable: Building IP as a Creator

Big Ideas, Tiny Budgets: How Creativity Wins

Please join us in welcoming the Texas High School Shorts to the SXSW EDU Film Program! This block of screenings will feature thirteen short films:

“Just ask.” -- A boy fixates over asking a girl out at a subway station after recently being rejected.

“The Cookie Quest” -- A young baker contracts an illness that stops her from being able to do what she loves. She struggles with her symptoms, eventually baking one cookie, beginning the transition back to her normal life.

“Lyle in Love” -- Lyle must choose whether or not to ask out the girl whom he cherishes most.

“Eclipse” -- The Sun is passing by the Moon. Remember to wear your sunglasses.

“Wendigo” -- A lonely shapeshifter tries to make friends in a big forest.

“She Follows Me” -- “She Follows Me” introduces Harper, a teenage girl struggling with depression who is contemplating suicide, until an unexpected visitor helps her rediscover a part of her life that she thought was gone forever.

“Uno” -- When Derian cheats in a friendly game of Uno, his friend seeks revenge with the help of a magical Uno card.

“Bear Bones” -- Bear Bones follows the surreal journey of a teddy bear.

“DASH’D” -- A regular dude can't decide what to order on a food delivery app.

“Operation Goliath” -- Two soldiers, Pat and Hank, are trapped behind enemy lines in a dense jungle, but a new threat is waiting in the darkness.

“New Heights – with JD Wallace – New Heights follows Joshua” -- “JD” Wallace, a 6’5” Jack Yates High School senior whose rise as a student-athlete challenges every assumption about him—revealing that true elevation isn’t just about height, but speed, precision, discipline, and purpose.

“Hot Off the Reel - with Ken Burns” -- As Jack Yates High School approaches its 100-year anniversary, four JY Cinema Dual Credit students step into the world of professional documentary filmmaking when they meet legendary filmmaker Ken Burns at Houston PBS.

“Gambini Fights Lucheesy (TONY???) and the Lucheeses: The Movie” -- Two omnipotent mafia bosses engage in a fierce battle for the perfect croissant recipe.

Following the final film, there will be a Q&A with the audience featuring the student filmmakers.

TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL SHORTS SCREENING & Q&A


Suzy Robertson

Learning Design Expert

Suzy Robertson is a Learning Design Expert at McKinsey’s Design and Development Center of Excellence and a contributor to their Learning Research and Innovation Lab. Before transitioning into L&D, Suzy was a K–12 educator and is passionate about educational innovation and learning science. With a background in sociology and a love for the arts, she brings a creative and human-centered lens to learning design.

Change keeps coming fast. Teams, educators, and leaders are being asked to adopt new tools, behaviors, and priorities at a relentless pace. But many change efforts fail to stick. People feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or left behind. Change does not fail because people resist it. It fails because of how we design and deliver it.
This session rethinks change through the lens of learning science. Drawing on research around metacognition, motivation, and cognitive load, we’ll explore why transformation stalls when people can’t see the relevance, can’t experiment safely, or simply can’t keep up.

REDUCING THE COGNITIVE COST OF CHANGE TO DRIVE INNOVATION


Startup Lessons from the Baby-Sitters Club

Michelle Bedolla

Founder

Michelle Bedolla is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and currently pursuing a doctorate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. With a strong foundation in edtech and startup innovation, Michelle has applied deep expertise in design thinking, systems thinking, and change management to guide organizations through complex challenges and innovative growth. As the founder of an edtech startup, Book Club Edition, Michelle continues to create new approaches to learning experiences.

Waller Ballroom B

AI’s Rise, Talent’s Fall: Fixing the Skills Deficit

Empowering Students for the Jobs of Tomorrow

Cracking Higher Ed: Why Startups Miss the Mark

Reigniting STEM Interest: A 7,700-Student Study

The Future is Low-Tech: Lessons from the Early 2000s

The Baby-Sitters Club was a female-founded startup that thrived in the care economy, which included early-childhood education. This session highlights how the startup founders responded to local demand, built trust, and scaled their service with limited resources. Their fee-for-service business model provided affordable childcare to families. The Baby-Sitters Club incorporated empathy, social and emotional learning, creativity, and collaborative leadership into their core values. These business practices and values are transferable to startups in the real and modern world.

STARTUP LESSONS FROM THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB


Rollins Theatre at the Long Center

Cornbread Mafia

Addiction/Recovery
Legal
Senior/Aging
Social Issue

Action
Biography
Comedy
Crime
Documentary

African American
Books/Literary
Celebrity

Phoenix Jones: The Rise and Fall of a Real Life Superhero

Vibrant work filmed in, inspired by, or connected to the Lone Star State.

Forcefield of Love

Dan and Doris both find themselves single in their 70s after their spouses of decades have passed away. After using an online dating service during the pandemic for older singles, they talk on the phone for three months and fall in love before meeting in person. Now living in Austin, Texas, and married for three years, the two wear lavish matching outfits, go out dancing several nights a week, and have an active sexual life rooted in both fantasy and intimacy. With a deep awareness of their mortality guiding their choices, Dan and Doris are not afraid to show up in the world as their true selves, disregarding cultural norms for how older people should look, love, and move through the world.

Doris and Dan’s lives are full of dancing, sex, and other intimate pleasures as they defy traditional expectations of how we can embrace life, death, and aging.

Prewn
Duane Pitre
John Calvin Abney
Diana Burgess
Jonas Goode
Mathew Simonson
Dailey Toliver

Animator: Sarah McCaskill, Colorist: Arthur Garibay

Freedom At Stake

In Texas, new legislation aims to criminalize those who help others access abortion—even across state lines. This film follows a determined network of activists confronting the legal and financial risks of “aiding and abetting” abortion care. In the wake of a critical vote on the ballot, they push back against Prop A and the growing trend of punitive laws, revealing the emotional toll and the grassroots resistance that continues to hold strong in Texas. "Freedom At Stake", shines a light on the resistance to the escalating assault on abortion care and access in small-town Texas—and the sweeping national consequences could follow.

Activists in Texas fight back against Prop A, a measure targeting those who help others seek abortions across state lines. As legal risks grow, so does their determination to protect access and bodily autonomy.

Gabrielle Bird-Vogel
Malia Mailes
Jessica Schwartzman
Jess Jacobs

Karlie Kloss
Phoebe Gates
Nicole Galovski
Carri Twigg
Lauren Cynamon

Assistant Camera: Neil Mayhew, Drone Operators: Edwin Diaz, Ryan Goble, Sound Recordists: Todd Bauer, Alan Chow, Line Producer: Sarada Duvvuri, Story Consultant: Lauren Saffa, Fact Checker: Lola DiNizio, Additional Cinematography: Dan Duran, Derek Howard, Consulting Producers: Jessica Valenti, Kwajelyn Jackson, Jess Jacobs, Assistant Editor: Liza Lipskaia, Online Editor: Michael Wooldridge

Stalin Boys

Four Mexican-American middle school boys in a Texas border town have developed an unusual obsession: Joseph Stalin. When their teacher tells them about the Texas State History Fair, they write a play about the Soviet dictator - and his efforts to destroy all who opposed him. As the boys write and rehearse their play about Stalin, they are forced to confront their own relationship with power and control.

Four middle-school boys in a Texas border town have developed an unusual obsession: Joseph Stalin. When they hear about the Texas State History Fair, they write a play about the Soviet dictator and his efforts to destroy all who opposed him.

Alejandra Vasquez
Ora DeKornfeld
Bianca Giaever

Natalie Ancona
Ora DeKornfeld
Bianca Giaever

Malachi Gonzalez, Lyric Aguilar, Jurem Castro, Cayden Madaleno, Crawford Hunt, Clayton Wickham

Sound: Bianca Giaever, Additional Music: Xavier Markowitz, Color Grade: Away Team

Una Nave Fragil / A Fragile Vessel

English, Spanish; Castilian with English Subtitles

The hottest summer on record left Austin ablaze and terrified, a city where heat hits hardest in at-risk neighborhoods and communities of color. In the aftermath, the Castañón family walks into the woods, asking: What is heat? At a city-run heat-mapping event, they trace invisible threats and exercise small acts of agency, exploring how conversation—at home, with neighbors, with scientists and policy-makers—shapes the way we live in a world remade by heat.

As the world around them scorches under record heat, a family walks into the woods, asking what the future holds in this thermal dystopia. Their conversations map survival in a world reshaped by heat.

Samuel Díaz Fernández
Ái Vuong
Rafa V Fernando

Irma Castañon, Armando Castañon, Camille Castañon, JJ Castañon

Associate Producer: Meghan Cleary Rauker, Color: Alex Winker, Foley & Dialogue: Alejandro Díaz, Effects & Ambience: Mauricio Pérez, Boom Operator: Justin Hennard, PA: Té Díaz Fernández, Camera Operator: Ái Vuong, PA: Victoria Miller, Visual Consultant: Alonso J Luján

Winter Ceremony

A long-divorced Chinese couple reunites in Texas for their daughter’s college graduation.

The mother stays in the daughter’s small apartment, while the father returns each night to a hotel room of his own. The daughter drifts between her parents and her own thoughts.

At times, they appear to be a family.

After years of absence, what remains between them goes unspoken, as the father keeps his distance, lingering nearby.

In a Texas winter, a long-divorced Chinese couple comes together for their daughter’s college graduation.

Mike Liu, Vania Feng, Zhimei Wen, Eric Ramos, Joe Finfer, Emily McDonald

Co-Producer: Yoni Azulay, Co-Producer: Monica Suo

Shut The Fuck Up When We Speak

Five Black musicians from Austin, reflect on art, identity and the need to create in a world that is quick to silence black men. The film features members of: Fuck Money, Urban Heat, Black Mercy and Chief and TheDoomsDayDevice.

Five Black musicians reflect on art, identity, and the radical act of making noise in a world that wants them silent.

Alton Jenkins, Jonathan Horstmann, Greg Williams, Noble Brown, Taz Treuchet


Alyse Walsh

Alyse Walsh is an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose work spans multiple continents and genres. Recently she was a Director and Executive Producer of the Emmy-winning Season 2 of "Home," an Apple Original Documentary Series produced with A24. She directed several episodes of the Emmy-nominated Netflix science series "Connected." Alyse was the Supervising Producer of "Diagnosis," also for Netflix, as well as for "Defying Gravity," a PGA award-winning YouTube Original series about women’s gymnastics.

Jackie Jesko

Jackie Jesko is a director and journalist who seeks out stories about complicated people, places, and societies. Her most recent credits include "Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything" (Hulu, Tribeca Premiere 2025) and "Savior Complex" (HBO, 2023). Jackie’s work has been honored with several awards including a DuPont, an Emmy, and the James Foley Medal for Courage in Journalism. She is also a co-founder of Latchkey Films.

Alamo Lamar 2

Ugly Cry

Health/Disability/Illness
The Arts/Theater
Women

My Brother's Killer

LGBTQ
Sex
Social Issues
Mature/Adult
Social Issue

Small Town Boys: The Murder of Billy London

"Baby/Girls" is a verité documentary set in Arkansas that explores what teen motherhood looks like in post-Dobbs America. Filmed over two years with unprecedented access inside a Christian maternity home for pregnant teens, the film follows three young women as they carry their pregnancies, give birth, and adapt to their new realities. Through their stories, the film offers a rare, unfiltered portrait of life at the intersection of girlhood and motherhood in the American South.

Baby/Girls

Set in post-Dobbs Arkansas, "Baby/Girls" follows three teens living in a Christian maternity home as they navigate pregnancy and early motherhood. The film offers an intimate, unfiltered look at girlhood and motherhood colliding in the American South.

Grace Dulaney, Ariana Green, Olivia Malott, Audra Dulaney, Brian Rivera, Paula Woods

Co-Editor: Andrew Morreale, Associate Editor: Michael Cutrone, Additional Cinematographer: Christopher Gill, Additional Cinematographer: Carissa Henderson, Line Producer: Marina G. Stadler, Colorist: Steve Beganyi


Millicent Hailes

Millicent is a queer English director known for her work on gender studies & feminism. A self-taught filmmaker, she's directed some of the world’s biggest musicians and built a portfolio fueled by passion. She studied fashion in London, has a degree in photography and founded yves.2c, a global magazine platform for women & underrepresented genders.

State Theatre

The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist

Courtesy of Focus Features © 2025 Focus Features, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Closed captioned
High sensory experience

In a world devastated by a contaminated water supply, Kai, a lost soul, finds herself living out of her car after a bad breakup. Each day is a struggle until fate intervenes and leads her to a hidden utopian lake, where the water is pure and life flourishes. At this secret haven, Kai encounters a band of eccentric misfits each with their own stories of loss and hope. Among them is Mallory, an enigmatic and wealthy pregnant woman living out an escapist fantasy. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, Kai and Mallory are drawn to each other, and a sudden, passionate romance ignites. As their bond deepens, Kai begins to uncover the layers of Mallory’s life and the secrets she harbors.

Perfect

In a world devastated by a contaminated water supply, a wealthy pregnant woman living in a beautiful and shabby lakeside resort in the California mountains encounters a younger woman who is starting her life over.

Julia Fox
Tess Wheeler
Stuart Clark
Michael Liggan
Floriane Andersen
Chris Rogue
Arthur Delarroche
Scott Riggs
Chris Charles
Evan Mluzen
Pouya Tehranian
Thomas Salas

Nathan Scherrer
Tara Sheree
Tyler Payne
Liz Cardenas
Douglas Riggs
Millicent Hailes

Julia Fox, Ashley Moore, Lío Mehiel, Micaela Wittman, Ryder McLaughlin, Kate Moennig, Creed Bratton

Line Producer: Giulia Di Stravola, Production Manager: Tommy Gleason, Production Coordinator: Florian Dieret, 1st AD: Lane Stroud, Costume Designer: Erik Ziemba, Casting Director: Samantha Franco, Art Director: Danielle Kaufman, Art Coordinator: Natasha Romano, Intimacy Coordinator: Darci Fulcher, Make Up Artist: Jaime Diaz


Marq Evans

Marq Evans is an award-winning independent filmmaker. His most recent documentary, "The Diamond King," premiered at the 36th Palm Springs International FF in January 2025 where it won “Best of Fest.” His previous film, "Claydream," premiered at the 2021 Tribeca FF and was named one of the top 10 documentaries of 2022 by The A.V. Club.

Alamo Lamar 4

My NDA

African American
Legal
LGBTQ
Politics
Social Issues
Women
Social Issue

Cookie Queens

African American
Latino
Texas
Women
Children
Disability
Native American/Indigenous
Youth/Teen

Courtesy of Beautiful Stories and AJNA Films

The Life We Leave

Business/Entrepreneurial
Environment
Social Issue

On October 20, 1967, Roger Patterson captured 59 seconds of film showing a creature walking through the Northern California woods—footage that became the most analyzed and debated in history. Fifty-seven years later, a reel of 16mm film discovered in a safe changes everything.

"Capturing Bigfoot" reveals the untold story behind the world's greatest mystery, told for the first time by Patterson's own son and the people who were there.

This is a story about family legacy, broken friendships, and belief itself.

Capturing Bigfoot

A reel of 16mm film locked away for over 50 years turns the Bigfoot debate on its head.

Douglas Hamm
Lara Hamm
Nate Bolotin
Aram Tertzakian

Clint Patterson, Bob Gimlin, Bob Heironimus, Larry Lund, Greg Long, Vaile Thompson, Sandy Collier, Bill Munns, Teresa Brooks, Jeff Meldrum

Consulting Producer: Alana Saad, Post Production Supervisor: Alana Saad, Graphics & Animations: Dalan McNabola, Co-Producer: Angela McCaw Evans, Assistant Editor: Andrew Wright, Additional Editing: Yakima, Camera Operator: Erik Wallen, Camera Operator: Gregg Frost, Music Supervisor: Kevin Moyer, Associate Producer: Jake Magalsky


Education
Social Issues
The Arts/Theater
Youth/Teen

Jo Rochelle

Jo Rochelle is a Jamaican-American screenwriter and filmmaker based in California, originally from Minneapolis. She attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts as a Drama major, where she discovered her passion for writing and directing stories and hasn't stopped. She has written and directed award-winning short films and the feature film, “Jasmine is a Star” (streaming on FUSE+). Jo’s an alumnus of Teach for America where she taught 6th grade English and Social Studies in the Mississippi Delta. She was also a writer on seasons four and five of “Good Trouble” on Freeform/Hulu.

In the aftermath of a tragic shooting, a once-brilliant slam poetry team has lost their voice. Now, their English teacher must overcome his crippling fear of returning to the classroom to help them find healing through words on the stage.

Dead Deer High

Created by teachers, DEAD DEER HIGH follows a team of high school slam poets and their English teacher as they prepare for a national poetry competition one year after a tragic shooting changed their lives forever.

Scott Segal
Jim Bellinson
Randy Weiss
Michelle Segal
Carolyn Bellinson

Zack Kozlow, Holden Goyette, Kyla Brown, Christian Cruz, Ayanna Berkshire, Joseph Bertót, Madelyn Grace, Aaron Cammack, Julia Prud’homme, Audrey Kennedy Kozlow

Casting: Lana Veenker and Eryn Goodman, Costume Design: Lisa Marie Hanson, Unit Production Manager: Randy Weiss, Assistant Director: Laura Jean Cronin, Gaffer: Bill Baxter, Key Grip: Gideon Buchleiter, Makeup and Hair: Sable Desiree, Script Supervisor: Allycea Weil, Stunts: Freddy Tse, Studio Teacher: Evan Brown


Paramount+ The Lodge

The Paramount+ Lodge returns with the ultimate fan experience, offering an unforgettable and immersive journey that lets guests engage with hit content, iconic franchises and live championship sports. Back for its fourth consecutive year, the Lodge takes over Clive Bar on Austin’s Rainey Street, transporting fans and new audiences into the worlds of their favorite series and sports on Paramount+.


"Bathe in Beats" Official Wellness Social Kickoff Party At SXSW 2026

Bathe in Beats is an official SXSW Kickoff Wellness Social that blends music, nervous system optimization, art, and social connection into a half-day immersive experience that reflects the true pulse of Austin culture today.

As SXSW opens the city to creators, innovators, and cultural leaders from around the world, Bathe in Beats offers a radically different entry point into the week: not another party that burns people out, but a somatic, sensory, and social reset that fuels creativity, connection, and longevity.

This experience showcases how music, wellness, and culture are no longer separate worlds, they are colliding, collaborating, and reshaping how people gather.

https://events.sweatpals.com/1ae94dcb

BATHE IN BEATS" OFFICIAL WELLNESS SOCIAL KICKOFF PARTY AT SXSW 2026


Mentor Session: Greg Swan (FINN Partners)

Greg Swan

Senior Partner, Digital-Social-AI

Greg Swan is a senior marketing leader who blends experience with creative, digital and social advertising, content strategy, PR, and emerging technology for startups, Fortune 500 companies, and all sizes in between.
He leads creative strategies and integrated marketing programs for brands rooted in consumer insights, social media, creative technology, PR, AI, content strategy, and the cultures that knit them together.
In previous roles at Fallon, The Social Lights, space150, McCann, and Weber Shandwick, Greg led award-winning work for brands like Arby’s, Nike, Verizon, State Farm, US Army, General Mills, and The Coca-Cola Company.
His teams built integrated marketing strategies for brands like Arby’s and State Farm, monetized trending topics for brands like Fruit Roll-Ups and Totino’s, built the social strategy for the U.S. Army and Nike Sportswear, launched the first Snapchat from outer space, the first Facebook 360o Super Bowl spot, the first tweet from the International Space Station, and introduced Snapchat Spectacles to pro sports.
As a futurist, technologist, and national conference speaker, Greg is always looking for ways to take a more active role in defining and shaping the industry and future of creativity. This includes his roles on the South by Southwest Advisory Board, 4A's Social Media Committee, Shorty Awards, and more.
Greg was named to PR Week’s 40 Under 40, Minneapolis-St. Paul's Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, and Social Media Professional of the Year by PR News.
His teams' work has received multiple accolades and industry awards, including Cannes Lions, The Effies, The ADDY Awards, The Webby Awards, The Shorty Awards, Clio Awards, D&AD Awards, IABC Quills, PR Week Awards, SABRE Awards, PRSA Anvils, PR News Platinum Awards, AICP, and more.
Ask him about his fax machine.

Room 400-402

Mentor Session: Ali Tager (National Cryptocurrency Association)

Mentor Session: Aniesia Williams (dreambloc)

Mentor Session: Avantika Bagri (Centana Growth Partners)

Mentor Session: Brittan Heller (Stanford Law School)

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

MENTOR SESSION: GREG SWAN (FINN PARTNERS)


Mentor Session: Bryan Menell (RazorMetrics, Inc.)

Bryan Menell

Chief Product Officer

Bryan is a seasoned entrepreneur and unicorn founder who has started, grown, and sold multiple tech companies. He was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, founded the popular Austin Tech Happy Hour, co-founded Capital Factory, and is currently the Chief Product Officer at RazorMetrics, one of the fastest-growing healthcare SaaS companies in the country. Bryan is also on the board of Austin-based Fetii, the group rideshare company.

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

MENTOR SESSION: BRYAN MENELL (RAZORMETRICS, INC.)


Mentor Session: Kelsey August (Lakeview Ventures)

Kelsey August

Managing Director

"I am a serial entrepreneur and early-stage investor. Currently I have an active portfolio of 40+ companies.
I invest in equity rounds that qualify for QSBS. Sweet spot, Series A."

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

MENTOR SESSION: KELSEY AUGUST (LAKEVIEW VENTURES)


Mentor Session: Aileen Allen (Mercury)

Aileen Allen

Venture Partner

Aileen Allen is a Venture Partner at Mercury, a Texas-based VC. Prior to joining Mercury, Aileen spent 15+ years in B2B software GTM, leading marketing and BDR teams at world-class SaaS companies. Aileen oversaw product marketing teams and ecosystem GTM at Atlassian during the company’s hyper-growth phase (pre and post-IPO), and it’s at Atlassian where Aileen developed a deep level of expertise in PLG and layered sales motions. She subsequently served as a marketing executive at Gremlin, Vanta, and Tailscale.
Aileen is an active angel investor and advisor - she enjoys partnering with founders and executives to design and execute go-to-market strategies, optimize customer journeys, and drive user/customer acquisition, expansion, and retention.
Aileen serves on the Board of Directors of Houston Angel Network, Texas’ oldest angel investment group. Aileen is also a committed volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Team Catapult.

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


Featured Session: Social Health Trends & Predictions: Connection is the New Frontier

Kasley Killam

Author

Kasley Killam is a leading expert in social health and author of The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier. As a Harvard-trained social scientist, 2X TED speaker, sought-after advisor, and award-winning founder, Killam has been dedicated to improving well-being through human connection for nearly 15 years. Globally recognized for her thought leadership on social health, Killam’s collaborations with top organizations like Google, the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the World Economic Forum contribute to building more socially healthy products, workplaces, and communities. Discover her insights in outlets like The New York Times, Forbes, NPR, CNBC, and The Washington Post and join her newsletter community at www.kasleykillam.com.

Hilton Grand Ballroom (Salon HJK)

Featured Session: Moonshots that Move the Needle

SXSW Community Service Awards Recognition: The Bell

Featured Session: Strategy in the Times of Chaos: Imagining Futures of Education

Featured Session: How to Support Resilient Youth in an AI World

Social health is today where mental health was 10-15 years ago—but we’ve reached a turning point. That was the bold claim from leading expert Kasley Killam in her SXSW 2025 opening keynote. This year, she’s back to reveal the most important breakthroughs, trends, and predictions shaping the rapidly growing movement to transform society through connection and community. Drawing on new research and cutting-edge innovation around the globe, Killam will surface surprising insights, the most promising opportunities for impact, and an inspiring vision of what’s next. No matter your industry, this is the session you can’t miss if you want to understand—and help lead—the future of relationships, longevity, and human thriving.

FEATURED SESSION: SOCIAL HEALTH TRENDS & PREDICTIONS: CONNECTION IS THE NEW FRONTIER


Mentor Session: Parker Wishik (COSMIC)

Parker Wishik

COSMIC (Consortium for Space Mobility and ISAM Capabilities)

Lead, Strategic Communications and Partnerships

Parker is a senior strategist for commercial, civil, and international space at The Aerospace Corporation and lead communicator for the COSMIC consortium. He fosters impactful thought leadership, content, and engagement -- bringing the societal, economic and cultural value of space to the broadest community possible. He was previously a vice president at H+K, where he helped lead an aerospace and cutting-edge technology portfolio. A natural storyteller and former journalist, he hosts a recurring segment on the T-Minus Space Daily podcast and once published a byline in The New York Times. Parker earned a master’s in political communication from American University and a bachelor’s in mass communication from LSU, and he is pursuing a master of science in space systems.

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


How To Meaningfully Connect in a World That Has Gone to Sh*t

Susan McPherson

Founder, CEO And Author

Susan McPherson is a serial connector, angel investor, and corporate responsibility expert. She is the founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact. She is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting (McGraw-Hill). Susan has 30+ years of experience in marketing, public relations, and sustainability communications, speaking regularly at industry events including Massachusetts Conference for Women, BSR, DLD, Worth Women and Techonomy, and contributing to the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes. She has appeared on NPR, CNN, USA Today, The New Yorker, New York Magazine and the Los Angeles Times.

Susan is the recipient of Forbes magazine’s 50 over 50—Impact 2021 award and Worth Media’s Worthy100 award and serves on the boards of The 19th News and the US Chamber of Connection and serves as advisor to The Better Politics Foundation, LEBEC and The Conduit.

Salon B

Innovating in Science & Tech When Budgets are Tight

It's a Whole Thing: Gen Z Work Relationships in the Age of AI

Better Leadership Starts with Understanding the Stressed Brain

Forget Recruiting. Design Your Own Workforce.

We live in the most “connected” era in human history — and yet loneliness, burnout, and distrust are at historic highs. Convenience has replaced care. Algorithms now mediate our relationships. And many of us have quietly lost our ability to sit with difference, discomfort, and each other.

In this deeply human, and surprisingly hopeful keynote, McPherson explores how technology and current political strife have weakened our connection muscle, and why empathy and intentional friction are the missing ingredients in rebuilding trust, collaboration, and belonging. Drawing on two decades of work across corporations, nonprofits, and movements, Susan shares practical, actionable ways teams and leaders can foster genuine connection — online and in person — without adding more meetings, tools, or performative “culture” initiatives. This talk is a call to reconnect — not by opting out of technology, but by remembering how to be human with it.

HOW TO MEANINGFULLY CONNECT IN A WORLD THAT HAS GONE TO SH*T