Kevin Hamedani

In addition to "The Saviors", director Kevin Hamedani has won numerous awards for his work, including his first feature "ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction" (Lionsgate), and his last feature film, "Junk", won the Audience Award at the Austin Film Festival, as did his short film "In Her Place". Hamedani also adapted  horror project "Infidel" for TriStar.

Sean and Kim Harrison are a suburban couple about to divorce. By renting their guest house to a quiet Middle Eastern brother and sister, Amir and Jahan Razi, they find a perfect solution: raise money to fix and sell their house, then separate. But when bizarre occurrences begin to add up – mysterious lights, missing animals, glimpses of unexplainable tech – in the days before the President’s upcoming visit to town, their guests' strange behavior starts to seem suspicious and potentially dangerous. As Sean and Kim investigate their new tenants, they rediscover the emotional connection they once shared. But reconciliation may come at a significant cost in this timely and provocative thriller.

The Saviors

An estranged couple rents out their Airbnb, but soon start to suspect their guests might be plotting something nefarious. As the couple investigates, they rekindle their relationship and discover something stranger than they could have imagined.

Marissa Frobes, Inder Gill, Alex Brunner, Dante Desario

Danielle Deadwyler
Alyssa Roehrenbeck
Josh Sathre

Matt Smith
Dan Gedman
Nicholas Weinstock
Naomi Scott
Adam Scott
Divya D'Souza
Bradley Gallo
Michael Helfant

Adam Scott, Danielle Deadwyler, Theo Rossi, Kate Berlant, Nazanin Boniadi, Daveed Diggs, Ron Perlman, Colleen Camp, Greg Kinnear


Ken Kwapis

Ken Kwapis has directed eleven feature films, among them A Walk In The Woods, Big Miracle, He’s Just Not That Into You, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird. Kwapis helped launch nine television series, including The Larry Sanders Show, The Bernie Mac Show, Outsourced, and The Office.

Alamo Lamar 9

Your Attention Please

Health/Disability/Illness
Politics
Technology
Social Issue

Time and Water

Archival Materials Courtesy of Andri Snær Magnason

Three sisters from rural New Hampshire formed a band in the late 1960s, but not by choice. Betty, Dorothy, and Helen Wiggin had no interest in playing music. In fact, they had no musical abilities at all. It was their father Austin, inspired by a prophecy, who became convinced that his girls would become rock stars. He pulled his daughters out of school, bought them a pair of cheap guitars and a drum kit, dubbed them The Shaggs, and basically commanded them to make music. In 1969, he brought the girls to a storefront recording studio outside of Boston, and the result is one of the most head-scratching and polarizing albums ever committed to vinyl. "We Are The Shaggs" is their story.

We Are The Shaggs

"We Are The Shaggs" is a music documentary about The Shaggs, an all-girl band that created some of the most provocative and polarizing music in rock-and-roll history.

Publicist #1 - Jeff Sanderson / Publicist #2 - Justin Solar

Dorothy Wiggin as herself, Betty Wiggin as herself


The Tullamarines

Label Management, Brand Partnership, Distribution - Worldwide, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - US, PR/Publicity Agency, Producer/Studio Engineer, Publishing, Sync/Music Supervisors

The amalgamation of four distinct voices from Adelaide, The Tullamarines tell their stories through a shared perspective that feels intimate, honest, and quietly uplifting. Josh, Angus, Benny and Lucinda met on the local gig circuit, quickly bonding over a mutual love of songwriting and collaboration. From those early connections, they’ve crafted a sound that reflects each member’s individual sensibilities - a style they affectionately call cosy-pop.

Their songs move through life’s highs and lows with the warmth of an old friend, inviting listeners into their living room, putting the kettle on, and sitting with whatever feeling the day brings. That sense of closeness runs through both their recorded work and their live shows.

Having appeared on festival line-ups including Beyond The Valley, Laneway Festival, Spin Off Festival and New Year’s Eve on the Hill, and toured extensively alongside artists such as Old Mervs, The Preatures, Ball Park Music and Alex Lahey, The Tullamarines continue to build a reputation for heartfelt songwriting and deeply human performances.

Radio Day Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard


Bubba Lucky (Solo)

Flatstock Stage @ Austin Marriott Downtown (Moontower Hall)


Fergus Campbell

Fergus Campbell (Writer/Director, "Sparks")

Born in the U.K. and raised in the Bay Area, Fergus graduated from Columbia in 2022 after creating the experimental web series “Sankyo Stream,” which he also animated, edited and starred in. He discovered the region where “Sparks” is set while collaborating with producer Lola Lafia on research for Burning Man Project near the Black Rock Desert.

Alamo Lamar 8

Dead Deer High

Education
Social Issues
The Arts/Theater
Youth/Teen

Cleo is new to Sparks, Nevada when she discovers a cigarette vending machine that inexplicably produces a book on Jean-Luc Godard. When she meets the Crop soon after, Cleo’s morphed into a cinephile, and when she learns of the Crop’s reservoir visits, she’s certain that she could time travel and meet Godard in 60s Paris.

Crop leader Antoine is enamored with Cleo but rankled by her insinuations that Crop life is boring. When Cleo disappears at the reservoir, Antoine calls into question his own sense of purpose, before unexpected adventures materialize—a shootout, a dreamy gay barbecue—until Cleo returns to Sparks and the Crop must figure out where she’s been and if she’s lost her mind.

Sparks

Urban legend has it that a Nevada reservoir is a time portal—the tease of which is enough to keep life exciting for the Crop, an aimless but spirited group of teenage best friends, until Cleo moves to town hell-bent on reaching 1960s Paris.

Elsie Fisher, Charlie B. Foster, Denny McAuliffe, Madison Hu, Simon Downes Toney, Thomas Deen Baker, Julia D'Angelo

Assistant director: Naomi Rubin, Consulting producers: Sean Gullette, Christian Palomares


Business/Entrepreneurial
Environment
Social Issue

JJ Gerber

JJ Gerber, a two-time Emmy-nominated creative producer and storyteller, has had his work showcased at major festivals worldwide and on leading streaming platforms, often exploring the intersection of popular culture and our evolving world. He is the President of the Seattle Documentary Association, a member of the PGA and the DPA.

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

When Washington state became the first in the world to legalize human composting, entrepreneur Micah Truman puts it all on the line to build the world's first large-scale terramation facility. But when the conventional deathcare industry resists, he is forced to pivot, and must learn to care for the grieving while transforming his business.  Alongside Funeral Directors, Brie Smith and Katey Houston, he begins to understand the double bottom line is the only way to truly profit. What begins as an ambitious venture becomes personal as they rediscover human connection, ritual, and legacy.

The Life We Leave

When Washington legalizes human composting, entrepreneur Micah bets everything on a new vision of deathcare. With funeral directors Brie and Katey, he builds the first large-scale terramation facility, reshaping how we grieve and return to the Earth.

Clementine Briand
Ann Rogers
Melanie Miller
JJ Gerber

Co-Executive Producer: Elisa Bonora, Co-Executive Producer: Paddy McCaughey, Co-Executive Producer: Diane Becker, Co-Producer: Andrew Burton, Co-Producer: Kyle Seago, Supervising Editor: Elisa Bonora, Additional Editor: Joshua Altman, Associate Producer: Madison Horton


The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist

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

Daniel Roher

Daniel Roher is a filmmaker from Canada. He is best known for the 2022 documentary, "Navalny", which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and the BAFTA Award for Best Documentary. His latest film, "Tuner", is a jazzy crime thriller he wrote and directed, starring Dustin Hoffman and Leo Woodall. His latest documentary explores the promise and the peril of the Ai revolution. He is an accomplished visual artist. Ask him for a drawing. Seriously. See what happens.

Charlie Tyrell

Charlie Tyrell is a Canadian filmmaker whose work has screened at the Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, TIFF, Hot Docs, DOC NYC, Tribeca, and more. His autobiographical short My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes was shortlisted for the 2019 Academy Awards and won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Short Documentary.

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

AI DOC: OR HOW I BECAME AN APOCALOPTIMIST

Jonathan Wang
Daniel Kwan
Shane Boris
Diane Becker
Ted Tremper

Story Producer: Joseph Beeby, Associate Producer: E.J. Lykes, Archive Producer: Leah Griffin, Assistant Editor: Laurie Polisky, Music Supervisor: Dan Wilcox, Animation Production: Stop Motion Department Inc., Post Production Supervisor: Mark Newton


Rachael J Morrison

Rachael Morrison is a documentary filmmaker and archival producer. Her short documentary, "Elvers," premiered at the 2019 Camden International Film Festival and is featured online as part of The Atlantic Selects. She has worked as an archival producer on documentary series and feature films for HBO, Hulu, Netflix, Paramount Plus, and FX. "Joybubbles" is her feature-length directorial debut.

Violet Crown 4

Agridulce (Bittersweet)

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

Closed captioned
Subtitles
Audio description

A boy discovers he can control the global telephone system by whistling a magic tone. Born blind and yearning for connection, his early obsession with the telephone sparks a subculture that shapes the future of hacking and technology.

Joybubbles

Cameo Wood
Rhianon Jones
Tristan Scott-Behrends
Roman Nesis
Adora Cheung
Kyra Rogers
Todd Remis
George Rush


Lana Daher

Lana Daher is a filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist based in Beirut, Lebanon. With a background in fine arts and graphic design (BFA, American University of Beirut) as well as filmmaking (MA, Goldsmiths, University of London), she has long been active in Beirut’s vibrant art and music scenes.

Violet Crown 1

Daughters of the Forest: Mycelium Chronicles

"Do You Love Me" is a playful and personal journey through Lebanon’s audiovisual memory, composed entirely of archival footage. It is a love letter to Beirut, spanning 70 years of film, TV, home videos, and photography, exploring the Lebanese collective psyche - marked by joy and intimacy, destruction and loss. Through the eyes of citizens, filmmakers and artists, the film reconstructs a fragmented history in a country without a national archive, celebrating creative expression as both resistance, renewal and a way to preserve memory.

Do You Love Me

English, Arabic, French with English Subtitles

Welcome to Beirut.
Disorientation is part of the journey.

@doyouloveme.film ; @lanadaher.film ; @filmsdeforcemajeure ; @woodwaterfilms ; @lightdox

Co-producer: Jasper Mielke, Co-producer: Arto Sebasian, Co-producer: Karoline Henkel


Steven Bamidele

Label Management, Brand Partnership, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - US, Booking Agent - UK/Europe, Publishing, Sync/Music Supervisors

Nigerian-born, London-based singer, songwriter, musician, and producer Steven Bamidele is known for his distinctive reverb-drenched falsetto, synth textures, and syncopated beats. Citing the influences of contemporary creators Frank Ocean, Tyler the Creator, Solange and Childish Gambino, he puts social commentary and artistic narratives at the forefront of his music.

His recent sophomore album THE CRASH! was written against the backdrop of an ever-changing world, combining indie-soul and jazz, acoustic and electronic textures, along with daydream-esque storytelling. The LP received support from Blues Project, Somewhere Soul, BBC Radio 3, BBC 6Music, BBC Introducing, WorldwideFM, Clash, Wordplay and Fusicology, alongside playlisting from Jazz FM, FIP Radio France and KCRW.

To critical acclaim, he has headlined London’s iconic 100 Club, Brighton's Dome Studio and Prince Albert, Jazz re:freshed, Pizza Express Live Soho and more.  Steven has supported renowned artists Alice Russell, Sly5thAve, Hot 8 Brass Band, Marlon Craft, Kymara, Ebi Soda, while making festival appearances at We Out Here, Love Supreme, Shambala, The Great Escape, Brick Lane Jazz, SXSW London and beyond.


Inside the Campaign: Deconstructing Successful Brand-Creator Partnerships

How did a famous food giant ignite brand growth by collabing with YouTube creators? Go behind the scenes with the brand, the creators, and the influencer marketing agency to deconstruct the high-impact campaign. Discover how partnerships come to life, the creative chemistry required for success, and the data-driven tactics that turn authentic storytelling into tangible business results.

INSIDE THE CAMPAIGN: DECONSTRUCTING SUCCESSFUL BRAND-CREATOR PARTNERSHIPS


Launching the Ultimate, Research-Driven Creative Power Playbook

Sofia Colucci

Chief Marketing Officer

As North American Chief Marketing Officer at Molson Coors, Sofia Colucci brings creativity and collaboration to everything she does. The Latina marketer has a proven track record of creatively effective marketing, leading turnarounds and building breakthrough innovations. She has 20 years of marketing and innovation experience, including 8 years at PepsiCo.
Sofia’s work has transformed iconic brands, with global campaign launches like Tastes Like Miller Time and Choose Chill. Her focus on bold ideas has led to award-winning work like the High Stakes Beer Ad, Molson Coors first Super Bowl ad in 30 years, Coors Light’s Lights Out, Molson’s See My Name and the Case of the Mondays Super Bowl campaign.
Sofia has been recognized as Forbes Top 50 Entrepreneurial CMOs, Forbes Top 50 Most Influential CMOs, Campaign’s Top 50 CMOs and Crain’s 40 Under 40. Her team’s work has won multiple awards including Cannes, One Show, Ad Age Creativity and the Effies US 2024 Most Effective Marketer.

Joe Burns

Strategy Lead

Joe’s done strategy everywhere that matters - BBH, Mother, and now at Quality Meats Creative, one of Ad Age’s best agencies. Brand, comms, design, creative - he’s covered it. Director titles, head of this, head of that. But the real headline? Joe moves fast, thinks sharp, and actually gets things done. He’s written ads, built econometric models, and somehow racked up 40,000+ LinkedIn followers without ever sounding like a LinkedIn guy. A generalist by design, a doer by instinct. On stage, he’s everything strategy talks usually aren’t: quick, clear, human, and actually interesting. No jargon. No theatre. Just proper ideas, built for the real world.

Andy Cooper

Co Founder

Co-founder of One Minute To Midnight, the human insight company.

Waterloo Ballroom 4-6

The B Word: How to Get Creative with Marketing Budget

Meet Gen Alpha: Defying Predictions & Rewiring Marketing

Pride Preview '26: Marketers, LGBTQ+ & Where We Go From Here

Weird FTW: What Happens When Brands Zig While Others Zag

Qual “testing” in Creative has a bad reputation, but that’s because the way most of it is framed and conducted is shit. It relies on likes and dislikes, dampening the soul of the work - making Creative vanilla. But not in our world. Here, winning Creative comes when brilliant brains are inspired by Qual; we elevate Creative by exploring unknown unknowns and using Creative to stimulate - and to power stronger ideas. Qual is no threat to creativity, it’s a catalyst.

We’ll prove that research is invaluable and deliver a Creative Power Playbook, co-created with
Creatives, CMOs and Insight Directors from the biggest brands to supercharge your work so it really lands in an age when your work has to hit harder than ever.

LAUNCHING THE ULTIMATE, RESEARCH-DRIVEN CREATIVE POWER PLAYBOOK

Brand & Marketing track sponsored by Youtube


The Clock Is Ticking for Space – Replacing the ISS

Dr. Jonathan Cirtain

CEO & President

Dr. Cirtain is an accomplished physicist and technology executive with extensive leadership experience in both the space and nuclear industries. Prior to joining Axiom Space, he held senior roles at BWX Technologies, led innovative teams at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and co-founded a machine learning company focused on Earth observation. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics.

Robert Capps

Journalist

Robert Capps is a writer, editor, filmmaker, and editorial strategist. His work has appeared in WIRED, The New York Times and New York Times Magazine, GQ, and other publications. He is the former Editorial Director of WIRED, where he oversaw editorial for all platforms, including the magazine, WIRED.com, and live events. Robert wrote the article “Why Things Fail,” which won the prestigious Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism. His article “The Good Enough Revolution,” was discussed in publications ranging from The Economist to The New Yorker and was noted by the New York Times as one of the big ideas of the year.

Salon AB

Two Futurists and an AI: Seeing Trouble Ahead

How We Could Lose Control: Avoiding the Paths to Runaway AI

U.S. vs. The World: the Future We’re (Currently) Losing

Can Media Survive AI? The Fight for Public Trust

Orchestrate or Obsolete: Leading the AI-Powered Near Future

After 30 years of continuous operation, the International Space Station is going away, and fast. What comes next? Enter Axiom Space. Against all odds, this Houston startup flew four crewed commercial missions to the ISS, led record-breaking research, engaged more than 31 nations in the pursuit of space access and partnered with Prada, Oakley, Nokia, and NASA all in pursuit of building the world’s first commercial space station. The dream of living and working in space is no longer distant. Welcome to the space industrialization era—the time is now to transcend Earth.

CLOCK IS TICKING FOR SPACE ? REPLACING THE ISS


LATAM Tech Founders Meet Up

Juan Sebastian Garzon

Managing Partner

I thrive at the intersection of venture capital, entrepreneurship, and community impact. As Managing Partner of Alamo Angels, I lead one of Texas’ largest and most active angel networks, fueling innovation with 50+ startup investments across the U.S. and Latin America.

Beyond investing, I’m passionate about empowering communities. As President of Asociación Amigos de Colombia in San Antonio, I lead initiatives that connect and support the 5,000+ Colombians in the city.

Laura Montoya

Founder / Investor

Laura Montoya is an early-stage investor and technology executive with deep experience in AI, frontier tech, and global venture ecosystems. As Founder and General Partner of Accel Impact Ventures, she leads fund strategy, portfolio construction, and technical due diligence across AI and deep tech startups. Laura has supported dozens of founders in scaling from idea to product-market fit, with a focus on scalable infrastructure and enterprise AI applications. Her background spans engineering, product, and capital strategy—bridging technical insight with disciplined investment practices.

Latin America’s AI startup landscape is rapidly growing, driven by innovation, market expansion, and resilient founders. This meetup connects Latin American AI startup leaders, innovators, and venture capitalists to exchange insights on the unique entrepreneurial environment and regional challenges. It emphasizes community-building among founders with shared backgrounds, focusing on networking, mutual support, and growth. Topics include local market opportunities, investment navigation, and cross-border expansion.


SXSW Pitch-Smart Data, Security, and FinTech

Paul Campbell

Managing Partner

Dr. Paul Campbell is a venture capitalist, serial entrepreneur, and federal innovation insider who operates at the intersection of startups, capital, and government. He is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Brown Venture Group (BVG), a Minnesota-based VC firm investing in early-stage technology companies building the future. He is also co-founder and executive director of Federal Mashup Lab, a first of its kind public–private innovation engine that fast-tracks commercialization through a lean boot camp, helping founders license federal tech, access pro bono IP support, and de-risk their path to funding.

Before venture capital and Federal Mashup Lab, Paul founded startups in IoT and media production, was a music producer and ranked as a national top-10 technology sales executive, so he knows firsthand what it takes to build, sell, and scale. Today, he helps founders turn breakthrough technologies into venture-backable businesses.

Paul also serves on the National Advisory Council for the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) for Technology Transfer, where he works to bridge federal labs, industry, and entrepreneurs. His experience across NASA innovation initiatives and public-private partnerships gives him a rare, practical view into how government really works, and how founders can win inside it.

At SXSW, in “What’s the Catch? The Realities of Federal Contracting for Entrepreneurs,” Paul pulls back the curtain on federal contracting, sharing the opportunities, landmines, and strategic plays that can turn government complexity into serious competitive advantage.

Featured in Forbes, Bloomberg, Black Enterprise, and more, Paul brings real talk, real strategy, and real receipts.

Kamran	 Ansari

Founder & Managing Partner

Kamran Ansari is a Venture Partner at Infinity Ventures, and Founder & Managing Partner at Kapital Ventures. A seasoned investor and operator with two decades of experience in both Silicon Valley and New York, Kamran was previously a Venture Partner at Headline VC, supporting early-stage founders across the fintech and commerce sectors.

Earlier, Kamran was brought in during Pinterest’s breakout growth phase as the first outside hire to establish and lead Corporate Development and Strategy, guiding nine acquisitions ahead of the 2019 IPO. Kamran also served as Principal, Venture Partner, and Board Partner at Greycroft, backing investments in Bread Finance, Acorns, Billie, Recurly, Trustev, Braintree, Venmo, and more.

A Yale College and McKinsey & Co alumnus, Kamran also has dual MBA & JD degrees from Stanford Business & Law Schools, and brings unique perspectives from both sides of the table as both an investor and operator. He is a frequent voice on market and tech trends on broadcast outlets including CNBC, Bloomberg TV, Yahoo Finance, and Fox Business News, along with digital forums including Forbes, Fortune, The Information, Bloomberg, and top podcasts such as Negotiate Anything, Finovate, CEO.com, and more.

Mike Sherbakov

General Partner

Kleida Martiro

Managing Director

Emily Zhen

Principal

Salon FGH

SXSW Pitch-Healthcare, AssistiveTech & BioTech

SXSW Pitch-Sustainability, AgTech & Food

SXSW Pitch-Smart Cities, Transportation, Manufacturing & Logistics

SXSW Pitch-Intelligent Systems, Robotics, & Multisensory Technology

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

On Friday, March 13, five innovative companies will take the stage in Salon FGH at the JW Marriott, showcasing their ideas, innovations, and entrepreneurial vision before a live audience and judging panel. Come be inspired by the next generation of tech innovators shaping the future.

Smart Data, Security, and FinTech Innovations that harness data and protect digital ecosystems while reimagining how people and institutions interact with money and information. This category includes startups focused on big data collection, simulation, analysis, and interpretation—turning raw information into actionable insights. These solutions prioritize effective data presentation and visualization, making complex content accessible through advanced analytics and user-centric design. Cybersecurity measures include threat detection, response, digital privacy, identity and access management, encryption, secure communications, infrastructure protection, and resilience against cyberattacks. This category also features cutting-edge financial technologies including fraud prevention, fraud protection, open banking, programmable money, cryptocurrencies, insurtech, embedded finance, payment systems, and alternative risk scoring. Solutions often support e-commerce platforms and help institutions maintain secure, scalable, and data-intelligent infrastructures. These innovations are critical in enabling trusted, connected digital economies across industries like finance and advertising.

Winner of the Smart Data, Security and FinTech Technologies will be announced at the Award Ceremony, Saturday, March 14th at 6:30pm.

SXSW PITCH-SMART DATA, SECURITY, AND FINTECH


Featured Session: Last Meals Live with Mythical Chef Josh

Josh Scherer

Executive Director Of Culinary Content, Host Of Last Meals

Josh Scherer is the Executive Director of Culinary Content at Mythical Entertainment and the host of Last Meals, the hit series from Mythical Kitchen. A former journalist turned New York Times #1 bestselling author (The Mythical Cookbook), Josh brings a rare blend of culinary expertise, cultural commentary, and dark humor to everything he creates. He’s been named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, won two Webby Awards, and once held a Guinness World Record for most baby food eaten in one minute. Josh’s work reaches millions across digital platforms and has redefined how food stories are told online.

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

From the team behind Good Mythical Morning comes Last Meals – the hit food-interview series where guests share the meal they'd want to eat before they die. Following crowd-favorite live tapings at Cannes and The Infatuation’s EEEEEATSCON 2025, Last Meals Live brings its signature blend of humor, heart, and existential reflection to SXSW. Featuring a special guest(s) tied to the festival, this session promises big questions, culinary conversation, and a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

FEATURED SESSION: LAST MEALS LIVE WITH MYTHICAL CHEF JOSH

Creator Economy track sponsored by Yamaha


Featured Session: Enough with the Bullsh*T: BuzzFeed Founder Shares His Plan to Make the Internet Fun Again

Jonah Peretti

Founder & CEO

Jonah Peretti is the Founder and CEO of BuzzFeed, Inc. a premier digital media company for the most diverse, most online, and most socially engaged generation the world has ever seen. Peretti has served as the Chief Executive Officer of BuzzFeed, Inc. and a member of the company’s board of directors since 2006.

Prior to founding BuzzFeed, Inc., Mr. Peretti co-founded The Huffington Post, a digital publisher of news, lifestyle and popular culture content, and served in various management roles there from the company’s founding until its sale to AOL Inc. In 2021 BuzzFeed, Inc. acquired HuffPost, bringing the award-winning news organization back full circle to Peretti.

Mr. Peretti holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from University of California, Santa Cruz and a M.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab.

Salon 1-4

Featured Session: Multiplayer Futures: Co-Creating a Vision of SXSW 2030 (live!)

Featured Session: A Conversation with The All-American Rejects

Featured Session: Why Work Feels So Unfair and How Hard Conversations Help

Featured Session: The Internet After Search

SXSW Community Service Awards Recognition: Vision Maker Media

After years of doomscrolling and algorithmic slop, BuzzFeed founder Jonah Peretti believes the internet is overdue for a reset, and for the first time he will share his plan to make the internet fun again. We’ll take you behind the scenes of BuzzFeed’s AI incubator where we are creating a new medium for content, self-expression, and social connection. We’ll start with big picture ideas you can apply to your business. Then you’ll see live demos of new products and attendees will get special access to the latest from our lab. You’ll see how AI-powered experiences can create shared cultural moments and help people explore the world together, creating a better alternative to filter bubbles and doomscrolling. We are transforming our business with a new approach to AI, and you can join us to think about how to transform your own work to maximize creativity, human connection, and growth.

FEATURED SESSION: ENOUGH WITH THE BULLSH*T: BUZZFEED FOUNDER SHARES HIS PLAN TO MAKE THE INTERNET FUN AGAIN


Unlocking Soccer's Development in the U.S.

Nuria Tarré

Manchester City FC / City Football Group

Chief Marketing Officer

Nuria Tarre is the Chief Marketing and Fan Experience Officer for City Football Group, the world’s leading private owner and operator of football clubs, including Manchester City, NYCFC, Melbourne City FC, Yokohama F. Marinos, Girona FC, and Club Atlético Torque.

Since entering her position in 2015, she has spearheaded many aspects of the group’s operations across brand management, retail, audience engagement, fan analytics & insights, and digital content, including City Studios, which deliver unparalleled fan experiences at the Etihad Stadium and around the globe. She has also driven a cultural shift to place fans at the core of our strategy development, improved revenue, expanded new ticket sales, retail, match-day sales, and e-commerce, and led the creative use of social media, championing digital innovation.

Alex Lasry

CEO

Alex Lasry is the Chief Executive Officer of the NYNJ Host Committee for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the local organizing body responsible for delivering eight FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches in the NYNJ region, including the Final match. The organization coordinates between key city, state and federal stakeholders and FIFA to ensure a world-class event. The committee’s goal is to create the most engaging, accessible, and impactful FIFA World Cup 2026™ experience for all fans, athletes, partners, and NYNJ communities. In his role, Lasry oversees all facets of the committee’s work across the New York and New Jersey region, including coordination with local leaders, stadium operations, fan engagement, and legacy planning.

Lasry brings a unique blend of experience in government, sports, and tourism to this role. He most recently served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism at the U.S. Department of Commerce (2023–2025), where he led national efforts to revitalize the tourism industry. Prior to that, he was a senior executive and part owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, helping to transform the franchise into an NBA champion and a model of sports business innovation. Lasry holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business. He has a superhero wife and 3 beautiful children.

Jozy Altidore

US Soccer Legend and Entrepreneur

Jozy Altidore is widely regarded as one of the top American soccer players of his generation. His successful career spans the highest levels of sport, business, and philanthropy.

Known for his powerful play as a striker for both the US Men’s National Team and Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC, Altidore’s athletic talent and leadership on the field earned him international recognition. With over 200 career goals, including key moments in World Cups, World Cup qualifiers, and international season play, Altidore holds the record for the greatest individual European season by an outfield American soccer player. He recorded 40+ goal contributions in a single season for AZ Alkmaar and the US Men’s National Team. In December 2024, Altidore joined a consortium that purchased a 20% stake in the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League in December 2024.

Off the field, Altidore has built a strong reputation as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. A proud Haitian-American, he has dedicated much of his time and resources to improving the lives of children and families in Haiti, focusing on education, healthcare, and economic development through his foundation. His commitment to long-term impact has earned him praise within sports and charitable communities.

Additionally, Jozy is building his own legacy business with a core interest in investments that drive innovation and sustainability. In addition to sports, he’s focused on emerging tech and real estate ventures and blends his entrepreneurial vision with a commitment to social responsibility, curating opportunities that benefit both people and communities.

Waller Ballroom D

Media That Matters: Nuclear Weapons & the Next Generation

Rethinking Higher Education to Build an AI-First Workforce

The Big Blur: Rethinking the Transition from School to Work

Building AI Pathways for HBCU Talent & Community Impact

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

With the FIFA World Cup 26 kicking off in less than 100 days, the time is now for the most popular game globally to reach its full potential stateside. The world’s biggest sporting event has the opportunity to elevate soccer in the US to new heights and build future sustainability for growth far beyond the event.

Join former USMNT star Jozy Altidore, City Football Group / Manchester City CMO Nuria Tarre and FIFA World Cup 26 NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry for an insightful conversation on the future of the soccer in the United States.

In this session, these three notable and unique voices will share perspective on the opportunities and efforts underway to optimize the future of soccer, from fan growth to player development, as well as brand and community engagement.

UNLOCKING SOCCER'S DEVELOPMENT IN THE U.S.


Mentor Session: David Loy (Leverage Brands)

David Loy

Co-Founder & CEO

20 year veteran of working as a talent manager, brand advocate, book promoter, and product creator. Co-founder and CEO of Leverage Brands since 2018.

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 Business Development, Entrepreneurship, Storytelling.

MENTOR SESSION: DAVID LOY (LEVERAGE BRANDS)


Mentor Session: Tom Spencer (Build Podcast/Value Acceptance/Jaro)

Tom Spencer

Founder/SVP Sales & Marketing

3x successful startup founder in media, enterprise saas and augmented reality.

I know how to build teams, raise money, scale and exit and have done so multiple times across my companies in the enterprise saas, martech, publishing, property tech, and augmented reality domains..

I am also a gtm expert in b2b for software and startups, and am currently SVP sales and marketing for a vertical saas business (that acquired my last startup 2 years ago).

I am also an ai and agent engineering expert, and am a langchain ambassador. I run an ai podcast for startup founders, developers and product people called The Build, buildaipod.com

I also speak and keynote on the topics of innovation, ai and startups.

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

MENTOR SESSION: TOM SPENCER (BUILD PODCAST/VALUE ACCEPTANCE/JARO)


Mentor Session: Felipe Cornejo (Devsu)

Felipe Cornejo

CEO

I’m a technologist and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in consulting and software development. I currently serve as the co-founder & CEO of Devsu, a software engineering firm helping clients shift from traditional delivery models to AI-native approaches. We work with everyone from scale-ups to large enterprises, combining strong engineering fundamentals with intelligent, outcome-driven delivery.

My background blends Computer Science, Economics, and a Master’s in Technology Management. That mix of technical and business perspectives has shaped how I lead teams, build products, and solve complex problems. I’ve partnered closely with CTOs, product leaders, and engineering teams to improve software delivery from planning through deployment and iteration.

At Devsu, I led the company’s evolution from a staff augmentation model to a consultative, value-focused approach. That included repositioning our services and building VelX, a framework that helps enterprises modernize legacy systems and adopt scalable, AI-native development practices.

I’m especially focused on how AI is transforming software engineering. Our team has integrated LLMs into day-to-day workflows, from code generation to agent-driven testing. Still, I believe that fundamentals matter. AI is a powerful tool, but it doesn’t replace sound judgment, thoughtful architecture, or strong communication.

As a mentor, I like to stay practical, zooming in and out as needed. I’ve advised founders and product leaders on pricing strategy, team design, acquisitions, partnerships, and investor conversations. I aim to offer clarity, not just opinions—and I genuinely enjoy learning from those I mentor. The best conversations challenge me to think differently.

I’m applying to the SXSW Mentorship Program because I believe in honest, real-world conversations between people building things. SXSW has always been a space where ideas meet execution, and I’d love to contribute to that. I’ve made smart decisions and my fair share of mistakes, and I’m always happy to share both.

I split my time between the U.S. and Ecuador, where I grew up. That cross-border perspective has shaped how I think about remote work, distributed teams, and building global companies. Outside of work, I’m into good food, music (one of the many reasons I’ve always loved South By), and the occasional deep dive into economic history.

I’m also an Endeavor Entrepreneur, a Hampton member, and a contributor to publications like Forbes.

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


Mentor Session: A.D.  Johnson (Mass Appeal)

A.D. Johnson

Head of Sync

A.D. Johnson is currently the Head of Sync at Mass Appeal founded by Nasir ""Nas"" Jones and Peter Bittenbender.

A.D. is the founder of Chosen Musicians with music supervisor and music coordinator credits including Natural Hair The Movie (ALLBLK, Amazon Prime), All The Queen's Men (BET), Bid For Love (BET+), It's Complicated, and Wrong Girl. Also, A.D. was accepted as part of the inaugural Warner Bros. Discovery Access Music Supervisor Program Cohort.

A.D. previously was Head of Creative Sync Licensing at SoundCloud where he pitched and marketed music for sync placement opportunities to clients in Film/TV, advertising, gaming, sports, trailers, promos, tech and corporate. Also, he provided A&R services to discover new artists to be added to the sync roster and built out a production music library.

Prior to SoundCloud, he was on the Def Jam|Republic|Island|Verve sync licensing team and Music Licensing Executive for the production music library, Universal Production Music via Universal Music Group. During his tenure at UMG, A.D. sat on the board of UMG Black Label ERG as the programming co-chair and helped create and facilitate UMG's first mentorship program in the company’s history.

A.D. has a strong passion for MUSIC and is devoted to making an IMPACT on the CULTURE.

Tannehill

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Mentor Session: Arnaecia Alridge (Methix)

Mentor Session: Isabella Uknis (Universal Music Publishing Group)

Mentor Session: Lauren Apolito (The Harry Fox Agency/Rumblefish )

Mentor Session: Max Christensen (Crunchy Frog/Crunchy Tunes)

Mentor Session: Noel Morrison (SiriusXM/Pandora)

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

MENTOR SESSION: A.D.  JOHNSON (MASS APPEAL)


Mentor Session: Janie Whitefield (Neon Coast)

Janie Whitefield

Digital Director of Neon Coast

Janie Whitefield is a rising force in the music industry, living at the intersection of digital marketing, fan engagement, and artist development. Currently, The Nashville Briefing’s 30 Under 30 honoree serves as Director of Digital at Neon Coast, a progressive music and entertainment company in Nashville that includes multi-award-winning superstar Kane Brown. Here, Janie drives the digital vision and execution across the full Neon Coast lineup, which spans from ACM New Duo/Group nominee Restless Road, to MusicRow’s “Next Big Thing” Dylan Schneider, global alt-pop band Nightly, rising Latina country star Kat Luna, and a growing slate of developing artists.

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

MENTOR SESSION: JANIE WHITEFIELD (NEON COAST)


Mentor Session: Bryan Mooney (Downtown Artist & Label Services)

Bryan Mooney

Global Vice President, A&R

As Global Vice President of A&R at Downtown Artist & Label Services and Vice President of Business Development for the Americas for FUGA, Bryan oversees the signing of artists and labels to the company's distribution and services division which currently supports artists like American Authors, Colbie Caillat, Dom Corleo, Hunter Hayes, Jasiah, Judah & The Lion, Luis R Conriquez, Matt Hansen, mehro, Øneheart, Sadie Jean, and TV Girl, as well as labels like Alzada, Avex USA’s “Selene”, Kartel Music, Kurate, and New 11.

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

MENTOR SESSION: BRYAN MOONEY (DOWNTOWN ARTIST & LABEL SERVICES)


Programming Mentor Session: CC Hutten (TED Conferences)

CC Hutten

Supervising Producer

Cyrena, better known as CC, is a producer of many forms. From large scale global conferences to block parties in her home of East Nashville, she is dedicated to elevating powerful ideas. At TED Conferences, she is responsible for the production of carefully curated iconic TED talks and the execution of the stage programming that hosts them. Connecting with her you'll learn about programming for niche audiences, and how approaching leadership and producing with a service attitude will not only make your work more fulfilling and fun, but elicit the strongest impact.

Liberty

Agents & Managers Mentor Session: Olivia Mascheroni (Verve Talent & Literary Agency)

Legal Mentor Session: Fabio de Sa Cesnik (CQS FV Law Firm)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: RJ Millard (Obscured Pictures)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Traci Hanlon (Cinergy Entertainment)

Programming Mentor Session: Jim Brunzell (Sound Unseen)

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

PROGRAMMING MENTOR SESSION: CC HUTTEN (TED CONFERENCES)

Film & TV track sponsored by Crunchyroll


Programming Mentor Session: Julia Weigl (Munich International Film Festival)

Julia Weigl

Artistic Director

Julia studied literature at the LMU Munich and theater, film and television criticism at the HFF Munich and the Bavarian Theater Academy August Everding. Through study as well as practice residencies at the University of Oxford and New York University, she was able to deepen her experience in the field of cultural mediation. Since 2014, she has worked as a freelance journalist, author, translator, and presenter. From 2015 to 2019, she worked in the press department and editorial office of FILMFEST MÜNCHEN. From 2019 to 2023 she curated the international film program with a focus on the English-speaking world, American Indies, Scandinavia and international TV series as well as cultural collaborations with other institutions. She is now the Artistic Director of FILMFEST MÜNCHEN.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in International, Programming, Critics/Journalists.

PROGRAMMING MENTOR SESSION: JULIA WEIGL (MUNICH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL)


Programming Mentor Session: J Thomas Nam (Bucheon Int'l Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN))

Jongsuk Thomas Nam

BIFAN Programmer/NAFF Managing Director

Programmer in charge of English-language and Ibero-American films since 2017,  also co-organizer of BIFAN+ - contents industry program.  Advisor to numerous global film programs including Sitges FanPitch, Ventana Sur Fantastic!, Taipei Film Academy, Asian Film Awards (HK) and more.

Executive Room

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Jenny Bloom (Bloomerang PR)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Lisa Trifone (Bright Iris Film Co.)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Maddy Bilder (26 Keys Productions)

Programming Mentor Session: Boram Park (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

Programming Mentor Session: Haojie Huang (Kaohsiung Film Festival)

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

PROGRAMMING MENTOR SESSION: J THOMAS NAM (BUCHEON INT'L FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL (BIFAN))


Jim Brunzell

Festival Director

Jim Brunzell III was born in the '70s, played sports in the '80s, went to school in the '90s and started working on film festivals in the 2000's. He joined the Twin Cities based music + film festival, Sound Unseen in 2008 as a programmer and became the festival director in 2012. During his tenure the festival has been named "One of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World" (2016 & 2019) by Moviemaker Magazine and "One of the 20 Great First Time Moviemakers Festival" in 2022.

In 2023, he joined the L.A. based film distributor, Dark Star Pictures as Director of Festivals and Theatrical. He has served on numerous film festival juries and is also producing a documentary on his father, former WWF professional wrestler, "Jumping" Jim Brunzell. He is also the father to a seven-year old tabby cat named Bruce.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in "Sales, Acquisitions, & Distribution", Programming, Critics/Journalists.

PROGRAMMING MENTOR SESSION: JIM BRUNZELL (SOUND UNSEEN)


Sober Space Meet Up - 3/13

Conrádo Markel

Director of Operations

Conrádo is a dedicated and passionate supporter of mental heath initiatives and the recovery community of Central Texas. His work in the non-profit communities of Austin, has empowered him to embrace a mission of service and serve as a change maker and advocate for the wellbeing of those in need. He currently works in the mental health and recovery space, connecting and helping musicians and music industry professionals pay for therapy and recovery resources through the work of The SIMS Foundation.

Brazos

More Analog, Less Noise Please: City Builders Meet Up

Understanding Crypto: Conversations for the Curious Meet Up

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


Mentor Session: Faryal Khan-Thompson (EMPIRE)

Faryal Khan-Thompson

VP Global Markets, Strategy & Development

Faryal is a global music executive and artist manager with a knack for turning ideas into impact. A first-gen Pakistani American, she grew up in a house where North Indian classical, hip-hop, and show tunes all shared the same speakers—and she’s been blending worlds ever since. She’s worked across marketing, international strategy, and artist expansion, driven by a mission to open doors for women, gender minorities, and underrepresented communities. As a mentor, she’s candid, energizing, and real—offering insight on breaking into music, navigating the industry as an outsider, building global fanbases that transcend borders, and demystifying the world of artist management.

Tannehill

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Mentor Session: Arnaecia Alridge (Methix)

Mentor Session: Isabella Uknis (Universal Music Publishing Group)

Mentor Session: Lauren Apolito (The Harry Fox Agency/Rumblefish )

Mentor Session: Max Christensen (Crunchy Frog/Crunchy Tunes)

Mentor Session: Noel Morrison (SiriusXM/Pandora)

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

MENTOR SESSION: FARYAL KHAN-THOMPSON (EMPIRE)


Mentor Session: Jacqueline Sinex (WEBii)

Jacqueline Sinex

Managing Partner

Jackie Sinex was born an art nerd and studied fine arts for 10 years. In 1996, Jackie was unexpectedly bitten by the emerging Internet and began eagerly exploring web design and development. From her experience as an artist and web developer, she cherishes her ability to speak both creative and tech. As the WWW evolved, her journey included work with a variety of businesses, non-profits, and state and county-funded organizations. Today, she manages WEBii, an Austin-based digital agency that specializes in web design, web application development, SEO and e-learning development. WEBii has grown from its origin in web hosting to its now budding portfolio of digital marketing services. Jackie founded and co-led many respected events and community groups.

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 Business Development, Entrepreneurship, Coding.

MENTOR SESSION: JACQUELINE SINEX (WEBII)


Mentor Session: Diego Mariscal (2Gether-International)

Diego Mariscal

CEO, Founder

A trailblazer at the intersection of disability advocacy and entrepreneurship, Diego Mariscal is the Founder and CEO of 2Gether-International (2GI), a 501c3 non-profit and global startup accelerator run by and for entrepreneurs with disabilities. 2GI has supported over 700 startups, helping them raise approximately $84 million USD in combined investment, revenue, and acquisitions. Diego has overseen strategic collaborations with governmental organizations, as well as corporate partnerships with Comcast NBCUniversal, JPMorgan Chase, among others. He currently serves on the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission's Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Accessibility, Nonprofits, Funding, Future of Work, Business Development.

MENTOR SESSION: DIEGO MARISCAL (2GETHER-INTERNATIONAL)


Mentor Session: Allie Moskovits (Patron Saints of Music)

Allie Moskovits

Head of Sync & Business Development

Allie Moskovits is the new Head of Sync and Business Development at Patron Saints of Music, growing this historical library into a full-service music shop. She most recently served as the Director of Sync Services & Partnerships, TV & Film at BMG, where she drove strategy, creative, and client relationships for Production Music. She has taken a meticulous and passionate approach to the library space, overseeing major revenue growth, album & catalog development, and thousands of successful music searches since entering the world of sync. Allie started her career in TV Development & Production, working on comedy pilots & series for ABC before moving to Berlanti Productions, where she coordinated the largest slate of shows in television history.

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

MENTOR SESSION: ALLIE MOSKOVITS (PATRON SAINTS OF MUSIC)


Mentor Session: Simon Adler (WNYC’s Radiolab)

Simon Adler

Senior Producer / Correspondent

Simon Adler has been at Radiolab for over a decade. There he has reported, produced and sound designed stories on everything from professional wrestling to Facebook's content moderation policies.

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

MENTOR SESSION: SIMON ADLER (WNYC?S RADIOLAB)


Mentor Session: Tara Pixley (Temple University)

Tara Pixley

Director, Master of Journalism Program

Tara Pixley is a queer, Jamaican-American photojournalist and scholar whose work frames race, gender, climate futures, LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities through a solutions lens. She is a Fulbright Specialist in Visual Media and has been named a Reynolds Journalism Innovation Fellow; Pulitzer Center Grantee; World Press Photo Solutions Visual Journalism Initiative grantee; and a Knight Visiting Nieman Fellow at Harvard. Tara has served as Vice President of National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), and is currently on the Boards of Stocksy United and the Photography Ethics Centre. She is Executive Director/co-Founder of Authority Collective — an organization dedicated to establishing equity in visual media — and she is also Director of Temple University’s Master of Journalism Program.

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

MENTOR SESSION: TARA PIXLEY (TEMPLE UNIVERSITY)


Mentor Session: Allison Shaw (Manic Monkee)

Allison Shaw

CEO/Founder

Allison Shaw (Allie) is the founder of Manic Monkee a boutique firm which specializes in
full-scale festival production and operations, talent buying, strategic partnerships, artist
management, and brand activations across music, tech, and entertainment.  She currently serves as SVP of Festival Operations and Talent Strategy for Pure
Imagination Festival and producer/talent buyer for Good Karma Fest and the co-creator
and talent buyer for the Whole Foods SXSW Showcase.

Her past work spans multiple
multi-genre festivals including talent buyer for Moogfest and serving as executive producer and
talent buyer for Los Angeles’s first all solar-powered music festival, Sunstock Solar Fest and
Executive Director for the Santa Fe Muzik Festival, and managed multiple artists. She also
serves on the Board of Directors for the nonprofit Sweet Relief Musicians Fund and is a
professional member of The Recording Academy

Allie began her career writing for MTV before founding national music publication Hyperactive
Music Magazine and the Hyperactive Conference and Music Festival. Her wide-ranging roles
have included Creative Director of Music for culinary celebrity Rachael Ray/Watch Entertainment including co-cretor and talent buyer for the Annual Rachael Ray Feedback parties during SXSW. She was fomerly CMO
of  .music, A&R and Operations Manager at Listen Records/Sony and Head of Partnerships at
Muzooka. Allison also got the absolute privilege of working with Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
inductees Public Enemy and serving on the New Mexico Music Commission.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Live Events, Management, Music Tech.

MENTOR SESSION: ALLISON SHAW (MANIC MONKEE)


Programming Mentor Session: Joseph Litzinger (Interesting.Media)

Joseph Litzinger

Executive Producer

Joe Litzinger is a Primetime Emmy-nominated TV producer and an award-winning documentary filmmaker. He served as the Executive Producer on the nine-time Emmy-winning (19-time nominated) series Life Below Zero and its three spinoffs. Joe is currently the governor of the unscripted peer group for the Television Academy, where he sits on a variety of committees. He has worked with major networks and studios, including Fox, Disney, Nat Geo, MTG, Discovery, and Netflix, as well as a variety of production companies. His reputation in the industry is one of respect, and his role at the Television Academy puts him in the room with all the major players in the unscripted space. In addition to producing over a thousand hours of nonfiction television programming, he co-directed and executive produced two multiple award-winning feature-length documentary films under his production company banner, Interesting Human Media. Joe also founded the Ladyface Mountain Documentary Film Festival, which showcases documentary films and fosters the growth of the local arts community. He has been a speaker on many industry panels moderated by the International Documentary Association, Deadline, Variety, and KCRW, and serves as a documentary mentor at South by Southwest. Joe lives in Agoura Hills, California, where he nurtures his other passions: his family and the outdoors.

Executive Room

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Jenny Bloom (Bloomerang PR)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Lisa Trifone (Bright Iris Film Co.)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Maddy Bilder (26 Keys Productions)

Programming Mentor Session: Boram Park (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

Programming Mentor Session: Haojie Huang (Kaohsiung Film Festival)

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

PROGRAMMING MENTOR SESSION: JOSEPH LITZINGER (INTERESTING.MEDIA)


Mentor Session: Richard Hannan

Richard Hannan

Music Business Consultant

Richard Hannan is a senior music executive and creative strategist with over 20 years’ experience shaping artists, releases, and businesses across the UK, US, and international markets. A former EVP and founder-level operator, he has built and scaled independent labels, management companies, and global partnerships spanning artist management, sync, live, brand, and catalogue strategy. Known for bridging creative instinct with commercial discipline, Richard specialises in translating artist narratives into music that travels. Artist-trusted and boardroom-credible, his work is driven by relationships, clarity, and a fiercely independent approach to building sustainable, future-facing music businesses.

Tannehill

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Mentor Session: Arnaecia Alridge (Methix)

Mentor Session: Isabella Uknis (Universal Music Publishing Group)

Mentor Session: Lauren Apolito (The Harry Fox Agency/Rumblefish )

Mentor Session: Max Christensen (Crunchy Frog/Crunchy Tunes)

Mentor Session: Noel Morrison (SiriusXM/Pandora)

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


Featured Session: A Waste of Time with Larry David and Jeff Schaffer

Lorraine Ali

News and Culture Critic

Lorraine Ali is news and culture critic of the Los Angeles Times. Previously, she was television critic for The Times covering media, breaking news and the onslaught of content across streaming, cable and network TV. Ali is an award-winning journalist and Los Angeles native who has written in publications ranging from the New York Times to Rolling Stone and GQ. She was formerly senior writer for The Times’ Calendar section where she covered entertainment, culture, and American Arab and Muslim issues. Ali started at The Times in 2011 as music editor after leaving her post as a senior writer and music critic at Newsweek Magazine.

Jeff Schaffer

Writer/ Director

Jeff Schaffer doesn’t want to talk about all the work he’s done. Don’t get him wrong, he wants you to know about it, and he really wants the adulation, but he doesn’t want to have to tell you himself and seem like a braggart.

He would love you to know that he’s spent a large portion of his adult life working with Larry David - writing and then producing four seasons of Seinfeld with his partner Alec
Berg, eventually helping to run the show until it was cruelly cancelled. And he wants you to hear all about how he has worked on Curb Your Enthusiasm since Season 5 as a writer, director and executive producer. But he can’t tell you any of this. How cheesy do you think he is?

He’s also worked on movies that he would love to be commended for, including Eurotrip, Clear History, and traveling around the world with Sacha Baron Cohen writing and producing Bruno and The Dictator. These are the highlights. Lowlights are available upon request.

And of course he wants you to know that he and his wife, Jackie, also created and ran the show The League for seven seasons. And co-created and EP’d the series Dave. But he can’t just come right out and say it. That would smack of desperation.

Though his schedule has been hectic, Jeff has still found the time to regret this bio. He thinks the third person angle is bullshit and he sounds a bit full of himself.

Larry David

Bon Vivant

Larry David co-created “Seinfeld,” which debuted in 1989 and ran for nine seasons. As head writer and executive producer, the pressure of delivering a weekly show led to his abuse of anabolic steroids, which contributed to his ill-temper and shrunken testicles. In 1999, HBO aired his one-hour special, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” which spawned the 12-season series. In it, he plays an incredibly gifted, loveable writer who spreads bonhomie and good cheer to everyone fortunate enough to encounter him. During one of “Curb’s” many, long hiatuses, David created two new shows, “Girls” and “Orange is the New Black.” To better understand the motivation of his female characters, he began cross-dressing and moved into the Barbizon Hotel for Women. He was evicted after his true identity was uncovered when he evacuated naked from a fire started by his roommate who forgot to unplug her curling iron. After a spiritual sabbatical in Poland, he returned to the US in 2009 to star in Woody Allen’s comedy, “Whatever Works.” The movie garnered David the prestigious Gottlieb Award for “Best Actor with No Training and No Idea What He Was Doing.” Then in 2013, he co-wrote and starred in the HBO Films’ comedy, “Clear History,” elevating him to cult hero status amongst illiterates and diabetics. In 2015, he made his Broadway debut at the Cort Theater as an actor and playwright in “Fish in the Dark,” which he penned over a three-day span while sitting on the toilet. The play broke all Broadway records for most coughing by an audience during a performance. He’s currently pursuing his real estate license and can be contacted through the Inland Empire branch of “Century 21."

Salon 6-8

Featured Session: A Conversation With Spotify's New Co-CEO About The Past, Present And Future Of Delivering Creativity To The World

Featured Session: Shaping Brand Relevance for a New Generation

Featured Session: Why Saying Yes to the Unthinkable Works

Featured Session: Albuquerque Aftermath: From Breaking Bad to Pluribus with Rhea Seehorn, Vince Gilligan, and Key Creatives

Featured Session: The Culture Layer of Financial Markets

After unnerving the populace of the West Side of Los Angeles on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David and Jeff Schaffer decided to cast a wider net on a grander subject - the History of the United States.

In honor of America’s 250th anniversary they have teamed up with the Obamas and Higher Ground for a historical sketch comedy series debuting on HBO this summer.

Larry and Jeff will discuss their process for Curb and the similarities and differences in making their new series - including a sneak peak of never-before-seen footage from the new show. And if you decide to walk out in the middle of it, they will completely understand.

Moderated by Lorraine Ali

American Sign Language
Open captioned
Closed captioned

FEATURED SESSION: A WASTE OF TIME WITH LARRY DAVID AND JEFF SCHAFFER


Haojie Huang

Director/Curator

Haojie Huang ,Director / Curator . The director of kaosuing film archive and Kaohsiung film festival from south Taiwan. My first career as a film producer Since 2003.In 2005, I produced and directed Taiwan Public Television Series documentary ”Taiwan Sugar Factory” and win the prize at Goldbell TV award. I have worked with Taiwanese feature film directors for many years, such as Dirctor Cheng Wen-tang’s film “Maverick”,the film nomonated for the Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actress .

Since 2007, I became a curator at the Kaohsiung Film Festival. I planning the international short film competition from 2011, and creating VR competition in Kaohsiung film festival from 2018, and also changed the development pattern of film festival ,kaohsiung film festival has transformed a technology and film festival that combines feature films, short films, and the XR industry.

In order to encourage the production of Taiwan XR industry. I’ve also start VR Film Lab project form 2017,we had produce 53 XR works.These works have been nominated Sundance film festival, Annecy animation film festival and Venice film festival etc., In particular, our investment this year in the film " The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters Up" won the Best Immersive Film Award at the Venice Film Festival.

In 2021, I become the deputy director of Kaohsiung Film Archive , planning film inevestment fuding project in feature films , short films and VR Film Lab project.Now kaohsiung film festival is Asis the biggest XR and short film festival, Showcase more than 40 new XR works,200 shorts and feature films. The XR Dreamland exhibition also won the 2025 MUSE Design Awards.

Executive Room

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Jenny Bloom (Bloomerang PR)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Lisa Trifone (Bright Iris Film Co.)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Maddy Bilder (26 Keys Productions)

Programming Mentor Session: Boram Park (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

Programming Mentor Session: Joseph Litzinger (Interesting.Media)

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

PROGRAMMING MENTOR SESSION: HAOJIE HUANG (KAOHSIUNG FILM FESTIVAL)


How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change: A Conversation with the authors of Somebody Should Do Something

Daniel Kelly

Professor of Philosophy

Daniel Kelly is a Professor of Philosophy and co-director of the Cognition, Agency, and Intelligence Center at Purdue University. His research focuses on issues at the intersection of philosophy of mind and cognitive science, moral theory, and evolution. His first book was Yuck! The Nature and Moral Significance of Disgust, and he has published on a range of topics that include moral judgment, moral progress, climate change, social norms, the psychology of group membership, racial cognition, implicit bias and responsibility, cross-cultural diversity, code-switching, and David Foster Wallace and free will. While getting his PhD at Rutgers he became a founding member of the Moral Psychology Research Group, and at Purdue has taught range of courses, including classes the Foundations of Cognitive Science, Madness and the Self, and Fun and the Meaning of Life. Much of Kelly's work explores ways to apply the insights of the cognitive, behavioral, and evolutionary sciences to philosophical issues, especially those surrounding social change. In addition to philosophizing he enjoys reading novels and making witty remarks. He spends the summers with his wife and dog living that #vanlife and surfing along the California coast.

Alex Madva

Professor of Philosophy

Alex Madva is Professor of Philosophy, Director of the California Center for Ethics & Policy, and Co-Director of the Digital Humanities Consortium at Cal Poly Pomona. His work explores what changes in technology and social science mean for our understanding of the mind and justice. He is the co-author of Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change (MIT 2025) and a co-editor of An Introduction to Implicit Bias: Knowledge, Justice, and the Social Mind (Routledge 2020) and The Movement for Black Lives: Philosophical Perspectives (Oxford, 2021).

He has written for venues including The New York Times and Slate, with his research profiled in outlets including Vox, The Good Men Project, and La Nación. He has been interviewed by local Fox News in Chicago, Talk Radio Europe, Houston Public Radio, Sirius XM, and numerous podcasts.

He is engaged in ongoing research to test classroom-based interventions to reduce achievement gaps, increase belonging, and break down barriers for students from underrepresented groups in disciplines such as physics, economics, mathematics, and philosophy. He also runs workshops and training sessions on bias, stereotype threat, impostor feelings, Title IX, and intergroup cooperation for schools, courts, and wider audiences.

Michael Brownstein

John Jay College And The Graduate Center, CUNY

Professor and Chair of Philosophy

Michael Brownstein is Professor and Chair of Philosophy at John Jay College and Professor of
Philosophy at The Graduate Center, CUNY. His research focuses on the intersection of science,
ethics, and social change. He has been a visiting scholar at the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the Center for Advanced Study in the
Behavioral Sciences (CASBS) at Stanford University. Brownstein’s research has been featured in
the New York Times, The Guardian, Vox, and more. He is the author of The Implicit Mind:
Cognitive Architecture, the Self, and Ethics (Oxford 2018), co-editor of the two-volume series,
Implicit Bias and Philosophy (OUP 2016), and most recently, Somebody Should Do Something:
How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change (MIT 2025, with Alex Madva and Daniel Kelly).

Room 410

Technology Convergence: Winning the Exponential Upswing

Leading the AI Future: How to Think Exponentially in a Chaotic Decade

CTRL + ALT + CREATE: How AI Is Reshaping the Creative Process

Breaking Cultural Codes That Keep Latino Leaders Silent

People often feel powerless to create social change. Issues like climate change, misinformation, and the erosion of democracy are “wicked” problems. They are complex, multifaceted, global challenges with no simple solutions. How can anyone make a difference when it comes to problems like these? Drawing from philosophy, history, and contemporary social science, this talk offers tools for thinking in new ways about how individuals can help create transformative social change. Each of us can make a difference, but not in the ways we usually think.

HOW ANYONE CAN HELP CREATE SOCIAL CHANGE: A CONVERSATION WITH THE AUTHORS OF SOMEBODY SHOULD DO SOMETHING


Mentor Session: Brendan Biesen (MINT Talent Group)

Brendan Biesen

Booking Agent

Brendan Biesen, an over 10-year stalwart of the music industry, has held a variety of unique roles throughout his career. His industry experience includes time with labels like Secretly Canadian, radio promotion at Chicago’s WXRT, and various events-focused organizations at his alma mater, Indiana University-Bloomington. Most important was his time with the Windish and Paradigm Talent agencies, where he managed day-to-day booking duties for several artist teams as well as aided in the expansion of the A&R Department and its reach to bring in new talent and clientele.

In a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering passion for the music industry, Biesen founded his own booking agency, Field Booking, in 2021. This venture showcases his commitment to nurturing talent and furthering the careers of artists, highlighting his vision for the future of the industry. Throughout his operations within Field he expanded his network and provided numerous opportunities to further his artists’ careers and goals. He joined the outer/most agency in 2023 and quickly expanded his knowledge into booking for the jazz and more experimental genres which he has applied to to the rest of his roster.

Brendan Biesen joined MINT Talent Group as a Booking Agent and Festivals Department lead in early 2025 and has expanded his roster via his keen A&R sensibilities and expanding network within the industry. He currently looks after a roster of musicians: Barrie, Bayonne, Bershy, Cal In Red, Don Glori, Fonteyn, Gabby’s World, Jaguar Sun, Julius Rodriguez, Manwolves, Pile, Pretty Jane, Psymon Spine, Radium Dolls, REZN, Rockit Music, S. Carey, The Slaps, Wilby, Work Wife, Asha Jefferies, 81355, and Poise

Tannehill

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Mentor Session: Arnaecia Alridge (Methix)

Mentor Session: Isabella Uknis (Universal Music Publishing Group)

Mentor Session: Lauren Apolito (The Harry Fox Agency/Rumblefish )

Mentor Session: Max Christensen (Crunchy Frog/Crunchy Tunes)

Mentor Session: Noel Morrison (SiriusXM/Pandora)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in A&R, Live Events, Touring.

MENTOR SESSION: BRENDAN BIESEN (MINT TALENT GROUP)


Unscripted Insiders: Netflix x Hulu Meet Up

Matthew Nagorner

Co-President

Matthew Nagorner is a seasoned television executive and creative producer with over 15 years of experience spanning both scripted and unscripted television.

He began his career at Warner Bros. Television in 2010, working closely with legendary
showrunner Chuck Lorre across some of the most successful multi-camera comedies of the
modern era, including Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly, and Mom.
During this formative period, Matthew gained hands-on experience in high-volume production, writer-driven storytelling, and the inner workings of top-tier network television.
In 2016, Matthew transitioned into Warner Bros. Unscripted Television, where he quickly
became a key creative force across some of the company’s most iconic franchises and live-
event programming. His credits include work on The Bachelor franchise, The Voice, and large-
scale cultural moments such as the Friends Reunion and Harry Potter Reunion specials.
Rising through the ranks, Matthew ultimately served as Talent Lead for Warner Bros.
Unscripted, where he specialized in developing original series and formats built around high-profile scripted and unscripted talent across television, streaming, and emerging platforms. In
this role, he was instrumental in shaping projects from early concept through pitch, packaging, and sale.

Most recently, Matthew wrapped as the executive overseeing creative and structure
on Bachelor Mansion Takeover, further solidifying his reputation for marrying franchise
storytelling with fresh format innovation.

With a career rooted in both premium scripted comedy and top-tier unscripted programming, Matthew brings a rare, cross-disciplinary perspective to development—combining talent-first strategy, sharp creative instincts, and a deep understanding of what resonates with audiences.

In January 2026, Matthew departed Warner Bros. Unscripted to launch IMT
Productions, teaming up with prolific showrunner Ian Gelfand under 3BMG. The
company builds on Matthew’s years of experience developing talent-driven and
premium unscripted series, with a focus on bold ideas and elevated storytelling. IMT
Productions already has two projects set up at various networks and streamers, marking a
strong start out of the gate.

Rich Leist

Director of Nonfiction Casting

Director of Nonfiction Casting at Netflix

Room 408

Convene, Collaborate, & Cultivate Connection: Moms Meet Up

Netflix’s Director of Unscripted Casting Rich Leist helped launch Netflix’s first in-house unscripted casting team, giving him a front-row seat to what platforms are actually looking for when they decide who gets on screen.  Joining him is Matt Nagorner, formerly a Warner Bros. unscripted talent lead and now co-president of IM Trying Productions, where he develops personality-driven unscripted series and formats.

This meet-up is designed for connection first: a quick, candid kickoff on what’s working in unscripted right now (casting, talent packaging, formats, and where the market is moving), followed by plenty of time for fans, aspiring cast, producers, and suppliers to meet each other, swap intel, and leave with new contacts. Along the way, Matt can pull back the curtain on working across major franchises like The Bachelor, The Voice, and event specials including **Friends: The Reunion and the **Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts.

UNSCRIPTED INSIDERS: NETFLIX X HULU MEET UP


Mentor Session: Jasmin Joseph-Chazan (Nucleate/Harvard Medical School)

Jasmine Joseph-Chazan

Director/PhD Candidate

Scientist and mentor with a focus on biotech, research, and community, I support early-stage founders through Nucleate and venture capital, helping bridge the gap between scientific innovation and commercialization. With a background in immunology and bioengineering, I’m passionate about advancing biotech solutions with global impact. I work closely with startups to guide them through the challenges of development, scaling, and strategic growth and aim to create a strong sense of collaboration within the scientific and entrepreneurial communities as a whole.

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 Business Development, MedTech, Entrepreneurship.

MENTOR SESSION: JASMIN JOSEPH-CHAZAN (NUCLEATE/HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL)


Portraits Beyond the Frame: Jonathan Yeo & Spectacles

Jonathan Yeo

Artist

Jonathan Yeo is a British artist known for both traditional and experimental portraiture. He has exhibited widely in galleries and museums around the world including the National Portrait Gallery, London, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC, the Museum of National History in Denmark and the Royal Academy, London. In 2024 unveiled the first official portrait of King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. Yeo has also used VR and 3D technologies to make sculpture, created an award winning AR app and has recently been collaborating with Snap on an immersive art experience, 'Spectacular'. He was named Artist of the Year by GQ magazine in 2018 and is a trustee of London’s National Portrait Gallery.

Ben Wymer

Senior Director, Global Brand Experience

Ben joined Snap Inc. in 2021 as Director of Global Brand Experience (GBX) for International Markets, overseeing the creative direction and execution of Snap’s physical, virtual, and hybrid experiential activations and events. In 2024, he assumed leadership of the Paris AR Studio, Snap’s team focused on delivering first-in-class AR experiences for cultural and non-commercial partners. Based in London, Ben leads teams across EMEA and APAC. Prior to Snap, he served as Marketing and Communications Director for JW Anderson, and previously held roles at Louis Vuitton in Paris and Tommy Hilfiger in New York.

Room 203-204

XR Immersive Filmmaking & The Future of Entertainment

From Data to Decisions: Lives, Livelihoods, and the Planet

SIMULCAST: Amy Webb Launches 2026 Emerging Tech Trend Report

Beta Testing a City: Startups, Sidewalks & Robotics

Artificial Imagination and The Fiction After Cinema

Jonathan and Ben Wymer, Senior Director of Global Brand Experience at Snap Inc., will explore how artists are experimenting with immersive technologies and smart glasses; the story behind his striking red portrait of King Charles and its unexpected cultural impact; and what his groundbreaking AR collaboration with Spectacles, premiering in the US at SXSW, reveals about how we might experience art in museums through wearable devices and new digital layers in the years ahead.

PORTRAITS BEYOND THE FRAME: JONATHAN YEO & SPECTACLES


Programming Mentor Session: Boram Park (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

Boram Park

Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festical

XR Curator/Programmer

Boram Park is a leading curator and programmer at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), dedicated to the evolution of immersive storytelling. At the forefront of the festival’s XR section, she curates diverse experiences ranging from AI-driven narratives to interactive media art. Beyond exhibition, Boram empowers experimental creators by facilitating global industry connections and hosting high-impact conferences. Her work focuses on navigating the shifting landscape of entertainment technology and defining the future of digital media.

Executive Room

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Jenny Bloom (Bloomerang PR)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Lisa Trifone (Bright Iris Film Co.)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Maddy Bilder (26 Keys Productions)

Programming Mentor Session: Haojie Huang (Kaohsiung Film Festival)

Programming Mentor Session: Joseph Litzinger (Interesting.Media)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Programming, VR/XR Filmmaking.

PROGRAMMING MENTOR SESSION: BORAM PARK (BUCHEON INTERNATIONAL FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL)


Programming Mentor Session: Kristin McCracken (Hamptons International Film Festival)

Kristin McCracken

Programmer

Programmer + Publications Director
Hamptons International Film Festival

Kristin McCracken is an experienced film festival professional known for her acumen in the digital and social space. Formerly VP of Digital Media at Tribeca (where she won two Webby Awards), she is currently a Programmer and the Director of Publications for the Hamptons International Film Festival, and the Program Manager for Science on Screen®, a grant program of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation administered by the Coolidge Corner Theatre.

Kristin works seasonally with other film festivals, including the Provincetown International Film Festival and the Key West Film Festival. Past clients include Montclair Film, German Films, the Maui Film Festival, the Naples International Film Festival, and DOC NYC. She served on the Executive Board of the Film Festival Alliance from 2013-2017. Learn more at mccrackhouse.com.

Liberty

Agents & Managers Mentor Session: Olivia Mascheroni (Verve Talent & Literary Agency)

Legal Mentor Session: Fabio de Sa Cesnik (CQS FV Law Firm)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: RJ Millard (Obscured Pictures)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Traci Hanlon (Cinergy Entertainment)

Programming Mentor Session: CC Hutten (TED Conferences)

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

PROGRAMMING MENTOR SESSION: KRISTIN MCCRACKEN (HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL)


Beyond the Algorithm: Belonging in a Human+AI World

Rosanna Durruthy

VP, Belonging and Employee Experience

Rosanna Durruthy is a transformative executive with over two decades of experience leading cultural and organizational change across tech, healthcare, and financial services. As Vice President of Belonging and Employee Experience at LinkedIn, she builds inclusive, high-performing environments where people and business thrive. A former entrepreneur and leadership coach, Rosanna has a proven track record of driving impact through talent strategy, inclusion, and innovation. Her work is grounded in real-world experience, global insight, and a deep belief in the power of belonging to unlock performance and purpose. Through cross-industry leadership, nonprofit advocacy, and public speaking, she continues to shape the future of work with authenticity, trust, and vision.

Nichol Bradford

Founder and Chief Curator

Nichol Bradford is a futurist, investor, and executive advancing human potential through AI and emerging tech. As Executive-in-Residence for AI+HI at SHRM, she shapes the future of work for over 340,000 HR professionals. She founded Human+Tech Week (Transformative Tech.org), the largest global ecosystem of Human wellbeing, performance and wellness tech, and co-founded Niremia Collective, an early stage venture fund investing in human potential and Human Tech. A former gaming executive at Activision-Blizzard and Disney, she’s a sought-after speaker and board leader with degrees from Wharton and the University of Houston.

Salon B

Innovating in Science & Tech When Budgets are Tight

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

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

Better Leadership Starts with Understanding the Stressed Brain

As AI becomes a collaborator at work, it’s reshaping how people find meaning, connect, and contribute. This panel explores how belonging evolves in Human+AI teams and the behaviors and mindsets leaders must model to inspire trust, motivation, and performance. Talent and leadership experts will discuss how to design emotionally intelligent cultures,  the human skills that matter most in an AI world, and how to ensure people feel valued for what only they can uniquely bring to an AI-augmented workplace.

BEYOND THE ALGORITHM: BELONGING IN A HUMAN+AI WORLD

Workplace track sponsored by University of Cincinnati


Creators Are the New Gatekeepers: Building Opportunity in Entertainment

Amanda McArthur

VP, Client Strategy, Brand Partnerships

Amanda oversees the branded creative and marketing team at Doing Things, managing a group of creatives and marketers who ideate and execute branded partner campaigns across the company’s full portfolio of brands. She is deeply passionate about content marketing, with a focus on developing work that feels authentic to editorial voices and resonates meaningfully with audiences.

With nearly two decades of experience in advertising and marketing, Amanda has held roles at Vice Media Group, PopSugar, and Universal McCann, bringing a wealth of expertise in brand storytelling and audience engagement.

Julian Shapiro-Barnum

Co-Founder, Host

Julian Shapiro-Barnum is a 25-year-old comedian, actor, and four-time Webby Award winner best known as the creator and host of the viral series Recess Therapy, which has over 7M followers. His 2022 “Corn Kid” interview became a global hit with 6B+ impressions. Julian also hosts YouTube’s Celebrity Substitute, featuring guests like Billie Eilish and Florence Pugh, and co-hosts the podcast Gems with 7-year-old Miles. Named to Forbes' 30 Under 30, he has hosted red carpets including the 2024 Golden Globes (250M+ views) and has been featured by The New York Times, CBS Sunday Morning, The Today Show, and Nightline.

Jeremy Lowe

VP, Talent and Partnerships

As Vice President of Talent and Partnerships at Dick Clark Productions, Jeremy Lowe oversees talent booking, creator collaborations, and brand partnerships across the company’s biggest live events. He played a leading role in booking talent for the 2025 American Music Awards and “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” the #1 New Year’s special on TV. Lowe also developed viral creator partnerships with Amelia Dimoldenberg, Recess Therapy, and Matt Friend for the Golden Globes, helping drive a 50% ratings increase year-over-year by reinventing the red carpet for a new generation.

Waller Ballroom C

From TikTok to Toolbelt: Preparing Gen Z for Work

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

It Takes a Region: Cybersecurity Pathways in Rural Alabama

Rethinking Discovery Algorithms for the Creator Economy

Today’s creators aren’t just reacting to Hollywood, they’re shaping it. As audiences seek authenticity, creators have become the new gatekeepers of what’s seen, shared, and celebrated. From viral interviews to creator-led red carpets, this session dives into how creators can build influence in the entertainment world — crafting content that connects, collaborating with celebrities, studios, and brands, and turning partnerships into genuine growth. Hear from leading creators and industry insiders on how to build your voice, expand your reach, and become part of the next wave driving entertainment forward.

CREATORS ARE THE NEW GATEKEEPERS: BUILDING OPPORTUNITY IN ENTERTAINMENT


What AI Agents Are Doing While You're Not Watching

Sam Sabin

Cybersecurity Reporter

Sam Sabin is the cybersecurity reporter at Axios where she authors the Future of Cybersecurity newsletter for 70K+ readers. She covers the intersection of policy, technology and cyber threats, providing trusted, real-time reporting for executives and security leaders. Previously, she wrote Politico's daily cybersecurity newsletter and Morning Consult's daily tech policy briefing, building a decade of experience translating complex security issues into clear, actionable insights.

Damon McDougald

Global Cyber Protection Lead

Damon McDougald leads Accenture’s Cyber Protection team, a team of over 7,000 professionals delivering identity security services across industries. For almost two decades, he has guided more than 40 Fortune 500 clients through over 100 projects, helping them outsmart cyber threats and secure their most valuable digital assets. At Accenture, Damon oversees identity security strategy, setting the vision for Accenture’s identity practice that has contributed to a 500% increase in sales and revenue over the past five years.

Avihay Nathan

Senior Vice President of AI, Data & Research

Avihay Nathan is a seasoned Data & AI Executive with 19 years of experience, currently serving as Senior Vice President and Head of AI, Data & Research at CyberArk. He has a proven track record of driving enterprise-scale business growth and fostering innovation, with a passion for building and leading successful teams. His expertise lies in transforming massive-scale data into actionable insights and competitive advantage across various business domains, leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies for complex predictions, operational process revolution, enhanced decision-making, and significant business impact.

Arthi Rajan Makhija

Co-Founder and CEO

Arthi Rajan Makhija is the co-founder and CEO of Pinch.ai, an early-stage startup building intelligent agents to help companies automate high-risk decisions. Before launching Pinch, she served as Chief Product Officer at NationsBenefits and spent over 16 years at PayPal, where she led teams responsible for securing global transactions and managing fraud, credit and identity risk. Arthi has spent her career designing systems that decide when to trust a user, and when not to. Now, she's applying that experience to AI: building agents that act independently without risking sensitive data, reputations or customer experiences.

Salon D

Designing the Future of Human Performance

The Companies Building and Automating Space's Superhighway

The New Lab Partner: AI and Future Scientific Discovery

Humanoid Robots Are Clocking In: Meet Who’s Putting Them To Work

The Masters: A Digital Experience Unlike Any Other

Your AI assistant has the keys to everything – email, finances, sensitive systems – but operates in shadows you can't see, a problem that continues to grow as companies unleash agentic AI faster than they can build safeguards. This panel will explore how AI agents are changing the way we think about work and how we trust technology. We'll ask: What happens when an AI assistant, designed to help, accidentally (or intentionally) steps out of line? How do we even know what they're up to when they operate independently? And how can we stop AI agents from becoming the next insider threat?

WHAT AI AGENTS ARE DOING WHILE YOU'RE NOT WATCHING


Leadership Unblocked: Break Through What's Holding You Back

Muriel M. Wilkins

Founder and CEO of Paravis Partners, sought-after C-suite adviser and executive coach, and author

Muriel M. Wilkins is the CEO and Founder of Paravis Partners and a sought-after executive coach and C-suite advisor with more than two decades of experience helping leaders elevate their performance and navigate their toughest challenges. She has served as the trusted partner to hundreds of senior executives who rely on her as a confidante, valued for her strategic acumen, ability to cut through complexity, and talent for catalyzing lasting results. Her approach is anchored in deep insight, practical rigor, and a belief that meaningful change begins from within—helping leaders expand their capacity and deliver sustained results.  Muriel’s new book, Leadership Unblocked: Break Through the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential, was published by Harvard Business Review Press in October 2025 and is a USA Today Bestseller, an Amazon Bestseller and a Next Big Idea selection. She is also the co-author of Own the Room: Discover your Signature Voice to Master your Leadership Presence and hosts the award-winning podcast, Coaching Real Leaders. Muriel was recognized as a finalist for the Thinkers50 Coaching Award, placing her among the world’s leading contributors to the coaching field.  Her insights have been featured in major media outlets such as Forbes, Business Insider, Chief Executive Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal, and she is the author of the Harvard Business Review magazine cover article, “The Hidden Beliefs That Hold Leaders Back.” Raised in North Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and the United States, Muriel brings a global perspective to her work with leaders navigating increasingly complex environments. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University. Muriel’s mission is simple: to help leaders evolve so they—and those around them—can lead and live with greater ease.

Salon A

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

Charmageddon: Robots That Steal Hearts and Jobs

Shortchanged: Gen Z, the Economy, and Brands

SWIFTYNOMICS: How Women Mastermind and Redefine Our Economy

Ever feel like you’re doing all the “right” things—yet still feel stuck? The problem isn’t effort or ambition. It’s the unseen beliefs shaping how you show up at work. In this eye-opening talk, Harvard Business Press author and host of the Coaching Real Leaders podcast, Muriel M. Wilkins, pulls back the curtain on what holds even the highest achievers back. Drawing from her bestselling book, Leadership Unblocked, she reveals seven beliefs that limit leadership potential—and offers a practical roadmap to break through them and lead with greater impact and ease.

LEADERSHIP UNBLOCKED: BREAK THROUGH WHAT'S HOLDING YOU BACK


Producing Without Borders: Navigating Global Film

William Tran

Senior Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, Production Risk

William began his legal career as an associate at one of the country’s largest law firms, Sidley Austin and practiced in their Employment Law group. He left to join NBCUniversal where he worked in various legal roles related to television production. His work spanned the networks of Bravo, USA, SyFy, E!, Oxygen and NBC. William then joined Viacom as VP, Business and Legal Affairs, Production Risk Team. In this role he oversees issues related to children and minors working in entertainment; immigration and visas; casting discrimination; and background, medical, and psychological diligence for reality TV participants and crew members. Viacom merged with CBS in late 2019. The Company rebranded as Paramount Global more recently, and William was promoted to SVP in the summer of 2021.

Tiffany Derentz

Partner

Tiffany serves as Senior Counsel based in BAL's Washington, D.C. office. She is a member of BAL's Government Strategies team and Sports and Entertainment group. Tiffany joined BAL after nearly a decade with the U.S. Department of State in the Bureau of Consular Affairs and as a senior adviser to the Chief Legal Adviser for immigration affairs. Immediately before joining BAL, Tiffany served as a senior adviser to the Department of State’s Chief Legal Adviser for immigration affairs. In addition, Tiffany served as a consular officer at multiple posts overseas serving in various roles, including assisting in the planning of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. She has direct in-person experience working with consular sections worldwide, the National Visa Center and the Kentucky Consular Center.

Nick Hobson

SVP/Deputy General Counsel – Global Head of Immigration

Nick Hobson leads WME Group’s global immigration program, advising on strategy, compliance, and permissions for talent, productions, events, and business travel. A solicitor in England and Wales and legal consultant in New York, he supports high-profile clients across media, entertainment, sport, and fashion. Recognized by Who’s Who Legal, Legal 500, and Law360, Nick also serves on PLC’s Immigration Consultation Board.

Jorge Alfaro-Silva

Founder/CEO, Producer ; Development & Production Consultant

Jorge is an LA-based film and TV producer with a background in private and investment banking. He holds an MFA in Creative Producing from Columbia University and degrees in Applied Mathematics, Economics, and Finance. He has worked at Wild Bunch, Magnolia Pictures, Ventanarosa, 3Pas Studios, and El Estudio. Most recently, he was VP of Development & Production at Lionsgate, where he oversaw major films. Born in Mexico City, he now runs an independent company amplifying creative voices.

Mansfield AB

From Vault to Vision: Reviving Film History with AI

Lessons Learned: How We Made Our First Feature

Going Off Script: Filmmaking Through an Indigenous Lens

Annual Legal Update for Indie Film and TV

From Hollywood to Helsinki, film and TV productions are chasing the best talent and shooting locations — but what happens when creativity meets border control? This panel dives into the real-world challenges of global filmmaking, from navigating immigration laws and work permits to managing international crews — all within a tight budget and timeline. Join experts from the immigration and entertainment industries as they explore how the entertainment industry is adapting to a borderless future.

PRODUCING WITHOUT BORDERS: NAVIGATING GLOBAL FILM