Space Technology and Innovation Conversation

Ilsa Mroz

Regulatory Affairs Manager

Ilsa Mroz is the Regulatory Affairs Manager at Planet Labs PBC, where she helps to drive Planet's space policy and satellite licensing efforts across U.S. and international regulatory authorities. Here, she supports initiatives in remote sensing policy, orbital debris management, and sustainable space operations - supporting Planet's vast constellations of Earth observation satellites to image the entire Earth, every day. Before Planet, she worked as the Senior Manager of Space Systems at the Aerospace Industries Association, advancing the world’s most pressing space policy issues across civil, commercial, and national security space. She has worked with leaders across various space agencies, military, and governments to enable collaboration between international space partners, promote sustainability efforts, workforce development, and space exploration.

Ilsa holds an M.A. in Global Security from Johns Hopkins University, a B.A. in Political Science and Business Management from the University of New Mexico, and a certification in Flight Training from San Diego Miramar College.

Savannah Horton

Management Consultant, Aviation and Space

Savannah Horton is a Management Consultant in Aviation and Space at Guidehouse. In her role, she supports federal agencies involved in the space industry with her management consulting expertise for processes enabling the safe planning and execution of launch and re-entry missions by commercial space companies. Savannah was previously the Manager of Strategic Initiatives at the Aerospace Industries Association and has established herself as an aerospace professional with her work in space policy and her collaboration with leaders across civil and commercial space organizations. Savannah is a "double Hoo" from the University of Virginia where she dedicated her studies to aerospace policy and graduated with a Master of Public Policy and a BA in Political Philosophy, Policy, and Law.

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

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

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

SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION CONVERSATION


GenMedia 101: Unlocking Creativity with AI & Google DeepMind

Paige Bailey

Developer Relations Engineering Lead

Paige Bailey (she / her) is the AI Developer Relations engineering lead at Google DeepMind. Prior to returning to Google DeepMind, Paige worked on projects like GitHub Codespaces, VS Code, and Copilot at GitHub. As a former applied machine learning engineer (in Azure Research, Chevron, and on NASA projects), Paige can’t imagine a more exciting charter than accelerating creative work and developer productivity with AI.

Jenni Munroe

Program Manager & Creative Technologist

Jenni Munroe is a program manager, creative technologist and AI experimenter at Google, blending product innovation, storytelling, and emerging tech. With a background in AI and a career spanning DeepMind, Accenture, and Google, she is the Founder of the JEN_AI program - using AI to co-create apps, media, and culture and to reflect on what it means to be human in the age of AI. Her work explores how generative tools can empower anyone to build (without writing code), unlocking creativity across industries and identities.

Brazos I-III

Division Defiance: Building Cross-Racial Solidarity

In Search of Hope: Teaching Climate Emotions Through Story

Beyond Borders: Diverse Alliances for Immigrant Wellbeing

Future-Proof Your Strategy: An AI Test and Learn Lab

Pitch Camp! How To Win Creative Pitches by Being More Human

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

GENMEDIA 101: UNLOCKING CREATIVITY WITH AI & GOOGLE DEEPMIND


Your First 90 Days as a Creator from Experts at Meta, YouTube & Snapchat

Brooke Berry

Head Of Creator Development

Brooke began her career in 2012 working with writers, directors, and producers in Scripted Television at Creative Artist Agency (CAA). During her time at CAA, she worked her way up to become the assistant to a Scripted TV Literary Agent, where she learned how a show goes from conception to launch. She left CAA in 2014 to expand her experience and work at digital talent companies like Fullscreen, Big Frame, and AwesomenessTV. During her time at AwesomenessTV, Brooke worked on the Talent Partnerships team, helping bridge the gap between sales, content, distribution, and creators. She then leveraged her expertise in content strategy, marketing, and creators to become the first social media manager for VidCon, where she ran social media for the convention, shaped their editorial voice, and expanded their social reach. Now as the Head of Creator Development at Snapchat, Brooke’s work with creators, celebrities, and talent has been integral in helping creators of all kinds find success in a highly competitive market, strengthening Snapchat’s relationship with creators. Whether Brooke is educating creators on the platform, advising on content strategy or facilitating partnerships, she is a strategic advisor guiding creators along their journey on Snapchat.

Katie Sollenberger

Director, Scaled Partner Activation

Katie Sollenberger currently leads the Scaled Partner Activation team within Scaled Partnerships at Meta, with a mission to accelerate growth for early stage creators. In this role, she oversees the functions required to launch and scale Meta’s scaled partner programs end-to-end covering acquisition, program design, enablement, and operations. Her team is responsible for accelerating strategic priorities across Meta’s family of apps, with a focus on Instagram, Facebook, Reality Labs and Threads.

Prior to her current role, Katie was the Business Lead (Chief of Staff) to the Vice President of the Global Business Group (GBG) Americas at Meta. In that capacity, she served as a key advisor helping to manage a team of over 1,200 people contributing to 10s of billions in annual revenue. Katie’s tenure at Meta also includes experience in Product Marketing and managing relationships with major advertising and media networks.

Before joining Meta, Katie worked at Google in Large Customer Sales. She holds a Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Operations from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications and Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Julia Hamilton Trost

Head of Creator Partnerships

Julia Hamilton Trost has over 20 years of experience in media, partnerships, and social commerce from her time at YouTube, Google, The Atlantic, and CNN. She currently leads Creator Partnerships for YouTube Shopping, helping creators build businesses via YouTube’s affiliate program. Julia started at Google in 2006 in Ads Sales, joined Google’s VR Partnerships team in 2016, and then moved to YouTube in 2018, where she has led Partnerships for emerging product areas. She resides in the Bay Area.

Antonia Alakija

Creator Economy Strategist

Antonia Alakija is a leading creator-economy strategist, campaign architect, and emerging creative founder shaping how the next generation of creators build sustainable, culturally resonant careers. Across her work with top creators at TikTok and Meta, she has been recognized by Business Insider as a Rising Star in Creator Partnerships for her role in driving some of the industry’s most high-impact, culturally defining programs. Antonia is known for architecting strategies that fuel fandom, accelerate creator virality, and unlock breakthrough storytelling at global scale.

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

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

YOUR FIRST 90 DAYS AS A CREATOR FROM EXPERTS AT META, YOUTUBE & SNAPCHAT

Creator Economy track sponsored by Yamaha


“It’s in Development” Creating Great TV for Global Platforms

Jennifer Gwartz

Executive Vice President of UCP

Jennifer Gwartz is Executive Vice President of UCP. In her role, she guides operations across all UCP’s studio functions, including production, current and development. Previously, Gwartz served as executive producer on the ABC pilot “Triangle.” In 2019, she segued to 20th Television, within Disney Television Studios, as Executive Vice President, Development. In that role, she oversaw all comedy and drama development and was responsible for the curation of content for all broadcast and streaming platforms, including ABC, Hulu, Disney+, FX and Freeform, as well as streaming platforms outside Disney General Entertainment, including Apple, Amazon, Starz, NBCUniversal’s Peacock and HBO Max.

Vivian Cannon

Executive Vice President, Drama Development

Vivian Cannon is Executive Vice President of Drama Development at Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group. In this role, she is responsible for the studio’s drama series development across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Cannon has been a driving force behind the development of many critically acclaimed drama series, including the Emmy® Award-winning “The Gilded Age,” Emmy-nominated “New Amsterdam,” and commercial hits like “Bel-Air,” “The Equalizer,” “La Brea,” “The Irrational,” “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” and “The Best Man: The Final Chapters,” which made history as Peacock’s first-ever series to crack Nielsen’s Top 10 streaming chart. A

Margaret Schatzel

SVP, Global Scripted Series

Margaret Schatzel is the Senior Vice President of Global Scripted Series for Universal International Studios (UIS), a division of Universal Studio Group. In this role, Schatzel is responsible for building and shepherding a global slate of scripted projects.

Together with the wider creative team, Schatzel is building on the company’s track record for creating premium scripted content with global appeal with projects set up across all major global SVODs, as well as premium local channels.

UIS partners with storytellers from around the globe to create bold and distinctive shows with universal resonance. Based in London, the business’ in-house production companies include Carnival Films,  Matchbox Pictures, Working Title Television and Heyday Television. UIS productions include Sky/Peacock hits “The Day of the Jackal,” and “All Her Fault,” Netflix global series “Too Much” and “One Day,” Peabody Award-winning music comedy “We Are Lady Parts,” worldwide TV phenomenon “Downton Abbey” as well as “Apples Never Fall,” “Everyone Else Burns,” and “Clickbait.”

Prior to joining UIS, Schatzel was Vice President of Development at Studiocanal US.

Bridge Ballroom AB

Creativity, Commerce & Chaos: Tech & Indie Filmmaking

Art to Infrastructure: Creating a Company as an Artist

SXSW Episodic Pitch-A-Thon presented by SeriesFest

Building Hollywood Buzz Without the Hollywood Style Campaign

CRAFTING SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT: HAND-DRAWN ANIMATION & ORIGINAL SCORE (SNEAK PEEK FIRST LOOK)

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

?IT?S IN DEVELOPMENT? CREATING GREAT TV FOR GLOBAL PLATFORMS

Film & TV track sponsored by Crunchyroll


The New Era of Women in Music

Sarah Kloboves

Content and Marketing Manager

Sarah Kloboves is the content and marketing manager at Chartmetric, an all-in-one data analytics platform for artists and music industry professionals. There she manages all of the daily content on digital platforms, including Chartmetric’s publication How Music Charts. She also oversees many marketing initiatives and has facilitated campaigns for projects such as Chartmetric’s Artist Plan and OneSheet platform. Sarah has also contributed several stories to How Music Charts, infusing data with real world music news and specializing in areas like international markets, genre trends, and other industry insights.

Marissa DeVito

Owner

Marissa DeVito is a music industry veteran with wide experience in the studio, at major labels and in the music tech space. Her roles have included streaming strategy and commercial marketing at various major labels including Republic Records, Island Records, Def Jam and Motown. Additionally she spent almost 7 years at SoundCloud, working in various positions including launching and eventually leading the Music Marketing and Curation team. In 2024, she launched her Music Industry consulting business focusing on solutions oriented marketing, project management, operations and strategy for both for profit and nonprofit organizations.

Marissa is currently the Head of Music for the Music discovery App Showcase, serves on the board of directors for the abortion non profit NOISE FOR NOW and is a program director for the female music business entrepreneur program Pitch Perfect. Additionally, Marissa is always working on various ad hoc projects for Artists, music tech companies & social impact initiatives. For the most up to date projects, visit marissadevito.com

Janishia Jones

A Seat at the Table Market Research Agency

Founder / Researcher

Janishia Jones is a multi-hyphenate entrepreneur, author, social activist, music technologist, and musician based in Los Angeles. With degrees in Recording Arts, Music Business, and Entertainment Business from Full Sail University, she’s built a 15-year career working with companies like SRC/Universal Motown, Kobalt, and EMPIRE. In 2022, she launched ENCORE Music Tech Solutions to offer custom software and opportunities to BIPOC technologists. She founded Fresh ’N Sassy Productions, hosts the Pub Royalty Queen Podcast, and chairs JukeJoint Foundation, supporting women of color through grants and mentorship. Her book, Getting The Bag, hit #7 on Amazon’s Music Business list.

Lauren Blitzer-Wright

General Manager

With 20+ years of experience in Marketing, Partnerships, and Global Digital Business, Lauren Blitzer-Wright (she/her) has led transformative work across entertainment and tech. Most recently VP of Business Development at Sony Music, she drove innovation through strategic partnerships and new revenue models. Her career spans artist development, brand strategy, and community-driven platforms—all rooted in building what’s next. Lauren is also the founder of Lone Wolves Community, a network of music, tech, and media execs navigating the evolving industry together. She’s an entrepreneur, purpose-driven leader, and proud mom of twin boys, raised with her wife in NYC.

Capitol Ballroom FGH

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Syncrets to Success: Conversation With Music Supervisors

Mexico Amplified: How Música Mexicana is Reshaping Global Music

Streaming, Shorts & AI: Where Are Your Royalties Going?

How to Get the Job: Building a Career in Music

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


Going Off Script: Filmmaking Through an Indigenous Lens

Erica Tremblay

Writer/Producer/Director

Erica Tremblay is an American writer & director from the Seneca-Cayuga Nation. She recently worked as an executive story editor on “Reservation Dogs at FX, where she directed her 1st TV episode. Together wITH Sterlin Harjo, she developed a series adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize finalist ”Yellowbird” (2014) for Paramount+. She was an executive story editor on “Dark Winds” (2022), produced by George R.R. Martin & Robert Redford. Her feature project “Fancy Dance” (2023) was accepted into the 2021 Sundance Directors & Screenwriters Labs.
 Her short film “Little Chief” (2020) premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival & was included on IndieWire's top-10 list of must-see short films at the festival. In addition to writing & directing, she's also studying her indigenous language.

Jen Loren

Senior Director

Jen Loren (Cherokee Nation) is an Emmy award-winning tv host, filmmaker and senior director of Cherokee Film. She sets strategy and oversees all operations of Cherokee Film Productions, Cherokee Film Studios, Cherokee Film Commission and the Cherokee Film Institute. Selected as an inaugural Obama Leader USA by the Obama Foundation in 2023, Jen is globally recognized for her work, breaking new ground in the field of Native American representation in film and media. In addition to hosting the Emmy-award winning docuseries “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People,” Jen passionately leads a team of change-makers whose mission is to protect and share the authentic Cherokee experience, culture and history and to increase the presence of Native Americans across film and media.

Tom Hanada

Writer

Tom is a writer who specializes in thriller and horror despite starting his career writing romantic comedies. Now, Tom finds himself being hired to bring empathy and relatability to the bloodiest of stories and the most twisted of characters. In essence, Tom puts the “human” in “human cruelty.”
Tom has written on shows for Netflix (THE BOROUGHS; LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE), Hulu (UNDER THE BRIDGE), and Freeform (MOTHERLAND). He recently sold a horror pilot and has projects at New Line, Westbrook, and Universal.
Tom is also a prolific horror novelist: all three of his novels have been optioned for feature films.
Born and raised in Portland, OR, Tom graduated from Stanford University before moving to LA where he now lives with his high-school-sweetheart-turned-wife, Virginia.

Sydney Freeland

Director/Writer/Producer

Sydney Freeland is an award-winning LGBTQ Navajo filmmaker. Freeland directed and co-wrote “Rez Ball” for Netflix, which premiered at TIFF in 2024. She also directed the pilot and majority of the episodes of the Marvel Studios series “Echo.” Freeland also served a staff writer on the first season of “Reservation Dogs,” which was created by Taika Waititi and Sterlin Harjo.
Freeland’s other television directing credits include “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”; “Rutherford Falls”; “The Wilds”; “The Walking Dead: World Beyond”; “Fear The Walking Dead”; “Chambers”; “Nancy Drew"; “Emergence"; “Tales of the City”; “Impulse”; “Heathers”; “P-Valley; three-episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy”; an episode of “Station 19”; and she directed every episode of the 2016 Emmy nominated web series, “Her Story.”

Mansfield AB

From Vault to Vision: Reviving Film History with AI

Producing Without Borders: Navigating Global Film

Lessons Learned: How We Made Our First Feature

Annual Legal Update for Indie Film and TV

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

GOING OFF SCRIPT: FILMMAKING THROUGH AN INDIGENOUS LENS


The Future of Music is Participatory

Dani Deahl

As a prominent figure in music, Dani Deahl has been at the forefront of artist discovery and meaningful industry change for over a decade. She currently is a DJ, producer, public speaker, and Head of Communications & Creator Insights at BandLab. She developed the coverage for the intersection of music and technology for The Verge, helmed YouTube series The Future of Music, and is also a Trustee for the Recording Academy Chicago chapter.

(She will also be stepping into the role of VP, Creator Policy and Corporate Affairs at Caldecott Music Group later this year.)

Jordy Freed

Senior Director, Deputy Head of Sony’s Personal Entertainment Business

Jordy Freed is a forward-thinking brand strategist and business leader operating at the intersection of technology and culture. As Head of Brand, Business Development, Partner Marketing & Strategy at Sony, Freed leads global campaigns, strategic partnerships and product innovation across entertainment, consumer, and pro audio tech for Sony’s Personal Entertainment Business. Throughout his career, Jordy has brokered and led impactful partnerships with leading platforms and brands including Spotify, Amazon Music, SoundCloud, Intel, Pernod Ricard, the European Union Government, NHK, BandLab and New York University.  He spearheaded the global “For The Music” campaign and launched product collaborations tailored to new generations of creators.

Gaurav Sharma

Founder and CEO

Gaurav Sharma is the Founder & CEO of Hook, the artist-first, AI social music app that enables fans to easily create authorized remixes of popular music for use on social media while compensating rights holders for their work. Sharma has a history of successfully building emerging music technology that integrates and aligns with the needs of the larger music industry. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer for JioSaavn, India’s largest music streaming platform and one of the first platforms to secure global streaming licenses with record labels. Sharma and his team grew JioSaavn to more than 100 million active monthly users by the time he departed.

Artist

310babii is a rising hip-hop artist whose breakout moment came not through traditional industry channels, but through the participatory power of platforms like BandLab and TikTok. Hailing from South Central Los Angeles, 310babii has built a loyal fanbase by embracing a DIY, creator-first ethos, using free tools to produce music that resonates with a new generation of listeners.

Capitol Ballroom ABCD

Beyond the Track: Storytelling Across Music, Film & New Visual Frontiers with Vic Mensa

Who Gets Credit When Anyone Can Train a Music AI?

Darkchild On the Record: Music, Legacy, and Change

The Numbers Behind the Hits: How Data is Driving K-pop's Global Domination

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


Protecting Visual Storytelling: Tools for Radical Transparency in a Post-Truth Era

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.

Marie De Jesús

Reynolds Journalism Institute, University of Missouri School of Journalism

Director, Pictures Of The Year International

Marie D. De Jesús is the director of Pictures of the Year (POY) and College Photographer of the Year (CPOY) programs at the Mizzou School of Journalism. The two international photojournalism competitions are respected worldwide as a leader in recognizing the best in visual journalism.

Before coming to Mizzou, Marie served as the founding director of photography for the Houston Landing and worked as a staff photojournalist for the Houston Chronicle for nearly a decade.

Jovelle Tamayo

Documentary Photographer And Visuals Editor

Jovelle Tamayo is a documentary photographer and a multimedia editor at The Marshall Project, where she works with photojournalists, illustrators and other visual storytellers to report on prisons, police, courts, and the people who are harmed by the criminal justice system. Tamayo’s work appears in The Guardian UK/US, The New York Times, The Washington Post, TIME magazine, California Sunday Magazine and High Country News, among many others. They are also a media educator for undergraduate college students at the University of Washington, and youth with Reel Grrls, Coyote Central, Northwest Film Forum, Seattle International Film Festival, The Everyday Projects and Rain City Rock Camp.

Coleen Jose

Sr. Product Marketing Manager, Content Authenticity

Coleen Jose is a creative strategist and technologist with a background in tech and investigative journalism. At Adobe, she leads product marketing and storytelling for the Content Authenticity Initiative. Previously, she was a Community Editor at Instagram, supporting content creation and driving discovery to global, interest-based communities. As a journalist, her work involved long-form and award-winning multimedia projects covering stories on climate change to the aftermath of armed conflict. She is deeply invested in the role and responsibility of platforms and creative products in empowering creativity and shaping a more informed society.

Salon D

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

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

The Story of Stories—The Million Year History of Storytelling

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

Through the Noise: The State of Science Storytelling

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

PROTECTING VISUAL STORYTELLING: TOOLS FOR RADICAL TRANSPARENCY IN A POST-TRUTH ERA


Keep Calm & Flo On: Keeping an Enduring Icon Fresh & Funny

Meghan Walsh

Business Leader of Integrated Marketing

Meghan Walsh is the Business Leader of Integrated Marketing at Progressive Insurance, where she drives the vision, planning and execution of the brand’s most memorable campaigns. Since joining in 2018, the past seven years have been focused on the continued success of the “Superstore” campaign featuring Flo, Jamie and the squad, overseeing the evolution of turning into your parents with the award-winning “Dr. Rick” campaign, and building audience-specific campaigns like “At Home with Baker Mayfield,” “The Replay” and “The Backup.”  Working closely with creative partners, Meghan ensures Progressive’s storytelling remains fresh and effective – contributing to the company’s significant business growth during her tenure.

Stephanie Courtney

Actor

Stephanie Courtney is best known for her portrayal of Flo, the spokesperson for Progressive Insurance over the past 17+ years. She has also appeared in numerous TV shows and Films. Credits include The Goldbergs, Mad Men, The Heartbreak Kid, The Comeback, Nobodies, and Girlfriend Day. She is also a main company alumnus of The Groundlings Theater.

Sean Mcbride

Chief Creative Officer

Arnold is the agency that first inspired Sean to get into advertising. After spending the first few
years of his career trying to build a decent-enough book to get his foot in the door, he then
spent 14 years at Arnold rising through the ranks to become Chief Creative Officer in 2019.
During his career, Sean has served as creative lead on brands including Ocean Spray, Volvo,
Monster.com, New Balance, Merrill Lynch, Priceline.com, Panasonic, ADP, and more, but is best
known for his leadership on Progressive Insurance. He has an amazing wife, two amazing kids,
an adorable dog, Jupiter, and a pretty terrible lawn in the suburbs north of Boston.

Brendan Gibbons

Director

Brendan Gibbons is an award-winning comedy and performance director. He has been a key creative collaborator on the Progressive Insurance campaign featuring the now iconic “Flo,” helping to evolve her character into a pop culture juggernaut. His style of striking visuals, honest performances and smart humor has been a driving force behind countless commercial campaigns. Brendan began his career in advertising as an award-winning copywriter and creative director. He’s also worked as a political writer and screenwriter. Outside of directing, Brendan is a musician whose songs have appeared in commercials and films. He has also directed many original shorts and the feature film PREOCCUPIED, an Occupy Wall Street satire.

Waterloo Ballroom 4-6

The B Word: How to Get Creative with Marketing Budget

Meet Gen Alpha: Defying Predictions & Rewiring Marketing

Launching the Ultimate, Research-Driven Creative Power Playbook

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

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

KEEP CALM & FLO ON: KEEPING AN ENDURING ICON FRESH & FUNNY

Brand & Marketing track sponsored by Youtube


Decoding Consciousness, Psychedelics, and the Mind

Christof Koch

Meritorious Investigator At The Allen Institute, Chief Scientist At The Tiny Blue Dot Foundation

Christof Koch, a Meritorious Investigator at the Allen Institute, boasts a distinguished career in neuroscience. Educated in physics in Germany and with postdoctoral work at MIT's AI Lab, he was a professor at Caltech for over two decades before joining the Allen Institute as Chief Scientific Officer and later President. His passion lies in neurons—the building blocks of perception and consciousness—and identifying all neuron types in mouse and human brains. He's made significant discoveries on neuronal integration and co-developed the Integrated Information Theory of consciousness with Giulio Tononi. Koch's work blends theoretical and experimental neuroscience with philosophy and AI, evident in his book, "The Feeling of Life Itself – Why Consciousness is Everywhere But Can’t be Computed."

Salon E

Turning Up the Heat: Climate Content That Clicks

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

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

Culture Under Fire: Storytelling for Public Power

How to Win Friends and Overthrow Systems

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

DECODING CONSCIOUSNESS, PSYCHEDELICS, AND THE MIND


User Centric Design & Funding of Accessible Tech

Brandon Biggs

CEO

Brandon Biggs is the CEO of XR Navigation, an Engineer at the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, Co-Founder at Sonja Biggs Educational Services Inc., and a PhD student at the Georgia institute of Technology. In 2016, he received his bachelors in music from California State University East Bay, in 2019 he received his masters in Inclusive Design from the Ontario College of Art and Design University, and in 2021, began his PhD in Human Centered Computing from the Georgia Institute of Technology. His projects and ventures center around building tools to solve some of the most difficult problems in the blindness field. He leverages his lived experience coupled with human centered inclusive design principles to create solutions that create lasting and sustainable impact.

Chris Maher

Founder & General Partner

Chris Maher is the founder of Samaritan Partners, a public-benefit venture capital firm focused on accelerating early-stage startups that advance opportunity, inclusion, and economic mobility for people with disabilities. Beyond investing capital, Chris is cultivating a vibrant community of founders, advocates, investors, and policymakers who are reshaping the accessibility innovation landscape. A former CEO and operator with deep startup experience, Chris combines tactical expertise with a deeply personal mission, informed by his lived experience as a parent and advocate.

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.

Rebecca Rosenberg

CEO

Rebecca Rosenberg (2025 Forbes 30 Under 30) was born with low vision stemming from a rare disease called albinism. Inspired by the shortcomings she experienced with assistive tech growing up, Rebecca founded ReBokeh as a college student with the goal of leveraging mobile devices to support those with low vision. In the years since, ReBokeh has grown to achieve a global presence - with organizational partners across the US and users in 115 countries around the globe. Built by and for the low vision community, ReBokeh’s mobile technology empowers the 90% of blind and low vision individuals who retain some functional sight to use that sight, rather than defaulting away from it - allowing users to make specially-designed adjustments to a live camera feed to meet their unique visual needs.

Salon E

The Creative Economy is Thriving: Why Founders Keep Building for Creators

The Lucky 10%: CPGs Flipping Off the Startup Failure Rate

The Art of Scaling Your Startup Without Venture Capital

Who Owns What: The State of Startups & Top Trends to Watch

Now is Japan's Time: Leading the Future with Deep Tech

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

USER CENTRIC DESIGN & FUNDING OF ACCESSIBLE TECH


The Playbook: Viral Hits to Loyal Fandoms

Disha Singh

Associate Director, Communications & Content Strategy

David Salazar

Staff Editor

David Salazar is an editor who has spent 10 years in business journalism, first in trade publications and now as an associate editor at Fast Company. At the leading publication focused on business innovation, he uses his knowledge of the healthcare system and a broad set of interests to help elevate Fast Company’s coverage of health, pharma, the music industry, streaming services, the business of culture, and tech targeted at the LGBTQIA+ community.

For four years, he has overseen Fast Company’s Brands That Matter list, which honors brands who are fueling fan affinity and influencing culture in ways that are in-line with their overall positioning. He regularly moderates panels at Fast Company and outside events.

Roneil Rumburg

Co-Founder & CEO

Rumburg is co-founder and CEO of Audius, a digital streaming service that connects fans directly with artists and exclusive new music. Audius is fully decentralized, owned and run by a vibrant, open-source community of artists, fans, and developers all around the world. Founded in early 2018, Audius serves millions of users every month, making it one of the largest crypto applications ever built.  Prior to Audius, Roneil most recently co-founded Kleiner Perkins' early-stage seed fund, KPCB Edge. At KP, he was responsible for seed investments into Blockchain and AI companies, including Lightning Labs. Roneil attended Stanford University and previously co-founded a Bitcoin peer to peer payment company called Backslash.

Andre Benz

Founder

Andre Benz is the visionary founder behind The Nations, Lowly., and broke, reshaping independent music curation and artist promotion. The Nations, with 50M+ subscribers and 20B+ views, is the largest independent music curation network on YouTube.Broke, launched in 2023, quickly became a hotspot for rising talent, growing from 25,000 to 5.3M+ daily streams in a year. Broke’s marketing team has generated over 100M unique creations and 10B views across TikTok and Instagram.Under Andre’s leadership, Broke has propelled artists like Bread Beatz and sapientdream to viral success. Broke's latest triumph, Montagem Mysterious Game by LXNGVX, ranks #25 in the Top 200 Global - Shazam and exceeds 1M daily streams. Andre has shaped independent music culture, breaking artists like Marshmello and Halsey. Recently, Broke signed the popular duo Camelphat. Andre was named Forbes 30 Under 30, 2024.

Capitol Ballroom E

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Tour Support 2.0: How Mental Health is Reshaping Live Music

From Streams to Strategy: The Label Services Evolution

Rock’s Biggest Promoter on the Future of Festivals

Music Nostalgia: The Secret Weapon in Modern Advertising

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


The World’s Game, Our Stage: FOX Previews FIFA World Cup 2026

Carli Lloyd

Soccer Analyst

A two-time FIFA Player of the Year Award winner and one of the greatest soccer players to ever play the game, Carli Lloyd joined FOX Sports as an analyst in a feature role less than two years after retiring from the game as one of the all-time legends in U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) history.

Lloyd made her FOX Sports debut as a studio analyst on the network’s soccer coverage in April 2022 before becoming joining FOX Sports in Doha as an analyst for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ was Lloyd’s first FIFA Women’s World Cup™ as a broadcaster since scoring three goals across seven appearances as co-captain of the champion USWNT at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™. She has since appeared in studio with FOX Sports for CONMEBOL Copa America 2024™, 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup and UEFA Women’s EURO 2025™.

A 2025 inductee into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Lloyd’s legendary international career spanned 17 years and concluded with 316 caps, good for second all-time in U.S. History and third all-time internationally for both men and women. She represented the U.S. on the pitch across three different decades, including four World Cups, winning two (2015 and 2019) and four Olympic Games (2 Gold Medals and 1 Bronze), and played in more World Cup and Olympic matches than any other player in USWNT history. Lloyd’s 134 career goals rank third all-time for the USWNT.

Best known for her clutch performances, consistent production and flare in the biggest moments, Lloyd’s accolades include receiving the most prestigious and highest award in soccer: FIFA World Player of the Year (2015 and 2016); only one other American player has received the award twice.

Stu Holden

Soccer Analyst

Former U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) midfielder Stu Holden is FOX Sports’ lead match analyst for its marquee soccer coverage across several properties, including the FIFA World Cup™, FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers, Major League Soccer (MLS), Concacaf Gold Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup, CONMEBOL Copa America™, UEFA EURO™, UEFA Women’s EURO™ and much more.

Holden and John Strong will serve as the network’s lead match analyst and play-by-play announcer, respectively, for FOX Sports’ coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The pair return after garnering critical acclaim for their lead calls with FOX at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™. The Holden-Strong broadcast booth pairing has called over 400 soccer matches together since 2014 — more than any other English-language television duo.

As lead match analyst with FOX Sports, Holden has called some of the biggest soccer matches on the planet, including the last two FIFA World Cup™ Finals in 2018 and 2022. Holden has also contributed to the network’s coverage of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, England’s FA Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™.

In 2016, Holden became an investor in the ownership group of Real Club Deportivo Mallorca, a Spanish club with a rich history of competing in La Liga. Holden is a minority owner and advisor on the sporting and business side for Mallorca, which has seen two promotions to La Liga in his time with the club.

Holden made a name for himself in the U.S. youth ranks before earning his first call-up to the senior national team in 2008. He represented the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, scoring the game-winning goal vs. Japan. In the 2009 Concacaf Gold Cup, he was selected to the Gold Cup All-Tournament Team.

Holden was a part of the 23-man roster for the U.S. National Team during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and played in the opening 1–1 draw with England. Despite being hampered by several serious injuries, he made his return to the U.S. Men’s National Team for the 2013 Concacaf Gold Cup. He played in the final, with the U.S. taking the title, but it was later revealed that Holden had suffered a torn ACL in his knee.

On the club level, Holden played with top clubs in the English Premier League, beginning with Sunderland in 2005 and later with Bolton Wanderers. He made several appearances with the club leading them to a seventh-place finish in 2011 and the FA Cup semifinals. Holden was voted the club’s player of the year in 2011 and was rated as the top player in the premier league by the Guardian at the half-way point of that season. In the states, he played for Houston Dynamo from 2006-10, where he won two MLS Cups, and was named an MLS All-Star Best XI in 2009. Holden was named Houston Dynamo Humanitarian of the Year in both 2008 and 2009. Following the devastation left by Hurricane Harvey, Holden organized and hosted the charity event Kick In for Houston in December 2017, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for victims.

Born in Aberdeen, Scotland and raised in Texas, Holden played two seasons of college soccer at Clemson University before moving across the pond. He is married to Karalyn Holden and has a daughter, Kennady Rose Holden, and son, Remington Holden. They currently reside in Los Angeles.

Alexi Lalas

Soccer Analyst

Alexi Lalas, a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and one of the sport’s most recognizable personalities, joined FOX Sports in January 2015 to serve its family of networks as lead studio analyst across all soccer properties. He provides in-depth analysis across the network’s soccer coverage including this summer’s presentation of the Concacaf Gold Cup, UEFA Women’s EURO and other premier tournaments. As a FOX Sports analyst, Lalas has covered the FIFA World Cup, Major League Soccer (MLS), Concacaf Champions Cup, CONMEBOL Copa America, UEFA Nations League and much more. Lalas worked his eighth straight FIFA World Cup™ as a broadcaster in 2023 during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand and serves as lead analyst for the network’s presentation of FIFA World Cup 2026.

Jenny Taft

FOX Sports Host and Reporter

Jenny Taft brings a wealth of sports knowledge and an unwavering dedication to sharing her passion for sports and journalism. With authenticity, heart, and innate ability to connect with and amplify the voices of athletes and coaches - both on and off the field – Taft has delivered to viewers some of the most compelling and memorable stories in sports. Her narratives not only resonate deeply with viewers, especially the growing audience of women sports fans, but inspire a greater appreciation for the human side of competition. Taft has become a trusted voice in sports media, covering an array of premier events from men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup soccer to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. She also serves as the lead reporter for the network’s college football coverage.

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

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

WORLD?S GAME, OUR STAGE: FOX PREVIEWS FIFA WORLD CUP 2026


Come Play at Grief Camp: Healing with Story & Community

Sara Deren

CEO/Founder

Sara Deren is the founder and CEO of Experience Camps, an award-winning national nonprofit that transforms the lives of grieving kids through summer camp programs and innovative, year-round initiatives. Under her leadership, Experience Camps has conducted original research on the state of grief and launched a national network of camps for grieving kids. In 2020, Sara received an award for “Best Entrepreneurial, Scaling” from Connecticut Entrepreneur Awards, and was named a “Patriots Difference Maker” by The Patriots Foundation. She was named by Causeartist “one of 32 nonprofit leaders who will impact the world”, has been a professional mentor at SXSW, and threw out the first pitch at a Yankees game as the honoree of HOPE Week in 2024.

Dan Wolfson

Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Dan Wolfson is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in grief. He is the founder and director of Wolfson Psychology Group, a private practice in New York City, and the clinical director of Experience Camps’ Adult Grief Retreat, a non-profit organization where he also spent a decade as the regional clinical director of a summer camp program for grieving children. In addition to offering individual and group therapy to grieving clients, he provides acute crisis consultation and intervention to communities impacted by loss including schools and businesses. Dr. Wolfson serves as an adjunct researcher and professional education trainer at Columbia University’s Center for Prolonged Grief, where he completed his postdoctoral fellowship pursuing advanced training in the highly efficacious Prolonged Grief Treatment. Dr. Wolfson is a featured author and advisor to the website Modern Loss, and his work has been featured in local and national media outlets including ABC, Today, The Huffington Post, Fatherly, Vice, and more.

Room 412

Agents vs Managers: When are you ready to be signed and by who?

The Price of Influence: Why Undefined Value Kills Trust

10 Truths About Technology That Are Shaping Your Life

Tackling the “snakes” undermining digital rights

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

COME PLAY AT GRIEF CAMP: HEALING WITH STORY & COMMUNITY


The De-brief: Rethinking the Brand–Creator Relationship

Marie Langhout-Franklin

VP, Marketing

Marie Langhout-Franklin brings deep, customer-focused marketing experience at the intersection of fashion, beauty, retail, and culture. Across roles at eBay, Microsoft, American Express, Danaher and now as VP of Marketing at Nordstrom, she has led creator partnerships that drive measurable business impact in fast-moving retail environments. She approaches casting with cultural fluency, bringing creators in early as collaborators rather than dictating rigid briefs; designing brand platforms and experiences that align with trend cycles and creators’ lived realities. Marie’s perspective makes her especially relevant to rethinking the brand–creator relationship.

Jenna Palek

Content Creator

Jenna Palek is a digital creator, entrepreneur, and community-builder redefining connection in the online and offline world. She rose to prominence after going viral in 2020, landing a role at TikTok and launching her now-national brand, Fun On Weekdays (FOW). Through FOW and her fitness-wellness series Barre to Brunch, Jenna has created immersive event experiences that bring her digital audience together IRL. Known for her relatability and authenticity, she’s built a powerful community of young women and has become a trusted voice for brands and followers alike.

Emily Bjerkness

Manager, Influencer and Activations

With five years of experience at WeightWatchers, I’ve grown from a content creator into a leader in influencer marketing, driving impactful campaigns that connect authentically with audiences. Before entering the industry, I was a stay-at-home mom who immersed herself in digital culture, learning the language of the internet and honing an instinct for what resonates online. My journey from self-taught digital native to strategic marketer reflects a deep understanding of content, community, and the evolving media landscape.

Chloe Parsons

Director, Social Content and Engagement Strategy

Over the past 10 years, Chloe has made it her mission to master the art of consumer connection in the social and digital space. Through her efforts to foster community and ability to create explosive conversations and breakthrough creative moments, she has done just that for brands across verticals — from consumer electronics to fashion to CPG.

Chloe currently leads a team of social creative strategists at Razorfish who are hyper-focused on the ever-changing digital landscape and innovation trends. With a finger on the pulse of culture, the team successfully adapts brand strategies to create authentic brand voices as well as content that converts.

On her own time, Chloe practices what she preaches, creating content and representing brands as an influencer to her own social audience.

Topaz Ballroom 1-3

AI Safety & Trust: Building Responsible Media Tech

AI in Entertainment: Navigating IP, Ethics & Opportunity

Is Brand Dead? The Brand Leader’s Playbook for the AI Era

Capturing Chaos: A Q&A with the DP & CLT of The Pitt

Future of Loyalty: Gen Z and Gen Alpha will shape a new era

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

DE-BRIEF: RETHINKING THE BRAND?CREATOR RELATIONSHIP


Money Mark

Gear Endorsement, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - US, Booking Agent - UK/Europe

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

Flatstock Stage @ Austin Marriott Downtown (Moontower Hall)


Edd Benda

Edd and Stephen co-founded Beyond the Porch (BTP), bonding over shared midwest roots while undergrads at USC. Edd wrote and directed BTP's debut feature "Superior", filmed in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and has since directed award-winning branded docs, including the "Make Camo Your Cause" campaign, and the feature documentary "The Kids Table".

Stephen Helstad

Stephen and Edd co-founded Beyond the Porch (BTP), bonding over shared midwest roots while undergrads at USC. Stephen produced BTP's debut feature Superior, and for over a decade has directed branded short and feature length documentaries, including the "Art of Presentation" series profiling food industry icons in London, Madrid, and Las Vegas.

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

Chili Finger

When a small town lawyer discovers a severed finger in her chili, she blackmails the restaurant for a cash payout in an effort to regain control over her mundane life. The situation quickly spirals out of control, and her life descends into chaos.

Alex Bell
Stephen Helstad
Edd Benda
John Goodman
Wendy Roemer
Brent Sandweiss
Amanda Massetti
Sarah Herrman
Judy Greer
Jack Sheehan
Scott Martin
Michael Thomas Slifkin

Judy Greer, Sean Astin, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Madeline Wise, Paul Stanko, Sarah Herrman, Sara Sevigny, Dann Florek, Shaya Harris

Casting: Kate Geller, Mickie Paskal, Jennifer Rudnicke


Addiction/Recovery
LGBTQ
Politics
Sex
Texas

Daniel Lombroso

Daniel Lombroso spent eight years building the Oscar-nominated video departments at The New Yorker and The Atlantic before launching Outerboro Films in 2025. His debut feature film, “White Noise,” based on his four years reporting inside the white power movement, premiered in 2020 to critical acclaim. It was named one of the year's top documentaries by Vox and The Boston Globe, and one of the 25 films that explain America by The Guardian. His latest film, “Nina & Irena,” is Executive Produced by Errol Morris and was one of the most decorated short documentaries of 2023. Lombroso’s work has premiered at Sundance, SXSW, TIFF, and has been recognized with eight Vimeo Staff Picks, two National Magazine Award nominations, two Livingston Award nominations, an IDA nomination, a Critics Choice nomination, an Emmy nomination, and the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. “Manhood” is his second feature-length film.

Alamo Lamar 9

Your Attention Please

Health/Disability/Illness
Politics
Technology
Social Issue

Time and Water

Archival Materials Courtesy of Andri Snær Magnason

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

"Manhood" follows Dallas businessman Bill Moore as he sets out to make penis enlargement as commonplace as Botox. Along the way, an OnlyFans star and a father of five put their bodies—and their insecurities—on the line.

Manhood

Businessman Bill Moore at his penile enhancement clinic in Texas

Fenton Bailey
Randy Barbato
Sheila Nevins
Penny Lane
Gabriel Sedgewick
Marcus Gershenberg
Daniel Lombroso
Marissa Heringer
Cason Crane

William Moore, David Smith, Ruben Ramirez

Co-Executive Producer: Todd Wiseman Jr., Gil Talmi, Consulting Producer: Lily Hedley, Brandon Harrison, Sarah Lash, Colorist: Alexander Schwab, Animation Director: Will Rahilly, Production Sound: Nelson Klein, Additional Cinematography: Daniel Lombroso, Clearance Legal: Rachel Strom, Production Counsel: Bianca Grimshaw


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.

Satellite Venue: AFS Cinema

Cookie Queens

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

Courtesy of Beautiful Stories and AJNA Films

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


Stella Marie Markert

Berlin-born Stella Marie Markert studied production at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. Her first produced short film, "Hot Dog," screened at major festivals like Sundance. She turned to directing in 2022 at Filmuniversität Babelsberg. "Thanks For Nothing" is her debut feature.

Violet Crown 2

Agridulce (Bittersweet)

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

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

Thanks for Nothing

Ok, what would you do if your best friend tries to kill herself, another one is being deported, the third is in a manic episode, the fourth has stopped speaking, and your social worker is unsuccessfully trying to cover it all up from child services?

Lea Drinda, Sonja Weißer, Safinaz Sattar, Zoe Stein, Jan Bülow


Alamo Lamar 4

My NDA

African American
Legal
LGBTQ
Politics
Social Issues
Women
Social Issue

The Life We Leave

Business/Entrepreneurial
Environment
Social Issue

Son of a Bikram

Raag, a mild-mannered office worker whose entire personality is hot yoga, watches his life collapse when sexual assault allegations against his idol, Bikram Choudhury, turn him into the office punchline.  That same day, his mother dies in a tragic accident, and leaves him with a devastating truth: Bikram is his father.  With little hope left, Raag desperately searches for answers.

After discovering he’s the illegitimate son of yoga guru Bikram Choudhury, an office worker is thrust into a heated identity crisis, desperate to connect with the father he never knew.

Ash T, Carlos Santos, Jeffrey Nicholas Brown, Vee Kumari, Anwar Molani, Zhaleh, David Chernyavsky, Melanie Johnson, Max Cutler, Matthew Peschio

AD: Mattias Marasigan, Sound Mixer: Lance Heruela, VFX: Blanka Madácsi, Stunt Coordinator: Will Leong, Makeup/SFX: Marina Coria, Wardrobe: Valerie Tronolone, Casting Directors: Beth Blanks, Natalie Ballesteros, Steadicam Op: Brian Sergott, Script Supervisor: Collin Mayo, Production Assistants: Cisco Fernandez, Jake Treat

Cold Call

"Stick to the script and Howl will keep you safe". This is the mantra of the Ergons, a cult of office workers convinced the only way to return to their home planet and its benevolent leader Howl is by cold calling Humans and scamming them out of their credit card information.

Penny is the office’s highest-performing, most devoted member – until an unprecedented interaction with a Human disrupts her winning streak. When her best friend Carl is disappeared by sinister office manager Boss, paranoia and secrecy spread throughout the office and Penny’s faith in the mission begins to fracture. Is she willing to break the cardinal office rule and go off script, unraveling the world as she knows it?

Cold Call is a twisted dark comedy about a cult of office workers attempting to return to their home planet by scamming strangers out of credit card information, and Penny, the office superstar, on the day a caller threatens to force her off script.

Emma Lenderman
Jake Ryan Lozano
James Udom

Emma Lenderman, Gabriel Ebert, Daniel Pearce, Amelia Workman

Colorist: Mary Perrino & La Voglia Studio, Gaffer: Mario Riquelme, Assistant Camera: Austin Smoak, Production Sound Mixer: Anastasia Goldberg, Co-Producer: Mario Riquelme, Assistant Director: Florian Gunzenhauser, Script Supervisor: Lizi Latimer, Costume Design: Drew Kibler, 2nd AC: Nora Al-Thani, Key Grip: Eddie Lorenzo

In My Blood

Desperate to live up to his father’s expectations, a talented but inconsistent minor league baseball player turns to steroids, igniting a dangerous transformation of body and mind.

Alex Bendo
Yumeng Han
Elias Putnam
Max Wilson
Jorge Sistos Moreno

Daniel Diemer, Will Chase, Ian Blackman, William Hill

Casting: Allison Twardziak, Costume Designer: Karen Boyer

Codependent

Quirky LA twins Tristan and Max get fired on the same day. Tristan curses out a TV writer, while Max leaks his boss' script to a gossip site. Their type A friend Jane, who hates her corporate film job despite her recent promotion, tells Tristan to apply for her old job. Max has a lead in NYC that he agrees to pursue, while Tristan applies for the Jane job. They betray their twin pact and land interviews for the NYC job. They fly there only to learn it was a Zoom interview. Max gets offered Jane’s old job, while Tristan remains jobless. Afraid of messing it up and leaving his twin behind, Max proposes a risky plan: they will share the job by trading off and pretending to be one person.

After getting fired, dysfunctional twin brothers secretly apply for the same position and fly to New York to compete against each other, only to have their crippling codependency sabotage their chances.

Wade McElhaney, Weston McElhaney, Riley Sigler, Rhoda Bell, Josie Totah, Lola Berry, Payson Mitchell, Alex Tobias, Eliot, Edgar Garcia

Assistant Director: Jon-David Carollo, Assistant to Camera: Gaurav Shah, Dawson Keiser, Gaffer: Woulfe Bova, Sound Mixer: Gage Tapia, Keith Leung, Production Assistant: Ben Clark, Zack Abdulbaki, Noa Drochak, Claire Yezbak, Josh Maldonado, Motion Graphics/Titles: Trinity Yeung, ADR Engineer: Isabella Miller, Graphic Designer: Michelle Barrett, BTS Photographer: Kylie McElhaney, Hair and Makeup: Ava Gergovich

Birth is For P*ssies

Having quit her corporate job to become a birth doula, chronic people-pleaser Maya quickly discovers that birthwork is nothing like she expected. Her first day is full of surprises: she sees her first cervix, lands her first official client—provided she keeps their precarious secret—and nervously agrees to cover a birth in the Bronx for a fellow doula. After a rocky start, she helps single mother Celeste through a long night of labor, learning to let go of perfection and embrace the chaotic, beautiful mess of supporting birth. Just as the sun rises and she finally heads home, her phone rings: her next client is in labor.

A rookie doula is thrust into her first birth with a mother she’s never met. After a rocky start, she quickly learns supporting women through labor is messier, funnier, and more profound than any training could have prepared her for.

King Princess
Puff Piece Productions
Jeanne Hagerty
Hannah Shealy

Hannah Shealy, Madeline Wise, Danny Deferrari, Evelyn Howe, Peter Jay Fernandez, Sohina Sidhu, Katherine George, LA Head

Assistant Director: Nicole Carne, First Assistant Camera: Aaron Zimmerman, First Assistant Camera: Brianna Fronczak, Unit Production Manger: Tia Carr, Associate Producer: Heather Francis, Production Assistant: Tyler Ferraro, Costume Designer: Alex Kennedy, Casting Director: Gemma Josephine, Sound Mixer: CJ Bruce

Are We Still Married?

After a bat bites Jack (30s), transforming him into a vampire, he comes to the front door of his home, asking his wife Laura (30s) to let him back inside. Per vampire rules, Jack now needs an invitation to reenter his home, an invitation that Laura withholds. This man looks and sounds like her husband, he makes her laugh and cry like her husband, and still she doesn't know if she can trust him.  As the two reconcile and reconnect over the course of the night (Jack always outside the house, Laura always inside), Laura wrestles with the impossible choice, and the stakes ratchet as the clock ticks and daybreak draws near.

Over the course of one night Laura must decide if she will invite her husband Jack, who has recently been turned into a vampire, back into their house.

Kit Steinkellner
Taylor Misiak
Dustin Milligan

Costume Designer: Alyssa Lesser, Co-Producer: Joachim Gautier

Independent TV Pilot Program

Discover new pilots from indie talent.


Austin Sayre

Austin Sayre is a first time filmmaker living in Austin, Texas that moved from the Midwest nearly 15 years ago, & proudly calls Texas his first real home. Receiving his degree in Painting, Austin has always been a very visually oriented person. Dynamic characters and stories that create conversation and empathy are what drive Austin's work.

Alamo Lamar 8

Dead Deer High

Education
Social Issues
The Arts/Theater
Youth/Teen

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

The Man with the Big Hat

Experience the unraveling of fame's illusions as 1970’s Texas singer-songwriter Steven Fromholz embarks on a soul-stirring journey of self-discovery and the true meaning of success.

Stephanie Moore
David Broad
Aaron Colussi
Jay Newberg
Diana Zuniga
Cherry Brown
Austin Sayre

Post Sound Mixer: Miles Foster-Greenwood

Lyle Lovett, Ray Benson, Terry Lickona, Butch Hancock, Bobby Bridger, Mike Williams, Dan McCrimmon, Janey Lake, Darcie Jane Fromholz, Felicity Rose Fromholz

Additional Cinematography: David Broad, Additional Cinematography: Ryan Light, Motion Graphics Designer: Matthew J. Ross, Production Assistant: Haley Sayre-Aust, Colorist: Drew Tekulve, Color Producer: Luke Butler, Online Editor: Will Clark, Assistant Editor: Jacob Estrada, Production Counsel: DCP, Music Supervisor: Julian Drucker


Health/Disability/Illness
The Arts/Theater
Women

Emily Robinson

Emily Robinson is a writer, director, and SAG Award-nominated, Special Drama Desk Award-winning actor known for her work in "Eight Grade", "The Year Between", "Private Life", "Edge of Everything", and "Transparent".

She is thrilled that her directorial debut feature film, "Ugly Cry", is making its premiere here at SXSW. Her short films have screened at numerous festivals, such as LA Film Festival, Outfest, and Frameline.

Her debut novel, "Consumed", was published in 2023.

Robinson holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Columbia University.

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

Ugly Cry

An actor loses their dream role because of their "ugly cry" causing them to spiral down the dark and dangerous path to perfection.

Debbie von Ahrens
Jim Robinson
Kyle Campbell
Troy Press
Bella Appel
Darci Price
Galileo Mondol

Sophia Sabella
Pablo Feldman
Jolene Mendes
Rhianon Jones
Tristan Scott-Behrends
Emily Robinson

Emily Robinson, Ryan Simpkins, Aaron Dominguez, and Robin Tunney

Costume Designers: Sophia Sabella & Lucy Black, Hair and Makeup Department Head: Josie Rodriguez, Visual Effects: Matt Lathrom & Patrick Lomantini, Co-Executive Producer: Patrick Lawrence, Associate Producer: Rachel Nagao, Script Supervisor: Martha Carey, Assistant Director: Veronica Deeds, Colorist: Steff Walk


Will Ropp

Will Ropp is a writer, director and actor.
He is making his directorial feature debut with the comedy "Brian", starring Ben Wang, William H. Macy, Randall Park, and Natalie Morales. The film is executive produced by Seth Meyers and will receive its world premiere at SXSW.

Before stepping behind the camera, Ropp built a career in front of it as an actor. His film credits include Gavin O’Connor’s critically acclaimed "The Way Back", Megan Park’s directorial debut "The Fallout", Peter Farrelly’s "The Greatest Beer Run Ever", as well as what Ropp considers his finest work: a two-second appearance in "Joker: Folie Ádeux" as 'Joker Fan #1.' On television, he has appeared in “Adults,” “Fatal Attraction,” “Dave,” “The Sex Lives of College Girls”, and “Love, Victor.”

Closed captioned
High sensory experience

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

Brian

An acerbic high school student prone to panic attacks runs for class president to get closer to the teacher he’s hopelessly in love with.

Danielle Lauder
Mike Scollins
Seth Meyers
Jason Carden
Michael Shoemaker
Talia Bella
Randy Wayne

Ben Wang, William H. Macy, Edi Patterson, Randall Park, Natalie Morales, Joshua Colley, Sophia Macy, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Thomas Barbusca, Jacob Moskovitz


Ryan Booth

Ryan Booth is a director drawn to raw and authentic storytelling. His background in music and cinematography deeply informs his work, shaping a style rooted in rhythm, texture, and emotional detail. Drawing from real-life experience and personal connection, Booth crafts narratives that often live between documentary and fiction, offering an intimate window into the quiet nuances of human relationships and the world around them. Over the years, he has collaborated with a wide range of clients—from indie musicians to global brands to some of the world’s biggest talent—bringing the same care and curiosity to every project, no matter the scale. Off set, Booth remains closely engaged with the filmmaking community, openly sharing process, experience, and hard-earned lessons with aspiring directors and emerging talent as they build their own paths forward.

Violet Crown 1

Daughters of the Forest: Mycelium Chronicles

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

Stages

A year after the tumultuous break-up of his band, Ben Garza sets off on his first ever solo tour. Life on the road is different now, as Ben learns alongside his ride-or-die tour manager, Rita and his spotlight-stealing opening act, Jessie.

Val Hill
Morgan Stevenson Cooper
Jolene
Russell Wayne Groves

David Ramirez, Leslie Grace, Jolene, Jake McMullen, Rafael Casal, Abner Ramirez, Amanda Sudano Ramirez, Jerry Ferrara, Marc Menchaca, David Strathairn


Crafting a Culture of Experimentation & Innovation

Accenture

Your Data Isn't Ready - Your Business Can Be with Agentic AI

Reinventing Customer Experience for What's Next

When Innovation Meets Competition: The New Era of Global Sports

Featuring:

Sonia Doshi, VP Strategic Operations, Design & Production, Disney
Eddie Drake, CTO, Disney Studios

Join the Walt Disney Studios' StudioLAB and Accenture for a candid conversation on how emerging technology is evaluated, tested, and scaled at the Walt Disney Studios. Attendees will gain an inside perspective of how emerging technologies move from experimentation to enterprise adoption within a global studio environment, including lessons learned and highlights from this long-running partnership

CRAFTING A CULTURE OF EXPERIMENTATION & INNOVATION

Accenture is a leading solutions and services company that helps the world’s leading enterprises reinvent by building their digital core and unleashing the power of technology to create value at speed. Our purpose is to deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity.


Melanie Dyer

Label Management, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - US, Booking Agent - UK/Europe, Booking Agent - Worldwide, PR/Publicity Agency, Publishing

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


"What else...what else…with Michael Cruz Kayne"

Get ready for a unique blend of hilarity and introspection as Audible presents a live episode featuring the talented comedian Michael Cruz Kayne and a special guest comedian. Kayne, known for his sharp wit and poignant observations, brings his distinctive brand of humor to the SXSW stage with an engaging 40-minute session offering an intimate look into the world of stand-up comedy, combining live performance with candid conversation. Following his set, we'll welcome a surprise guest comedian to join him for an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes discussion about the art of stand-up, the craft of comedy, the inspiration behind the jokes, and the ever-evolving landscape of comedy in the digital age. Join us for an unforgettable blend of laughter and learning that showcases the power of comedy to connect, provoke thought, and entertain.

WHAT ELSE...WHAT ELSE?WITH MICHAEL CRUZ KAYNE"

Audible

Audible continues to give audiences more to imagine at SXSW. From inventive storytelling to hilarious stand-up to shocking true-crime, Audible produces listening experiences that fascinate, entertain and inspire people all over the world.

Chasing the Truth: How Stories We Tell Spark Cultural Change

Audible Presents Mexodus: A Musical Journey Across Borders


Featured Session: The Mythical Model: Next Gen Creator-Brand Partnerships

Rhett McLaughlin

Creators, Co-Hosts, Co-Founders

Rhett McLaughlin is co-founder of the comedy duo Rhett & Link, creators of Good Mythical Morning, one of YouTube’s most popular daily talk shows. His work spans digital series, live tours, a top podcast (Ear Biscuits), and bestselling books that explore creativity and storytelling. In addition to building Mythical into a leading entertainment brand, Rhett also records music as James and the Shame, blending personal narratives with a modern country sound.

Link Neal

Creators, Co-Hosts, Co-Founders

Link Neal is co-founder of the comedy duo Rhett & Link and co-host of Good Mythical Morning, a YouTube staple that reaches millions of viewers worldwide. His work spans digital series, live tours, a top podcast (Ear Biscuits), and bestselling books that explore creativity and storytelling. Link continues to connect with audiences through humor, storytelling, and the creative community he and Rhett have built.

Kaya Yurieff

Co-Founder

Kaya Yurieff is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Scalable, a media company focused on the business of the creator economy, alongside Jasmine Enberg. Kaya’s rigorous reporting and industry expertise help readers and listeners execute their business strategies and better understand the sector, with insights delivered through Scalable’s newsletter, podcast, research report and annual event.

She has spent more than a decade as a journalist on staff at media outlets including CNN and The Information. Kaya has broken major news about the biggest social media platforms in the world, including TikTok, Meta Platforms, and YouTube, and has written extensively about the creator economy’s evolution. She was one of the first reporters to cover the creator economy as a full-time beat.

Arthur Leopold

Co-Founder and CEO

Arthur is the CEO & Co-Founder of Agentio, an AI-native ad platform enabling brands to partner with creators at scale, as easily as they buy Meta and Google ads. Agentio recently raised a $40M Series B, led by Forerunner and Benchmark. Arthur was previously President of Cameo, which he helped start as its first employee and investor. He is a pioneer in the creator economy, and is consistently charting new ways for creators to more effectively monetize and live off their work.

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

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

FEATURED SESSION: THE MYTHICAL MODEL: NEXT GEN CREATOR-BRAND PARTNERSHIPS


SXSW Pitch-Innovative World Tech

Kay	 Koplovitz

Co-founder & Chairman

Kay Koplovitz is Co-Founder of Springboard Enterprises, a non-profit accelerator, serving as its chairman since its inception in 2000. She is a seasoned investor and mentor to companies through all stages of growth. The value of Springboard has been validated by a strong 25-year track record of success, having created over $76 billion in value, including 240 M&A transactions, counting 28 IPOs and 10 Unicorns.
In 2016, Ms. Koplovitz and partners, launched Springboard Growth Capital to bring growth-stage investments to women-led
companies building iconic brands with the digital consumer in mind and a path to profitability in sight. Springboard Growth Capital recently announced the successful acquisition of K18 Hair by Unilever.
Ms. Koplovitz is the founder and former CEO of USA Networks, a cable television network currently owned by NBCUniversal. Ms. Koplovitz ran the network for 21 years before stepping down in 1998, at which time was sold for $4.5 billion. As founder of USA Networks, Kay is the visionary who created the business model for cable networks by introducing the concept of two revenue streams: licensing and advertising.

Shalanda	 Armstrong

Managing Partner

Supreet Manchanda

Founding Partner

David S. Rose

Executive Chairman

Mary McKenna

Chair

Salon FGH

SXSW Pitch-Healthcare, AssistiveTech & BioTech

SXSW Pitch-Sustainability, AgTech & Food

SXSW Pitch-Smart Cities, Transportation, Manufacturing & Logistics

SXSW Pitch-Smart Data, Security, and FinTech

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 Saturday, March 14, 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.

This category is for any creative and innovative application, product, or service that does not fit in another SXSW Pitch category, as well as technologies that act as the infrastructure that new technologies are built on. Examples that might fit into this category include (but are not limited to) societal good, biodegradable materials, decentralized energy grids, neuromorphic computing, social media platforms, aerospace, nanotechnology, pet tech, quantum computing and computer chip technology, and others.

Winner of the Innovative World Technologies will be announced at the Award Ceremony, Saturday, March 14th at 6:30pm.


Exploring New Dimensions of IRL Entertainment

John "Jay" B Rogers Jr

Founder & CEO

John “Jay” B. Rogers, Jr., CEO & Co-Founder of Haddy, grew up a lover of woodworking, machines, and a student of industry; his grandfather owned the legendary Indian Motorcycle Company, founded concrete and steel giant Texas Industries, and was the first Cummins Engine Distributor in the United States. Jay’s grandfather is also credited with saving the Public Broadcasting System during the Nixon Administration and co-founding the Children’s Television Workshop, which is best known for Sesame Street. In embracing his family legacy of manufacturing and innovation, Jay has added his military leadership, entrepreneurship, and education, in order to hand-select a team of co-founders and set forth on a most ambitious plan: Creating Haddy – manufacturer of heroic, beautiful, durable furniture for retailers, to their design, built locally in the most resilient and sustainable manner.

He graduated from Princeton University, then joined a startup in China, and later joined Ewing & Partners, where he became a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). After that, he went on to the US Marine Corps, where he served for 8 years in the infantry in the western Pacific and Iraq, to Harvard Business School, and to become a consultant for McKinsey & Co. Most recently, he founded and led Local Motors, a next-generation vehicle OEM. It was there that Jay first employed the basic technology of Direct Digital Manufacturing (DDM), and in 2021 he handed over the reins of Local Motors to a new investor group and left to start Haddy full-time. Haddy is the world’s first microfactory to manufacture large scale products across many verticals from boats to furniture at scale, achieving full recyclability digitally.  The team is focused on changing how businesses support the people and communities they reside in.

He has spoken at BIF, PopTech, TedX, Picnic in Amsterdam, Do Conference in Wales, St Gallen Symposium, the White House Maker Faire, CES, CeBIT, IMTS, Singularity University, and many more conclaves. Additionally, the story of American innovation, co-creation and digital manufacturing has been shared on Discovery, PBS, Fox, CNBC, and Speed Channel. In 2020, he was awarded the honor of leading Local Motors to one of the top 10 global innovative transportation companies by Popular Science.

Jay is a director of the RBR Foundation, which gives annually to the cause of childhood education and development. He is the father of 4 boys who are growing up in a connected age and whom, he hopes, will take advantage of the incredible opportunity that the internet has given the world. He loves to learn languages, read widely, and to design and build projects of all kinds from leather to wood, and of course, 3D Printing.

Nathan Huber

Co-Founder & CEO

Nathan Huber is an entrepreneur and technologist. He is the inventor of multiple issued
LED based patents. After many years working in film, television and live events, Nathan
co-founded LIMINAL Space, Inc., a company dedicated to innovating the LBE experience.
Through the invention of their next generation imaging hardware, LIMINAL Space has led
in the development of a new visual language based in “Holographic/Spatial”
Compositions.

Nathan has led the Liminal team through many Spatial/Immersive productions for
clients: Netflix, Feld Entertainment, Disney, Dell, Budweiser, Six Flags Theme Park, and
more. He is a specialist in stereoscopic 3D content creation and augmented 3D LED
display optics. He is currently leading LIMINAL Space's team of engineers, software
developers, manufacturers and artists in growing an array of live shows, LBE
experiences, and theme park attractions that push the boundaries of immersive
entertainment.

Bonnie Rosen

GM, Disney Accelerator

Bonnie Rosen leads the Disney Accelerator, a business development program that creates actionable opportunities for The Walt Disney Company to build collaborations with external companies working at the cutting-edge of media and technology.  The Disney Accelerator has invested in companies like Epic Games, Kahoot!, Attentive, and Eleven Labs.
Before joining Disney, Bonnie co-led Techstars Space Accelerator, a program focused on new space and frontier technology investments in partnership with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Air Force, Maxar Technologies, SAIC, Israel Aerospace Industries, and Arrow Electronics.  An entrepreneur herself, Bonnie participated in the 2015 Disney Accelerator as part of FEM, Inc., a personalized video engagement platform, which was ultimately acquired by Nielsen Gracenote. Bonnie began her media career at Viacom Media Networks in Content Distribution, first as an attorney and later as an executive lead in business development.  Over her career, Bonnie has also served as a consultant and advisor for media and space startup, brand agency, and non-profit organizations.

Salon E

The Creative Economy is Thriving: Why Founders Keep Building for Creators

The Lucky 10%: CPGs Flipping Off the Startup Failure Rate

The Art of Scaling Your Startup Without Venture Capital

Who Owns What: The State of Startups & Top Trends to Watch

Now is Japan's Time: Leading the Future with Deep Tech

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

EXPLORING NEW DIMENSIONS OF IRL ENTERTAINMENT


Featured Session: How Crypto is Building New Capital Markets for Everyone, not just Wall Street

Pedro Miranda

Head of Consumer

Pedro Miranda is the Head of Consumer at the Solana Foundation, where he leads strategy and partnerships across consumer crypto. He currently focuses on creator monetization, emerging IPs, and crypto-native market opportunities.

Rodolfo Gonzalez

General Partner

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

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

Featured Session: The Internet After Search

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

FEATURED SESSION: HOW CRYPTO IS BUILDING NEW CAPITAL MARKETS FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST WALL STREET


Mentor Session: Rog How (How&How)

Rog How

CEO & Founder

"Rog How is CEO and Founder of How&How—a global branding agency with offices in London and LA. Rog worked in marketing and audio branding at the BBC in London, and for 10 years led the stakeholder management and radio production of campaigns such as the Royal Wedding, the London Olympics and the General Election.
Rog is a branding mentor for incubator programs in Lisbon; has spoken and chaired panels at conferences around the world including Web Summit, LA Tech Week, Hotsauce NYC and UCLA; and regularly hosts and speaks at events around Europe and the U.S."

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, Marketing/Advertising/PR.


Mentor Session: Harold Hughes (NFNTE Capital)

Harold Hughes

Founder/CEO

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

MENTOR SESSION: HAROLD HUGHES (NFNTE CAPITAL)


Mentor Session: Mark Benak (Mark S Benak & Associates, LLC)

Mark S. Benak

Mark S. Benak & Associates; Imagine New Mexico

Managing Director; Co-Founder

I am a recovering Mechanical Engineer and somewhat reluctant technology entrepreneur. I have co-founded or invested in ca. 20 startups and enjoyed 3 exits. I don’t have all of the answers, but if you are interested in starting and building a business toward exit. I think I can help you. Please feel free to booked time with me as SWSW 2026!

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

MENTOR SESSION: MARK BENAK (MARK S BENAK & ASSOCIATES, LLC)


Mentor Session: Eric Krueger (Meta)

Eric Krueger

Head of Platform and Developer Strategy

Eric J. Krueger is the Head of Platform and Developer Strategy for the Reality Labs Entertainment Team at Meta and a member of the Emmy Emerging Media Programming Peer Group and the PGA Production Innovation Task Force. He specializes in the development of new formats for XR content. Eric collaborates with top brands, developers, and production companies worldwide to deliver best-in-class metaverse content. His expertise allowed him to speak at the SXSW, Tribeca Film Festival, NAB Tech Talks, Immersive Tech Week, and the Voices of VR Podcast. With a background in live theatre, Eric is passionate about redefining the limits of presence and engagement in entertainment.

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


Mentor Session: Shelley Gretlein (FARO Technologies)

Shelley Gretlein

President, Building Insights Division

Accomplished and customer-centric executive, recognized for my transformational leadership supported by exceptional communication skills including extensive Investor Relations experience, strong branding expertise, and deep technical insights. My background in the B2B software industry spans legacy transitions, subscription models, SaaS, and XaaS, positioning me as a global leader in business growth at scale, brand management, internal and external communications, as well as product and market strategy. My approach revolves around holistic business execution to drive profitable growth.

My passion lies in integrating technology with innovation to enhance everyday life. My skill set combines a unique blend of high-tech knowledge, software and SaaS proficiency, platform experience, and a commitment to adding customer value—all complemented by vision, strategy, and world-class communication.

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

MENTOR SESSION: SHELLEY GRETLEIN (FARO TECHNOLOGIES)