Sales, Acquisitions, and Distribution Mentor Session: Ryan Kampe (Visit Films)

Ryan Kampe

President

Ryan is the founder of Visit Films, a leading worldwide boutique film sales company, and sister companies Monument Releasing, a NY-based distribution company, and Pretty ____ Ideas, an LA-based incubation company through which he has produced and EP'ed a wide range of films. Ryan has been responsible for the acquisition, worldwide sales, and development of numerous important American independent and international films that have premiered at and won numerous prizes in all the major film festivals, such as Cannes, Sundance, Berlin, Venice and Toronto. He is the executive producer of Oscar nominated Ascension, Silver Bear Winning Robe of Gems and produced Sanctity of Space. He has worked with filmmakers as diverse as Harmony Korine, Werner Herzog, the Duplass Brothers, Joe Swanberg, Josephine Decker, Joanna Hogg, Mark Cousins, Theo Anthony, Kogonada, and David Robert Mitchell. In addition to many Gotham and Independent Spirit Award winning titles, he worked on the Oscar-nominated Australian film Tanna. Ryan speaks on numerous industry panels each year, including for The Gotham, the Sundance Institute, and the Cannes Producer's Network.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in "Sales, Acquisitions, & Distribution", International, Narrative Filmmakers.

SALES, ACQUISITIONS, AND DISTRIBUTION MENTOR SESSION: RYAN KAMPE (VISIT FILMS)


Mentor Session: George Chammas (Nettwerk Music Group)

George Chammas

Director, Publicity

George Chammas began his music career at 16, booking punk shows in his hometown of Pittsburgh. With a DIY spirit and a degree from Ithaca College, he joined the boutique music PR firm Planetary Group, where he quickly became Head of Publicity, leading campaigns for Sony, Warner, Kitsuné, Flying Nun, and more. Since 2021, he’s served as Director of Publicity at Nettwerk, spearheading campaigns for artists like Angus & Julia Stone, Hollow Coves, Flyte, and Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith. Passionate about artist development and storytelling, George brings heart and strategy to every project. He lives in Los Angeles with his cat, loves cooking, spinning records, fantasy football, and being the resident Deadhead among friends.

Tannehill

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Mentor Session: Arnaecia Alridge (Methix)

Mentor Session: Isabella Uknis (Universal Music Publishing Group)

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

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

Mentor Session: Noel Morrison (SiriusXM/Pandora)

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

MENTOR SESSION: GEORGE CHAMMAS (NETTWERK MUSIC GROUP)


Round Table: Funding/Artist Support: Darrien Michele Gipson, Gregory Kallenberg, and Holly Herrick

Holly Herrick

Head Of Film & Creative Media

Holly Herrick is a longtime champion of boldly innovative independent film. She currently serves as Head of Film and Creative Media at the Austin Film Society (AFS), where she has played a leadership role in the expansion of the organization since 2012, including overseeing over $2M in grant funds for Texas-based independent filmmakers and launching feature development programs, the AFS Intensives. In 2017, AFS opened the AFS Cinema, Austin’s only non-profit cinema, which is now a leading national art house. She leads the program for the Texas Film Awards and has contributed AFS programming to major international events, including AFS retrospectives at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival (2018), the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Premiers Plans Festival in Angers, France (2015-2018). Herrick's credits as a producer include oddball Sundance indie PING PONG SUMMER and the upcoming feature documentary FIRST THEY CAME FOR MY COLLEGE. In addition to serving on the advisory committee of SXSW, Herrick has participated on juries and awards committees nationally, including the Film Independent Spirit Awards. Herrick got her start at the Sarasota Film Festival in Sarasota, Florida, where she served for six years as Programmer and then Director of Programming. The festival honored her contributions with their SFF Award on its 25th anniversary in 2024. She served as Programmer and Deputy Programs Director at the Hamptons International Film Festival in New York (2008-2012).

Darrien Michele Gipson

Executive Director

Darrien Michele Gipson is the Executive Director of SAGindie, an educational organization for independent filmmakers. Darrien is a graduate of UCLA, where she received her BA in English Literature; and USC, where she earned an MFA from the Peter Stark Producers Program. She was the Vice President of Development for DEF Pictures before joining SAGindie in 2002 as Festival Coordinator. Since becoming SAGindie’s Executive Director in 2006, Darrien has expanded the organization to reach more festivals and help even more creators on all platforms to bring their projects to fruition. She continues to travel around the world speaking on panels, mentoring writers and filmmakers, and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the entertainment industry.

Gregory Kallenberg

Founder/Director/Producer

Gregory Kallenberg is Executive Director of the Prize Foundation and the founder of the Louisiana Film Prize. He also co-founded Film Prize Junior, a statewide film education and youth empowerment program for middle school and high school students. Kallenberg's background includes event organizing, filmmaking, investment consulting, and philanthropy.

Kallenberg also founded the award-winning Rational Middle Media in Shreveport, Louisiana. He has been a writer and story editor for the award-winning production house Bluefield Productions. He has also written for Esquire Magazine, the New York Times, and the Austin American Statesman, among other publications.

Representative

Round Table: Programming: Landon Zakheim, Monica Garcia Massague, and R.J. LaForce

Round Table: Sales, Acquisitions, and Distribution: Amy Beecroft, Joe Yanick, and Shaked Berenson

Round Table: Producing: Ashleigh Snead, Kelly Williams, and Liz Cardenas

Round Table: Acting: Alexandra Barreto, Alyssa Rodriguez, and Rider Strong

Round Table: Development: Carolina Tamez and Henry Kittredge

An extension of our popular Mentor Sessions, our Round Table Sessions not only allow attendees to learn from the industry experts that sit at each of the three tables in this session but they also allow attendees to learn from the questions and experiences of their peers as well. This Round Table Session will bring together industry experts and SXSW attendees for an enlightening discussion on Funding/Artist Support.

ROUND TABLE: FUNDING/ARTIST SUPPORT: DARRIEN MICHELE GIPSON, GREGORY KALLENBERG, AND HOLLY HERRICK

Film & TV track sponsored by Crunchyroll


Sober Space Meet Up - 3/15

Stephanie Ramirez-Pelletier

Founder

My life used to be a storm I couldn’t outrun. Trauma. Addiction. Violence. Poverty. Years of hurting the people I loved while trying to survive my own chaos. I can’t change where I came from, but I can change everything that comes next.

This chapter is about reparations.
To my kids.
To my family.
To anyone still living the life I barely crawled out of.

I build now instead of break.
Art with my children.
A podcast with my oldest daughter.
A recovery community in San Marcos where I make living amends by helping people rebuild their lives with dignity.

Writing is just the newest layer. The real story is what we’re creating together. A family rebuilt. A community rising. A future that looks nothing like the past we survived.

Conrádo Markel

Director of Operations

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

Brazos

More Analog, Less Noise Please: City Builders Meet Up

Understanding Crypto: Conversations for the Curious Meet Up

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


Welcome to the Transformation Economy

Joe Pine

Cofounder

B. Joseph Pine II is an internationally acclaimed author, speaker, and management advisor. Joe has addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, the original TED conference in California, and the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. A Lecturer in Northeastern University’s School of Business, he cofounded Strategic Horizons LLP to help businesses conceive and design new ways of adding value to their economic offerings. A prolific writer, Joe’s many books include The Experience Economy: Competing for Customer Time, Attention, and Money; Infinite Possibility; Authenticity; Mass Customization; and new in 2026, The Transformation Economy: Guiding Customers to Achieve Their Aspirations.

Waterloo Ballroom 3

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

The Learning Geeks: How to Think When Machines Think Faster

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

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

Forget Moments Marketing: Welcome to Worldbuilding

As we shift deeper into today’s Experience Economy, people increasingly want to go beyond merely memorable to highly meaningful, deeply transporting, and even truly transformative experiences. B. Joseph Pine II, author of the 2026 book The Transformation Economy: Guiding Customers to Achieve Their Aspirations, shows why this is so and how brands can help customers flourish by guiding them to become who they want to become, whether that’s improving wellbeing, increasing prosperity, developing knowledge, or finding purpose.

Brand & Marketing track sponsored by Youtube


Mentor Session: Melissa Garcia (Collective Entertainment)

Melissa Garcia

Partner

"Melissa Garcia is a Partner at Collective Entertainment. As a talent manager and consultant, she develops careers, and strategizes marketing initiatives in order to leverage her clients’ brands to grow their audiences.

Since 2011, she’s worked with numerous clients and companies across the music, sports, and skydiving industries as a project manager, day-to-day manager, tour manager, marketing/social media consultant, and marketing generalist. From 2020-2022, she served as Chief Marketing Officer of nonprofit organization #iVoted Festival where she worked with a team of over 200 volunteers to produce the largest digital concert in history, all in support of voter turnout. In 2024, she returned to #iVoted as a Project Manager where she oversaw a voting initiative project in partnership with spatial marketing platform DropsAR. The campaign enabled artists to share exclusive geofenced fan experiences to increase voter turnout. Some of the musicians and comedians that participated include Taylor Tomlinson, UPSAHL, The Black Angels, Big Freedia, Carl Craig, Living Colour, Charlie Berens, and Urge Overkill.

As a partner at Collective, Melissa’s primary mission is to build sustainable careers for her clients while helping them maintain a healthy work-life balance. Mental health plays a major role in her approach. By customizing ways in which she and her team can work with each client, they provide a holistic approach when it comes to shaping careers that are specific to that artist. Whether her team is working on an album release, assisting with rights management, or announcing a tour, they work with the intention of creating a safe, inclusive, and creative environment for their roster.

A musician at heart, Melissa began playing the piano at the age of 6. She made the Florida All-State Band on the flute in high school and went on to study Music Performance at the University of Florida on both flute and piano where she performed in various ensembles and recitals as well as UF’s Orchestra and Symphonic Band. She sang in the Jacare Brazilian ensemble and was also a member of the Carillon studio, performing weekly at the top of the Century Tower on campus.

Music has played an integral part in Melissa’s life as a means to not only experience new things, but to also hone in on newfound skills and immerse herself in the process of learning. This led her to the sport of skydiving where she made her first jump in 2008 becoming a licensed skydiver through the United States Parachute Association. Still an avid skydiver today, it’s a passion that has translated over to indoor skydiving. Melissa also holds an FAA Senior Parachute Rigger certificate and worked as a test jumper for the research and development of new parachutes.

With a love for skydiving and a background in artist management, she began working with professional skydivers Performance Designs Factory Team in 2017. Originally founded in 2002, the PD Factory Team comprises some of the most renowned, decorated, and talented skydivers in the world. In 2022, Melissa served as Producer for their 20th Anniversary documentary and authored an article for the Parachutist about the project. Their 2014 documentary, Sky Jumpers, is available to watch on Amazon Prime.

Beyond music and skydiving, Melissa is a big proponent of mental health. In 2017, she completed a 300-hour yoga teacher training course, earning an instructor certificate from the Southern Institute for Yoga Instructors. She has since taught several classes such as Meditation, Yoga Nidra, Restorative Yoga, Alignment I and II, Alignment Flow, Myofascial Workshops, Pranayama, Core Yoga, TRX Yoga, Yoga Philosophy, and many more. To supplement her own practice, she took anatomy and physiology courses at Daytona State College to better understand body movement and function. In 2023, she received a Yoga Anatomy Certification through Yoga Medicine in partnership with Yoga International and also launched the Yoga on the Move podcast. This podcast offers meditations, yogic philosophy, flows, and interviews with industry experts to help listeners “find stillness in a world of movement.”

Melissa holds a Master’s degree in Music Business from NYU and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from UF. "

Tannehill

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Mentor Session: Arnaecia Alridge (Methix)

Mentor Session: Isabella Uknis (Universal Music Publishing Group)

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

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

Mentor Session: Noel Morrison (SiriusXM/Pandora)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Health & Wellness, Management, Women in Music.

MENTOR SESSION: MELISSA GARCIA (COLLECTIVE ENTERTAINMENT)


Mentor Session: Jessica Entner (Warner Chappell Music)

Jessica Entner

VP, Creative Sync

Jessica Entner is Vice President of Creative Sync Strategy at Warner Chappell Music, home to one of the largest publishing catalogs in the world. With a background in working closely with composers and songwriters, she is thrilled to be surrounded by such a vast collection of music,from Bowie, Tom Petty, and George Michael to Benson Boone, Teddy Swims, and Anderson Paak. Throughout her career, she has combined production expertise, creative strategy, and business development to help brands and agencies navigate the music landscape.
Music has always been part of Jessica’s DNA. Growing up in Los Angeles with a father whotransitioned from musician to manager, she had a front row seat to the inner workings of the business from an early age. She began with internships at Radio & Records and Maverick Publishing, then worked as a production manager on major music videos before signing to Warner Chappell as a songwriter, writing and recording with a wide range of artists and
producers.Her path into advertising began at Elias Arts, launching a career of more than twenty years in music for brands. She later served as Executive Producer at The Lodge and Head of Production at Massive Music before founding two independent ventures, the live-action production company DapperTV and her own music supervision and strategy agency, JEM Music +Strategy. Among her career highlights is the 2016 Kia Rio campaign, where she pitched the idea for director Julian Smith to not only direct the spot but also compose the score using the car itself as an instrument.
Outside of work, Jessica has dabbled in stand-up comedy, co-hosts the 90who10 podcast, loves skiing with her family, and has never met a dog she did not stop to pet.

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

MENTOR SESSION: JESSICA ENTNER (WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC)


Mentor Session: Kristina Liburd (Duncan Bergman & Mandell/Legal Stack Studio)

Kristina Liburd

Founder, Creator Law School, Creator CEO Playbook

Kristina Liburd is a tech-savvy attorney, author, and unapologetic advocate for creators. She’s the founder of Creator Law School and Legal Stack Studio, where she helps digital entrepreneurs own their sht and their IP. As of Counsel at DBM, she supports talent, startups, and platforms across entertainment, privacy, and compliance. Kristina’s work bridges law and culture, with past talks at TBEX, Phocuswright, WITS, and Columbia. She’s known for ‘making law sexy,’ breaking down legal traps in plain English and giving creators the tools to license smarter, flag red flags fast, and build without fear.

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 Entrepreneurship, Policy, "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion".

MENTOR SESSION: KRISTINA LIBURD (DUNCAN BERGMAN & MANDELL/LEGAL STACK STUDIO)

Creator Economy track sponsored by Yamaha


Protecting Your Mental Wellness as a Creator with Elyse Myers

Elyse Myers

Comedian, Creator, and New York Times Bestselling Author

Elyse Myers is a comedian, content creator, and New York Times bestselling author known to her more than twelve million followers as “The Internet’s Best Friend,” sharing relatable stories, comedic sketches and serving as an advocate for topics such as neurodivergence, imposter syndrome, body image, and more. Whether she's making people laugh with stories of disastrous dates or giving a voice to that awkward internal monologue many of us have, she has three simple goals behind everything she makes: To make people feel known, loved, and like they belong. She hopes that by sharing her authentic and unfiltered self with the world, others will feel comfortable doing the same.

Myers was recently honored with Instagram’s first-ever Rings Award, recognizing a distinguished group of global creators for their original and bold creativity. Winners received an exclusive gold stories ring, a customizable profile backdrop, and a unique like button to highlight their achievement across the app.

Myers also released her debut book and New York Times bestseller, “That’s a Great Question, I’d Love to Tell You” in October with a near-sold-out nationwide book tour.

In 2022, she launched the chart-topping podcast “Funny Cuz It’s True”, which reached #1 in Comedy and #3 overall, hosting A-list guests who opened up about the pivotal stories that shaped them.

Before pursuing comedy full-time, Myers worked as a web developer and brings her knowledge and love for user experience with her to this new career. Myers lives in the Midwest with her husband, two sons, and her pillow pet named Wallace.

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

Join creator and NYT bestselling author Elyse Myers for a candid conversation on authenticity, mental wellness, and brand continuity, moderated by acclaimed creator strategist Antonia Alakija. Elyse shares how she protects her voice, navigates imposter syndrome, and embraces her neurodivergence to sustain a recognizable, reliable brand. Drawing from her bestseller That’s a Great Question, I’d Love to Tell You, she brings humor and honesty, showing how embracing lived experiences helps creators stay grounded amid constant digital change.

PROTECTING YOUR MENTAL WELLNESS AS A CREATOR WITH ELYSE MYERS


Mentor Session: Daniel Silver (Silver Sessions/Immortal Creatures/The Music Lab)

Dan Silver

Owner

SILVER is a producer and sonic storyteller whose work lives at the nexus of artist albums and blockbuster visuals. For over 25 years, his mission has been to craft the exact emotional frequency and sonic fingerprint a moment demands—whether in the recording studio with an artist, or placing songs, music supervision, and composing original music for film, TV, games, ads, and trailers.

His career defies easy categorization, moving fluidly from producing records with icons like Paul Simon and Jeff Beck to producing sessions with rock legends at Rancho De La Luna, and a Gold Telly Award Winner scoring sync placements for brands from Nike, Apple, and Netflix. This unique path is guided by a singular focus: the power of music to define character, elevate narrative, and create iconic cultural moments.

Today, he channels this philosophy through two ventures: Immortal Creatures Music, his cinematic outfit behind the trailers for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Smile 2, and The Music Lab, where he serves as a producer and supervisor shaping the sound of global advertising campaigns for clients like Cadillac and Neiman Marcus. At SXSW, he represents the deep creative link between the music that moves us and the pictures that captivate us.

As a commercial record producer, mixer, engineer, and co-writer, some highlights include: Chimes of Freedom Bob Dylan Amnesty 50th - Billy Bragg, Seal & Jeff Beck, Evan Rachel Wood; Paul Simon, Xzibit (Sony), GoldFish (Armada), Voli Contra; Remixer - Muddy Waters, Edgar Winter, Elvis; Swing House (Los Angeles), John Frusciante, The Breeders, RHCP, Weezer, Audioslave, George Thorogood; Rancho De La Luna (Joshua Tree) - Masters of Reality, Chris Goss, Mojave Lords, Smith & Pyle; +Star Tropics, Final Child, MOONtransmissions; (tv & performance mixer) Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Honoring Steve Martin, Loren Michaels, Lily Tomlin, and more.

Tannehill

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Mentor Session: Arnaecia Alridge (Methix)

Mentor Session: Isabella Uknis (Universal Music Publishing Group)

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

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

Mentor Session: Noel Morrison (SiriusXM/Pandora)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Audio/Production (Recording/Mixing/Mastering), Sync/Licensing.

MENTOR SESSION: DANIEL SILVER (SILVER SESSIONS/IMMORTAL CREATURES/THE MUSIC LAB)


Mentor Session: Anu Mandapati (Qultured)

Anu Mandapati

Chief People Officer

Anu Mandapati is a Chief Culture & Talent Officer and certified executive, team, and well-being coach (PCC, CTPC, NBC-HWC) who helps leaders and organizations thrive through high-stakes transitions—including M&A, rapid growth, leadership shifts, and cultural misalignment. With 20+ years’ experience across industries and organizations like PwC, FEMA, Rocket Mortgage, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, she aligns culture with business strategy to build trust, clarity, and sustained performance. Named a Top 100 People (HR) Leader, Culture Pioneer, and Visionary in Inclusive Talent Leadership, Anu’s work has appeared in Forbes, Fast Company, Fortune, and Success magazine. She teaches at Harvard’s I/O Psychology program and is a contributing author to The Female CEO and A View from the Top.

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 Future of Work, Nonprofits, "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion".

MENTOR SESSION: ANU MANDAPATI (QULTURED)

Workplace track sponsored by University of Cincinnati


Mentor Session: Arielle Galinsky (The legacy Project)

Arielle Galinsky

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder

Arielle Galinsky is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of The Legacy Project, a national nonprofit that connects college students and older adults in their communities for mutual storytelling, uplifting and documenting life stories.  Arielle, an MPP/JD candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School and Yale Law School, is committed to advancing aging policy reform at both the state and national levels. Arielle has previously worked for the US Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, US Senate Special Committee on Aging, American Society on Aging, Long-Term Quality Alliance, among others, and currently serves as a research assistant to Harvard Medical Researcher Dr. David Grabowski, analyzing innovative state-based and international LTSS approaches.

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

MENTOR SESSION: ARIELLE GALINSKY (THE LEGACY PROJECT)


Mentor Session: Todd Hansen (Web Summit)

Todd Hansen

Executive Producer

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

MENTOR SESSION: TODD HANSEN (WEB SUMMIT)


Mentor Session: CR Celona (Creator Up)

CR Celona

Principal/Chief Growth Officer, AI and Emerging Tech

As a founder, media executive and compassionate capitalist, Celona has always had a love for the point where people and technology meet. From building one of the first car part review websites in the 90s, establishing UGC with Vimeo, to rich media, and helping found the influencer space, he has amassed 26 years of business development experience. This centers around managing and building solution-oriented companies across e-commerce, digital media, DE&I, influencer, social, mobile and now social impact.

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


Mentor Session: Danny Exum (Create Advertising Group)

Danny Exum

Head of Music

Danny Exum is currently the Head of Music for Create Advertising Group, leading the music department and overseeing all creative music endeavors at the agency.
Danny got his start in the music industry as a DJ and live mix engineer at the esteemed 88.9 WERS in Boston, before bolting westwards to work in EMI’s Film/TV department. Since those days he has built a strong career placing music in marketing campaigns for many types of films and series, including The Smashing Machine, The Last Of Us, Sinners, The Handmaid’s Tale, Sisu, Bombshell, Rocketman, Toy Story 4, Good Boys, The Big Sick, Baywatch, Jumanji, Detroit, Kubo And The Two Strings, and many more.
In addition to his film trailer work, Danny has music supervised a number of independent films and advertising campaigns.
He collects early American music and ephemera, and needs more room for his records.

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

MENTOR SESSION: DANNY EXUM (CREATE ADVERTISING GROUP)


Mentor Session: Greete Parsin (MUSIC ESTONIA)

Greete Paršin

Project Manager

Greete Parsin has a rich background in cultural management. Today she works as a project manager for Music Estonia, mainly focused on international events, delegations and export. Her expertise, gained as a music manager for Holy Motors and roles at prestigious labels like Beggars Group and Wharf Cat Records in NYC, aligns perfectly with ME mission. Greete's experience in promoting music globally, combined with her creative approach at organizing events, marketing cultural products and services and running her own retail business equips her to share insights how to get started and work in the many-faceted cultural industry. She wears many hats: she runs her own film festival, has been the head of program for multiple venues, curated art shows and managed private collections, was the head of PR and Marketing for an avant-garde theatre, owns an eyewear boutique, etc.

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

MENTOR SESSION: GREETE PARSIN (MUSIC ESTONIA)


The New Growth Playbook: Activate Consulting’s 2026 Tech & Media Outlook

Michael J. Wolf

Founder and CEO

Michael J. Wolf is the founder and CEO of Activate Consulting, the leading management consulting firm for technology, internet, media, entertainment, and sports businesses.

Activate advises on strategy, operations, organization, programming, and M&A decisions while helping companies build new technology-enabled businesses.  His clients have included the world's most important names in tech, media, and telecom.  Activate has been central to the major innovations and corporate realignments across these sectors.

Mr. Wolf is a strategist who helps companies improve their performance, drive revenue growth, and create strategies to own their future in a dynamic technology, internet, and media ecosystem.

Activate has brought their deep industry knowledge and business experience to their annual report -- The Activate Technology & Media Outlook -- for ten years.  The report is released every year at the Wall Street Journal's Tech Live Conference.  The Outlook serves as a benchmark for industry forecasts and mission critical reference for techs top executives.

Previously, Mr. Wolf was president and chief operating officer of MTV Networks (now Paramount Media Networks). Prior to MTVN, he was global managing partner of McKinsey & Company’s TMT practice. He joined McKinsey as the firm’s first direct-elect senior partner after leading Booz Allen Hamilton’s global communications, media, and technology group.

Wolf has served on the publicly traded boards of Yahoo, Inc. (NASDAQ), Sotheby’s (NYSE), and Entercom Communications (NYSE).  He currently serves as the independent director on the board of privately held Sandbox Technologies (AI and quantum technology), a spinoff from Google.
He is a graduate of Columbia University and member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Salon AB

Two Futurists and an AI: Seeing Trouble Ahead

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

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

The Clock Is Ticking for Space – Replacing the ISS

Can Media Survive AI? The Fight for Public Trust

The global internet, media, and technology industries are entering a new era—one that will unlock more than $1.3 trillion in incremental revenue by 2029. But as silos disappear and competition intensifies, the rules of growth are being rewritten. In this session, Michael J. Wolf, Founder and CEO of Activate Consulting, presents the firm’s 2026 Tech & Media Outlook, revealing how leading companies must rethink strategy, product, and consumer engagement to stay ahead. Learn which trends will define the next phase of the digital economy—and why winning in 2026 will depend on owning attention across every moment of the consumer’s day.

NEW GROWTH PLAYBOOK: ACTIVATE CONSULTING?S 2026 TECH & MEDIA OUTLOOK


Tech Made in France Meet Up

Geraldine Chachoua

Co-President

Geraldine is a Lead Product Manager at Google, where she leads the development of Artificial Intelligence products used in Gemini.
She previously held strategic and operational roles at Google and the Boston Consulting Group.
Geraldine studied business at Harvard Business School and engineering at Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées.
Originally from France, Geraldine has lived in the USA for the past decade and currently resides in Austin, TX.

Alex Raguet

Co-President

Alex graduated from an engineering school in France but spent all his carrier around Finance & Innovation
First as an investment banker in Paris and NYC (1993.-2006) , then as an entrepreneur in Paris (2008-2019), launching a Fintech/ClimateTech an leading it to an acquisition by France 3rd bank. And actually as a Venture Partner for a global Climate Tech VC, headquartered in NYC.
Alex is also French Tech Austin co-president.

Founders, investors, corporates & service providers from all sectors: come plug into the French Tech ecosystem at the Tech Made in France Meet Up! France is now Europe’s #1 tech ecosystem, home to some of the world's finest innovators and companies. Let’s unlock transatlantic opportunities & collaborations!


Why Innovative Mental Health Benefits Are the Future of Work

Jack Hawthorne

Chief Revenue Officer

Jack Hawthorne is a revenue and growth strategist who helps companies turn big vision into measurable results. As Chief Revenue Officer at Clearwater Benefits, Jack designs and executes go-to-market and operational strategies that drive rapid, sustainable growth in the employee benefits space. With a rare background spanning law, psychology, sales, and executive leadership, he brings a systems-level approach to scaling businesses while increasing retention and clarity. Jack has led organizations through complex growth phases and is known for bridging strategy and execution to build companies that scale with intention.

Jason Andrew

COO/CIO & Co-Founder

Jason T. Andrew is an entrepreneur, investor, and advisor dedicated to making the employee benefits system work better for people and businesses alike. As a founder and partner at Zoë Foundry, Jason has spent over 25 years starting, scaling, and advising companies across insurance, health, wellness, and insurtech. He’s known as a bridge-builder who brings together founders, employers, and policymakers to drive meaningful change. Jason has launched four companies, led INC 500–recognized growth organizations, and is passionate about building values-driven cultures where people can thrive at work while doing good in the world.

Tracy Desmond

Head of Global Benefits & Wellbeing

Tracy Desmond is the Head of Global Benefits & Wellbeing at Airbnb, where she leads the design and execution of innovative, inclusive benefits strategies for over 8,000 employees across 23 countries. With over 20 years of experience in Total Rewards, Tracy has shaped mental health and wellbeing programs at some of the world’s most admired companies. She is a sought-after advisor to health tech startups, a mentor through the International Olympic Committee, and an advocate for mental health innovation, access, and equity in the workplace.

Sherry Rais

CEO & Co-Founder

Sherry Rais is the CEO and Co-Founder of Enthea, which provides the most innovative, evidence-based mental health solutions through employee benefit plans - ensuring safe, affordable access to treatments that actually work. Under her leadership, Enthea has grown from a pilot program to serving over 300,000 covered lives nationwide, delivering unmatched outcomes for depression, anxiety, and PTSD - while helping employers reduce costs, improve retention, and boost workforce well-being. She has worked in over 35 countries with the United Nations and the World Bank. A sought-after speaker at events like HLTH, BenefitsPRO, and SXSW, Sherry shares how forward-thinking employers can transform mental health benefits to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and boost workforce well-being.

Salon B

Innovating in Science & Tech When Budgets are Tight

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

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

Better Leadership Starts with Understanding the Stressed Brain

Mental health is now a make-or-break factor in workforce productivity, retention, and culture. But traditional offerings - meditation apps, and EAPS - aren’t cutting it. This panel explores bold, evidence-backed solutions like ketamine-assisted therapy, stellate ganglion block, and emerging psychedelic treatments. Hear from leading researchers and forward-thinking employers who are reshaping mental health support to drive performance, reduce costs, and keep their people thriving.

WHY INNOVATIVE MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS ARE THE FUTURE OF WORK


From Headline to Streamer: How Publishers Adapt Stories for TV

Max Tani

Media Journalist

Max is the media editor for Semafor, and the co-host of the Mixed Signals podcast. He was previously a member of the White House team at POLITICO, where he co-authored the West Wing Playbook daily newsletter. He has also written about media and politics for The Daily Beast and Business Insider.

Linzee Troubh

Executive Director, Film & TV

Linzee Troubh is the Director of TV & Film Development at The Atlantic, where she focuses on adapting the magazine’s 163 years of reporting and storytelling for the screen. Prior to joining The Atlantic in 2019, she was the Senior Manager of News Development at BuzzFeed, developing and producing such titles as UNSPEAKABLE CRIME: THE KILLING OF JESSICA CHAMBERS for Oxygen and Netflix’s Emmy-nominated docu-series FOLLOW THIS. Previously, she spent nearly seven years as the Head of Sales at Cinetic Media, responsible for securing distribution for hundreds of independent films and documentaries. She is a graduate of Bowdoin College and lives in Brooklyn.

Karolina Waclawiak

Head of Documentary and Director of Development, Scripted TV , Buzzfeed Studios

Karolina Waclawiak is the Head of Documentary for BuzzFeed Studios where she oversees the development and production of docuseries and documentary features. As the Head of Documentaries at BuzzFeed Studios, Waclawiak is at the forefront of shaping and overseeing the development and production of groundbreaking docuseries and documentary features.
She is also an award winning editor and author. She was previously Deputy Editor at The Believer, where her work earned her a National Magazine Award nomination for Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah’s influential feature on Dave Chappelle. Essays she edited have appeared in Best American Essays and received widespread acclaim. Waclawiak has written several critically-acclaimed novels, including Life Events, The Invaders, and How To Get Into The Twin Palms.

Dana Olkkonen

Head of Vox Media Studios

Dana J. Olkkonen is the Head of Vox Media Studios where she oversees the television and film business for Vox Media, the modern media company home to brands such as New York Magazine, Vox, Eater, The Verge, The Dodo, and more. Under her leadership, Vox Media Studios develops and produces projects with Vox Media’s editorial brands to bring its category-leading journalism to the screen for today’s biggest distributors including Netflix, Hulu, AppleTV+, and more.

Pennybacker

Busting Myths: Why Virtual Production Isn’t What You Think

Unscripted Gold: Turning Real Life into Global Hits

Audible Dimensions: Expanding Story Through Spatial Audio

From Niche to Noticed: New Paths for Indie Films

What makes a piece of journalism ripe for adaptation? As headlines spark conversations across social and in everyday life, studios are attuned to how audiences respond—often using that response to guide their next project. But it’s publishers that are uniquely positioned to bring these stories to the screen, thanks to their unparalleled access to journalists and sources.

Hear from Vox Media, Buzzfeed, and The Atlantic as they share insights on which stories to adapt,  how to decide the best genre for journalism IP, and how to work with journalists to expand reporting across platforms.

FROM HEADLINE TO STREAMER: HOW PUBLISHERS ADAPT STORIES FOR TV


Michelle Ahmad

IT Manager

Michelle has 15 years’ experience at mission-driven, community focused organizations, primarily for non-profit and government agencies both in the US and abroad. She currently works in IT for the City of Austin and believes in the power of art to build community and increase innovation.

Hemali Patel, MD MPH

Internal Medicine Physician

Hemali Patel is a physician by professional training and has been a healthcare provider for 10 years serving underserved communities locally and globally. Her interest and expertise in the intersectionality of healthcare, and advocacy inspire her work in the community. Her professional journey includes clinical excellence and education including coaching and supporting learners, qualitative research, and designing and implementing healthcare programs. She enjoys reading in her free time and expressing stories from her life and experiences on (digital) pen and paper.

Room 408

Convene, Collaborate, & Cultivate Connection: Moms Meet Up

Take a break from the buzz of SXSW at our second annual Tech-Free Creativity and Connection Meet Up — Something to Write Home About edition.

Unplug and create a one-of-a-kind postcard to your future self or someone special. With scratch art, embroidery, colored pencils, and more, this screen-free space invites artists, makers, and daydreamers to connect and create. Stamps will be provided so you can mail your creation or leave it to us to send out.

Drop by anytime and stay as long as you like. Reflect, recharge, and create something special to write home about.

TECH-FREE CREATIVITY AND CONNECTION MEET UP


Featured Session: From Meme to Meaning: Making the Most of Accidental Virality

Kim Gallagher

Executive Director, Marketing & Customer Success

Kim Gallagher is the Executive Director of Marketing & Customer Success at Nuuly. She helped conceive and launch the Nuuly rental business in 2019, lending her marketing expertise to developing and fostering Nuuly’s brand identity. Kim currently oversees Marketing, Creative, Analytics, Customer Success, and Strategy. Previously, Kim held a variety of roles within Nuuly’s parent company, Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN), including Director of Digital Strategy & Advanced Analytics across the Urban Outfitters, Free People, and Anthropologie brands, and Director of Customer Engagement at Anthropologie. Kim has been with URBN since joining as an MBA intern in 2011. Prior to business school, Kim gained experience in public relations, digital marketing, and CRM at two agencies. Kim received her BA in American Studies from Georgetown University and her MBA in marketing from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Kim lives in South Philadelphia with her husband and 3 sons. Her favorite founding father is Benjamin Franklin, and her hobby is cheering on the Philadelphia Phillies.

Gabby Fowler

Senior Manager, Social Media & Influencer

Gabby is a social and influencer marketing strategist with over a decade of experience shaping how brands show up online. She currently leads social and influencer at Graza, where she’s helped scale the brand’s influencer and social presence, driving growth and cultural relevance in a crowded CPG space. Before Graza, she spent six years on the social team at Away helping build the brands digital strategy and one of the most recognizable social presences in the industry today.

Rachel Karten

Author

Rachel Karten is a social media consultant and author of the industry newsletter Link in Bio. She has worked in social media for over 10 years and previously led the social media team at Bon Appétit and Epicurious. With Karten at the helm the social team garnered much praise and won both a social Webby Award and a prestigious National Magazine Award for best social. Since leaving Condé Nast in 2020, Karten has been consulting on social media strategies for brands like CAVA, Google, and many more. Her newsletter Link in Bio has over 100,000 subscribers and is a top Business newsletter on Substack.

Casey Lewis

Trend Analyst And Writer

Casey Lewis is a Brooklyn-based trend expert, writer, and the founder of After School. With a keen eye for youth-driven shifts in consumer behavior, Lewis has built a reputation as a go-to voice for decoding the trends shaping the next generation.

Before launching After School, she co-founded Clover Letter, a daily newsletter for teen girls that grew to 200,000 subscribers and was acquired by AwesomenessTV. She has also studied youth trends extensively, working at Ypulse and The Intelligence Group, where she helped brands navigate the evolving preferences of young consumers. Previously, Lewis worked as a journalist and editor at Teen Vogue and New York Magazine.

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

In today’s content-driven landscape, brands can go viral in ways they never intended. This panel explores the unpredictable nature of online virality through the lens of brands like Nuuly and Graza. Panelists will unpack what it takes to lead with creativity, clarity, and cultural fluency under pressure—and how chaotic moments can become opportunities for connection, growth, and relevance. Expect a rare behind-the-scenes look at the modern social media playbook these experts are writing in real time.

FEATURED SESSION: FROM MEME TO MEANING: MAKING THE MOST OF ACCIDENTAL VIRALITY


In This Together: Power, Partnership & Reproductive Freedom

Charles Johnson

founder and president

Charles Johnson founded 4Kira4Moms after the tragic, preventable death of his wife, Kira, during childbirth. He transformed grief into national advocacy for maternal health, especially for Black families. He is a board member of March for Moms and serves as Chairman of the Fairness of Injured Patients Act, which seeks to restore the rights of victims of medical negligence in California. Charles has testified before Congress and helped pass key legislation, including the Preventing Maternal Death Act of 2018 and the California Momnibus. He is currently working with Congress to pass the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021. Charles centers his work on the human rights dimensions of maternal mortality while raising his two sons.

Dr. Jason Lindo, PhD

Professor of Economics

Dr. Jason Lindo is the Mary S. and Richard B. Inman, Jr. Professor of Economics at the Georgia Institute of Technology; the director of the Health Economics and Policy Innovation Collaborative (HEPIC) at Georgia Tech; a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research; a Research Fellow at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), and a Fellow of the Global Labor Organization (GLO). His research centers on health (care, behaviors, and outcomes), employment shocks, family dynamics, and youth. This work includes studies of the Colorado Family Planning Initiative, the effects of laws increasing the amount of travel needed to obtain reproductive health care, and the impacts of changing economic circumstances on marriage, fertility, and child maltreatment.

Nancy Northup

President & CEO

Nancy Northup leads the Center for Reproductive Rights, guiding landmark litigation and advocacy that has redefined reproductive rights globally. During her tenure, the Center, in partnership with local organizations, has worked to expand and defend sexual and reproductive health and rights in more than 70 countries across five continents. She was the founding director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. She has served as a prosecutor and Deputy Chief of Appeals in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and held adjunct appointments at NYU Law School and Columbia Law School.

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

Across boardrooms, courtrooms, and communities, a growing wave of men are standing up for reproductive rights and changing conversations around abortion and maternal health. In this session, men across law, business and health advocacy explain why they’ve turned their platforms, personal stories and convictions into action. From expanding access to care, to shifting workplace culture, to fighting for safer childbirth, they actively participate in the movement for health, equity and freedom. With clarity, urgency and humor, this conversation calls in male audiences, giving them ways to show up.

IN THIS TOGETHER: POWER, PARTNERSHIP & REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM


Danny Rensch & Dark Squares: Chess, Cults, and Survival

Danny Rensch

Chief Chess Officer

Danny Rensch is an International Master and Chief Chess Officer at Chess.com. After a successful scholastic chess career, Danny joined Chess.com as a co-founder in 2009. He directs the company's content, media partnerships, and professional chess events. Danny is an accomplished commentator and broadcaster, which he used to establish Chess.com's streaming and creator programs. He has channeled his lifelong passion for playing and teaching chess to advance Chess.com's mission of growing the game and helping people enjoy their lives through chess. With over 200 million registered users, Chess.com is the leading platform for playing and learning chess.

Salon A

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

Charmageddon: Robots That Steal Hearts and Jobs

Shortchanged: Gen Z, the Economy, and Brands

SWIFTYNOMICS: How Women Mastermind and Redefine Our Economy

International Chess Master, Chess.com co-founder, and leading voice for the global chess movement, Danny Rensch will take the stage at SXSW to discuss his newly released memoir. Described as Educated meets The Queen’s Gambit, the book offers a gripping, deeply personal account of his childhood inside an abusive cult and the extraordinary role chess played in helping him survive, rebuild, and ultimately change the trajectory of his life.

DANNY RENSCH & DARK SQUARES: CHESS, CULTS, AND SURVIVAL


The Future Of Streaming in the Superfan Era

Hazel Savage

CEO

With 15 years experience in the industry, Hazel is a music-tech lifer, guitarist and former CEO/Co-Founder at Musiio. She is now the CEO of Syntho. She started her music-tech journey as an early employee at Shazam and spent time understanding the pain points of the industry at Pandora, Universal and HMV before launching Musiio in 2018 and then selling the business to SoundCloud in 2022.

Hazel travels globally speaking at conferences and talking to catalogue owners about the value of artificial intelligence integration and digital transformation in the music industry. As a female founder in the heavily male-dominated industries of music and tech, Hazel seeks to offer insights with interesting and humorous anecdotes, as well as easy-to-follow explanations and use cases of artificial intelligence technology.

Jordan Pettinato

Senior Director, Business Development

Jordan Pettinato serves as the Senior Director of Business Development at SoundCloud.

At SoundCloud, Jordan plays a pivotal part in shaping the platform's trajectory in the dynamic digital landscape. Collaborating closely with corporate development and strategy teams to spearhead business development efforts, Jordan drives strategic platform partnerships and product integration. Jordan's primary efforts center on leveraging transformative technology partners to expand SoundCloud’s presence across both software and hardware ecosystems. Through his work, Jordan continuously explores new business models and areas of opportunity, all aimed at enriching the SoundCloud user experience and driving revenue growth.

Con Raso

Managing Director

Con Raso is the Founder and CEO of Tuned Global, a leading B2B music and streaming platform upon which people build their ideas involving digital music. Con is a lifelong innovator and music technologist, who has created disruptive tech solutions during the transitions from CDs to downloads, then streaming, and now AI.

With over a decade of experience working closely with the music industry, Con has been involved in various aspects of streaming projects, including supply chain management, metadata handling, rights management, catalogue delivery, distribution infrastructures, recommendation algorithms, fraud and monetisation strategies.

Currently, Con is enthusiastically exploring and embracing the new opportunities presented by AI and Web3 technologies for the music industry. He collaborates with brands and rights holders to navigate this evolving landscape, capitalising on the potential it holds for the future of music.

Brian Zisook

Co-Founder / EVP, Global Operations at Audiomack

Brian “Z” Zisook is co-founder and EVP of Global Operations at Audiomack, an artist-first streaming platform with 40 million monthly users. He leads a team across four continents and manages partnerships with 400+ labels and distribution partners, including Universal, Warner, Sony, and Merlin. Previously, as VP and Editor-in-Chief of DJBooth, he helped grow the site into a leading music publication with 8 million monthly page views. With nearly two decades' experience in the music industry, Zisook has interviewed top artists like J. Cole, Big Sean, Rick Ross, John Legend, Nipsey Hussle, DJ Khaled, and Anderson .Paak, among others. In 2022, he was inducted into the Recording Academy.

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

Mainstream streaming focuses on personalized algorithms and passive listening. Meanwhile, some niche platforms embrace a participatory model where superfans don’t just consume music—they interact with it, shape it, and financially support creators in real time. These platforms embed tipping, live chat, and fan community engagement into the experience. This panel explores how fandom-driven models are redefining streaming and how “social radio” tech can help mainstream DSPs catch up. What if streaming became social, not solitary?


How SXSW Film Composers are Redefining Cinema: Featuring Bear McCreary

Bear McCreary

Film Composer

Award-winning composer and recording artist Bear McCreary began his career as a protégé of legendary film composer
Elmer Bernstein, before bursting onto the scene scoring the revered series Battlestar Galactica in 2004. Since then,
McCreary has won three Emmy Awards, including two for Disney’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians and one for his theme
for Da Vinci’s Demons, a musical palindrome, and has won 12 International Film Music Critics Association Awards,
including the award for Score of the Year in 2024, his second. Named the 23rd Most Definitive Bear in Popular Culture (The
Ringer), he’s also been the subject of a clue on Jeopardy! Top credits: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power; Foundation; Outlander; Godzilla: King of the Monsters; The Walking Dead; and Netflix’s Crip Camp.

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

Going Off Script: Filmmaking Through an Indigenous Lens

Annual Legal Update for Indie Film and TV

This panel discussion celebrates ASCAP composers with films screening at
SXSW 2026. We’ll unearth new tools, strategies, discuss biggest film and music trends, and how they are reshaping the world of film composition in this new era of cinema.  Attendees will witness a cue by
cue breakdown, as each composer showcases clips from their films at SXSW and
favorite musical moments. Afterward, select attendees can meet with composers for advice, guidance and
feedback on their work. Moderated by acclaimed composer Bear McCreary (Battlestar Galactica, The Walking Dead, Godzilla: King of
the Monsters).

HOW SXSW FILM COMPOSERS ARE REDEFINING CINEMA: FEATURING BEAR MCCREARY


Revolutionizing Astronomy with Next Generation Big Data

Stephanie Juneau

Associate Astronomer

Dr. Stéphanie Juneau is an Associate Astronomer at NSF NOIRLab, the Project Scientist of the SPectra Analysis and Retrievable Catalog Lab (SPARCL) and one of the Astrophysics Leads for the NSF-Simons CosmicAI institute. Based in Tucson, Arizona, she received a Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics from the University of Arizona and her scientific research focuses on galaxies and supermassive black holes. She aims to develop and apply novel analysis methods including AI, machine learning and advanced visualization techniques to unlock mysteries about black holes and galaxies and to reconstruct their Cosmic story. Dr. Juneau is a core member of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) collaboration and part of James Webb Space Telescope extragalactic survey teams.

Stella Offner

Professor of Astronomy, Director NSF-Simons AI Institute for Cosmic Origins

Stella Offner is a Professor at the University of Texas at Austin and is the Director of the NSF-Simons AI Institute for Cosmic Origins (CosmicAI). Her research explores how stars form by combining computer models, telescope observations, and statistical techniques. Her work aims to develop methods to effectively use AI to analyze astronomy data and predict properties that cannot be directly observed, work that is supported by funding from NASA, NSF, and the Simons Foundation.  Dr. Offner is the recipient of an NSF Early Career Award and a Cottrell Scholar Award. Her research has been published in Science and Nature and featured in a variety of articles in the popular press, including the Washington Post, Forbes, Science Daily, the BBC and many others.

Paul Torrey

Assistant Professor of Astronomy

Dr. Paul Torrey is Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Virginia and Co‑Principal Investigator of the NSF–Simons AI Institute for Cosmic Origins (CosmicAI). He earned his Ph.D. in Astrophysics from Harvard and completed postdoctoral work at MIT and Caltech before serving on the faculty at the University of Florida. His research centers on theoretical investigations of galaxy formation and evolution. Paul has contributed to the development of major large‑scale cosmological simulations that follow the Universe's evolution from shortly after the Big Bang to the present day, providing crucial tests of galaxy formation models.

Niall Gaffney

Director of Data Intensive Computing

Dr. Niall Gaffney leads the Data Intensive Computing group at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC). This group develops the AI and Data Management systems for the NSF’s flagship computational resources. His background in Astronomy, starting with his degrees from UT Austin and leading the development of the archive for the Hubble Space Telescope, allows him to bridge the gap between research and AI. He is also directly involved in the design and deployment of the Horizon supercomputer for the NSF’s Leadership Class Computing Facility, which will be hosted at TACC. This facility will feature world-class systems for training and hosting AI services, catering to a diverse range of research communities.

Salon D

Designing the Future of Human Performance

The Companies Building and Automating Space's Superhighway

What AI Agents Are Doing While You're Not Watching

The New Lab Partner: AI and Future Scientific Discovery

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

Massive datasets, like those in astronomy, are the lifeblood of AI innovation.  The panel, led by researchers from the NSF-Simons AI Institute for Cosmic Origins, will discuss how AI is transforming astronomy to unlock new insights into the origins of our universe. They will present visualizations showing state-of-the-art astronomical datasets built on flagship observations and supercomputing simulations of the Universe. They will discuss how these data can be used to develop novel AI methods that accelerate discovery, expanding the frontiers of AI possibility inside and outside astronomy.

REVOLUTIONIZING ASTRONOMY WITH NEXT GENERATION BIG DATA


The Creator Strategies Needed to Reach Gen Z & Gen Alpha

Donna Tuttle

VP of Marketing And Corporate Communications

As Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Whataburger, Donna oversees teams that shape and amplify Whataburger’s fun brand voice through advertising, social media, public relations, community experience, corporate communications and more.  Her favorite Whataburger order is the Monterey Melt, no bun, with fries and Spicy Ketchup.

Donna joined the Whataburger Family in 2017 and has since led key initiatives shaping the brand’s marketing, advertising, communications and public relations. She spearheaded the launch of Whataburger’s first digital newsroom, guided messaging through the COVID-19 pandemic, and introduced the company’s first employee app. She also played a pivotal role in celebrating the inaugural National Whataburger Day and led partnerships that brought a Whataburger-themed Fortnite map to life.

In celebration of Whataburger’s 75th anniversary in 2025, her team led high-impact brand partnerships with Grammy Award winning country artist Lainey Wilson and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., while creating standout cultural moments such as the Whataburger Museum of Art at SXSW, elevating national visibility.

Before joining Whataburger, Donna spent years in the marketing agency world, leading communication and marketing strategies for Fortune 500 and 150 companies. Prior to that, she built a two-decade career as an editor and reporter in newspapers and magazines. A Syracuse University graduate with dual degrees in Journalism and English, she also is a graduate of the Kellogg Executive Scholar Chief Marketing Officer Program. Donna is a proud member of Les Dames d’Escoffier San Antonio and Impact San Antonio.

Brooke Miccio

Content Creator and Podcaster

The CEO of Oversharing and also queen of spontaneous decisions, Brooke is always down for something new and a good adventure that will make a funny story later (or incredibly cringey/embarrassing.. but then again, still a story). Brooke enjoys the occasional visit to a psychic, speed-reading books just to say she finished them, and ordering Uber Eats several times in a day (especially when hungover).

Allison Stransky

Chief Marketing Officer

Allison Stransky is CMO of Samsung Electronics America, where she leads U.S. marketing and communications with a focus on AI-powered brand building and cultural relevance. She champions Samsung’s “AI for All” vision—delivering personalized, predictive, and privacy-centric experiences across devices and generations. A dynamic voice in engaging Gen Z and Gen Alpha, Allison blends creativity, technology, and purpose to build brand love, drive innovation, and ensure inclusive access to the future of smart living. She also oversees breakthrough campaigns that shift from product-first messaging to storytelling that resonates emotionally—bringing AI-enabled experiences to life in ways that are human-centered and deeply relevant.

Dani Mariano

CEO

A dynamic business leader, Dani Mariano has spent the past decade driving transformative results for Razorfish clients while propelling the momentum of the agency in the marketplace. She is committed to discovering how Razorfish can help brands build relationships in this new digital age through valuable consumer touchpoints, and how to keep companies at the forefront of the latest technology advancements to future-proof them for what’s to come, including Generation Alpha. She empowers the agency’s team members to seek opportunities for growth that will prepare them to be the next generation of agency leadership. Under Mariano’s watch, Razorfish has received “Most Innovative Agency” recognition from Campaign US in 2024 and 2025. She was also named a member of the ADWEEK 50 list in 2025.

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

This session will spotlight the increasing momentum of the creator economy and how creators have become role models to younger generations. While most companies remain focused on reaching Gen Z, we’ll discuss how brands will need a fresh creator marketing strategy that merges culture, authenticity, and relevance if they expect to break through with digitally native Gen Alpha, as the oldest approach adulthood in the coming years.

CREATOR STRATEGIES NEEDED TO REACH GEN Z & GEN ALPHA


Lights Out: Preserving Our Night Sky in the Modern Space Age

Yaswant Devarakonda

Manager

Dr. Yaswant Devarakonda is a Manager for the Space & Spectrum Policy Center at the Computer & Communications Industry Association. Prior to CCIA, he was the American Institute of Physics Fellow at the Department of State’s Office of Space Affairs, where he led on the Department’s commercial space strategy and on MENA space diplomacy. He has also served as the John N. Bahcall Public Policy Fellow and Acting Deputy Director of Public Policy at the American Astronomical Society, where he advocated on space science issues such as federal science funding, workforce development, and dark & quiet skies.

Dr. Devarakonda holds a PhD in Astronomy and a M.S. in Astronomy from Texas A&M University, and a B.S. in Astronomy and a B.S. in Physics from The University of Texas at Austin.

Lindsay DeMarchi

Aerospace Corporation Center for Space Policy and Strategy

Policy Analyst

Dr. Lindsay DeMarchi is a stellar mortician and space policy analyst. Her astrophysical research chases dying stars across all wavelengths of light and gravitational waves. She shapes space policy that addresses an increased human presence beyond Earth's surface. Dr. DeMarchi has worked both on Capitol Hill in the office of Senator Hickenlooper (D-CO) and is currently a Senior Space Policy Analyst at the Aerospace Corporation. Dr. DeMarchi earned a bachelor's degree in physics and astronomy from Colgate University, a master's degree in physics from Syracuse University, and a doctorate in astronomy from Northwestern University. She is also a former NASA Astronomer in Residence at the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve.

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.

Room 201-202

Rewriting the Rules of Business: A Guide to Purpose & Profit

The Geography of Prosperity: A New Map for Resilient Cities

Saving Monarchs With Machine Learning and Computer Vision

Where Climate Science Meets Industry Innovation

The increasing number and brightness of satellite constellations in Earth's orbit are significantly impacting ground-based and optical astronomy. So how do we balance humanity's expansion into space while protecting our study of the stars from Earth? Join the conversation on a sustainable future for space and hear from the experts on the front lines—astronomers, satellite companies, and space industry pioneers—as they discuss collaborative solutions to mitigate satellite brightness and preserve our night sky.

LIGHTS OUT: PRESERVING OUR NIGHT SKY IN THE MODERN SPACE AGE


Behind The Viral Hit: Why It's Not What It Seems

Victoria Tsigonis

Senior Marketing Services Director - Americas

With over 15 years of industry experience, Victoria Tsigonis has held senior executive roles at
Island Records UK, BMG, Shelter Music Group, and now FUGA, overseeing the marketing teams
across North and South America. A specialist in artist development, global marketing, DSP
strategy, and creative direction, she has played a pivotal role in orchestrating projects that have
topped charts, secured prime playlist placements, and delivered innovative marketing campaigns.

Gabriela Gironas

Founder

Gabriela Gironas (they/them) is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and a leading voice at the intersection of music, technology, and the creator economy. The child of Bolivian immigrants, Gironas has spent over a decade championing empathy-led partnerships and building platforms for underrepresented creators to thrive. Their career spans brands like YouTube, Reddit, Fender, Human Re-Source, and Q&A, as well as mission-driven organizations like Keychange U.S. They currently serve as Senior Director of Creator Strategy at Wasserman and Founder of Cool Shit, Cool People, a creative agency focused on elevating the next wave of talent and technology.

At Wasserman, Gironas leads creator strategy for global brands including Google Play, Samsung, and Taco Bell, developing scalable frameworks that help brands identify, activate, and collaborate with creators across platforms. Their work blends talent development, data-driven storytelling, and culture-first strategy to drive measurable impact. This builds on a decade of launching fan campaigns and artist careers—from crafting re-release strategies for Julia Michaels to growing ANGEL22’s following from zero to 10 million. From BTS billboards in Times Square to redefining K-pop rollouts, Gironas has helped shape the careers of Lauv, Jensen McRae, Madilyn Bailey, Moses Sumney, and Jada Kingdom.

A respected leader in advocacy and governance, Gironas serves as Governor of the Recording Academy’s Los Angeles Chapter, At-Large Member of the LA County Governance Reform Task Force, and Global Chair of Diversity, Inclusion & Community at Women In Music. They also sit on the boards of Industry In Spanglish and Keychange U.S. A frequent speaker at SXSW, Reeperbahn, and Music Biz, Gironas continues to shape the future of inclusive leadership across music, tech, and culture—with creativity, empathy, and conviction.

Jack Hedges

GM

Jack oversees the North American operations for Transgressive Records, who’s recent releases include Arlo Parks, Sparks, The Antlers, The New Eves and Graham Coxon. For 20 years he’s stewarded the Canvasback Music imprint, currently home to Greg Freeman and Rocket. As co-founder of Canvasback Jack has worked on creative and strategic endeavors for artists such as The War On Drugs, alt-J, Frightened Rabbit, Death Cab For Cutie, GROUPLOVE, Manchester Orchestra, Briston Maroney and many more.

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?

In an era where TikTok virality can catapult unknown artists to millions of streams overnight, the music industry faces a critical question: how do we transform fleeting moments into lasting careers? This panel brings together industry experts to lift the lid on viral streams and explore strategic frameworks that separate one-hit wonders from career artists. Drawing from real-world case studies, the discussion will provide actionable insights for artists, managers, and industry professionals looking to build careers that transcend trending sounds and create lasting cultural impact.

BEHIND THE VIRAL HIT: WHY IT'S NOT WHAT IT SEEMS


Tech Happens Here: Libraries as Innovation Partners

Jennifer Cleary

Director, Combined Arts and North West

Jen joined Arts Council England as Director, Combined Arts and North in April 2021. She is part of the national leadership group with responsibility for the development of the Combined Arts portfolio, and a senior member of the North Area leadership team overseeing its work and investments in the North West of England.  Before joining ACE, Jen was a Director at Manchester International Festival, leading on strategic programmes of participatory commissioning and producing, education and engagement, talent development and fundraising. Prior to working in the cultural sector, Jen worked in Higher Education & the NHS and she has a PhD in Medical Microbiology.

Dave Lloyd

Coventry Libraries and Information Service

Service Development Manager

Dave Lloyd has worked in Public Libraries for over 30 years and presently holds the post of Service Development Manager for Coventry Library Service. He is also the lead for Libraries Connected Information and Digital Universal Offer and has previously represented Public Libraries on a UK Government Media Literacy Taskforce Steering Board. He has lead XR and VR projects within Coventry and has been an instrumental part of the Digital Libraries project lead by The Space, taking VR experiences across England and helping communities upskill and create their own content. David has recently retired as a trustee for Coventry Citizens Advice - a post he held for 19 years.

Oonagh Murphy

Senior Lecturer in Digital Culture and Society

I empower arts organisations to meaningfully engage with digital culture, technologies, and audiences. By bringing an international perspective and a critical viewpoint, I help organisations tackle tough questions, innovate their business models, and craft long-term strategic plans centred on digital, AI, and data-driven practices. I’ve worked in more than 15 countries, building innovative futures, grounded in social purpose with organisations as diverse as The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, MUNCH in Oslo, Arts Council England.

Luke Burton

Director, Libraries

Luke has been Director, Libraries at Arts Council England since November 2022 where he works on projects, advocacy and partnership building as part of the Arts Council’s role as the sector development agency for libraries in England. Prior to his current role he worked in public and prison libraries. He spent 12 years in Newcastle Public Libraries in the UK in various roles including managing their Business & IP Centre and leading on digital projects as Digital Development Manager, before becoming Service Manager in 2019, leading the team there through the council’s Covid response. He is passionate about the value and role of libraries with a particular interest in emerging technologies, literacies, data and reading for pleasure.

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

Libraries are books and so much more! We will spotlight how public and national libraries are launchpads for emerging tech, from AI to XR, while staying rooted in community trust and accessibility. Hear from library innovators and creative technologists co-creating inclusive spaces for play, learning, and critical tech discourse. We’ll explore libraries bridging the gap between innovation and equity, and how YOU can partner with them to build meaningful, community-driven projects. Expect a lively conversation that challenges assumptions, shares real-world collaborations, and sparks new ideas.

TECH HAPPENS HERE: LIBRARIES AS INNOVATION PARTNERS


Collab at 300km/h: When Sport Powers Stories & Tech

Pierre-Antoine Capton

CEO

Pierre Antoine Capton co-founded Mediawan in 2015 alongside Xavier Niel and Matthieu Pigasse. He serves as Chairman & CEO of the group, now one of Europe’s largest independent content producers and distributors. Capton led strategic acquisitions including Europe’s Lagardère Studios and Hollywood-based Plan B Entertainment in 2022.

Nicolas Parpex

French Touch initiative pilot

Nicolas Parpex is a renowned investor and leader in the creative industries, with in-depth expertise in venture capital and private equity. Within Bpifrance, he leads La French Touch, a systemic platform launched in 2020 that has mobilized 8 billion euros to support 17,000 cultural and creative companies. He plays a key role in the global influence of the French creative industries, leading delegations and large-scale events, such as SXSW in the United States or We Are French Touch, the main B2B event in the sector. He is also the director of French Touch Capital, the main French fund dedicated to the creative industries, managing a portfolio of 50 major companies including, Deezer, Média-Participations, Jacquemus. He teaches entrepreneurship and serves on innovation juries.

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

Pierre-Antoine Capton, CEO of Mediawan — Europe’s leading media groups (Brad Pitt’s Plan B, Léonine Studio, See Saw Films…)— shares insights on the F1 film and the growing role of sport as a catalyst for entertainment innovation and global IP. A fast-paced conversation on how sport is becoming a key growth engine for streaming, storytelling, and tech.

COLLAB AT 300KM/H: WHEN SPORT POWERS STORIES & TECH


Too Many Interests? Good! Build Your Career Around Them.

Julie Bonner

Creative Director

Julie Bonner is a creative entrepreneur, published author, and award-winning artist who built a career at the crossroads of design, marketing, and entrepreneurship. She leads multiple ventures, including her Julie Originals product line and her branding studio that helps organizations communicate with clarity and heart.
She teaches design, marketing, and entrepreneurship at the university level, mentoring creators with many interests as they turn ideas into action and build careers that evolve with them.
Julie’s sessions give multi-passionate creatives the tools and confidence to blend their talents and create work that opens new doors.

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

What if your dream job doesn’t exist? So you create it! During this interactive session, award-winning designer and creative educator Julie Bonner shares how she built a joyful, sustainable career by making a living from her diverse interests. Through branding, community, and creative entrepreneurship, Julie shows how to create a clear professional story and turn multiple interests into real income.

TOO MANY INTERESTS? GOOD! BUILD YOUR CAREER AROUND THEM.


The End of News? Defining Journalism in the Creator Era

V Spehar

Host & Creator

V Spehar is an award-winning digital journalist and creator of Under The Desk News, a humanity-first news brand with over 3 million followers on TikTok. V offers young audiences informative and empathetic coverage, focusing on breaking down complex policies into accessible content. Their detailed citizen journalism has led to notable collaborations with President Biden and former President Obama to promote civic engagement, as well as reporting from the State of the Union and the DNC. V also hosts the popular Lemonada Media podcast V Interesting and the podcast American Fever Dream with Betches Media, released twice weekly on Substack. They were named one of TIME100's Most Influential Digital Voices.

Katerina Matsa

Director, News and Information Research

Katerina Eva Matsa is the Director of News and Information Research at Pew Research Center, specializing in news habits and attitudes in the U.S. and Europe. She is an expert on how technology and politics affect the information environment. Matsa has authored major studies on local news, social media, news consumption, and political polarization. She holds degrees from the London School of Economics and Georgetown University, and frequently provides commentary to NPR, the BBC, and the World Economic Forum.

Cheyenne Hunt

Executive Director

Cheyenne Hunt is a nationally recognized policy advocate, lawyer, and Gen Z leader working at the intersection of tech accountability and democratic participation. As the Executive Director of Gen-Z for Change, she has become a prominent voice in holding corporations and policymakers accountable while empowering younger generations to engage in civic life. Hunt’s key experience includes clerking for Senator Amy Klobuchar, advising the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, and running for Congress in California’s 45th District. She uses her legal background and social media influence to make complex digital rights and policy issues understandable and actionable for everyday people.

Waller Ballroom A

Texas High School Shorts Screening & Q&A

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

From Viral to Viable: Building IP as a Creator

Audiences are increasingly turning to content creators for everything from quick news recaps to in-depth explainers, raising urgent questions about standards and credibility. Is this shift the future of journalism or the erosion of it? Building on original data from the Pew-Knight Initiative and insights from the creator economy, this session will explore how the definition of “journalism” is evolving in real time. We will go beyond debate to identify the tools, norms, and strategic shifts needed to preserve public trust in a creator-driven information ecosystem.

END OF NEWS? DEFINING JOURNALISM IN THE CREATOR ERA


Power Shift: How Podcasters are Monetizing on Their Terms

Cynthia Bailey

Host of Humble Brag with Crystal and Cynthia

Cynthia Bailey is a supermodel-turned-reality icon who redefined what it means to be a "housewife” during her 11-season reign on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. From walking runways in the 1990s to founding the Bailey Agency School of Fashion, she has built a legacy at the intersection of entertainment and entrepreneurship. Known for her “50-11” wisdom and iconic peacemaking (remember "Cynthia's Angel" glasses?), she's since pivoted to wine ventures, acting (The Traitors), and candidly documenting her post-divorce reinvention. Cynthia embodies the modern multi-hyphenate: model, mogul, and meme queen who keeps it honest about second acts.

Crystal Kung Minkoff

Crystal Kung Minkoff isn't your typical reality star. As the first Asian American housewife on RHOBH, she broke barriers while dealing with everything from cultural stereotypes to 'disengagegate.' But there's more to her than TV drama - she's the founder of Real Coco, building a sustainable beverage brand from the ground up while navigating the challenges of being an Asian woman in the wellness space. Off-screen, she's become an unexpected voice for AAPI representation, using her platform to call out anti-Asian hate and advocate for mental health. Married to Lion King director Rob Minkoff, she lives at the intersection of Hollywood glamour and real-world activism - with the receipts to prove it.

Brendan Monaghan

CEO

Brendan Monaghan is a leading voice in the podcasting industry and the Chief Executive Officer of Libsyn, the pioneering platform for podcast hosting and monetization. A seasoned executive with deep roots in media and audio innovation, Brendan previously served as CEO of Megaphone (acquired by Spotify) and held senior roles at Slate and The Washington Post. Renowned for his expertise in podcast advertising and monetization, he brings together creators, technology, and brands to build a more sustainable and scalable future for podcasting.

Waller Ballroom F

From Podcasts to Radio: Unlocking Scaled Audio with Modern Attribution

Chasing the Truth: How Stories We Tell Spark Cultural Change

Cassettes & Cults: Making The Red Weather Podcast

Today’s creators aren’t just hosting shows – they’re building media empires. In this live conversation, leading voices in podcasting share how they’ve taken their shows to the next level and grown into full-fledged creator brands. They’ll discuss how audience connection, creative control, smart monetization, and business strategy fuel their growth as they scale from indie success to industry icons.

Together, the group will unpack what it now takes to build a show that grows beyond the feed – into community, video, partnerships, products, and more. This is the new era of creator ambition: where podcasts become platforms, creators own their rise, and the next generation of icons are built by those serious about scale.

POWER SHIFT: HOW PODCASTERS ARE MONETIZING ON THEIR TERMS


Film & Event TV Industry Happy Hour

Join Aputure at our SXSW Film & TV Happy Hour! We’ll provide drinks, bites, vibes and a space to network with other film and TV professionals. We invite you to spend the evening connecting, learning, and sharing ideas with other filmmakers, crew, and creatives!


Tennessee House - Meet Memphis on Sunday evening

Electric Shuffle

Tennessee House - Chattanooga in the Daytime

Tennessee House - Knoxville & Oak Ridge in the A.M.

The Tennessee House showcases what's happening in tech, innovation, and culture across the Volunteer State. Be there for 3 days of bold thinking, eye-opening connections, and unforgettable fun.

Grab your blue suede shoes & head west to the Digital Delta – we're spotlighting Memphis from 5pm to 10pm. Meet the entrepreneurs behind Bluff City's most exciting companies, and explore the future with game-changing data centers.

Doors open at 5pm
** Limited-edition swag, bites, and drinks **

TENNESSEE HOUSE - MEET MEMPHIS ON SUNDAY EVENING


Ben Wheatley

A multi-award-winning independent filmmaker with a devoted cult following, Ben Wheatley has been making films of a remarkably singular vision at an intimidating pace since his breakthrough feature debut “Down Terrace” in 2009.

The latest collaboration between Bob Odenkirk, "John Wick" creator Derek Kolstad and "Nobody" producer Marc Provissiero, director Ben Wheatley’s kinetic neo-Western stars Odenkirk as an unassuming substitute sheriff with a troubled past who, after moving to a small, sleepy town, responds to a bank robbery and unknowingly uncovers something far more explosive.

Normal

Director Ben Wheatley and John Wick creator Derek Kolstad pit a provisional sheriff against his constituents when the exposure of a small town’s sordid secret sparks a rip-roaring firefight.

Ellen Rutter
Molly C. Quinn
Matthew M. Welty
Elan Gale
Josh Adler
Rhonda Baker
Carrie Wilkins
Glenn  Feig
Matthew J. Anderson
Jared D. Underwood
Andrew C. Robinson

Marc Provissiero
Derek Kolstad
Bob Odenkirk

Bob Odenkirk, Henry Winkler, Lena Headey, Ryan Allen, Billy MacLellan, Brendan Fletcher, Reena Jolly, Peter Shinkoda, Jess McLeod, Derek Barnes


They Called Us Outlaws - The Cosmic Cowboys, Honky Tonk Heroes and Rise of Redneck Rock

Eric Geadelmann

AI entrepreneur turned filmmaker, EG began his second act in motion pictures with the SXSW World Premiere of THE DANCE, Executive Produced by Nicolas Cage.  The success of the film (including a deal with Universal Pictures) created two decades of opportunities in film, music and digital media; including the newly launched Doc Studio, SHADOWBROOK.

Rollins Theatre at the Long Center

Cornbread Mafia

Addiction/Recovery
Legal
Senior/Aging
Social Issue

Action
Biography
Comedy
Crime
Documentary

African American
Books/Literary
Celebrity

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

What happened in Austin and in Nashville in the late 60s and early 70s was nothing less than a tectonic shift in country music.  From Tennessee to Texas, musicians were breaking rules and flouting tradition in what the industry would come to label - Outlaw Country.  Featuring over 120 recording artists, songwriters and producers;  including the legends that created the sound and the scene and the current stars and emerging artists that are taking it forward.

THEY CALLED US OUTLAWS - THE COSMIC COWBOYS, HONKY TONK HEROES AND RISE OF REDNECK ROCK

What happened in Austin and in Nashville in the late 60s and early 70s was nothing less than a tectonic shift in country music. From Tennessee to Texas, musicians were breaking rules and flouting tradition in what the industry labeled Outlaw Country.

Eric Geadelmann
Jessi Colter
Shooter Jennings
Jack Ingram
Ray Benson
Joe Nick Patoski
Ken Levitan
Cal Turner
III
Margaret Turner
Craig Eiland
Trey Watson
Bill Marshall
Kyndel Bennett
Elizabeth Cates
Benny Boyd
Sr.  Benny Boyd
Jr.
Michele Boyd
Angela Geadelmann
Jennings Steen
Doug Byrkit
Melissa Byrkit
Adam Meltzer
Lance Byrd
Scott Bryant
Billy Phenix
Randy Paul

Luke Askelson
Kelly Magelky
Eric Geadelmann
Riley Engemoen
Dave Grauburger

Co Producer: Kimmie Rhodes, Chris Coleman, Associate Producers: Michael Simmons, Kevin Howard, Adam Barnes, Clara Rose Keen, Boone Carter, Consulting Producers: Michael Gray, Peter Cooper, Tamara Saviano, G Marq Roswell, Sr Production Assistant: Kurt Geadelmann, Assistant Creative Director: Katarina Geadelmann


Brea Grant

Brea Grant has directed three films -- "Best Friends Forever" (2013, cowriter/costar), "12 Hour Shift" (2020, writer), and the Blumhouse film, "Torn Hearts". She also wrote/starred in the film "Lucky" (2020) , directed by Natasha Kermani. She is also a former actress ("Friday Night Lights", "Dexter"), a book podcaster, and a Texan.

Ed Dougherty, Chelsea Stardust

Ed Dougherty -- Ed Dougherty cowrote/coproduced the film PAINT IT BLACK with Amber Tamblyn and cowrote the award-winning drama SCRAPPER. He also produced the “D is for Dogfight” segment of THE ABCS OF DEATH. He most recently sold the limited series THE AMITYVILLE HOAX to Peacock. He's a graduate of UC Berkeley and the USC Graduate School of Cinema-Television and was in the 2019 Sundance Film Two Lab. He's also directed music videos for Voxtrot, A Giant Dog, Sweet Spirit, Tracyanne and Danny, and many others.

Chelsea Stardust -- Upon graduating Ohio University's Honors Tutorial College School of Film program Chelsea moved to Los Angeles to pursue her filmmaking dreams.
Chelsea’s first feature film, the science fiction thriller All That We Destroy, is part of the Blumhouse series Into The Dark and stars Samantha Mathis, Frank Whaley, and Aurora Perrineau. It was written by Sean Keller and James Agnew (Dario Argento’s Giallo, Nicolas Cage’s Rage) and is currently available on Hulu.
Her second feature film, the horror comedy Satanic Panic, was written by novelist Grady Hendrix (My Best Friend’s Exorcism, How To Sell A Haunted House) and stars Hayley Griffith, Ruby Modine, Rebecca Romijn, and Jerry O’Connell. It was featured in over 20 film festivals all over the world and is currently available on VOD, blu-ray and VHS.

Alamo Lamar 6

Dead Eyes

Dir: Richard E. Williams. DOP: Julian Panetta

Mischa Heywood as Lilly - Dir. Richard E. Williams

#Skyking

Health/Disability/Illness
Politics
Social Issues

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

Black Zombie

African American
Education
Politics
Social Issue

This horror anthology tackles the modern work landscape through four timely perspectives – the hustle culture of an MLM, the endless repetitiveness of a food delivery driver, the online horrors of a content moderator, and the unionization of a familiar-feeling coffee shop. "Grind" shows what it means to be a worker in a world defined by wealth inequality and ruled by endlessly greedy oligarchs, one not so far removed from our own.

This is a film for anyone who's ever hated their job, had a bad boss, or felt taken advantage of at work. In other words, it's a film for all of us.

Grind

Four interconnected tales of workplace horror tackle the most terrifying aspect of modern life: making a living! With a wild tone as darkly comic as it is relevant, 'Grind' is the most fun you'll have in a late stage capitalistic hellscape.

Brea Grant
Ed Dougherty, Chelsea Stardust

Chris Alender
Dave Smith
Brea Grant
Ed Dougherty

Yaron Levy
Mark Evans
Alexander Chinnici
Taylor Washington

Mike Mendez
Hunter Via
Jeff Betancourt
Ed Dougherty

Rob Huebel, Barbara Crampton, Vinny Thomas, Jessika Van, Christopher Rodriguez-Marquette, James Urbaniak, Courtney Pauroso, James Paxton, Ify Nwadiwe, Aubrey Shea

, Costume Designer: Brianna Quick, Music Supervisor: James Cartwright, Co-Producer: Matthew Price, Associate Producer: Matt Glass, Associate Producer: Holly Lander, Casting Director: Chrissy Fiorilli-Ellington, VFX Supervisor: Jason R. Miller, Matte Painter: Bill Mather, SFX Makeup/Creature Design: Sasha Glasser


Alamo Lamar 5

Seahorse

African American
Health/Disability/Illness
Social Issues
Women

When novelist Ohm Bauman retreats to a remote inn to scatter his parents’ ashes, he is consumed by tales of a witch haunting the honeymoon suite. Disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance forces him to confront dark corners of his past.

Hokum

Roy Lee
Steven Schneider
Derek Dauchy
Ruth Treacy
Julianne Forde
Mairtín de Barra

Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Florence Ordesh, Will O'Connell, Michael Patric, Siox C, Brendan Conroy, Austin Amelio, Ezra Carlisle


Sidney Fussell

Sidney Fussell is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker and journalist, Co-Director of #WhileBlack. A former senior reporter at WIRED and technology reporter for The Atlantic, his work has appeared in Rolling Stone, The Guardian, and EBONY. He’s been featured on NPR, BBC, and Al Jazeera, and spoken at Mozilla and NYU’s Journalism & AI panel.

Jennifer Holness

Jennifer Holness is an award-winning writer, producer, and director, and Co-Director of #WhileBlack. The first Black woman in Canada to win a CSA for writing, she was named 2021 Indiescreen Producer of the Year and received the 2022 WIFT Award of Creative Excellence. She’s also a founding member of the Black Screen Office.

Alamo Lamar 3

I Got Bombed at Harvey's

Biography
Crime
Documentary
Drama
Thriller

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

#WhileBlack is an urgent documentary that centers on one of the most viral videos of our time: George Floyd’s murder, seen 1.4 billion times in 12 days, sparking protests in over 2,000 cities worldwide. With exclusive access to Darnella Frazier and others like  Diamond Reynolds, who livestreamed Philando Castile’s killing, the film reveals how social platforms and corporations profit from viral Black trauma, while survivors endure lasting psychological and physical danger. #WhileBlack is a powerful meditation on modern witnessing, exposing the human cost of viral footage while asking urgent questions about race, technology, and accountability.

#WhileBlack

Darnella Frazier, who filmed George Floyd’s death, steps forward in this powerful documentary on viral videos that ignited global movements revealing the cost of going viral while Black: trolls, surveillance, and platforms that profit from pain.

Ann Shin
Jeff Orlowski-Yang
Larissa Rhodes
Stacey Piculell
Geeta Gandbhir

Ann Shin
Jennifer Holness
Sidney Fussell

Darnella Frazier, Diamond Reynolds, Matthew Cagle, Matthew Mitchell, Safiya Noble, Allissa Richardson

Animation: Aaron Goldberg, Additional camera: Christian Bielz, Mike Rilstone, Amber Fares, Megan McCarthy Johnson