Miko Lim

Miko Lim is an award-winning director known for his authentic storytelling in extraordinary environments.

"Stormbound," Lim’s first IMAX feature film documentary, sees the director partnered with Producer Adam McKay. Filmed on IMAX cameras, the film follows a chronically ill man chasing the world’s largest hurricanes. In 2025, Lim was selected as the only shadow director for Apple TV’s "Murderbot" with showrunners Chris and Paul Weitz, which spent 10 weeks at #1 on Apple’s Most Streamed Chart. His short film "Ocean Mother" won him a Best Director Clio and his Adidas spot “What’s One More” was shortlisted at Cannes. His films have accumulated well over 1 billion views on YouTube, and he has the most-watched Adidas commercial of all time. Lim is a Paramount Global Director Fellow, and a co-chair of the DGA’s first feature film mentorship program alongside Lee Isaac Chung and Celine Song. In addition to his film work, Lim is an avid rock climber, free diver, and surfer, living in LA with his wife and three children.

Alamo Lamar 4

My NDA

African American
Legal
LGBTQ
Politics
Social Issues
Women
Social Issue

Cookie Queens

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

Courtesy of Beautiful Stories and AJNA Films

The Life We Leave

Business/Entrepreneurial
Environment
Social Issue

Step inside the eye of the storm. "Stormbound" thrusts audiences into the heart of the world’s most powerful hurricanes with breathtaking, never-before-seen footage captured from within. As wind, water, and land collide, the film follows storm chaser Jeff Gammons, who for more than thirty years has pushed closer than anyone else to document every major hurricane to strike the United States. Now tested by a near fatal disease , Gammons continues his pursuit—revealing the personal cost of chasing nature at its most extreme and the larger environmental forces shaping our world. "Stormbound" is a high-stakes, immersive experience that places audiences face-to-face with nature at its most powerful.

Stormbound

Go inside the eye of the hurricane and the life of one of America's top stormchasers. Utilizing a 30-year archive and a new storm season set to be deadlier than ever, Jeff Gammons’ search for the ultimate shot could see him chase his final storm.

Trevor Jones
Miko Lim
Adam McKay
Todd Schulman
John Turner

Co-Executive Producer: Ethan Harari, Co-Executive Producer: Randy Kiyan, Co-Executive Producer: David Clair


Jorma Taccone

Jorma Christopher Taccone is an American writer, producer, director, comedian, actor, and musician. He is a member of the comedy music group The Lonely Island with his childhood friends Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaffer. In 2010, Taccone co-wrote and directed the SNL spinoff film MacGruber, which was his directorial debut.

A dysfunctional couple head to a remote cabin to supposedly reconnect, but each has secret plans to kill the other.

Over Your Dead Body

Timo Argillander
Nate Bolotin
Maxime Cottray
Kjetil Omberg
Jørgen Storm Rosenberg
Andrea Scarso
Jorma Taccone
Tommy Wirkola

Kelly McCormick
David Leitch
Lee Kim
Guy Danella
Nick Spicer
Aram Tertzakian

Samara Weaving, Jason Segel, Timothy Olyphant, Juliette Lewis, Paul Guilfoyle, Keith Jardine


Graham Parkes

Graham Parkes is a writer and director from Los Angeles, working in both film and independent games. He currently works at GoodbyeWorld Games, an indie video game studio he co-founded with childhood friends. They released their first title in 2021, Before Your Eyes, a cinematic narrative game Graham both wrote and directed.

Alamo Lamar 5

Seahorse

African American
Health/Disability/Illness
Social Issues
Women

Julia and Charlie, a volatile couple in Portland, Oregon, are at a loss for how to repair their broken relationship. Julia, an ambitious game designer, and Charlie, a struggling musician working in sound design to pay the bills, are pushed by Julia's friend into attending a couples-therapy seminar run by twin healers, the Tillies, who claim to fix relationships through energy work. The session triggers a karmic universal system that makes the state of their relationship affect the world around them. With earthquakes, the stock market, and entire nations at risk, Charlie and Julia must confront whether their love can survive amidst so much destruction.

Wishful Thinking

When a volatile couple discovers their emotional state has supernatural consequences on the world around them, they must decide whether to fight for their relationship or accept that their powerful connection might be doing more harm than good.

Sarah Mather
Graham Patrick Martin
Cameron Fuller

Matt Smith
Dan Gedman
Kara Durrett
Lewis Pullman

Lewis Pullman, Maya Hawke, Randall Park, Jake Shane, Kate Berlant, Amita Rao, Eric Rahill


Biography
Documentary
Drama
Mystery
Sports

Edward Drake

Edward Drake is a screenwriter and director based in Los Angeles. His credits include Lionsgate’s "Knight" trilogy, starring Bruce Willis, Paramount’s "Gasoline Alley," and more. Most recently, Drake wrote and directed "Guns Up," starring Kevin James and Christina Ricci. "The Ascent" is Edward's first documentary.

Scott Veltri, Francis Cronin

Scott Veltri is an Emmy-nominated producer and writer/director. He produced the feature
documentary "Moviepass, Moviecrash" (SXSW 2024) and executive produced docs "One Road to Quartzite" and "Ferrari: Fury and the Monster" (Rome IFF 2025). He also EP'd Gia Coppola's "Mainstream"(Venice 2020), and John Michael McDonaug's "The Forgiven" (TIFF 2021).
//
Francis Cronin is a filmmaker and stand-up comedian who has toured with Dana Carvey, Bill
Burr, Taylor Tomlinson, Preacher Lawson, and more. He is a veteran of the Irish Defence
Forces, is weapons trained, and has an Irish Presidential Commission from his time serving in the U.N. Quick Reaction Forces. Most recently, Cronin has opened for Kevin James and Jay Leno.

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

"The Ascent" is the inspiring true story of Colorado Springs bilateral-amputee climber Mandy Horvath’s record-breaking attempt to crawl to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro on her hands. At 21, Mandy lost both of her legs under mysterious circumstances—an event that shattered her trust in the world around her. As she pushes her body to its limits on Africa’s tallest mountain, Mandy must reckon with the unanswered questions of her past and learn to trust again if she is to succeed.

The Ascent

"The Ascent" is the inspiring true story of Colorado Springs bilateral-amputee climber Mandy Horvath's record-breaking attempt to crawl to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro and the mysterious circumstances under which she lost her legs at the age of 21.

Edward Drake
Scott Veltri, Francis Cronin

TIME Studios
Loren Hammonds
Kyle Hentschel
Francis Cronin
Yvette
Zhuang
Jasleen Kaur
Ali Samadi

Jasleen Kaur
September Club / Matt Prekop

Mandy Horvath, Julius John White aka 'Whitey', Carel Verhoef, Sally Grierson

Animator: Mike Lloyd, Co-Producer: Jon Schafer, Additional Editing: Kevin Barth, Executive Finishing Producers: Gloria F. Coronado, Ashely Reese, Re-Recording Mixer: Cameron Tracy, Colorist/Online Editor: Christian Navas, CSI, Graphics: COED Studios


Featured Session: How to Design a Company That AI Can’t Outpace

Ian Beacraft

CEO

Considered one of the top voices in Artificial Intelligence and the future of work, Ian helps companies prepare for a future powered by people and enabled by AI. Ian brings cutting-edge technologies to life so audiences can understand the future of work in ways they can immediately act on. As a technologist and strategist, Ian led innovation projects for companies like Nike, Samsung, Intel, Nintendo, and Microsoft. As the CEO of Signal and Cipher, Ian and his team reinvent ways of working for companies like Boston Consulting Group, Universal Pictures, Publicis Groupe, and more.

He’s known as a Gonzo Futurist, actively experimenting with new and emerging technologies before they leave the research lab to understand the implications and applications for the future of work and society.

Hilton Grand Ballroom (Salon HJK)

Featured Session: Moonshots that Move the Needle

SXSW Community Service Awards Recognition: The Bell

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

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

Yes. We’re failing at AI. But it’s not because the tools aren’t good enough. We’re failing because we’re designing for a system that’s already obsolete. The winners of the AI era won’t be the fastest tool adopters, but the ones who redesign how work is organized, value is created, and ecosystems are navigated.

In this session,, Ian shows you how to think and build like an AI-native and re-architect organizations, sharing a practical map and mindset shift to thrive in a future where what’s valued changes in real time.

FEATURED SESSION: HOW TO DESIGN A COMPANY THAT AI CAN?T OUTPACE


How Secret Mall Apartment Crushed It

Perri Nemiroff

Senior Producer and Host

Matthew Spain

Producer

Jeremy Workman

Director

Jeremy Workman is a documentary filmmaker who has been praised for creating his own genre of uniquely cinematic character portraits that bring you deep inside extraordinary worlds. His most recent film, Secret Mall Apartment, premiered to immediate acclaim at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, going on to win 10 major film festival awards. It was self-released theatrically in over 250 cities in March 2025, becoming the third-highest grossing documentary since 2020 (excluding music concert films). His other acclaimed films include Lily Topples The World (SXSW 2021) and The World Before Your Feet (SXSW 20218).

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

Secret Mall Apartment premiered at SXSW in 2024.  Though a festival smash the documentary did not get acquired by a distributor. Undeterred, filmmaker Jeremy Workman raised $100k independently to self-release the film in theaters. The documentary went on to gross nearly 1MM in box office, playing in nearly 250 cities for nearly 6 months, and was subsequently acquired by Netflix where it entered the Netflix Top 10 on its first day. Workman and his team utilized both traditional and innovative approaches to upend the playing field. Look behind the curtain and learn how they pulled it off!

Film & TV track sponsored by Crunchyroll


Neuroaesthetics in the Future of Design

Freya Salway

Head of the Lab

Freya Salway works internationally at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and the arts. She is Head of the Lab at Google Arts & Culture, where she develops collaborative programmes and experiments with artists, cultural institutions, engineers, and research scientists. Her projects explore the creative potential of AI and emerging technologies through partnerships with Serpentine Galleries, MIT Media Lab, Victoria and Albert Museum, BTS, Centre Pompidou, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Es Devlin, Wayne McGregor, London Design Festival, the United Nations, and CERN. Beyond Google, Freya has worked as an independent consultant delivering creative programmes across business and media, and previously managed arts partnerships for Sky Arts.

Lachlan Turczan

Water & Light Artist

Lachlan Turczan (b. 1993, Pasadena) is a Los Angeles–based artist working with water, light, and sound to explore the limits of perception. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, he spent years choreographing large-scale fountains for WET Design in Dubai, Singapore, and Las Vegas before establishing his independent studio. His practice centres on cymatics—using vibration to shape water into dynamic sculptures of reflected light. Works such as Wavespace, Sympathetic Resonance, and Lucida have been shown at Milan Design Week, Noor Riyadh, and Art Basel Hong Kong. Lucida immerses audiences in architectural environments of liquid light, responsive to sound and movement. Turczan’s work extends the Light and Space tradition, introducing sound, interaction, and fluid dynamics.

Susan Magsamen

International Arts + Mind Lab (Iam Lab), Center For Applied Neuroaesthetics

Founder and Executive Director

Susan Magsamen is founder and executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab, Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She explores how arts and aesthetic experiences measurably change the brain, body, and behaviour, and translates this into applications for health, wellbeing, and learning. An entrepreneur, she founded Curiosity Kits and Curiosityville, award-winning education companies recognised with over 600 innovation awards. Author of seven books, she also developed Impact Thinking, a translational research model applying scientific methods to arts and aesthetics with a focus on real-world impact. Susan co-directs the NeuroArts Blueprint with the Aspen Institute, advancing integration of the arts into medicine and public health.

Robyn Landau

Co-Founder & Director

Robyn Landau is a neuroaesthetics researcher, designer, and cultural entrepreneur advancing new interdisciplinary models connecting neuroscience with creative experiences. As the co-founder of Kinda, the first women-led neuroaesthetics studio and lab, she pioneers new ways to measure, design, and translate scientific insights into cultural experiences, expanding its human connection and wellbeing. Robyn is reshaping how we engage with science in the real world through  projects fusing  neurotechnology with sensory-driven storytelling that transform how audiences experience art, space, and emotion. Through research-driven designs, interactive installations and mental health interventions, she creates embodied experiences that deepen the ways we connect.

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

Neuroaesthetics is the science of how art, design, culture, and technology shape the brain and body, impacting emotion, connection, and behavior. Bringing together leaders in neuroscience, art, and technology this panel unpacks the rising field of neuroaesthetics as a new essential for the future of design. Through research, experiential and digital design work from leaders in the field, we’ll explore how this interdisciplinary field is redefining how we create, collaborate, and care, offering new tools to design for health, meaning, and human experience in an increasingly complex world.


Featured Session: The Future of News

Betsy Reed

Us Editor

An accomplished editor with more than 20 years of media experience, Betsy joined the Guardian in September 2022 after serving as editor-in-chief at The Intercept for seven years. During her tenure, the organization developed a reputation for agenda-setting investigative journalism, winning several prestigious awards, including a Polk Award, and for successfully establishing a journalism-driven membership program. Under Betsy's leadership, the Guardian US has embarked on a significant expansion, adding more than 30 journalists as well as new coverage areas, including investigations, US soccer, and wellness. Prior to joining The Intercept, Betsy was executive editor of The Nation, where she led the magazine’s investigative coverage while also editing and writing political commentary.

Jennifer H. Cunningham

Editor-in-Chief

Jennifer H. Cunningham is the Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek, recognized as an award-winning investigative journalist and accomplished newsroom leader with more than two decades of experience. She previously served as Editor-in-Chief of Business Insider’s News Division, where she led teams across multiple continents. Known for her innovative approach to content strategy and team leadership, Jennifer is celebrated for attracting diverse talent and setting new industry standards using data and analytics. She began her career as a local reporter in New Jersey and actively volunteers with the Newswomen’s Club of New York, where she is the immediate past president.

Alexis Williams

Chief Corporate Affairs Office

Alexis is the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Stagwell. In her role, Alexis supports collaboration, communications and marketing of Stagwell. She leads many of Stagwell’s integrated agency teams across a variety of sectors. Alexis also leads Stagwell’s Future of News initiative, bringing together a coalition of news media and marketing leaders, showcasing news as an essential tool for driving successful business results. Prior to Stagwell, Alexis spent a decade in journalism, working at the intersection of business, politics, policy and media at POLITICO.

Rebecca Grossman-Cohen

Chief of Staff to the CEO and SVP, Strategic Partnerships

Rebecca Grossman-Cohen is the chief of staff to Meredith Kopit Levien, C.E.O. of The New York Times. She has been at The Times since 2014 as a leader across various departments, helping to build and accelerate the success of our business. As chief of staff she runs the office of the C.E.O., enterprise operations, and leads relationships and strategic partnerships with large tech partners. Prior to her current role, Rebecca led digital subscriptions growth.

Rebecca is the co-chair of the Black@NYT ERG, and previously served as the chair of the Women’s Network E.R.G. at The Times. She serves on the executive boards of Digital Content Next and the News/Media Alliance, two media trade associations.

Previous to The Times, Rebecca was a vice president in various roles at News Corp and executive director of marketing at The New Republic. She has also worked in strategy and fundraising roles for The Associated Press and NPR. Rebecca has an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

She lives with her husband and their two daughters in Brooklyn.

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

A thriving news industry is essential—not only to democracy, but also as a powerful platform for marketers and advertisers. Yet concerns about brand safety have caused many to retreat from news content, often based on outdated fears and misinformation. In an era of rapid technological disruption—including the rise of AI and increasing cultural polarization— this panel unites marketers and media experts to challenge assumptions and champion news. We'll explore how advertisers can re-engage with journalism in ways that uphold brand values, build consumer trust, and deliver real business results.

Brand & Marketing track sponsored by Youtube


Claire Taylor-Smith

Chief Programming Officer

Claire has been a dedicated member of SeriesFest since 2015 and currently serves as Chief Program Officer. In this role, she leads the curation and execution of all programming for the annual Denver-based festival, as well as year-round initiatives. These include the Storytellers Initiative in partnership with Pacific Electric Picture Co., Wondaland Pictures, and Propagate Content; the Women Directing Mentorship in collaboration with Shondaland; and the Independent Pilot Competitions across categories such as Digital Short Series, Late Night, and Pilots in Progress.

Jason Hiro Kim

Founder

Jason Hiro Kim is the founder of Hiro’s Omakase, an independent production banner dedicated to globally resonant storytelling across film, television, and cross-cultural formats. Prior to launching his own company, Kim spent five years as VP of Good Karma Productions, where he oversaw a wide range of projects in collaboration with long-time client and producing partner Kunal Nayyar. His career began in talent representation, spending 15 years at Lovett Management guiding the careers of top-tier talent across acting and writing. In addition to his work as a producer, Kim is an active investor in hospitality and live entertainment ventures, including the Broadway-bound The Lost Boys.

Julie Ann Crommett

Founder

Julie Ann Crommett is a powerhouse in media and storytelling, driving transformative change at the
intersection of entertainment, business, and culture. As the Founder and CEO of Collective Moxie, a
global storytelling, media strategy and audience engagement agency, she advises top studios,
brands, and creatives on innovative strategies that reshape industries. Previously, she led
multicultural audience engagement at Disney, influencing billion-dollar hits like Encanto, Black
Panther, and Raya and the Last Dragon, and spearheaded global DEI initiatives at Google and
NBCUniversal.
A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Julie Ann has shaped the future of inclusive storytelling
as an Adjunct Professor at Georgia Tech and co-creator of Columbia University’s mandatory
inclusive storytelling course. She serves as an emissary for the U.S. State Department’s American
Film Showcase, is a BAFTA and PGA member, and hosts the acclaimed You Got Moxie! podcast.
Her work has been featured in Vanity Fair, Forbes, Animation World Magazine, and Variety. A proud
Puerto Rican and Cuban American, she is also a true trivia nerd having competed on Jeopardy!

Bridge Ballroom AB

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

Creativity, Commerce & Chaos: Tech & Indie Filmmaking

Art to Infrastructure: Creating a Company as an Artist

Building Hollywood Buzz Without the Hollywood Style Campaign

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

Back for its seventh year, the SXSW Episodic Pitch-A-Thon presented by SeriesFest gives filmmakers a chance to take their series ideas to the next level—while audiences get a front-row look at the art of the pitch! Independent filmmakers selected for SXSW Film + Television 2026 will present their projects directly to top executives from television, news media, and digital platforms—on stage, in front of a live audience, and a panel of industry experts. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to advance your project—and your career. SXSW 2026 creators: apply now to make your pitch unforgettable!

SXSW EPISODIC PITCH-A-THON PRESENTED BY SERIESFEST


Mentor Session: Candy Angel (Weedmaps)

Candy Angel

Head of Social Impact

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 Ethics, "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion", Business Development.


Mentor Session: Azubuike Onwuta (Think and Zoom)

Azubuike Onwuta

Founder

Zuby Onwuta (he/him) is a Harvard-MIT trained innovator, US Presidential Service Award recipient, US Army Veteran, patented inventor of “Brain control for Blind Assistive Tech”, founder of “Think and Zoom”, and founder of the publication “Future of Disability”. Hardships from losing his medical studies and US Army and engineering careers to legal blindness disability inspired him to invent and patent a solution that reads and responds to human brain waves to provide hands-free vision augmentation and reading assistance. He also created “Kenti: free bird”, a brain-controlled mobile game, and won the Apple WWDC (World Wide developer Conference) award.  More info at www.zubyonwuta.com, www.thinkandzoom.com

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

MENTOR SESSION: AZUBUIKE ONWUTA (THINK AND ZOOM)


Mentor Session: Hailey Gilmore (atai life sciences )

Hailey Gilmore

Clinical Development Liaison

Hailey is a Master's level biostatistician with 15+ years of experience in clinical research oversight. She has contributed to the lifecycle of more than 60 trials and is a co/author on 30+ publications and talks. The nexus of health, justice, and impact is the ethos for the work she chooses. For a decade she managed NIH-funded programs in the U.S., South America, and Africa, supporting trials of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, engagement to care interventions, and HIV self-testing devices. Transitioning to psychedelics in 2020, she built out and ran Lykos Therapeutics' Investigator-Initiated Trials program, and later became a Medical Science Liaison, among the first in the psychedelic industry, leading field engagement and key stakeholder relationships in 15 states. Hailey has additionally consulted in the fields of reproductive health, substance use harm reduction, and qualitative and cost-effectiveness research. She is currently the Clinical Development Liaison for atai Therapeutics.

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

MENTOR SESSION: HAILEY GILMORE (ATAI LIFE SCIENCES )


Mentor Session: Alexandra Valcourt (Splice)

Alexandra Valcourt

Principal Technical Product Manager

Val Valcourt is a Principal Product Lead and creative strategist working at the intersection of music, technology, and culture. With a decade of experience spanning live events, artist tools, distribution, and AI-powered search, she has built products that help creators make, share, and scale their work. Val began her career in event management and live experiences at Live Nation and Ticketmaster, later leading the product vision and build of SoundCloud for Artists. Today at Splice, she leads product innovation in search and personalization, exploring ML-powered approaches like semantic and sound-based search to help creators discover and fuse sounds in new ways. Val is passionate about mentoring emerging talent, navigating career transitions, and building tools that center artistic expression while driving impact at scale.

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 Women in Music, Music Tech.

MENTOR SESSION: ALEXANDRA VALCOURT (SPLICE)


Mentor Session: Ralph Torrefranca (Angry Mob Music)

Ralph Torrefranca

Executive Director of Writer Creative

Ralph Torrefranca is Executive Director of A&R at Angry Mob Music, where he leads creative development across the company’s songwriter, artist, and producer roster. With nearly two decades in the music industry, Ralph has built a career around championing emerging talent and nurturing long-term artistry. Prior to joining Angry Mob, he held roles at Red Light Management and Grandstand Media, where he managed artists and led development efforts. He began his career as the youngest DJ in the history of KJEE Santa Barbara, later expanding into PR and touring with artists such as Ben Gibbard, Jackson Browne, Radiohead, and Local Natives.

At Angry Mob, Ralph has played a key role in identifying and developing a diverse group of writers and producers, including Bailey Bryan (Shaboozey, Kiana Ledé), Jake Scott (Platinum-certified hits including Russell Dickerson’s “She Likes It”), Joe Pepe (iann dior, Travis Barker), and Bus (Ty Dolla $ign, Kendrick Lamar). He is also the founder of Angry Mob's New Normal Writing Camp, a diversity-focused songwriting initiative that has featured artists lik UMI, Say She She, Deb Never and more. Ralph also authored a widely shared Billboard op-ed on equity and representation in writers' rooms. In addition to his publishing work, Ralph is the frontman of the post-punk band Cuffed Up (SXSW artists 2022 + 2024) and an award-winning filmmaker whose work has been recognized by Gold House and the Academy Nicholl Fellowship.

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

MENTOR SESSION: RALPH TORREFRANCA (ANGRY MOB MUSIC)


Below the Line Mentor Session: Brandon Thomas (TBD Post)

Brandon Thomas

Partner // Sr. Colorist

Brandon Thomas is a seasoned colorist whose passion lies in shaping stories through the language of color. With more than 15 years of experience, he has graded over 80 feature films, 150+ television episodes, and countless commercial campaigns—ranging from national brands to viral digital spots. A proud graduate of the University of Texas Film program, Brandon has become an integral part of the Texas film community, frequently collaborating with acclaimed filmmakers like Andrew Bujalski while also mentoring the next generation of storytellers.

His work has been recognized on some of the industry’s biggest stages, with projects premiering at Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca, and streaming worldwide on Netflix, PBS, and other major platforms. Respected for his technical expertise, creative instincts, and collaborative spirit, Brandon is known for bringing a nuanced eye to every project—helping filmmakers, studios, and brands alike achieve distinctive visual worlds that elevate their stories and resonate with audiences.

Liberty

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

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

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

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

Programming Mentor Session: CC Hutten (TED Conferences)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Color Grading.

BELOW THE LINE MENTOR SESSION: BRANDON THOMAS (TBD POST)


Below the Line Mentor Session: Karen Wacker

Karen Wacker

Co-Executive Producer

Karen Wacker is an Emmy Award–winning producer whose career spans both feature films and acclaimed television. She earned her first producing credit on the critically acclaimed series Friday Night Lights, which set the stage for a career defined by ambitious, character-driven storytelling.

Since then, Karen has contributed to some of HBO’s most celebrated projects, including the Emmy-winning Watchmen, the cultural phenomenon Mare of Easttown, and the global franchise epic House of the Dragon. Based in Texas, she has worked extensively across the United States as well as internationally in the UK and Thailand, bringing a global perspective and steady leadership to every production.

Most recently, she wrapped production on HBO’s highly anticipated Lanterns, continuing her track record of delivering innovative, large-scale stories that resonate with audiences worldwide.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Unit Production Management (UPM).

BELOW THE LINE MENTOR SESSION: KAREN WACKER


Below the Line Mentor Session: Ana Capuano (American Idol Productions, Inc.)

Ana Capuano

Music Coordinator

Ana Capuano has spent the past eight seasons as a Music Coordinator on ABC’s American Idol, where she has honed her skills in one of the most demanding and music-driven environments on television. Working on a globally recognized platform that has launched the careers of countless artists, Ana has gained deep expertise in the art of music supervision, whilst balancing the creative and analytical demands of licensing, rights clearances, and storytelling through music.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Music Coordination.

BELOW THE LINE MENTOR SESSION: ANA CAPUANO (AMERICAN IDOL PRODUCTIONS, INC.)


Below the Line Mentor Session: Brittany Douziech

Brittany Douziech

Music Supervisor

Brittany Douziech is a Los Angeles based music supervisor who began her career at FUEL TV, putting together music ideas and assisting on shows featuring weekly musical guests from Bad Religion to the likes of Chromeo and Public Enemy. She became the in-house Music Supervisor for one of the largest independent TV production companies in the US, Banijay North America (formerly Shine America/Endemol), working across major cable & network television for almost a decade before going freelance. Notable recent projects include It Ends, The Long Game, Body Parts and Lee Fields: Faithful Man. Brittany has also collaborated with veteran music supervisors Joe Rudge and Emmy-nominated Frankie Pine, contributing to projects including Amazon's A League of Their Own, Hulu's Life & Beth, Netflix's From Scratch and Amazon's Daisy Jones & the Six (Emmy-nominated for Outstanding Music Supervision).

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Music Supervision.

BELOW THE LINE MENTOR SESSION: BRITTANY DOUZIECH


Below the Line Mentor Session: Leigh Davis

Leigh Davis

Intimacy Coordinator

At heart, Leigh is a film and television lover. As a certified intimacy coordinator, she is most excited to help directors realize their visions while maintaining a safe and collaborative environment.

After receiving her BA in Studio Art at the University of Texas at Austin, she entered the world of freelance film work and spent most of her time immersed in the production office, but also dabbled in the costumes, locations, art, and accounting departments. She is proud to have been credited on over 30 Texas made feature film and television projects, and notably on some of Texas’ most iconic films and shows, including Office Space (20th Century Fox), Friday Night Lights (NBC), and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (New Line Cinema).

Following her 15 year career as a Texas-based production coordinator, she spent several years supervising an exhibit hall fabrication project for the Houston Museum of Natural Science. She then went on to support the state's media industries at the Texas Film Commission as a production incentives specialist, which introduced her to the impactful work of intimacy coordination. Leigh is passionate about production and intimacy work, and always strives to deliver the highest quality results in the chillest manner possible.

Executive Room

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

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

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

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

Programming Mentor Session: Haojie Huang (Kaohsiung Film Festival)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Intimacy Coordination.

BELOW THE LINE MENTOR SESSION: LEIGH DAVIS


Below the Line Mentor Session: Sal Ojeda (Treehouse Sound Inc.)

Sal Ojeda

Re-Recording Mixer / Supervising Sound Editor

Sal Ojeda’s journey in sound began with rhythm. Raised in Guadalajara, Mexico by way of California, he grew up navigating two cultures and later, two sonic worlds. At 11, a pair of drumsticks changed everything. He quickly fell in love with music and began studying privately with some of the city’s best drummers. Not long after, he joined his father’s band, where he not only performed but also got his first lessons in recording. Those early experiences taught him that sound could do more than capture a performance, it could tell a story.

By the time he finished high school, Sal had become a fixture in the Guadalajara music scene as a drummer. His fascination with recording and mixing had grown into an obsession, one that pushed him to return to the United States to pursue a career in sound. After a couple of years at Glendale Community College in Arizona, he earned a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, an opportunity that would redefine his path.

At Berklee, Sal immersed himself in the world of audio recording and production, honing his technical skills and deepening his passion for the art of sound. It was there that he discovered post-production, a field that revealed how sound could shape narratives, heighten emotion, and transform the cinematic experience. Graduating with honors, he left Berklee determined to make his mark in the industry.

In 2010, Sal relocated to Los Angeles, where he built a career that has combined artistry and technical mastery. His recent work includes Bono: Stories of Surrender (dir. Andrew Dominik), Man on the Run (dir. Morgan Neville), Pavarotti (dir. Ron Howard), The Makings of Curtis Mayfield (dir. H.E.R.), Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur (dir. Allen Hughes), and RuPaul’s Drag Race. His feature film credits include George Miller’s Three Thousand Years of Longing, Zack Snyder’s Snow Steam Iron, Warner Bros.’ restoration of the iconic Purple Rain, and acclaimed independent films such as Mistura (dir. Ricardo de Montreuil), Trees of Peace, and Hypochondriac.

Beyond mixing, Sal is also an accomplished Dialogue Editor, contributing to TV series such as The Cleaning Lady, Kung Fu, Gotham Knights, and Rescue: Hi Surf. His television and streaming credits span Apple TV+, Hulu, Disney+, HBO, FX, and Netflix, covering everything from high-end documentaries to scripted drama.

His music background continues to shape his storytelling instincts. Sal has collaborated with an extraordinary roster of artists, including Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Pink, Bono, Imagine Dragons, Andrea Bocelli, Taylor Swift, Cher, Sting, Lenny Kravitz, Erykah Badu, Gladys Knight, Robert Glasper, and Aloe Blacc. These collaborations have sharpened his ear for nuance and dynamics, qualities that translate seamlessly into his film and television work.

Sal’s versatility extends to live productions as well. He has been part of the sound teams behind some of the industry’s most celebrated broadcasts, including The Oscars, The Emmys, The Academy of Country Music Awards, The Kids’ Choice Awards, and the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade.

With over 15 years of experience, Sal Ojeda’s work has been recognized with three Emmy nominations, a Golden Reel Award from the Motion Picture Sound Editors, and a Canadian Screen Award. But beyond recognition, what drives him is the pursuit of stories that leave room for sound to become a character in its own right. He thrives when collaborating with directors and producers who see sound not just as a necessity, but as a vital storytelling tool.

Whether shaping the intimacy of a whispered dialogue, the energy of a live performance, or the vastness of a cinematic soundscape, Sal approaches every project with the same guiding principle: to serve the story and bring out its emotional core.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Sound Mixing/Sound Editing.

BELOW THE LINE MENTOR SESSION: SAL OJEDA (TREEHOUSE SOUND INC.)


Viva La Revolution: How the Digital Age is Transforming Wellness

Pavitra P. Krishnamani, MD, MS

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Emergency Medicine Physician

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

Digital technologies have become indispensable in healthcare and wellness, touching every aspect of how we stay healthy and receive care today. As a community of innovators, we’ve already proven the viability of technologies such as wearables, telehealth, artificial intelligence, and mHealth. Join us in imagining how these technologies will look in the future and how they will synergize with one another in the digital health ecosystem of tomorrow. In this talk, we will discuss the latest advancements and policies that can accelerate the digital age of healthcare. We will delve more into specific technologies, exploring the promise they hold and the pitfalls we must watch out far as we use them to build the healthcare tools of tomorrow. Together we’ll learn how we build a digital future in which we live healthier and more fulfilling lives!

VIVA LA REVOLUTION: HOW THE DIGITAL AGE IS TRANSFORMING WELLNESS


Below the Line Mentor Session: Sandra Adair (Detour Filmproductions)

Sandra Adair

Film Editor

Academy Award nominee, Sandra Adair, A.C.E., has enjoyed an ongoing artistic collaboration with film director Richard Linklater, having edited 24 films for him over the past 33 years.

In 2016, Adair made her directorial debut with The Secret Life of Lance Letscher, a feature length documentary, which premiered at SXSW in 2017.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Film Editing.

BELOW THE LINE MENTOR SESSION: SANDRA ADAIR (DETOUR FILMPRODUCTIONS)


Mentor Session: Samantha Sadicario (unleashd creative)

Samantha Sadicario

COO/Managing Partner

Sammi Sadicario is the COO of unleashd creative, a boutique branding and marketing agency specializing in artist development in the music industry. Led alongside CEO RuffMusicOfficial (SVP of Audience Engagement at Big Loud), unleashd creative has worked with 300+ artists and brands, diagnosing why their brands aren't connecting with audiences and rebuilding them around three core elements: Story, Plot, and Visual Aesthetic.
Her approach combines strategic brand analysis with deep expertise in audience psychology and communication. She's known for being able to look at an artist's content and immediately identify the disconnect between what they're trying to say and what audiences are actually receiving. This diagnostic skill has helped emerging and established artists across electronic, pop, and alternative genres build authentic brands that convert followers into fans.
Before joining unleashd creative as co-leader, Sammi spent 20+ years as a performance coach and communication strategist, working with professionals to master vocal delivery, stage presence, and authentic connection. This unique background allows her to see artist branding through both a marketing lens and a performance psychology lens, understanding not just what to say, but how to embody it.
As a mentor, Sammi specializes in helping artists identify the gap between their intended brand and their actual brand presence, and providing actionable frameworks to close that gap.

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, Women in Music, A&R.

MENTOR SESSION: SAMANTHA SADICARIO (UNLEASHD CREATIVE)


Round Table: XR Filmmaking: Charlotte Mikkelborg and Rory Mitchell

Rory Mitchell

XR Director

Los Angeles born and bred, Rory Mitchell is an XR Director with a background in theater and documentary.  His work explores contemporary social, cultural and community-based issues with awe at the complexities of interdependence and joy at the intersection of Humanism and Technology. His work has screened at SXSW, New Images Festival in Paris, Cannes Film Festival, The Nieuwe Instituut in the Netherlands, BIFAN, Slamdance and elsewhere.

His most recent project THE TENT, an Augmented Reality tabletop narrative, premiered at SXSW ‘24 before going on to tour the world, 15 cities across 3 continents, was translated into Korean, French and German and won a Silver Medal for “Best Narrative/Story of 2024” from XR Must magazine.

After beginning his career directing live theater, he worked in television at NBCUniversal before becoming involved with the Echo Park Historical society and becoming fascinated with researching the built environment of Los Angeles.  This led to a series of articles and discoveries about the cities understanding of the History of Sunset Boulevard, which led to a well received series of short documentaries about the same.

He then began producing short documentaries for non-profits in Los Angeles, which led to him being the Los Angeles Producer for the PBS Series “One Day in the American City” in which he produced shoots for 150 short documentaries on a single day across the city.  He has produced traditional framed documentary and video work for the Los Angeles City Council, CicLAVia, the L.A. Bioscience Hub, and various other art and cultural institutions in Los Angeles.

In 2015 Mitchell founded his first VR Company, Beard & Glasses VR, to bring his theater and documentary practices into the exciting new field of Virtual Reality, which he had become fascinated by during its first coming in the 90’s.  His first cinematic 360° narrative, “The Visigoths” (written by Martha Marion) was an intimate romantic drama putting the viewer feet away from a young couple falling in, and out, of love.

He went on to direct and produce 360°VR documentaries for a variety of Los Angeles organizations, including CicLAVia, Institute for Contemporary Art L.A., and a series of documentaries for the Department of Cultural Affairs about the artists of the CURRENT:LA Public Art Biennial.

In 2019, he wrote and directed a 360°VR Documentary called “Diverse & Subversive: The Anti-Gentrification of Boyle Heights” in which he embedded with radical activists protesting gentrification using black bloc style tactics.  It uses the power of XR to tackle complex, interdependent, community based issues, by placing the viewers at the various nexus points of gentrification, from the front lines of the protest, to the bedrooms of activists and inside the white-walled art galleries so they could see for themselves the human complications of gentrification. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019, has been taught in colleges and has been watched around the world, inspiring activism from Hong Kong to New York City.

In 2020 he founded The Mercantile Agency, a creative agency and production company producing branded documentaries and marketing videos as well as 360° videos, AR and VR for Fortune 500 companies, tech startups and other businesses and brands that want to change the world.

His commercial VR work includes 360° documentaries about the history of the Los Angeles River, a tour of the Ketel One Distillery, a 360° commercial of Cascadian Farms for General Mills, Star Wars Galaxies Edge at Disneyland for Disney’s internal advertising Agency, Yellow Shoes, and many others.

He is currently in production on a VR Documentary about the Los Angeles Fires, OUT OF THE ASHES, which he is co-Directing and EPing along with Nonny de la Peña.

Mitchell lives in Los Angeles with his wife and young daughter.

Charlotte Mikkelborg

Director/Series Director

A relentless innovator, Mikkelborg has been directing critically-acclaimed film and immersive entertainment since 2015. Mikkelborg recently Series Directed live action series ADVENTURE (Apple TV Originals for Apple Vision Pro, 2024-2025) and is currently directing a major music project.

Previous work includes developing the TV series 'Changing Fortunes of the Mediterranean' (Ace Pictures Entertainment for Disney+) and her interactive/immersive work ranges from interactive live action (ESCAPE TO SHANGHAI, Official Selection SXSW 2024), to immersive dome experiences (THE JOURNEY, Cine Golden Eagle Award), to the world's first multi-sensory augmented reality narrative game TIME DETECTIVES (SXSW Innovation Award 2023) to real time rendered location based experience FLY created with Neil Corbould's Oscar winning special effects team (Gladiator, Gravity) and starring Joanna Froggatt (Downton Abbey). FLY had a sell out run in London's Saatchi Gallery and was WINNER of the Lumieres Award Best VR Entertainment, WINNER Best Documentary Experience 2020 at Raindance Film Festival and WINNER Best Immersive experience 2020 as voted by the UK Government.

Lauded by Vice as one of the “female creators revolutionising how we see the world”. Mikkelborg first gained recognition as a BBC foreign correspondent but has more recently become known for her work directing and producing critically acclaimed film and immersive experiences. Charlotte has worked on projects for leading entertainment, music, commercial and social impact clients including Apple, Disney, British Airways and the United Nations.

Charlotte is chair of Oxford University Media Committee, a film mentor at SXSW, University College London's Immersive Media MA and previously the Youtube Creator's Lab.

Selective filmography

2023-2025 Series Director Adventure

2023 Director 'Escape to Shanghai' (official selection SXSW 2024)

2022 Writer/Director/EP Narrative AR experience Time Detectives (WINNER SXSW Innovation Award 2023)

2020-2022 Producer VR series (Hi)Story of a Painting (WINNER Best Immersive Storytelling SXSW 2022)

2019 Writer/Director/Producer interactive, multisensory narrative Fly (starting Joanna Froggatt - Downton Abbey). (WINNER of the Lumieres Award for Best VR Entertainment, WINNER Best Documentary Experience 2020 at Raindance Film Festival, WINNER Best Immersive Experience 2020 UK).

2018 Director/Producer 360 experience The Journey. (WINNER of the 61st Cine Golden Eagle Award, Best VR Short)

2017 Director/Producer 360 film Born into Exile (FINALIST 60th Cine Golden Eagle Award)

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 XR Filmmaking.

ROUND TABLE: XR FILMMAKING: CHARLOTTE MIKKELBORG AND RORY MITCHELL


Mentor Session: Martin Nedved (AIMS)

Martin Nedved

CEO/Founder

Martin Nedved is the founder of AIMS, where he's building AI that actually listens to music. Forget keywords and metadata—AIMS lets you search music by how it sounds, not how someone tagged it. Finally, finding the right track for your sync, playlist, or project takes seconds, not hours.
A serial entrepreneur with multiple profitable ventures in music and tech, Martin's spent nearly two decades in production music—the stuff that scores your favorite shows, ads, and games without you ever knowing it. He chairs the International Production Music Group and sits on boards shaping music copyright policy across Europe. When not fighting for fair royalties or shipping AI features, he's probably kitesurfing in Spain.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Music Tech, Startups, Sync/Licensing.


Health & MedTech Professionals Meet Up

Joe Doyle

EVP, Omnichannel & Emerging Technologies

With nearly three decades of digital innovation and omnichannel leadership, Joe specializes in helping brands connect with audiences at the most meaningful moments. Named a PharmaVOICE Top 100 leader, he has guided omnichannel strategy for dozens of major pharma, device and health system brands. At Spectrum, he leads omnichannel strategy, multi‐channel experiences and data‐driven personalization, drawing on his deep background in digital health and 14 years of service on the SXSW Health and MedTech Board of Advisors. He holds an M.A.
and B.A. in communications from Governors State University.

The future of health doesn’t come from one sector—it emerges when pharma, devices, clinicians, researchers, hospitals, and startups collide with bold ideas. This Meet Up brings together the full health innovation community to trade insights, surface real opportunities, and explore the technologies reshaping care. Hosted by a longtime SXSW Health & MedTech advisor, this is the room where emerging breakthroughs, future collaborators, and big conversations find each other.


We, the People: Confronting A Rapidly Accelerating Autocracy

Stacey Abrams

Former Georgia House Minority Leader

Stacey Abrams is a New York Times bestselling author, business owner and political leader whose innovative approach has continued to break barriers and support transformational progress. A prolific author, she has written award-winning political thrillers, children’s books, romantic suspense novels, and non-fiction books. She previously served as Minority Leader in the Georgia House of Representatives, and she was the first Black woman to become the gubernatorial nominee for a major party in United States history. Abrams has devoted her career to democracy protection, and voting rights, tackling policy issues and building a more equitable future. She is also a serial entrepreneur and business advisor. In 2020, Abrams founded Sage Works Productions, Inc., a media company dedicated to leveraging the power of storytelling to craft creative solutions and engage.

Skye Perryman

President & CEO

Skye L. Perryman is the President and CEO of Democracy Forward, a nonpartisan, national legal organization that promotes democracy and progress through litigation, regulatory engagement, communications, policy education, and research. Named as one of the 2025 100 Most Influential People In The World by TIME Magazine, Ms. Perryman took the helm at Democracy Forward a few months after January 6, 2021, in the midst of rising extremism in communities and courts across the country. She has built a visionary team of legal, policy, and communications experts to confront anti-democratic extremism head-on while also using the law to advance progress and a bold vision for the future. Under Ms. Perryman’s leadership, Democracy Forward has expanded the scope and reach of its work, emerging as a nationally recognized institution that is taking on the most significant issues affecting people, families, and communities– from defending civil rights and fair wages to seeking to expand access to reproductive health care post-Dobbs to confronting attacks on education to addressing the climate crisis and much more.

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

In 2021, the United States was designated as a global backslider in the International IDEA report, a designation that remains. Part of that finding was attributed to a lack of effective parliament (Congress), the insurrection on January 6, 2021, and election denialism. In the years since, the concerns have only increased. This session will focus on how we, the people, respond. It will include a discussion of how we can work together to galvanize communities and local, state and federal leaders to reverse this trend, and what’s at stake.

WE, THE PEOPLE: CONFRONTING A RAPIDLY ACCELERATING AUTOCRACY


PanelPicker Evaluators Meet Up #2

Cassandra Kuhn

Sales Operations

Brazos

More Analog, Less Noise Please: City Builders Meet Up

Understanding Crypto: Conversations for the Curious Meet Up

OPEN TO SXSW PANELPICKER EVALUATORS ONLY! Come meet your fellow SXSW PanelPicker Evaluators! This is your opportunity to network and chat with other professionals in our SXSW community who shape our Conference each year.


Mentor Session: Amy Crawford (MassiveMusic)

Amy Crawford

VP, Creative Development

Amy Crawford works at the intersection of music, brands & innovation as VP, Creative Development (Americas) at Songtradr/MassiveMusic. It’s highly likely that you interact with award-winning music and sound that she created as you go about your day, having led sonic branding & design efforts for global brands, entertainment and media having led sonic branding efforts for global brand and entertainment clients including Disney, HBO, ESPN, PepsiCo and beyond. Her thoughts on sonic branding and the future of music in media have been published by The New York Times, AdAge, AdWeek, Muse by Clio, Hypebot and more. She has been invited to lead workshops and/or speak alongside Muppet friends from the Jim Henson Company, at SXSW, at Advertising Week, the AICP and at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Having spent her early career playing in bands, touring and collaborating with top artists, Amy is a member of The Recording Academy and President of the East Chapter Board of the Association of Music Producers.

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 Women in Music, Sync/Licensing, Sales & Sponsorships, Emerging Technologies.

MENTOR SESSION: AMY CRAWFORD (MASSIVEMUSIC)


Narrative Intelligence: The New Leadership Infrastructure

Reed Frerichs

CEO & Founder

Reed Frerichs builds ventures that inspire human potential. An actor turned founder, he focuses
on narrative intelligence to help leaders reimagine how they grow, communicate, and perform
under pressure. His career spans innovation, business and media.

He is Founder and CEO of The Lesson, a personal storytelling community and narrative intelligence system. At Everspace, he is building a portfolio of ventures that are catalysts for growth, connection and human excellence.

Reed serves as an Executive Coach at MIT Sloan, where he works with global entrepreneurs
and MBA leaders on narrative development and leadership performance.

Previously, he served as Managing Director & Deal Flow Manager at Intel Ignite, coaching venture-backed startups and supporting CEO’s and founders. Before Intel, Reed managed a family office.

Reed has acted in and produced more than 20 films and television projects, beginning with his
debut in Disney’s Powder. This foundation in storytelling informs his approach to leadership,
creativity, and emotional resonance.

A three-time Gold Telly Award winner and frequent speaker, Reed is committed to helping
people uncover the story that defines their leadership and unlock their true potential.

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

In a world of constant volatility, leadership isn’t just strategy—it’s meaning-making. This Core Conversation explores Narrative Intelligence as a practical skill grounded in psychology and neuroscience, helping founders and executive leaders create clarity, trust, and direction under pressure. Narrative is often mistaken for “good communication,” but it functions more like infrastructure—the framework people use to interpret events, assign meaning to risk, and decide what to do next.

Together, we’ll anchor the discussion around pivotal turning points—the catalyst moments when something shifts internally and a new path becomes possible. Through guided conversation, participants will practice turning real scenes from their lives into clear lessons, actionable resilience tools, and stronger leadership presence. Attendees will leave with a sharper personal narrative, a more compelling way to translate complexity for teams and stakeholders, and a repeatable approach to leading with emotional depth—turning story into direction, and direction into results.

NARRATIVE INTELLIGENCE: THE NEW LEADERSHIP INFRASTRUCTURE


A.I. News That’s Fit to Print

Zach Seward

Editorial Director, Ai Initiatives

Zach Seward is the editorial director of artificial-intelligence initiatives at The New York Times. He leads a newsroom team responsible for experimenting with uses of generative AI and other machine-learning techniques. Before joining The Times, he was a co-founder of Quartz, the global business news organization that he led in a variety of roles for more than a decade, including as CEO, editor-in-chief, and chief product officer. He has been widely honored for Quartz's innovative editorial products and creative journalism. He was previously a reporter and editor at The Wall Street Journal and an associate editor of Harvard's Nieman Journalism Lab.

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

In adopting artificial intelligence, news organizations are making starkly different choices about when and how to use the technology. Which is great, because we can compare and contrast each approach, to identify some early best practices. Zach Seward, who leads the A.I. Initiatives team at The New York Times, will present those findings across a wide range of compelling — and sometimes really terrible — uses of A.I. for journalism. He will also offer a look at how The Times is using A.I. to bolster the human expertise of its newsroom, while discovering new forms of reporting.


Mentor Session: Jackson Kerchis (Happiness Means Business)

Jackson Kerchis

Founder

Jackson Kerchis is a former strategy and operations leader, startup executive, and Zen monk. He co-founded Happiness Means Business and Warrior Leader Training Companies, where he helps leaders across business, government, and education use behavioral science to solve people problems and drive performance.

Jackson created the world’s first academic major in Happiness and has worked with organizations like the Army National Guard, Coca-Cola, and the University of Alabama. His work focuses on the intersection of well-being, leadership, and systems change—and how happiness can transform both people and organizations. He is the author of Beyond Profit & Productivity, an Amazon bestseller on workplace culture.

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 Storytelling, Ethics, Entrepreneurship.

MENTOR SESSION: JACKSON KERCHIS (HAPPINESS MEANS BUSINESS)

Workplace track sponsored by University of Cincinnati


Mentor Session: Ben Nilsen (FCB New York)

Ben Nilsen

SVP Head of Brand Experience

Ben is an experienced and dynamic leader, he has worked in leadership roles across both creative and media agencies all across the globe.

Ben believes great ideas win when they’re simple, contextual, and obsessively well-crafted

He’s led award-winning work for some of the world’s most influential brands, spanning finance to stretchy pants, high art to mobile games, and B2B to DTC: including The New York Times, Meta, Lululemon, Pringles, Airbnb, Chase, Atlassian, Spotify, Hyundai, The Whitney, and Christie’s.

Beyond leading teams, Ben builds what doesn’t exist yet. At Droga5, he founded and scaled a global media practice integrated into Accenture Song. At FCB, he built Brand Experience from the ground up, a hybrid creative-strategy function designed to push agency output forward as audiences, platforms, and technology keep shifting.

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

MENTOR SESSION: BEN NILSEN (FCB NEW YORK)


Mentor Session: Chip Dunn (Chip Dunn Law)

Chip Dunn

Owner

Chip Dunn is a music lawyer based in Colorado, licensed in Colorado and Minnesota, with New York admission pending. With a background in artist management and experience representing talent across genres and stages, Chip has worked with musicians from early DIY releases to nationally touring and major label artists. After seeing too many artists priced out of legal help, Chip launched a solo practice to offer accessible, high-quality representation that meets artists where they are. Chip’s work includes recording, licensing, publishing, sync, producer agreements, and trademark and brand protection. Chip’s mission is to be a trusted partner from the earliest stages, protecting each artist’s brand, creative work, and music as they grow with clarity, intelligence, and confidence. An active industry professional, Chip recently served as a mentor at the Entertainment Law Symposium during AmericanaFest 2025. A longtime supporter of SXSW, Chip has attended the festival in many roles, including as an industry professional and as far back as his days bartending at the British Music Embassy in 2009 and 2010.

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 Contracts & Agreements, Management, Sync/Licensing.

MENTOR SESSION: CHIP DUNN (CHIP DUNN LAW)


Mentor Session: Lisa Franck (Linguist)

Lisa Franck

Founder/Strategy Director

Strategy Director at TAVERN, a Brooklyn-based creative agency that specializes in crafting timeless brands driven by modern heritage.

A trained designer turned strategist, Lisa has 10+ years of experience bridging the gap between business and creative for clients across a wide range of industries at agencies including Design Bridge, Vault 49, Bulletproof and now Tavern, which she helped to build as the first employee and director. From new-to-world innovation to rebrands to ongoing brand-building through campaigns and activations, she has touched every stage in the branding process for various clients including: Sizzler, Mack Trucks, KinderCare, Walgreens, Gallo, Suntory, Diageo, Reckitt, Unilever, Curaleaf, Kenvue, Colgate and more.

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


Mentor Session: Elizabeth Cohen (Crunchyroll)

Elizabeth Cohen

General Counsel

Elizabeth Cohen is General Counsel at Crunchyroll, overseeing legal strategy to support the brand’s global growth. She joined in 2016 as Associate General Counsel, advising on content, product, marketing, HR, and more. Liz served as Acting General Counsel during Crunchyroll’s acquisition by AT&T/Otter Media and was a key legal lead on its $1.2B sale to Sony. Previously, she held roles at Sony Music and ABKCO. She holds a J.D. from Boston University and a B.A. from NYU.

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

MENTOR SESSION: ELIZABETH COHEN (CRUNCHYROLL)


Mentor Session: Paul Osterhout

Paul Osterhout

Creative Director / Executive Producer

Paul Osterhout
Creative Executive • Former Disney Imagineer • Storytelling Strategist

Paul Osterhout is a creative force behind some of the world’s most iconic theme parks and immersive experiences. A former Walt Disney Imagineer and Universal Creative executive, Paul has spent over 40 years pitching billion-dollar ideas—and getting them built. From master planning global resorts to designing attractions that move millions, his superpower is turning bold visions into unforgettable stories. Today, he teaches creatives, entrepreneurs, and leaders how to craft pitches that spark imagination and win hearts. Whether you're selling a product, an idea, or yourself—Paul will show you how to pitch it like it matters.

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


Mentor Session: Vincent Cassous (Tribeca Festival)

Vincent Cassous

Head of Music

Vincent Cassous is Tribeca’s Head of Music, he produces the music lounge, music documentaries and all live events for the festival. He also overlooks music programming for Tribeca’s Year round events including Art Basel Miami Beach. Vincent has 10 years experience working for agencies and record labels. He has been with Tribeca since 2021.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Contracts & Agreements, Live Events, Streaming & Programming, Touring.

MENTOR SESSION: VINCENT CASSOUS (TRIBECA FESTIVAL)


Below the Line Mentor Session: Andy Young

Andy Young

Film & TV Editor

Andy Young is an Emmy-Nominated Film & TV Editor. He's based in Los Angeles and specializes in comedy, with experience in both animation & live-action projects. Recently working for studios like Warner Bros, Netflix, Amazon and Peacock, his work has also premiered at SXSW, played stadiums around the world, and earned over a billion views online.

Executive Room

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

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

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

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

Programming Mentor Session: Haojie Huang (Kaohsiung Film Festival)

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

BELOW THE LINE MENTOR SESSION: ANDY YOUNG


Mentor Session: Martin Rabaglia (Genosha)

Martin Rabaglia

CEO

Martín  Rabaglia  is a transdisciplinary creative technologist and strategist, crafting award-winning cultural-tech experiences for over 15 years in Buenos Aires. As CEO & Co‑founder of Genosha since 2016, he has led projects for global brands like Intel, Nissan, Disney, Pepsi, and Tulipán—merging narrative design with AI, VR/AR, and immersive storytelling. His leadership helped Genosha win Argentina’s first-ever Gold Lion for Innovation at Cannes Lions 2025, reinforcing his reputation as a leading force in Latin American creative tech.

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 Content Strategy/Production, Future of Work, Immersive Technology, Storytelling, Coding, Marketing/Advertising/PR, Entrepreneurship.

MENTOR SESSION: MARTIN RABAGLIA (GENOSHA)


Mentor Session: David Streit (BMI)

David Streit

Senior Director, Creative

David Streit is Senior Director, Creative at BMI based in the company’s Los Angeles office. In this role, David is responsible for assisting with general affiliate inquiries and outreach, educating emerging songwriters on BMI’s services and initiatives, and is an integral part of coordinating multiple events and special projects for the Pop, Rock, Dance, Electronic and Indie genres. Some of the events that he works on with the rest of the Creative team include monthly BMI Acoustic Lounge showcases, various songwriting camps, the BMI stages at Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and SXSW, and more. Throughout his tenure at BMI, David has been instrumental in maintaining BMI’s working relationships with some of today’s hit artists including Sam Dew, FnZ, BAK Jay, Prince 85, Lil88 and more.

Prior to BMI, Streit had his own Artist Management company, IDKLOL Management LLC, where he managed clients ranging from pop producers to electronic dance music DJ’s and also has a background as a composer, creating original works for commercials, video games and movies.

Streit holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Production from Chapman University and is a current member of the AIMP (Association of Independent Music Publishers) and the CCC (The California Copyright Conference).

Tannehill

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Mentor Session: Arnaecia Alridge (Methix)

Mentor Session: Isabella Uknis (Universal Music Publishing Group)

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

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

Mentor Session: Noel Morrison (SiriusXM/Pandora)

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


The Guardian’s Football Weekly Live

Alexander Abnos

Senior Editor, Soccer

Barry Glendenning

Host of Football Weekly

Max Rushden

Host Of Football Weekly

Salon C

Smart Talks Live: Brewing Smarter with HEINEKEN and IBM

Join the Guardian’s Football Weekly hosts Max Rushden and Barry Glendenning, alongside Senior editor, soccer Alexander Abnos, for a special live podcast recording. Football Weekly, the #1 soccer podcast, offers a uniquely balanced format - insightful enough for devoted followers, yet accessible and entertaining for casual listeners.

Expect the show’s signature take on this year’s World Cup, the biggest global soccer tournament ever. Plus the biggest stories in soccer all brought to life on stage with lively debate, funny stories, and audience interaction.


Why Boring Brands Break the Internet

Adam Morgan

VP of Brand

Adam Morgan is Director of Brand Marketing at Twilio, where he leads global brand strategy for one of the world’s most influential developer-first technology companies. His work focuses on making complex infrastructure brands culturally relevant by blending creativity, clarity, and storytelling at scale. Adam brings deep experience in repositioning B2B and developer-led brands to earn attention beyond traditional tech audiences, helping them show up as entertaining, human, and culturally fluent.

Izzy Sarrafzadeh

Brand Advisor

Izzy Sarrafzadeh is a Brand Advisor at Dr. Squatch. She previously led global brand marketing at Dr Squatch, where she helped scale the brand through irreverent creative, viral celebrity campaigns, and culturally fluent storytelling. At Rho, Izzy brings challenger energy to fintech, combining startup grit, creator-led thinking, and bold brand expression to stand out in a traditionally conservative category.

Nate Skinner

Sr. Director Of Global Brand

Nate Skinner is a brand and strategy leader who believes the future belongs to brands that entertain. As Global Brand lead at Squarespace, he drives the company’s brand strategy, brand media, and partnerships across key markets globally. Before joining Squarespace, Nate led brand narrative at Nike in New York, shaping campaigns at the intersection of sport, lifestyle, and culture. He began his career in consumer research and later served as Head of Strategy and Co-Managing Director at Stink Studios. Across every role, Nate’s focus has remained the same: building brands that people want to spend time with.

Dan Salkey

Founder

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

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

When the default expectation is dull, entertaining content is a growth hack. This panel gathers marketers from categories often considered ‘boring’ like sunscreen, hygiene, and language apps, who have proven that irreverence, humour, and showmanship drive disproportionate returns. Learn why the blandest brands can become the boldest entertainers.


Human+AI Alliance: Talent Leaders & AI Developers Collab

Íñigo Sánchez-Cabezudo

Founder

Íñigo Sánchez-Cabezudo is a purpose-driven Talent Development Consultant, coach and entrepreneur with a global expertise spanning over 88 countries. Based in Washington, DC, he is the founder of Iñigo Learning. A SHRM Senior Certified Professional and a distinguished alumnus of Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Íñigo is certified in change management, team dynamics, and diversity and inclusion. With a Master’s in Entrepreneurship and certifications in coaching and leadership, he specializes in purpose-driven leadership and organizational growth. Known for his optimism and passion for human development, he empowers leaders to create transformative, inclusive, and intentional impacts.

His Life Purpose: “To inspire others so they reach higher levels of BEING”.

Margaret Spence

Founder/CEO

Margaret Spence is a visionary talent strategist, chief possibility architect, and founder of The Inclusion Learning Lab. She partners with talent development leaders to close workforce skill gaps, build inclusive learning cultures, and future-proof leadership pipelines across generations. Margaret’s work ensures women—especially those at risk of being left behind—are equipped to lead boldly in the evolving workplace. At the intersection of human potential and AI, she aligns upskilling with business strategy, so every employee sees what's possible—and is equipped and ready to achieve it.

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

Breaking down the critical divide in AI implementation: the gap between those who design AI experiences, build AI systems, and develop humans to work with them. AI designers create experiences, developers build systems, talent leaders develop humans, UI/UX designers shape interactions—but they rarely collaborate. Result? AI implementations fail because they ignore human experience design and adaptation needs. We'll break down silos between these groups, creating the cross-functional alliance every organization needs but few achieve.

HUMAN+AI ALLIANCE: TALENT LEADERS & AI DEVELOPERS COLLAB


Fashion Networking Meet Up

Caryn Pang

Professor of Marketing & Fashion Management

Dr. Caryn Pang is a faculty member at Hult International Business School in Boston and Parsons School of Design in NYC, with over 15 years of experience as a retail executive. She has consulted for global businesses, imparting her expertise in marketing, branding, and business fundamentals to her students. Dr. Pang has worked with leading companies like Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Macy's, integrating the latest strategies into her teachings. Her research focuses on cross-cultural consumer behavior and business strategies in hospitality and retail. She earned her Ph.D. from Iowa State University and is a 2024 recipient of the ExW ExtraOrdinary Women Award from the Mayor of Boston. In March 2024, she spoke at the SXSW Conference about the positive impact of mentorship.

Athena Burgueno

Co-Founder

Athena Burgueno is Co-Founder of Fashion Friends Collective and a fashion technologist, building new pathways to access, opportunity, and career growth across the fashion industry. Co-inventor of an AI technology for body-size inclusivity (patent pending), advancing more representative personalization in how people experience fashion. She brings a multidisciplinary perspective across fashion, technology, and platforms, shaping strategy, partnerships, and content-led experiences. A returning speaker at SXSW and mentor at Parsons School of Design, she is dedicated to fostering growth in emerging fashion talent.

Room 408

Convene, Collaborate, & Cultivate Connection: Moms Meet Up

This interactive meet up is designed for fashion students, professionals, and creatives to connect through guided speed networking. Attendees will rotate through small groups for real conversations about careers, creativity, and community. Whether you're just starting out or have years of experience, this is your chance to build authentic relationships and meet others who care about where fashion is headed.


"Does Music Need So Much Copyright Law?"

Peter Anderson

Partner

Peter Anderson has over four decades of experience in copyright and entertainment litigation. He was lead counsel in the "Stairway to Heaven" music copyright case, representing Led Zeppelin and others, winning a jury verdict that held on appeal (Skidmore v. Led Zeppelin). His current or past clients also include, for example, Taylor Swift, the Weeknd, Cardi B, Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, Green Day, Sam Smith, Cher, Lil Nas X, Korn, and Ozzy Osbourne, as well as the major record companies and music publishers. Peter successfully argued to the U.S. Supreme Court in the all-important "Rear Window" copyright case (Stewart v Abend), which continues to govern how copyrights can be recaptured by authors and musicians who signed them away decades earlier.

Lee Knife

Attorney

I began my career litigating and representing artists and small record labels, as well as musical instrument manufacturers at a boutique law firm in New York. After that, I spent about 20 years doing business and legal affairs at various major record companies (PolyGram, EMI, BMG, Universal). I then spent about 15 years in Washington D.C. running the Digital Media Association, the trade organization that represents digital media platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Google/YouTube, etc.

Brigitte Alanis

Partner

Brigitte Alanis is a Partner at KHPS’s entertainment department, where she advises emerging and established artists and creators. She specializes in strategic negotiation and execution of a broad range of agreements and matters in the music business. A California native and graduate of UCLA Law School, she is a partner at one of the top music firms in the world, and her own clients include such groundbreaking artists as Alex Warren (#1 Billboard Hot 100 artist for multiple weeks this summer). She focuses on her creative clients' interests and supporting their creative visions.

Bill Hochberg

Attorney

Bill Hochberg is an attorney with three decades of experience in the law and business of music.  As a thought leader, he contributes to Forbes, the Atlantic, Wired and other publications, and Bill hosts the Music Law Beat podcast, where he dives deep with music professionals on industry-changing issues.  Bill is named on Billboard’s Top Music Attorneys list, is rated as a Super Lawyer and sits on boards of the New England Conservatory and New Music USA.

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?

When Jack Dorsey tweeted “Delete all IP law” and Elon Musk agreed, the music biz thought it was just provocative nonsense. But next thing you know, Trump fired the Register of Copyrights after she said AI companies need to pay up for music they're ingesting. Then music companies pivoted from suing AI platforms to making big deals with them. So what gives? Is copyright law too restrictive or even unnecessary? Mozart didn't need it to make music. Sure, but Mozart died penniless.  A wise and experienced panel will explore both sides of this heated and fascinating issue, and keep it high level.


Brainwave Breakthroughs: The Next Healthcare Frontier

Rob Franklin

SVP

Rob is currently the SVP, Brain Computer Interfaces at Blackrock Neurotech. Rob earned the Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he developed electrodes for in vivo neurotransmitter sensing. Following his Ph.D. studies, Rob began his work at Blackrock Neurotech where he has directed a team of engineers in the design and development of implantable, wireless neural interface electronics and novel silicon electrodes for recording and stimulation in the brain. His deep technical understanding and solution-oriented engineering approach have put him at the core of Blackrock's clinical translation activities, and he currently leads the BCI translation team developing Blackrock’s Neuralace technology.

Dr. Amy Kruse, PhD

GP & Chief Investment Officer

Dr. Amy Kruse is CIO of Satori Neuro, a stage-agnostic fund backing mental health, neurotech, and human flourishing. A neuroscientist, entrepreneur, advisor, angel investor, and former DARPA PM, she scouts and supports startups tackling brain-health challenges. She previously served as GP at Prime Movers Lab, CSO of Optios, and CTO of Cubic Global Defense. At DARPA she launched performance-oriented neuroscience programs in augmented cognition, accelerated learning, and neuromodulation. Kruse advises NIH Blueprint MedTech, BrainMind, and other groups, sits on multiple portfolio boards, and writes widely. She holds BS and PhD degrees in Neuroscience from UIUC.

Amir Bozorgzadeh

Amir is cofounder and CEO at Virtuleap, a VR startup that delivers immersive VR digital therapeutics that enhance focus, memory, and early detection of cognitive disorders, empowering minds from ADHD to Alzheimer’s. Previous to Virtuleap, Amir founded Gameguise, a mobile games studio based in Dubai, and Time Dirham the first social impact startup to introduce time banking to the Middle East. He is an alumni of York University and THNK School of Creative Leadership. Amir has been a contributing writer to tech blogs like VentureBeat and Tech Crunch on the topics of emerging tech, spatial computing, and startup ecosystems.

Salon FGH

SXSW Pitch-Healthcare, AssistiveTech & BioTech

SXSW Pitch-Sustainability, AgTech & Food

SXSW Pitch-Smart Cities, Transportation, Manufacturing & Logistics

SXSW Pitch-Smart Data, Security, and FinTech

Tech is rewriting medicine’s playbook. Dive into AI engines, brain-computer interfaces, and VR therapies transforming healthcare. Learn which disorders they tackle and the trends poised to disrupt diagnostics, workflows, and recovery. These tools feed on rich cognitive data to personalize treatment in real time. Explore innovative applications that convert living rooms into mini clinics. Discoveries in brain science ripple beyond neurology, inspiring smarter solutions across healthcare.

BRAINWAVE BREAKTHROUGHS: THE NEXT HEALTHCARE FRONTIER


Seeing is Believing: XR for Communicating Climate Resilience

Sarah Vitale

Director of Civic Technology

Sarah Vitale, AICP serves as the Director of Civic Technology for the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. She specializes in urban design visualization, GIS mapping, and 3D modeling, and provides planning and technical support across the Council’s projects and programs.

Greg Lindsay

Non-resident senior fellow

Greg Lindsay is a non-resident senior fellow of MIT’s Future Urban Collectives Lab, Arizona State University’s Threatcasting Lab, and the Atlantic Council’s GeoStrategy Initiative. He was the founding chief communications ofﬁcer of the climate analytics startup AlphaGeo, where he remains a senior advisor. He was previously a 2022-2023 urban tech fellow at Cornell Tech’s Jacobs Institute, where he explored the implications of AI and augmented reality at urban scale.

Alan Clinton

Administrative Planning Officer

Alan Clinton is an experienced GIS and Civic Planning professional and the Administrative Planning Officer at the County of Kauai’s Planning Department working at the nexus of Long Range & Regulatory Planning with an emphasis on resiliency programming and administering technology solutions. Alan’s academic background included studies in geography, natural resources, and civic planning. Alan is the Chairperson for the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service.

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

Climate risks are often invisible in daily life: too abstract for action, too complex for traditional media. This session showcases how XR, digital twins, and immersive storytelling can transform risk perception from data to visceral shared experience. Panelists will share examples from wildfire-prone communities and coastal resilience projects, unpacking immersive media's unique power to overcome misinformation, bridge silos, and build trust.

SEEING IS BELIEVING: XR FOR COMMUNICATING CLIMATE RESILIENCE


Animation Professionals Meet Up

Craig Staggs

CEO

Craig Staggs, studio co-founder, partner, and director, brings his extensive background in art, theater, and film to the table. Renowned as an acclaimed independent producer and visual artist, Craig is the visionary behind Minnow Mountain’s celebrated rotoscope approach, emphasizing storytelling, character development, and exceptional acting.

Steph Swope

President

Steph Swope boasts a remarkable 27-year career in the independent film industry, earning
recognition as an award-winning producer of animated series and feature films. Steph’s no-bullshit
authenticity and a supernatural analytical ability has laid the foundation for Minnow Mountain’s success.

Minnow Mountain LLC is an animation studio specializing in performance capture
rotoscope character animation. Founded in 2012 by industry veterans Craig Staggs and
Steph Swope, we are located in Austin, Texas.

With a strong focus on delivering exceptional animation services, we offer a range of
creative solutions for television and film producers that includes development and
production of feature films, series, shorts, music videos, and project pitches. As Emmy-winning
animators, Minnow Mountain is proud to attract partnerships with the most
prestigious producers in the adult animation industry.

Some of our notable co-productions include the critically acclaimed "Tower" (dir. Keith Maitland) for PBS, the
groundbreaking series "Undone" (dir. Hisko Hulsing) for Amazon Prime, and the visually stunning "Apollo 10 1/2:
A Space Age Childhood" (dir. Richard Linklater) for Netflix. We were proud to contribute to 2023’s
underground hit and film festival darling, "Quantum Cowboys." We make short form animation like the opening sequence for YouTube-based DnD-playing juggernaut Critical Role, or the Black Angels' music video for their hit single, "Empires Falling." We also produce the online course How To Rotoscope with Craig Staggs.

In 2024 we expanded the company in two exciting ways: developing Minnow Mountain
original films (to be written and directed by studio co-founder Craig Staggs) and offering 2D
cartoon style character animation production services.

Whitis

Make it in Texas! Film, TV and Digital Media Meet Up

Women in Film & Televison Austin Hosts Connect & Collaborate

Film & TV Audience and Community Building Meet Up

Latine/x Voices in Film: Creatives Meet-Up!

The Animation Professionals Meet Up is a chance to mix with animation industry folks and make some sweet connections. This event is hosted by SXSW veterans Craig Staggs and Steph Swope of Minnow Mountain, animators behind Tower (PBS), Undone (Amazon), and Apollo 10 1/2 (Netflix). Animation pros at any level are invited to join us for the third year of this epic exchange of business cards and social media profiles. Leave your mark on our huge live-drawing canvas featuring the amazing cutting-edge technology of a Sharpie. These are your people!


Conflict Contagion: The New AMR Threat

Dr. Antoine Abou-Fayad, PhD

Associate Professor of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology

Dr. Abou Fayad is a microbiologist and medicinal chemist in the field of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). His research focuses on tackling antibacterial resistance (ABR) under a “One-Health Approach” and the discovery of novel anti-infectives, with a special interest on ABR in conflict settings. He has published in over 50 peer-reviewed journals and several book chapters and has 1 patent.
Dr. Abou Fayad is currently a tenured Associate Professor in Dept of Experimental Pathology, Immunology, and Microbiology at the Faculty of Medicine at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and his research lab is a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating center for reference and research on bacterial pathogens.

Salon C

Launch with 0 Investors: A Playbook for Crowdfunding in 2026

Missionary Misfits: Why Not Belonging Makes You Build Better

How to Raise $$$ From Angel Groups: What We Really Look For

The Next Five Years of Private Markets: What Founders Can’t Afford to Miss

The CDC calls antimicrobial resistance(AMR)-when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and more stop responding to medicine-the next global epidemic, estimating 10M deaths/yr from AMR by 2050. Infectious disease expert Dr. Antoine Abou Fayad's new findings show that global conflict is greatly increasing the spread. Heavy metals left in soil by munitions are causing bacteria to become resistant in additional ways, and this version of AMR spreads easily via animals, humans, & even inorganic products. So, you may be far from Gaza or the Ukraine, but those conflicts are still very dangerous to your health.


Liquid Brands & Vanishing Interfaces: New Rules of Experience

Alex Hamilton

Group Innovation Director

Alex Hamilton is Group Innovation Director at Dentsu UK.

As the Dentsu Lab London lead, he specialises in working with creative and technology teams to ensure the business is delivering human-cantered innovation to impact business and society.

During his career, Alex has delivered bespoke innovation projects for a range of multinational clients, including Clarins, IKEA and Kellogg’s.

With an eye-catching presentation style, Hamilton regularly speaks at conferences – including SXSW, Cannes Lions and Websummit – on how our relationship with technology is reshaping the industry.

He holds a First-Class degree in BSc Economics from the University of Sussex and is based in London.

Suff Syed

Head of Design – Product & AI Leader

Suff Syed serves as Head of Product and an AI Product Leader within Microsoft Research, the division tasked with architecting the future of AI products and technologies within the Microsoft universe.  As a designer, a scientist, and a futurist – Suff  believes in combining meaningful design and intelligent technology to enable human value. Prior to Microsoft, Suff worked at and advised startups and Fortune 500 companies building creative and enterprise solutions. His in-depth knowledge and practical experience in software design, from design concept creation to development and release, enable him to build strong strategic partnerships with Research, Strategy, Design, Engineering, Brand and Marketing teams to deliver innovative end-to-end solutions.

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

The website is dying. The mouse is next. In this bold fireside chat, Alex Hamilton and Suff Syed challenge everything we know about digital experience. From liquid brands that move across surfaces to voice interfaces that erase traditional UX, they’ll unpack what happens after design as we know it. What does it mean when a brand meets you, in your car, your watch, your fridge, your earbuds? What does design look like when it’s generated, optimised, and personalised in real time? Expect a thrilling look at the collapse of static web thinking.

LIQUID BRANDS & VANISHING INTERFACES: NEW RULES OF EXPERIENCE


Creative Destruction Unleashed by Artificial Intelligence

John Hagel

Founder and CEO

John Hagel has spent over 40 years in Silicon Valley as a management consultant, author, speaker, and entrepreneur. After retiring as a partner from Deloitte, he launched two ventures, Beyond Our Edge, LLC in 2020, where he continues to advise organizations as a strategic consultant, and the Center for Growth in 2025, which offers programs based on his recent book, The Journey Beyond Fear. Together, these companies extend his lifelong work in transformation, growth, and leadership.

Throughout his career, John has collaborated with leaders of major institutions worldwide. At Deloitte, he founded and chaired the Deloitte Center for the Edge, a global initiative. Before that, he was a Principal at McKinsey & Company, where he helped lead the Strategy Practice and played a key role in opening the firm’s Silicon Valley office. He also served as Senior Vice President of Strategy at Atari, Inc., and later founded two Silicon Valley startups.

John also teaches at Singularity University and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Santa Fe Institute, a leading center for research on complex adaptive systems.

In addition to his most recent book, John has published seven others, including the best-selling business titles The Power of Pull, Net Gain, Net Worth, Out of the Box, and The Only Sustainable Edge. His work has been widely published and quoted in major business outlets such as The Economist, Fortune, Forbes, BusinessWeek, Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal, as well as in general media outlets such as The New York Times, NBC, and BBC. He has received two awards from Harvard Business Review for best articles and has been recognized as an industry thought leader by numerous organizations, including the World Economic Forum and BusinessWeek.

John received a BA from Wesleyan University, a B.Phil. from Oxford University, and both a JD and an MBA from Harvard University.

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

Artificial intelligence is a highly disruptive technology that will challenge existing institutions in all industries and domains globally. Traditional approaches to creating value will become less and less effective as this technology spreads. On the other side, this technology opens up new potential to create exponentially expanding value but, to harness this potential, we need to become very creative in imagining and implementing new approaches to managing organizations.

CREATIVE DESTRUCTION UNLEASHED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE