SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST ANNOUNCES INITIAL KEYNOTES AND FEATURED SPEAKERS FOR 2020 CONFERENCE
Former President and COO of Nintendo of America Reggie Fils-Aimé and Musician and Visual Artist Kim Gordon Announced as KeynoteFeatured Speakers Announced Include Chip & Joanna Gaines, Benny Blanco, Robert Rodriguez, Shoshana Zuboff, Chris Hughes, Cheech Marin, Roxane Gay, Yo-Yo Ma, Steve DeAngelo, Guy Laliberté, Tressie McMillan Cottom, Nile Rodgers, Camille François, John Maeda, Col Needham, Kwame Onwuachi, Amy Webb, and More
Austin, Texas — September 10, 2019 — South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals (March 13–22, 2020) has announced the initial Keynote and Featured Speakers for the 34th edition of its annual Conference, which celebrates the convergence of technology, film, and music industries.
“We’re kicking off the 2020 season with a captivating group of speakers. From Keynotes Reggie Fils-Aimé, who oversaw Nintendo of America during its most successful era, and Kim Gordon, a creative virtuoso whose passion and achievements have paved the way for others, to our diverse range of expert Featured Speakers, these talents prove that SXSW is the premier destination for innovation and creative discovery,” said Hugh Forrest, Chief Programming Officer.
“We’ve also added new tracks and more programming to the second half of the week, as our event evolves to reflect the continued convergence of the industries who gather here.“
The SXSW Conference is organized into 22 programming tracks, divided between Interactive, Film, Music, and Convergence themes and presented in a variety of session formats. The 2020 Conference will present several new and updated tracks, including Climate & Social Action, Connection & Culture, Game Industry, and Professional Development. Once again, SXSW is offering expanded access to events for all registrants. Attendees will receive primary access to programming associated with their badge type but now also enjoy secondary entry to most other SXSW events. Newly-announced SXSW 2020 Keynotes include:
- Managing Partner at Brentwood Growth Partners and former President and COO of Nintendo of America Reggie Fils-Aimé (Convergence)
- Musician, singer, songwriter, visual artist, and actress Kim Gordon (Music)
Newly-announced Featured Speakers include:
- Founder and Chief Trend Curator of the Non-Obvious Company Rohit Bhargava
- Producer, songwriter, artist Benny Blanco
- Cannabis rights activist Steve DeAngelo
- Starburst Accelerator co-founder & Managing Partner Van Espahbodi
- Graphika Chief Innovation Officer Camille François
- Entrepreneurs and Magnolia founders Chip and Joanna Gaines
- Entrepreneur and Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes in conversation with TechCrunch’s Josh Constine
- Author and co-founder and CEO of Affectiva Dr. Rana el Kaliouby
- Cirque du Soleil, One Drop Foundation and Lune Rouge founder Guy Laliberté
- Designer, author and technologist John Maeda
- Actor and comedian Cheech Marin in conversation with Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez
- IMDB Founder and CEO Col Needham
- James Beard Award-winning chef and author Kwame Onwuachi
- Executive Director of Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation Cat Packer
- C3 Presents concert and festival promoter Huston Powell
- Musician, producer and songwriter Nile Rodgers in conversation with music industry executive and entrepreneur Merck Mercuriadis
- Quantitative futurist, author and founder and CEO of the Future Today Institute Amy Webb
- Author and scholar Shoshana Zuboff
Newly-announced Featured Sessions Include:
- Activating Change with a Cello and a Shovel: an exploration of how to use culture to transform social problems that create division and uncertainty into moments that confirm community and activate change, featuring musician Yo-Yo Ma and artist Pedro Reyes. Moderated by NPR’s Peter Sagal.
- Changing the Immersive Storytelling Wild West: a conversation about how to collaborate to create sustainable, transformative and inclusive work in immersive storytelling, between Royal Shakespeare Company Director of Digital Development Sarah Ellis; anthropologist, technologist, professor and Intel senior fellow Genevieve Bell; and Guild of Future Architects Executive Director Kamal Sinclair. Moderated by Watershed CEO Clare Reddington.
- Hear to Slay: a live podcast recording offering compelling conversations and uncommonly incisive reads of the politics and pop culture that shape the world we live in, featuring writer, editor and podcaster Roxane Gay; award-winning professor and author Tressie McMillan Cottom; and Special Guest.
SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. An essential destination for global professionals, the event features sessions, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. SXSW 2020 will take place March 13 – 22, 2020. For more information, please visit sxsw.com. To register for the event, please visit sxsw.com/attend.
I love music. I love crowded venues, loud music, and sweat-soaked fans. I love the sound of a venue opening its doors to the public.
Hey there! I have a wealth of experience in the entertainment and private event industries, having worked in various roles over the past 20 years. I have a private security background and have received training in defensive strategy, Krav Maga, festival security planning, and emergency response. I've worked at some fantastic concert venues and festivals, such as Emo's East, Stubb's, ACL Festival, Bonnaroo, and SXSW. I've also been fortunate to work in the box office for the Circuit of the Americas and the Germania Music Amphitheater music venue.
In 2014, I developed a passion for all things media-related and began exploring content creation and concert photography opportunities. I have no formal training in these areas, but in 2017, I decided to take it to the next level by pursuing a degree in the arts, specifically in radio, television, and film. I am currently a multimedia journalist for the student life department at ACC. I have received a scholarship from the Austin Film Society.
I've been blessed to have been mentored as a talent buyer under the legendary Mark Lee of 462 Concerts (now known as Live Nation) in Dallas, Tx, for nearly a decade. I've also had the opportunity to work as a camera operator for the Full Moon Features Puppetmaster sequel: Doktor Death and filmed multiple music videos, including SSB's feature single with Bernz, "Insane," and the Dirty Wormz dub hop single with Tech N9ne and Krizz Kaliko "2INCH REEL KILLA".
I truly believe in capturing the essence of life and representing it in a creative effort. Overall I'm passionate about my work and excited to share my experience and skills with others.
