Austin, Texas – June 29, 2021 — Today South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals has launched its 2022 season with the opening of PanelPicker® programming proposals and Music Showcasing Artist applications for next year’s event. SXSW Film Festival Submissions open on August 24.
SXSW will accept proposals through PanelPicker, an online tool that allows the SXSW community to have a significant voice in programming conference activities through an open proposal and voting process, beginning today, Tuesday, June 29, and closing July 22, 2021. The SXSW community will be able to browse proposals, leave comments, and vote to help shape the event during Community Voting from August 10-26, 2021.
The SXSW Conference features 15 programming tracks, each featuring sessions that focus on a specific element of the track’s broad theme and with target audiences ranging from beginner-level to advanced. Tracks for 2022 will include: 2050, Advertising & Brand Experience, Civic Engagement, Climate Change, Culture, Design, Film & TV Industry, Future of Music, Game Industry, Health & MedTech, Making Film & Episodics, Media Industry, Startups, Tech Industry, and Transportation. New for 2022: SXSW will host industry-specific Summits which will include specialized multi-day content. The initial lineup of Summits include Fintech, Future of Work, Sports and XR with more to be announced soon.
The SXSW Music Festival is now accepting Showcasing Artist applications for 2022. The festival brings together artists, industry professionals, influencers and music lovers from around the world to make connections, elevate their careers, and celebrate the magic of live music with showcases from legendary performers and the most exciting new talent. The application period closes on Thursday, October 7, 2021. Apply early for a discounted rate.
The SXSW Film Festival will begin accepting Feature Film, Short Film, Episodic, Music Video, and XR Project submissions August 24, 2021 through October 19, 2021. The Texas High School Short category will accept submissions through December 14, 2021.
In addition to PanelPicker proposals for the SXSW Conference and applications for the Music Festival, SXSW is now accepting entries for the best digital creative work for the SXSW Innovation Awards, and the most inventive startups for SXSW Pitch.
SXSW 2022 registration and housing will open late summer. To register for the event, please visit sxsw.com/attend.
The 2021 SXSW Online Conference featured more than 449 sessions, with speakers including Willie Nelson, Pete Buttigieg, Stacey Abrams with N.K. Jemisin, Charles Yu with Lisa Ling, Priya Parker with Anand Giridharadas, Queen Latifah, Taraji P. Henson, Barry Jenkins, Matthew McConaughey, Baratunde Thurston, Samantha Bee, Sir Richard Branson, Elizabeth Banks, Mayim Bialik, Mary J. Blige, James Cameron, David Dobrik, Melinda Gates, Lori Gottlieb, Bill Hader, Yuval Noah Harari, Noah Hawley, Walter Isaacson, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Carole King, Amy Klobuchar, Demi Lovato, Desus Nice and the Kid Mero, Alexis Ohanian, Jon Platt, Mark Rabkin, Amber Ruffin, The Russo Brothers, President George W. Bush, Indra Nooyi, Ava DuVernay, Chance the Rapper, Kenan Thompson, Werner Vogels, Mick Fleetwood, Ole Obermann, Don Lemon, Jemele Hill, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
The SXSW Online Music Festival showcased 289 artists featuring 202 international acts representing 38 countries. Highlights included A Place To Bury Strangers; Alice Skye; Alien Tango; Anna B Savage; Awich; Black Country, New Road; The Chats; Choses Sauvages; Clipping; Dingo Bells; DUCKWRTH; Francisca Valenzuela; Golden Dawn Arkestra; Grrrl Gang; HAEPAARY; Haru Nemuri; Indigo Sparke; Jade Jackson & Aubrie Sellers; Jambinai; Katy J Pearson; Kinky; Magdalena Bay; Onipa; Otoboke Beaver; Pillow Queens; Say Sue Me; Sinead O’Brien; Squid; Steady Holiday; TEKE :: TEKE; Theon Cross; Tuyo; Vocal Vidas; Walt Disco; Ximena Sariñana; and Yung Baby Tate.
For SXSW Online, the SXSW Film Festival screened 75 features, 84 Short Films including Music Videos, 5 Episodic Premieres, 6 Episodic Pilots, 20 Virtual Cinema projects, 14 Title Design entries, plus 30 Special Events. The Feature Film slate screened 57 World Premieres, 4 North American Premieres, one U.S. Premiere and 53 films from first-time filmmakers. Highlights included Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil; Alone Together; Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free; Alien on Stage; Delia Derbyshire: The Myths and the Legendary Tapes; Disintegration Loops; The End of Us; The Fallout; Gaia; Here Before; The Hunt for Planet B; Hysterical; Jakob’s Wife; Lily Topples the World; Luchadoras; Recovery; R#J; Sound of Violence; Sparks Brothers; Swan Song; United States vs. Reality Winter; Violet; When Claude Got Shot; Confronting a Serial Killer; Cruel Summer; The Girlfriend Experience; Made for Love; Sasquatch; and Them.
SXSW Online XR will once again bring the Austin experience into the virtual world showcasing live panels, Meet Ups, special events, the SXSW Film Festival Poster Gallery, and a selection of 360° videos from the Virtual Cinema program.
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 tech, film, music, education, and culture. An essential destination for global professionals, the annual March event features sessions, music and comedy showcases, film screenings, exhibitions, professional development and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. SXSW 2022 will take place March 11 – 20, 2022. For more information on SXSW, please go here.
SXSW 2022 is sponsored by White Claw, Audible and The Austin Chronicle.
