The initial roster of speakers, conference topics, music acts, games, and films has officially been disclosed for SXSW Sydney 2024.
Hweiling Ow’s short Vivie, produced by Mia Maramara and Sara Chen, is among the first four titles confirmed for the festival. Made with support from the NZFC and a successful Boosted campaign, the film tells the tale of a sexually frustrated young woman, desperate to persuade her vagina to open up when she bumps into an ex-boyfriend.
The full SXSW lineup boasts prominent figures such as Hamish Blake, David Warner, Courtney Act, Craig Tiley, David Gallop, and Australia’s pioneering female astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg. Notable companies featured include TikTok, Atlassian, IBM, Taronga Zoo, and more than 50 additional speakers and performers.
Geoff Jones, Chair of SXSW Sydney and CEO of TEG Group, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “After the success of the inaugural SXSW Sydney in 2023, we are once again inspired by the overwhelming response from the creator communities to participate in the 2024 program. This is the first of many announcements as we roll out the extensive and diverse range of visionaries & creative thinkers from around the Globe that make up the SXSW Sydney 2024 conference lineup.”
SXSW Sydney serves as a platform for discovery, bringing together leading minds from the realms of Tech & Innovation, Games, Music, Screen, and Culture. Jones assures that this year’s event promises to be as inspiring as ever.
Notable sessions from last year’s SXSW Sydney included appearances by Chance the Rapper, Nicole Kidman, Charlie Booker, and Amy Webb, alongside an array of compelling feature films, documentaries, and shorts from across the globe.
Highlighted from the newly announced program are offerings that may pique the interest of filmmakers and enthusiasts alike:
Screen Speakers:
- Award-winning Australian filmmaker Simon McQuoid
- Indigenous writer, actor, director, and publisher Nakkiah Lui
- Global queer icon and entertainer Courtney Act
- CEO and Founder of Spawnpoint Media Jordan Barclay (AKA EYstreem)
- Filmmaker, 2019 Australian of the Year, and Lieutenant Governor of South Australia Dr. Richard Harris SC OAM
Screen Talks:
- “Beyond the Big Screen: Film Tech in the Real World” featuring Aaron Corera of XM2, Filmmaker Gregory Read, and Duncan Jones, CEO of Myriad Studios.
Featured Films:
- “Fish Tank” by Wendi Tang
- “Meat Puppet” by Eros V
- “Vivie” by Hweiling Ow
- “Make Me a Pizza” by Talia Shea Levin
SXSW Sydney is scheduled to run from October 14 to October 20, 2024. For a comprehensive lineup and further details, visit the SXSW Sydney website.
