SXSW Festival Announced, Will Be Completely Virtual
Due to the cancellation of South by Southwest’s festival in March 2020, they are making up for it by hosting an online event in 2021. It will take place from March 16 to March 20.
The occasion will feature movie screenings, keynote speeches, conferences, and more.
The weekend prior they will be hosting a digital experience with SXSW EDU which will include “conference keynotes and sessions, screenings, showcases, networking, and exhibitions,” according to their website.
Entries can be submitted starting Oct. 6 with PanelPicker proposals, which is an online platform that lets people propose session ideas for both events. From there, the public will be able to view, vote and provide feedback.
Roland Swenson, CEO and co-founder, left a promising statement for the future gathering.
“The challenge of building a new future is one that we’re excited to tackle. This has been such a year of change and we, like the entire world, are reshaping our perspective on how we connect. We’re pleased to be working on SXSW Online as part of our program for 2021, and regardless of platform, we will continue to bring together the brightest minds from creative industries worldwide.”
Originally supposed to take place in Austin, SXSW is currently working with the popular Texas city and public health authorities to create an in-person event for next year as well. As COVID-19 continues to put a damper on the festival industry, SXSW is slowly trying to fight back.