People shop for official merchandise during the South by Southwest (SXSW) 2025 in Austin, Texas, the United States, March 7, 2025. The annual convergence of technology, film, and music, kicked off here on Friday, transforming the state's capital city into a hub of innovation showcases, tech panels and cross-cultural networking alongside a vibrant lineup of live music, comedy, and film screenings. (Photo by Christopher Davila/Xinhua)
by Christopher Davila
AUSTIN, the United States, March 7 (Xinhua) -- South by Southwest (SXSW) 2025, the annual convergence of technology, film, and music, kicked off in Austin, U.S. state of Texas, on Friday, transforming the state's capital city into a hub of innovation showcases, tech panels and cross-cultural networking alongside a vibrant lineup of live music, comedy, and film screenings.
This year's conference section features hundreds of sessions across various tracks, covering hot topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and extended reality (XR), according to the organizers.
Notable speakers include IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna, who will deliver a keynote on the intersection of AI and quantum computing, and their transformative potential for business and society.
The festival also spotlights decentralized technologies, with Bluesky CEO Jay Graber discussing the future of social media and open, decentralized networks in a keynote address.
The Future Today Institute will return to this year's festival and unveil its 18th annual Tech Trends Report, presented by futurist and institute founder Amy Webb, offering attendees a deep dive into emerging technologies, organizers announced.
"I'm excited for the immersive showcase, especially the latest in virtual reality and other emerging media like haptics," Sophia Baker, an Austin resident, told Xinhua. "There are also panels on brain health and 3D brain mapping, which I find fascinating. I'm looking forward to exploring SXSW's mix of tech and other disciplines, such as brain research."
"I love meeting up with all my industry friends and getting to network (during the SXSW). But what I'm most excited about is I'm speaking on a panel called Building Tomorrow's World, how academia teaches XR creation," Erin Reilly, a professor with University of Texas, told Xinhua.
SXSW 2025 continues its legacy of celebrating groundbreaking innovation. The SXSW Innovation Awards, featuring 55 finalists across 11 categories, offer a glimpse into the future of AI, sustainability, and community empowerment.
"I'm incredibly proud that this year's SXSW Innovation Awards finalists showcase products and projects that make a meaningful impact on society," said Hugh Forrest, SXSW president and chief programming officer.
Notable finalists include Wandercraft's Self-Balancing Exoskeleton and the CMR-M1, which is thought to be among the first AI-powered movie cameras. These innovations underscore the festival's role in helping shape global tech trends, local analysts note.
The intersection of technology and entertainment remains a key focus. This year, the SXSW Film Festival will premiere groundbreaking works that push the boundaries of storytelling and technology, such as the XR Experience Program, where 31 XR films and projects will be showcased, further blurring the lines between cinema and immersive media, according to organizers.
The festival continues to attract Hollywood stars. Anticipated appearances include Ben Affleck for "The Accountant 2," Nicole Kidman for "Holland," and Pedro Pascal for a panel on "The Last of Us" Season 2.
Despite its celebration of creativity and innovation, SXSW is not untouched by global political tensions. Last month, the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) announced the cancellation of its Canada House event at SXSW 2025, citing rising costs and political uncertainty between Canada and the United States over tariffs as factors in the decision.
"We would be going down there just after the 30-day tariff pause has expired. We're going to have a new prime minister. I just didn't feel comfortable putting CIMA in that context of instability," CIMA President and CEO Andrew Cash said at the time.
The annual festival can be traced back to 1987. Around 2000, SXSW started to focus more on emerging technologies and has earned the reputation as a breeding ground for new ideas and creative technologies. ■
People attend the South by Southwest (SXSW) 2025 in Austin, Texas, the United States, March 7, 2025.
The annual convergence of technology, film, and music kicked off here on Friday, transforming the state's capital city into a hub of innovation showcases, tech panels and cross-cultural networking alongside a vibrant lineup of live music, comedy, and film screenings. (Photo by Christopher Davila/Xinhua)
