SXSW 2024

A organização do SXSW 2024 divulgou nesta terça-feira, 13, mais uma rodada de nomes que estarão na 38ª edição do evento, que acontece entre os dias 08 e 16 de março, em Austin (Texas). Entre eles estão a atriz inglesa Daisy Ridley, que fez a personagem Rey na franquia Star Wars; a jogadora de basquete e medalhista olímpica estadunidense Sue Bird; e a ganense-canadense Joy Buolamwini, cientista da computação e autora do livro “Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What is Human in a World of Machines” - detalhes de cada um desses painéis estão mais abaixo.

Outros convidados deste ano são: o CEO da Deezer, Jeronimo Folgueira; o chef e fundador da World Central Kitchen, José Andrés; a dupla francesa de música eletrônica Justice, composta por Gaspard Augé e Xavier de Rosnay; o CEO do Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi; e a diretora sênior de global accessibility policy & initiatives da Apple, Sarah Herrlinger.

Antes, o SXSW já havia divulgado as presenças dos atores e produtores Jane Fonda e Elijah Wood, dos fundadores da banda The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach e Patrick Carney, e os CEOs da Delta Air Lines, Ed Bastian, e da Twitch, Dan Clancy, respectivamente (leia aqui).

Também foi anunciado o programa inglês Future Art and Culture, que retorna pela oitava vez dentro da grade do SXSW Interactive. Organizado pelo British Underground e pelo Arts Council England, ele é uma grande mostra de talentos britânicos que exploram as fronteiras da arte e da tecnologia, com exposições e debates promovidos em painéis e eventos de networking.

A promessa é que as experiências oferecidas em Austin demonstrem o poder das narrativas imersivas e das tecnologias que amplificam as expressões artísticas. Serão apresentados seis trabalhos apenas no programa SXSW XR. Estão previstas ainda exibições imersivas com IA e outras com VR e XR. Uma das atrações é “The Journey Back”, projeto de Realidade Virtual focado em memórias do Holocausto que faz uma revisita a três campos de concentração por meio da lembrança de sobreviventes reais.

Outro projeto de VR é “Buried in the rock”, uma “viagem” pelo impressionante sistema de cavernas de Tullyard, na Irlanda do Norte (veja trailer mais abaixo). E está programada uma apresentação ao vivo de um jovem guitarrista de 16 anos, Eli Crossley, que tem uma doença rara que faz com que perca gradativamente a força muscular e, por consequência, o movimento de seus braços. Líder da banda Askew, ele consegue tocar sua guitarra com o uso de um wearable, chamado Smart Suit, que fortalece os membros superiores. O grupo se apresentou no festival de Glastonbury no ano passado.

O SXSW está dividido em 24 trilhas, que são: 2050, Advertising & Brand Experience, Artificial Intelligence, Climate Change, Creating Film & TV, Creator Economy, Culture, Design, Energy, Fashion & Beauty, Film & TV Industry, Food, Game Industry, Government and Civic Engagement, Health & MedTech, Music & Tech, Music Careers, Psychedelics, Sports, Startups, Tech Industry, Transportation, Workplace e XR.

Veja alguns dos painéis que a organização divulgou nesta terça-feira (em inglês).

• Sue Bird & Jessica Robertson in Conversation About the Investment and Growth of Women’s Sports: In their Keynote Session, five-time Olympic gold medalist, four-time FIBA Basketball World Cup gold medalist, four-time WNBA champion, two-time NCAA champion,13-time WNBA All-Star, co-founder of A Touch More, and co-founder of TOGETHXR Sue Bird and co-founder and Chief Content Officer of TOGETHXR Jessica Robertson will go in-depth on the cultural rise in popularity of women’s sports, touching on how female athletes (at every age) have been vastly underrepresented. They will also discuss what TOGETHXR has been doing (and continues to do) to elevate female athletes and women’s sports, and pivotal roles that big brands can play in driving positive change in women’s sports.

• Author of national bestseller Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What is Human in a World of Machines and founder of the Algorithmic Justice League Dr. Joy Buolamwini.

• Humanitarian, culinary innovator, author, Emmy Award-winning television personality, founder of World Central Kitchen, and chef/owner of Jośe Andrés Group José Andrés, joins the CEO of Delta Air Lines Ed Bastian in the previously-announced session People First, Always: How to Put Values at the Heart of Your Business.

• 10 Breakthrough Technologies of 2024: Each year, MIT Technology Review reporters and editors assemble a list of the top breakthrough technologies that will change the world. In this session, the CEO and Publisher of MIT Technology Review Elizabeth Bramson-Boudreau will share the publication’s list of ten breakthrough technologies with the SXSW audience, explaining each one and how it will impact the way we live and work.

• Amazon on the Future of Artificial General Intelligence: Amazon believes AI is the most transformational technology of our time, capable of tackling some of humanity’s most challenging problems. That is why the company is investing in generative AI to responsibly develop and deploy large language models (LLMs) across all of its businesses. These advancements are part of Amazon’s long-term pursuit of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). In this session, Global Technology Correspondent at Axios Ryan Heath and Vice President of AGI at Amazon Vishal Sharma will discuss what today’s AI may imply for the future, the progress of LLMs towards the quest for AGI, and its potential to benefit society at large.

• Artist Centric: A New Era For Music Streaming Payments: The world’s first artist centric payment system for music streaming was launched on Deezer in October 2023. It is designed to more fairly reward all artists who attract a consistent and engaged fan base – through boosting mechanisms, fraud detection, restrictions on noise content, and a “user-centric” cap. What are the learnings from the first 6 months? What does the future hold? Join President and CEO of the American Association of Independent Music Richard James Burgess, Executive Vice President of Digital Business Development and Strategy at Universal Music Group Jonathan Dworkin, CEO of Deezer Jeronimo Folgueira, and CEO of Sacem Cécile Rap-Veber for a deep dive discussion on what the new model means to labels, distributors, artists, rights holders, and the industry as a whole.

• A Conversation with Daisy Ridley: English actress and producer Daisy Ridley continues to make her mark on Hollywood as one of the most dynamic actresses of our time. She is best known for her breakthrough role as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, and the final film of the Skywalker Saga Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. In this session, Ridley will reflect on her career thus far, which has also included roles in Murder on the Orient Express, Chaos Walking, and most recently Sometimes I Think About Dying, and discuss upcoming projects, which include noir thriller Magpie and Young Woman and the Sea. Magpie will have its world premiere at the SXSW Film & TV Festival.

• A Conversation with Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Kirk Watson, Mayor of Austin: In this session, join CEO of Uber Dara Khosrowshahi and Mayor of Austin, Texas Kirk Watson for a candid conversation on how industry and government can use technology to address the climate crisis and what the future of mobility and delivery, including transit and rideshare, look like in Austin and around the world.

• I Miss You When You’re Next to Me: A Conversation With Jay Shetty: We've been told that time together is important, but often, even when we're physically next to someone, we end up distracted—scrolling through our phones or lost in our thoughts. In those moments, the physical presence doesn't translate into meaningful interaction or conversation, ultimately resulting in wasting time. In this presentation, New York Times bestselling author, creator and Host of the podcast On Purpose, and Chief Purpose Officer at Calm Jay Shetty will share how we can make the most of our time together, to deepen our relationships and intimacy.

• Justice: In Conversation: Since the release of their debut album Cross in 2007, the legendary two-time Grammy Award-winning French electronic duo Justice have left their mark on the world with their innovative approach to creating music. In a rare public conversation, Justice's Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay will discuss with Senior Music Correspondent at Billboard Katie Bain their forthcoming album, Hyperdrama, and speak to the legacy and future of the renowned and boundary pushing project.

• Mental Health in Film & TV: Safe Sets, Heroic Stories: The role of film and TV is to explore the human condition, but what if we could change lives with our stories? We are living in a mental health epidemic: suicide rates have never been so high, and therapeutic interventions, from rehabs to social media content, are at the forefront of the zeitgeist. Stories about mental health can have a positive, substantive impact on the world. We can’t solve the world’s mental health problems on screen, while creating mental health problems on set. In this session, 21 Grams founder and filmmaker Jorey Worb, mental health expert Dane Ensley and EUPHORIA intimacy coordinator Mam Smith will explore how compelling, honest narratives about trauma, neurodiversity and recovery can do more than just entertain; they can heal.

• Paramount+’s Star Trek Discovery: The Trailblazing Journey to the Fifth and Final Season: The hit Paramount+ Original Series Star Trek: Discovery prepares to embark on its fifth and final season this April 2024. Since its debut in 2017, Star Trek: Discovery has earned widespread acclaim for its dedication to diversity and for redefining the Star Trek franchise for a new generation. The show's unique strength lies not only in its captivating narrative and award-winning world-building, but also in the groundbreaking representation it brings to the forefront. In this session, join cast members Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Mary Wiseman, Wilson Cruz, David Ajala, and Blu del Barrio and co-showrunners and executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise as they discuss the final season, which will see the beloved crew embarking on a new adventure, and celebrate the show’s bold storytelling over its past four seasons as it continues to honor Star Trek’s legacy of "infinite diversity in infinite combinations."

• Ready Player One Creator & Readyverse Studios Co-founders Bring IP/Brands to the Open Metaverse: Visionary futurist, #1 New York Times bestselling author, screenwriter, co-Founder of Readyverse Studios, and creator of the groundbreaking franchise Ready Player One, Ernest Cline envisioned a future forever changed by technology in his best-selling novel and the Academy Award nominated blockbuster film adaptation that followed, amassing a global fan base and inspiring the transition from science fiction to reality. Now, that future is upon us. Cline and Ready Player One producer Dan Farah have partnered with Shara Senderoff and Aaron McDonald, who Co-Founded Futureverse, a leading AI and metaverse technology and content company, to form Readyverse Studios. The new company is building a definitive destination for fans to explore their favorite IP in the open metaverse, leveraging web3, metaverse games and experiences, augmented reality, and VR technologies that will shift the course of entertainment and technology. In their first public appearance, the Readyverse Studios founders will discuss the importance of interoperability in the metaverse, the technology required, and their insights on the significance of IP and brands to the open metaverse, which they view as the next phase in the exciting evolution of the internet.

• Robotic Renaissance: The Dawn of Humanoid Innovation: In the grand narrative of human ingenuity, from mastering the wheel to advancing microchip technology, stands our next monumental leap: the Humanoid Robot. The most sophisticated tool that humans ever made isn’t just about gears and circuits; it’s about dreams, aspirations, and the endless possibilities of our collective imagination. Envision a world where time doesn’t limit our creativity and aspirations and Humanoid robots handle life’s routines, liberating us to pursue what truly matters to us. Will we channel our newfound energy into creative pursuits, or drift into ease and indulgence? In this session, join multi-disciplinary creator and founder of Moonshot Platform Yemi A.D. and co-founder and CEO of Apptronik Jeff Cardenas as they discuss Apollo, Apptronik’s cutting-edge humanoid robot, and take you on a journey through time, weaving together the stark realities of our past with a hopeful outlook on a future enhanced by humanoid robotics. It’s an invitation to witness where the realms of technology and creative artistry converge, painting a vivid picture of what lies ahead.

• Sarah Herrlinger on Accessibility at Apple: At Apple, accessibility is a human right and a core value, which has led to breakthroughs across products and services as well as representation for people with disabilities. In this session, join Apple’s Senior Director of Global Accessibility Policy & Initiatives Sarah Herrlinger as she shares the company’s latest innovations in vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, and speech accessibility and how these features advance the company's mission of creating technology that works for everyone.

• Your Story, My Film with Omar Rodríguez-López & Nicolas Jack Davies: Grammy Award-winning composer, filmmaker, photographer, guitarist, producer, and member of The Mars Volta Omar Rodríguez-López has always documented his life and the careers of his bands on film. Handing over decades worth of intimate and personal footage to film director Nicholas Jack Davies to tell the story of Omar and The Mars Volta bandmate Cedric Bixler-Zavala in Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird took an immense amount of trust, creative understanding, and faith. This session will focus on the themes of Trust and Creativity in creating art, as discussed by Davies and Rodríguez-López, each with their unique perspective on the subject material. Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird will have its North American Premiere at the SXSW Film & TV Festival.