The inaugural SXSW Sydney kicks off, uniting top minds in tech, music, screen, & gaming.
SXSW Sydney is officially underway, bringing the legendary South by Southwest festival from Austin to a whole new audience.
From October 15 to October 22, 2023, the heart of Sydney plays host to the Asia-Pacific’s leading creatives across tech, music, screen, gaming, and culture.
The SXSW Sydney Opening Ceremony was put together by Awesome Black and the Sydney Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council. It all went down at Tumbalong Park and included:
- A warm Welcome To Country by Yvonne Weldon
- Some insights from SXSW Sydney Managing Director, Colin Daniels
- A Smoking Ceremony with Dave Barnett
- Performances by Eric Avery and the Jannawi Dancers
- Plus, the Hon. John Graham MLC, shared some thoughts on jobs, tourism, arts, music, and the night scene.
Check out the opening ceremony highlights below:
SXSW Sydney’s Inaugural Opening Night at the Royal Hotel was a standout, featuring the highly-anticipated Australian thriller, “The Royal Hotel” by Kitty Green.
Big Questions with Adam Spencer had everyone on the edge of their seats. He brought his A-game with candid discussions featuring some of the brightest minds at SXSW Sydney. Tough questions were posed to Professor Toby Walsh, Professor Georgina Long, and Dr. Cameron Ferris.
Post-screening, the energy kept going at Tumbalong Park for the official Opening Party of the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival. Food trucks, drinks from Young Henry’s Bar, and and beats spun by the insanely talented Go-Jo and Harvey Sutherland.
Gabriel Gasparinatos premiered his documentary on Australian drill rap pioneers ONEFOUR. The film delved deep into their journey and the challenges they faced. After the screening, a panel discussion provided even further insight.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for today’s unmissable events. With an abundance of activities, there’s something to captivate everyone during this groundbreaking week of creativity and innovation.
Our top picks for today:
Screen: Ask Me Anything Networking Brunch at 10 am
Keynote: Futurist Amy Webb in Conversation at 1 pm – ICC
Dean Brady at 5 pm – Tumbalong Park
tiffi at 6 pm – Tumbalong Park
Inaugural SXSW Sydney at the International Delegates Reception at 7 pm – Seven House, Tumbalong Park.
ONEFOUR: Against All Odds World Premiere – Get ready for an exclusive look at this powerful documentary. 7:30 pm – ICC
Tech & Innovation Opening Night at 6 pm – NSW House – Collider, 477 Pitt Street
Indigenous Collaboration: Making Films That Heal at 3:30 pm – Cinema Theatre – UTS Building 6
The entire event schedule is now available here.
