Barry Jenkins Named SXSW Film Keynote Speaker for 2018

“Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins has been named one of the keynote speakers for the 2018 South by Southwest Conference, the festival committee announced Monday.

Psychotherapist and best-selling author Esther Perel and whurley, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, will also be keynote speakers at the March event.

Featured speakers include space entrepreneur and futurist Bob Richards, Kaiser Permanente chairman and CEO Bernard J. Tyson, Empowering a Billion Women by 2020 chairman and CEO Ingrid Vanderveldt, artist and poet Cleo Wade, and author and founder of the Future Today Institute Amy Webb.

“We are overjoyed to invite Barry Jenkins back to SXSW as a Film Keynote having presented the world premiere of his first feature, ‘Medicine for Melancholy,’ in 2008,” said Janet Pierson, Director of Film. “‘Moonlight’ is a magnificent piece of work, transcendent, and made on his own terms. We couldn’t be happier for his success and to have this remarkable artist with such a generous soul return to SXSW.”

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Hugh Forrest, Chief Programming Officer, added, “SXSW has become a premier destination for innovation and creative discovery. We’re pleased to begin our 2018 season with strong programming that represents a diverse and talented group of pioneers in the technology, social sciences, healthcare, and entertainment industries. The depth and breadth of knowledge these speakers bring to the event is an excellent indicator that this is going to be one of our best years ever.”

Registration for SXSW 2018 begins August 1. Programming for the conference is organized into 24 tracks divided between Interactive, Film, Music and Convergence. SXSW Film Festival is also now accepting Feature Film, Short Film, Episodics, Music Video and Virtual Cinema submissions through October 20.

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Founded in 1987 in August, Texas, SXSW celebrates the convergence of interactive, film, and music music industries. The 2018 festival will take place March 9 to March 18, 2018.