Jimmy Kimmel, The 30th birthday of "The Breakfast Club", and wall to wall live music will pique industry interest. (Getty Images)
For Angelenos and New Yorkers landing in Austin for South By Southwest, the first party paradigm you need to know is that the Texas capital has Uber, and it’s better than in L.A. Unlike our Uber-free airport, Austin’s part-time Prius drivers can pick you up curbside.
For SXSW, phones can also order massages on demand or Priv, which is like getting Blushington or Drybar to make an on-demand housecall. All of these can help you recover from, prepare for and get to the gatherings of digital, film and music invaders.
Last year, there were 177 official parties over the festival’s 10 days, and that’s not counting the trouble you could get into wandering north towards the University of Texas (U.T. is on spring break during SXSW).
Here’s what people will be talking about in Austin. When in doubt, just go to the W Hotel lobby; it’ll look just like its cousins on Hollywood Blvd. and Union Square.
Jimmy Kimmel Live in Austin The Long Center for the Performing Arts, Monday, March 16-Thursday, March 20
Kimmel fronts the packed house at last year’s festival. (Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty Images)
The meanest tweets will come from those who don’t get tickets to the tapings on the other side of the river when Kimmel returns for his second year of live shows.
Delta’s Festival Shuttle: LAX-AUS Friday, March 13
For Sundance, Delta filled up a plane with industry insiders and some talent (like current Utah defendant Emile Hirsch) to head out to Park City, and gave away trips to Beijing and France on-board while making a play for deeper relationships with the film production community. Now they’re doing it again with a bunch of “tech heads.”
The flight takes off on the first day of the fest and I’ve scored a seat, so I can testify that this is the diametric opposite of Rihanna’s seven-day, seven-country, seven-concert tour plane mutiny of 2013.
Sneak Preview: “Community Season 6” Brazos Hall, Saturday, March 14
Three days before the show debuts its “predestined” sixth season on Yahoo!, fans in Austin can get a sneak peek. Producer Dan Harmon will do a “Harmontown” live podcast and a red carpet will precede the unveiling of the new format on a screen much bigger than a computer.
By SXSW 2016, it could be time to premiere “the movie.”
“Breakfast Club” Breakfast with Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy Paramount Theatre, Monday March 16
Ally Sheedy and Molly Ringwald will take questions like “can you break library glass by shreiking?”
My only gripe with this cool and quirky throwback is that the principals at Universal didn’t schedule this for Saturday morning.
Instead, the full day of willing detention, including breakfast with Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy, screening of a remastered print in honor of the movie’s 30th birthday, and a Q&A with the two female detainees falls on Monday, a school day.
Nicholas Hoult Hosts Party for Jaguar & Wired The Hangar Lounge, Friday, March 13
Peter Dinklage, Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult at a previous consumer festival — Comic-Con. (Getty Images)
The “X-Men” and “Mad Max” star has Drake Doremus’ “Equals” coming out later this year, with Kristen Stewart and Guy Pearce. Before that, he’s the face launching U.K. software engineers The Boffin Lab’s Austin presence and their collaboration with Jaguar.
While the tech lounge will be open to the public the rest of the weekend, Friday night’s cocktails are for those on the list only.
*Newly Added*
Raptor House Saturday and Sunday, March 14-15
It’s the “united nations”: Roc Nation and Live Nation.
They will come together under one roof. Specifically, it’s Jim Pallotta’s roof (the billionairre investor, hedge fund winner, and Celtics and Italian soccer club A.S. Roma owner).
By day, it’s high level, c-suite level talks amongst captains of various industries. By night, the microphones get passed to musicians inside the attached Arlyn Studios. In the past, Jimmy Cliff, Haim, Solange have played for crowds like Kanye and Ashton Kutcher. Big Sean plays interactive weekend this year.
Dell’s Preview Night of the Fader Fort presented by Converse Tuesday, March 17
Kanye West, Sean Combs, Usher, Sam Smith and Jeremih (above) have rocked the Fader Fort in previous years. (Getty Images)
It was only last year that Grammy golden boy Sam Smith was playing here. A musical four-leaf clover of good luck will grace those invited to the preview night of music venue The Fader Fort on 5th St.
Passion Pit headlines and attendees will get a wristband good for the rest of the week.
Tumblr “Fuck Yeah” Party with “Entourage” Monday, March 16 – Mohawk (912 Red River St.)
Here it comes. (Getty Images)
The movie doesn’t come out until June 5, but the promotion starts before St. Patrick’s Day.
All five leading men plus creator/director Doug Ellin be at the party that goes as long as Vince’s “Medellin” saga, six-and-a-half hours. From 6.30 p.m. onwards, local heroes Spoon and multiple-booked ASTR are on the bill.
Duplass Brothers Party STK Supper Suite at Swift’s Attic, Sunday Night, March 15
Nick Kroll and Mark Duplass celebrate a previous collaboration. (Getty Images)
The Duplass brothers (Mark and Jay) have the buzzed-about “Adult Beginners,” “Manson Family Vacation,” and “6 Years” at the festival. They’ll bring the casts (including Jason Schwartzman and Nick Kroll) together under the same traveling dinner party roof that hosted Julianne Moore and J.K. Simmons on the eve of their Oscar wins a few weeks ago.
*Newly Added*
NYLON Presents SXstyle Closing Party Tuesday, March 17 (401 Sabine St.)
The “One More” singer is coming in from Europe. (Getty Images)
They just had Oscar winner Patricia Arquette at their party with Rita Ora less than two weeks ago. Their fashion-facing SXStyle party will be on-target with their millennial core, with female swede performer “Ellie” Elliphant (she tours with Charli XCX and worked with Dr. Luke) as well as fashion mainstay Mia Moretti.
JASH Saturday night, March 14
The digital comedy channel from Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera, Reggie Watts and others launched at SXSW two years ago.
On Saturday night of opening weekend, Watts will be the Mixer in Chief, getting the outlet’s friends and family together for comedy, cocktails, and eats in a Fullscreen and Jash collaboration.
“The Walking Dead” Creators’ “Superfight by Night” Holy Mountain, 617 E. 7th St., Friday March 13
Cocktails, a DJ and card tables for anyone who wants to jump in on “Superfight,” the argument card game that has become the basis of one of Maker Studios’ original series.
The invite warns that, unlike the low-limit/high-limit tables in Vegas, the cards being cut on the Texas tables will be the “red deck.” That means brace yourself for Rated R-guments.
And Keep an Eye Out For…
25 years ago “Kwik-E-Mart” first appeared on “The Simpsons”. Now, 20th Century Fox and FXX aren’t handing out birthday cake — they’re slinging knock-off slurpees.
– “The Simpsons'” roving Kwik-E-Mart food truck doling out “Not So Very Cherry” Squishees …
– Tumblr’s “IRL” Series: Before Wiz Khalifa’s baby birthday party became a serialized TMZ story and Charli XCX’s “Boom Clap” went large, those artists played Tumblr’s “IRL” (In Real Life) series, bringing fan blogs to life with exhibits and concerts. The series comes to Austin for the first time with names like Travi$ Scott, Courtney Barnett and Odesza.
–Nylon throwing parties with the dFm, and Spin Magazine’s annual Friday “day party” at Stubbs will bring in Run the Jewels, Twin Shadow and Earl Sweatshirt on Friday Mar. 20.
– GQ’s branded content program “Jam in the Van,” where artists play inside a tatted-up old ice cream truck, music at Floodfest at Cedar Street from Run the Jewels (again), Best Coast, and Win Butler from Arcade Fire, “Rdio Presents at SXSW 2015” showcase with Heartless Bastards and King Tuff at Fair Market on Sunday March 15, which follows De Nolet, Ketel One’s two-day set of concerts during the interactive portion of the opening weekend with Wrestlers, Penguin Prison, and the booked-everywhere ASTR.
– Stubhub goes festival-style itself, putting on three days of day-to-night shows at Clive Bar on Rainey St. from Tuesday to Thursday. The pre-show cocktail parties before the crowds show up at 9 p.m. will get secured access to The Vaccines and The War on Drugs.
– Finally, Neon Gold rocks the last night of the festival (March 21) with Marina & The Diamonds and MS MR at the Empire Control Room.
Please send additional bookings, tips, and invites to Mikey Glazer at Mikey@thehcimp.net
Oscar Week Party Report in Pictures: Oprah, Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and More (Updating)
As the countdown to the Oscars enters the final hours, TheWrap's Party Report delivers all the key people, parties, and places from celebrations across town in this continually updating gallery.
"Foxcatcher" nominee Mark Ruffalo and Sunrise Coigney turn around in their seats at STK on Saturday night to accept congratulations during Sony Pictures Classics' dinner.
Photo by the great Todd Williamson/Invision for Ketel One Vodka/AP Image
SPC has 18 nominations. Everyone in this photo should be happy: Tom Bernard, frontrunner JK Simmons (to Ruffalo's detriment), Michelle Schumacher, and Michael Barker.
Todd Williamson/Invision for Ketel One Vodka/AP Image
The scene on La Cienega outside the STK Supper Suite, which hosted the Sony dinner. David Manning's A-List Communications produces the traveling series.
Todd Williamson/Invision for Ketel One Vodka/AP Image
"Whiplash" writer/director Damian Chazelle has been the "must-meet" for many this awards week, reportedly getting an audience with Mick Jagger on Thursday night. He and Jasmine McGlade arrive at the SPC dinner, where the step and repeat nods at sponsors Kia and Ketel One vodka.
Todd Williamson/Invision for Ketel One Vodka/AP Image
Meanwhile, the belle of last year's SPC ball, Cate Blanchett, hosted a party with Roberta Armani in Beverly Hills on Saturday night. The hostess with an Oscar poses with Matt Bomer and Greg Sulkin.
(Donato Sardella/Getty Images for Giorgio Armani Corporation)
Over at the Sunset Tower, Julianne Hough and Malin Ackerman got close at the now-annual party hosted by agents and managers Michael Sugar, Warren Zavala, and Doug Wald.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
The Sunset Tower - typically packed. This space only became available in 2014 after Vanity Fair pulled up it's stakes and moved on.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak made a couples' appearance at the party.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Michael Keaton wore his sunglasses, even inside the big Spirit Awards tent at times, on Saturday afternoon. He also hit the Heineken tent with Sean Douglas and Rachel Bartov before "Birdman" won big.
Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Heineken
Team "Nightcrawler" also had a good Saturday: Dan Gilroy, Rene Russo, Open Road CEO/President Tom Ortenberg, Open Road's Jason Cassidy, and supporting actor Riz Ahmed pre-game the Spirits.
Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Heineken
Fashion correspondent Louise Roe, Selita Ebanks, and Catcha's Patrick Grove huddle up by the beach on Saturday afternoon.
Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Heineken
"Inherent Vice's" Yvette Yates (left) and Jordan Hearn (right) were amongst the faces getting filled with Breyers at their gelato tent as the scene swirled behind them.
Getty Images
On Saturday morning, "Captain America" star Chris Evans stopped by the Gold Meets Golden event hosted by Maria Shriver at Equinox Sports Club West Los Angeles to meet with athletes who'll be competing in the World Games this summer.
Rachel Murray/Getty Images
Maria Shriver and Katie Holmes were best buddies at the Gold Meets Golden event hosted at Equinox Sports Club West Los Angeles on Saturday morning as they took a break from the Oscar glamour in denim and sneakers.
Rachel Murray/Getty
Nicole Kidman was a late arrival at the Gold Meets Golden event at Equinox Sports Club West Los Angeles because was filming “The Secret in Their Eyes” in Pasadena, but jumped right into hugging the Special Olympic athletes when she got there.
Rachel Murray/Getty
Katie Holmes, Nadia Comaneci, Gina Rodriguez and Chris Evans gathered to ring in the Special Olympics at the Gold Meets Golden event on Saturday morning.
Rachel Murray/Getty
Richard Perry, Jane Fonda, one lucky dog, and Netflix chief Ted Sarandos had a toast to "Virunga" at Sarandos and Nicole Avant's house on Friday night before the agency parties kicked in.
Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Netflix/AP Images)
Five weeks removed from the horrific NFC championship loss, packers QB Aaron Rodgers has been attending Oscar week events with Olivia Munn. On Friday night, they hit Grey Goose and Killer Films' celebration of "Still Alice" at the Sunset Tower Hotel.
Chris Weeks/Getty Images
"Still Alice" producers Pamela Koffler and Christine Vachon with frontrunner Julianne Moore at the Sunset Tower on Friday night.
Chris Weeks/Getty Images
"A Most Violent Year" director J.C. Chandor, Teddy Schwarzman (who produced Chandor's previous film "All is Lost" before taking on Best Picture contender "The Imitation Game") and "Blue Valentine" producer Rena Ronson, as the french inspired cocktails like Grey Goose Le Fizz and Grey Goose Je Crois flowed on Sunset.
Chris Weeks/Getty Images
Andy Boose and the guy who will be busy on Sunday afternoon and night, The Elton John Aids Foundation Executive Director Scott Campbell.
Chris Weeks/Getty Images
Meanwhile at Ysabel in West Hollywood, Kelly Rowland hit Common's party with Ciroc to celebrate his nomination. Oprah and Ava DuVernay were on hand as well.
UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television had its annual "Sketch to Screen" panel on Saturday while the Spirit Awards were taking place. Nadja Swarovski, Deborah Landis (who produced the "Hollywood Costume" exhibit), and Dean of the school Teri Schwartz inside UCLA's Schoenberg Hall.
Eric Charbonneau
Highlights from Friday night's parties included Meryl Streep, Rory Kennedy, and the Tom Ford fashion show.
On Friday night, Meryl Streep was "the get" at Women In Film's cocktail party for nominees at Hyde Kitchen on Sunset.
( John Sciulli/Getty Images for WIF & Perrier-Jouet)
"To have Meryl Streep here at our party and speaking to all of us about sisterhood and supporting each other was incredible," Schulman told me as the party wound down.
( John Sciulli/Getty Images for WIF & Perrier-Jouet)
Overwhelming favorite Julianne Moore (wearing Tom Ford) with Bart Fruendlich graced the first of many carpets this weekend for her at Milk Studios on Friday night. Tom Ford's first Womeswear show drew Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Olivia Munn, and Miley Cyrus amongst others.
Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Rory Kennedy's lunch with 50 of intimates at the Chateau to celebrate "Last Days in Vietnam" on Friday brought together names from fashion, film, politics, and media.
Billy Farrell / bfanyc.com
"I've known Andres (Balasz) for 25 years, he's one of my closest friends so I'm not sure (awards season) has gotten us closer, but he let us use the Chateau to host parties early in the season," Kennedy said of the hotelier (left). Minnie Driver had a flower in her hair by the end of Dom Perignon's three course, three glass lunch.
Billy Farrell / bfanyc.com
Peter Fonda and Donovan Leitch personified the reach and breadth of Kennedy's supporters.
Billy Farrell / bfanyc.com
Last year, Dom Perignon honored Morgan Neville and "20 Feet From Stardom" in the same setting, two days before it would go on to win the Oscar.
Billy Farrell / bfanyc.com
Ron Yerxa, who went through awards season last year as a Best Picture nominee for "Nebraska," wedged in between the co-heads of table Mark Bailey and Kennedy.
Billy Farrell / bfanyc.com
First cousins: Rory Kennedy and Maria Shriver brought the glamorous side of politics to Oscar week.
Billy Farrell / bfanyc.com
Sonya Falcon, Nicole Ruvo, and Jennifer O. Hill in the Chateau courtyard. Unaffiliated, Richard Lewis showed up near the luncheon ordering what looked like a Coke-float.
Billy Farrell / bfanyc.com
Massachusetts natives Bill, Will, and Angela Lowell have 12:30 p.m. Dom with PBS' "American Experience" Executive Producer Mark Samels (far right) before the sit-down.
Billy Farrell / bfanyc.com
MPAA Chairman Chris Dodd did not cast his Oscar ballot until Tuesday, the last day of voting he told me at the Great British Film Reception on Friday night. True to his political roots, the former Senator arrived with Congressman Bob Goodlatte.
Lester Cohen/Getty Images
For more party coverage from earlier in Oscar week, click here.
In the midst of Oscar week, a couple of studio bosses jetted off to London to join Prince Charles and Camilla at the Royal Premiere of "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" on Tuesday night. From left, Jonathan King. Fox's Jim Gianopulos, Participant’s Jim Berk and Searchlight co-President Stephen Gilula.
Participant Media
Jonathan Darby (2nd from left) and Jason Allen (far right) walked the orange carpet for the Participant and Fox co-financed sequel.
Participant Media
The one funny voice not at "SNL 40" Jimmy Kimmel and his parents Joan Kimmel and James hit the Los Angeles Italia Opening Gala at the TCL Chinese, one week to the minute before the Oscars would take place next door.
(Paul Redmond/Getty Images)
1 of 41
Mikey Glazer’s continually updating image from inside and backstage with the people, places and parties across Hollywood before Sunday’s Oscars
As the countdown to the Oscars enters the final hours, TheWrap's Party Report delivers all the key people, parties, and places from celebrations across town in this continually updating gallery.