SXSW, Austin’s annual gathering of tech-minded creatives, filmmakers, and musicians, officially kicks off March 8 and lasts through March 17. Though the nine-day fest attracts talent and attendees from around the world, dozens of current and native San Antonians are taking the SXSW spotlight this year.
Local luminaries, many of whom work in technology, film, music, and other industries, are already gearing up for panel discussions, one-on-one interviews, mentoring sessions, workshops, performances, networking, parties, and much more. Before you head to Austin for the fest, take a look at the official SXSW participants representing the Alamo City.
Interactive
San Antonio Spurs— March 8-10
The San Antonio Spurs will host an interactive lounge March 8-10 on the fourth floor of JW Marriott. There, visitors can meet team representatives, show off their basketball skills, snag giveaways, enjoy photo opportunities, and more.
R.C. Buford —March 9
Speaking of the Spurs, general manager R.C. Buford, one of the architects of the Spurs’ two decades of success, will be on a panel about the future of basketball at 5 pm at JW Marriott.
Julián Castro — March 10
Former Mayor and former HUD Secretary Julián Castro is among a handful of presidential candidates and other notable politicos taking part in Conversations About America’s Future at 11 am. This new SXSW series of one-on-one interviews will unfold at ACL Live at the Moody Theater.
Will Hurd — March 10
U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-San Antonio) will be in a panel at 6 pm at Hilton Austin discussing politics in the technology sector. Hurd will appear in two other tech-related panels later the same day at Antone’s Capital One House and The Palm Door on Sixth.
Henry Cisneros— March 11
Former Mayor Henry Cisneros will be on a panel about positive longevity in the city at 3:30 pm at Hilton Austin. The former Housing and Urban Development secretary will add insight about how growing cities can address the challenges of an aging population and how to use older adults’ socioeconomic power to improve city services.
Jade Floyd— March 12
Jade Floyd, VP of communications at the Case Foundation, will be on a panel about how startups can tell their story at 3:30 pm at Hilton Austin. The University of Texas at San Antonio graduate will discuss what makes for an effective pitch on behalf of one's company and how to build positive working relationships with the media. After the panel, attendees will get to pitch their personal business story with the panelists in real time.
Jose Menendez — March 16
State Sen. Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio) will sit on a panel to discuss the politics of marijuana in Texas at 12:30 pm at Hilton Austin. The panel will delve into the potential impact of the state possibly decriminalizing marijuana or expanding its medicinal use.
San Antonio will have additional representation from Antonio Petrov, UTSA professor and founder of the Urban Future Lab. He plans to network with fellow festival attendees, and promote work that he and his students have been doing in various San Antonio neighborhoods and discuss how those communities can be revitalized or transformed through creative solutions to urban challenges, such as infrastructure, housing and transportation.
Also, the local tech sector advocacy group Tech Bloc will again be accepting resumes from job-seekers at the SXSW trade show March 10-13 at the Austin Convention Center.
Film
Ernie & Joe
Officers from the San Antonio Police Department’s mental health unit will be in the spotlight thanks to new documentary film Ernie & Joe, which will be screened several times during the SXSW film festival. The film follows two of the officers and their efforts to divert at-risk individuals from jail and toward mental health treatment.
BlueInk
Saint Mary’s Hall alumnae Miranda Potter and Jade Jess co-directed short film BlueInk, which will be screened March 9 at The Long Center and March 16 at Alamo Drafthouse Lamar. The film uses the voice of a human trafficking victim, set to animation, to tell her harrowing story. BlueInk has received awards and honors, including a first-place prize in the 2017-2018 San Antonio Youth Film Contest.
Music
Lisa Morales— March 14
Lisa Morales, one half of Sisters Morales, returns to SXSW to play The Continental Club at 10 pm. Lisa previously played the festival with sister Roberta on a regular basis; a 2017 show was her first solo concert at SXSW.
Phillip Wolf— March 14
Filipino-American hip-hop/soul artist Phillip Wolf performs at 7 pm at Sheraton Austin's backYARD Bar. Wolf’s debut 2018 album, Undervalued Attention, produced by New York's Kid Ocean, is available on Spotify, iTunes, and other platforms. He took part in unofficial SXSW shows last year.
Garrett T. Capps— March 14
Alt-country mastermind Garrett T. Capps returns to SXSW with a 9 pm show at 18th Over Austin. Capps is currently working on a follow up to his most recent cosmic release, In The Shadows (Again).
Henry Brun & The Latin Playerz— March 14
Award-winning percussionist Henry Brun & The Latin Playerz perform at Elephant Room at 1 am. One of the most prolific musicians in the region, Brun and his Latin jazz orchestra have been making music together for nearly 30 years.
Christelle Bofale— March 15
Singer Christelle Bofale, a San Antonio native, will offer some alternative soul at The Palm Door at 7:45 pm as part of the Father/Daughter Records showcase.
Creepside — March 15
The Main II will play host to DJ/producer Creepside, interdisciplinary artist Ledef, and DJ/producer Der Kindestod for the evening. Creepside’s sound covers everything from contemporary EDM to early '90s U.K. garage. Der Kindestod, who embraces experimental electronic, recently released his debut EP, God as Daddy the Deranged. Ledef is a founding member of the House of Kenzo, which previously performed at SXSW.
Memories in Broken Glass — March 16
Memories in Broken Glass offers heavy metal sounds beginning at 9:45 pm. The band takes over Dirty Dog on Austin's "Dirty" Sixth Street.
Hip-hop artist Phillip Wolf will be part of SXSW Music.
