After three years apart because of the Covid-19 pandemic, SXSW2022 made a big comeback in Austin, Texas. From March 11 to the 20th, creatives from around the world gathered to share ideas and get moving on solutions. It was the places to be for artists, disrupters, innovators, filmmakers, and many others.

SXSW 2022 was both in-person and online, simultaneously, for the first time. It was a ten-day whirlwind of enlightening and inspiring sessions, film screenings, music showcases, exhibitions, networking, art installations, competitions, awards, and beyond. It highlighted some of the most inspired thinkers.

The conference had 15 Tracks, 9 Summits, and SXSW community-curated sessions. At the crux of each day’s programming were powerful presentations, including innovator Reggie Fils-Aimé, CEO of MediaLink Michael E. Kassan, Managing Director of Smash Ventures Kevin Mayer and immersive storyteller Celine Tricart.

It was a unique opportunity to explore the worlds of tech, film, music, and comedy. The film festival rolled out the red carpet with provocative dramas, documentaries, episodics, shorts, and genre standouts. There were even world premieres, including Opening Night Film Everything Everywhere All At Once directed by Daniels.

At the Film Awards, the collaboration between filmmakers and designers was celebrated, honoring the winners of the 2022 Jury and Special Awards. Winners included “I Love My Dad” for Narrative Feature , “Master of Light” for Documentary Feature and more from Shorts, Design and XR Experience.

Flipping the tape over to the Music Festival, new, developing, and established Showcasing Artists were features across all genres from local to international acts. This year’s audible feast included Perfume Genius, Poppy Ajudha, Heartless Bastards, CHAI, The Lemonheads, Maxo Kream, Wet Leg, Surfbort and many others.

Hundreds of exhibitors from around the world offered a glimpse of the future with cutting-edge technology from VR demonstrations to robotics at the SXSW Creative Industries Exhibition in-person and online as well as numerous other world-class Exhibitions. The winners of many awards were celebrated.

With its tagline— “If you can’t be there, beam there”—startup Proto demonstrated its interactive holographic communications platform at the Creative Industries Expo during SXSW. The company developed a device, called Epic, that’s a human-sized “portal” that produces a lifelike person in hologram.

Once considered a recreational activity, psychedelics are now viewed as an evidence-based treatment for psychiatric disease. The SXSW health tech conference featured several panel discussions about psilocybin, ketamine, MDMA, LSD and mescaline, as well as on the use of sound and immersive experience.

SXSW 2022 was filled with ample opportunity to explore, learn, discover, cut a rug, and leave inspired. Now begins the preparation for 2023!

Photo: SXSW.com – Paramount Marquee for SXSW 2023 – Photo by Dusana Risovic

Texas