Director Steven Spielberg is heading to Austin, Texas, to be the keynote speaker for this year’s South by Southwest 40th Anniversary.
At SXSW, the acclaimed filmmaker will discuss his legendary body of work and the future of moviegoing, from Jaws and E.T. to Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan, and the upcoming event thriller Disclosure Day, on a live episode of The Big Picture podcast with Sean Fennessy. The talks will take place on Friday, March 13th.
“Childhood dreams do come true!” SXSW Vice President of Film and Television Claudette Godfrey said in a statement announcing the director’s attendance at the festival, which runs from March 12 to 18.
“Steven Spielberg is a true pioneer and legend, whose seminal work has inspired generations of filmmakers and audiences alike,” Godfrey continued. “He has given us some of the most formative, unforgettable and magical experiences in film, constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible on screen. He embodies the spirit of cinematic innovation and bold storytelling that defines SXSW,” Bringing him to Austin for a special keynote will be a special moment for our community. Making dreams come true is exactly why we do what we do. We’re all going to call home on this one!”
In fact, the three-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker and founder of Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks is hailed as one of the most influential creative forces in film history. Disclosure Day, starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo, will be released in theaters on June 12th from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. Spielberg is also a producer on Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, which was nominated for this year’s Best Picture Oscar.
For the first time at SXSW, innovation, film, television and music programs will all run simultaneously over seven days, including additional nights of music. Spielberg joins an impressive lineup of speakers at the Film & Television Conference, including Jamie Lee Curtis. Vince Gilligan and Rhea Seehorn talk about the legacy of ‘Breaking Bad.’ Larry David and Jeff Shaffer have joined the cast of an upcoming HBO historical comedy series. and the team behind HBO’s “Rooster”: Bill Lawrence, Matt Tarses, Steve Carell and Daniel Deadwyler.
