Women-Focused SXSW Events You Won’t Want to Miss
Austin hotel rooms have been booked, people are flowing in, and parking has been depleted. Yes, the city’s infamous SXSW festival has officially begun.
The chaos of the next nine days and a very full official and unofficial lineup make it difficult to narrow down which events to see and those to skip. And so, without further adieu we present some of our favorite events for and celebrating women.
Feminism 2.0, Monday, March 10: Led by four inspiring women, Carla Franklin, a digital program manager and strategy consultant; Kelly Wallace, a digital correspondent and editor-at-large for CNN Digital, Maggie Neilson, co-founder and C.E.O. at Global Philanthropy Group, and Tara Hughes, senior director and technical product management for Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc, this interactive panel will focus on the feminist movement in the Social Era. Technology as we know is not only advanced by women but also has aided in the balance between career and social life. “By empowering women through digital innovation, today’s feminist movement continues to defend the rights of and improve opportunities for women worldwide.”
The Gamechanger Award Ceremony, Tuesday, March 11: Since 2010, Chicken & Egg and SXSW Film have been hosting an award ceremony to honor women filmmakers. 2014 marks a new era for the ceremony. Game Changer Films, whose mission is to “shift gender disparity in film” by finding and funding women directors, has inherited the SXSW event and changed the name from Chicken & Egg Pictures Emergent Narrative Woman Director Award to the sleeker, Gamechangers Award. Nine directors, including Sundance favorite Kat Candler (for Hellion), have been nominated.
An Unofficial Interactive Experience with Cusp by Neiman Marcus, Wednesday, March 12 – Friday, March 14: The luxury department store, Neiman Marcus kicks off their Make Some Noise Campaign. In celebration of the “most fearless, bold and fashionable women transforming pop culture, fashion and music landscapes,” the three-day long event will panel discussions and intimate gatherings with some of today’s most influential women artists. The Dallas-based company has also partnered with Atlantic music in order to host special performances by Chromeo, Cash Cash, Oh Honey, and more.
“Realizing there was an opportunity at SXSW for programming specifically catered to women, CUSP by Neiman Marcus wanted to create the ultimate destination for women to meet up with girlfriends, listen to trailblazing women talk about their success, and get loud with the hottest emerging musicians from Atlantic Records,” said Wanda Gierhart, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Neiman Marcus Group, LTD Inc., in Wednesday’s press release.
Speakers included Blondie’s Debbie Harry; news anchor, Nicole Lapin; and model, Cameron Russell. Make Some Noise is sure to be an estrogen-heavy celebration of women “rocking the fashion, music, and tech scenes.” RSVP to enter.
Standout Film: Ukraine Is Not A Brothel, a feature length documentary directed by Kitty Green. The film follows the Ukrainian feminist group, FEMEN, as they continue to challenge the demeaning stereotypes placed on Ukrainian women as either “brides for sale or commodities of sex tourism.” Dubbed the world’s most provocative feminist movement, these topless women-protestor have caused a public furor throughout Europe. Green, who lived with the group and recorded them for over a year, explores the contradictions and dedication behind the FEMEN organization. This is Green’s first feature but her shorts have played at festivals throughout the globe. Ukraine Is Not A Brothel screens three times over the course of SXSW.
5TAGS: entertainment SXSW