SXSW Sydney - 2025

SXSW SYDNEY® 2025 UNVEILS KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

SXSW SYDNEY® 2025 UNVEILS KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND NEW PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS ACROSS CONFERENCE, SCREEN AND GAMES

Hollywood icon Paul Feig and former Google X innovator Mo Gawdat announced as keynote speakers, with billionaire tech entrepreneur Lucy Guo also joining the SXSW Sydney line up this October.

South by Southwest Sydney® (SXSW Sydney) has today revealed exciting updates to its 2025 program, with several global leaders joining the conference, alongside an exciting array of films and games set to take the stage this October.

The Conference Program has announced its first 50 sessions, in addition to two new keynote speakers, including:

Paul Feig, revered director of hit films such as Bridesmaids, and creator of the cult favourite TV series Freaks and Geeks
Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer of Google X and host of #1 mental health podcast Slo Mo

They join previously announced keynote speaker Meredith Whittaker, President of encrypted messaging app Signal.

Other newly announced featured speakers include Lucy Guo, the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire and the CEO and Founder of Passes; Lars Rasmussen, co-founder of Google Maps, Panathēnea and angel investor; and Niall Firth, Executive Editor of MIT Technology Review.

The Screen Festival is proud to announce that Paul Feig will receive the inaugural SXSW Sydney Screen Pioneer Award, honouring his groundbreaking contributions to genre filmmaking and film culture. To celebrate his storied career, a retrospective of his most beloved works will be screened, spotlighting his legacy as one of Hollywood’s most influential comedic filmmakers.

In addition, the Screen Festival also welcomes six feature films – By Design (starring Oscar nominee Juliette Lewis), $POSITIONS, Dead Lover, Zodiac Killer Project, The Last Sacrifice and Bokshi – as well as a host of short films, including the BAFTA-nominatedStomach Bug and Chasing The Party, produced by Oscar-winner Sam Rockwell.

The first 40 games to be joining the Games Festival Showcase have been revealed. Hailing from 26 countries, these games will be available to playtest and demo at the Games Festival’s new home: the ICC Sydney. More than 30 speakers and mentors will share their expertise through panels, hands-on workshops and one-on-one mentoring sessions, with the first wave of sessions now announced—covering everything from indie marketing and global publishing to creative resilience and the future of storytelling in games.

This latest announcement brings the SXSW Sydney program to more than 100 speakers, 50 conference sessions, 75 artists, 40 games and 27 films — with hundreds more to be revealed in the lead-up to October.

SXSW Sydney is proud to welcome back QMS and Accenture, this year as Major Conference Partners, to present Marketing & Media and Tech & Innovation respectively. This year’s program is strengthened by a dynamic mix of returning and new partners including The Growth Distillery, CyberCX and Charitabl — alongside long-time Super Sponsor Commonwealth Bank, proudly returning for the third consecutive year.

SXSW Sydney 2025 will dive deep into the most pressing trends shaping our world—from AI’s accelerating advancements and the future of work to quantum technologies, cybersecurity, sustainability and the ever-evolving creative industries. A must-attend event for professionals and innovators in leadership roles, SXSW Sydney runs from October 13-19, featuring 1,600 sessions and events including 400+ conference sessions, 150+ professional development sessions, 300+ music performances, 95 film screenings, 150 games and over 400 brand-led events.

NGV: RONE: THE WORKROOM

RONE’S ACCLAIMED INSTALLATION THE WORKROOM

Free to the public, a widely-acclaimed installation by world-renowned street artist Rone, opens today. It’s part of The Outsiders Melbourne, a ground-breaking exhibition dedicated to showcasing amazing work by artists defying the art establishment.

Following his sold-out TIME exhibition at Flinders Street Station in 2022, the Melbourne-based street art sensation brings back one of the show’s most celebrated installations, The Workroom, to the heart of the street art capital.

A giant of the Australian street art movement, Rone is renowned for his evocative and immersive site-specific installations that breathe new life into forgotten spaces. He has exhibited widely in Australia and overseas, and his popular murals have transformed public spaces worldwide.

The Workroom draws inspiration from the industrial sewing rooms of the post-World War II era, recreating a space where seamstresses once worked, complete with vintage sewing machines and cutting tables. ’The multi-sensory installation deeply envelopes the visitor in an otherworldly place and time.

The Workroom honours Melbourne’s historic garment industry, with its fitting location on Flinders Lane – the centre of the city’s former fashion district – while also serving as a deeply personal homage to Rone’s family heritage. His grandmother, Elva, once worked in such a workroom as a young woman, and throughout the installation, fictitious labels subtly weave together her name with that of the artist’s other grandmother, preserving their legacy within the work.

Rone says: “It’s amazing to have the opportunity to show The Workroom in Melbourne again, especially on Flinders Lane, where the garment industry that inspired the work was based. I’m honoured that the installation is now a part of The Outsiders Melbourne. It sits alongside the incredible and diverse art of many friends and peers, and is close to Hosier Lane, where my street art journey started.

Rone’s installation joins over 100 iconic and rare street art works in The Outsiders Melbourne, drawn exclusively from the private collection of Sandra Powell and Andrew King, named The Sandrew Collection.

Among the renowned Australian and international street artists featured in the exhibition are locals Adnate, Drez, Lush, Kaff-eine, Ling, Sofles, and Lucy Lucy, alongside internationals such as Banksy, Barry McGee, Vhils, Invader, Swoon, Hush, Shepard Fairey, Ron English, and ELLE.

Since opening to the public in mid-December 2024, The Outsiders Melbourne has welcomed 60,000 visitors.

Sandra Powell says: “It is with great pride that The Outsiders Melbourne welcomes one of Rone’s most cherished installations, The Workroom, as a new addition to our exhibition. Set in Flinders Lane, honouring its history of the rag trade, this is a wonderful opportunity for visitors to see this beautiful room reimagined from his groundbreaking exhibition TIME at Flinders Street Station.”

Andrew King says: “I’m staggered by the overwhelming attendance and the pure enthusiasm of locals and tourists alike. It’s a testimony to the broad popularity of street art, especially in Melbourne.

“We’re proud that our exhibition has brought further attention to the incredible talent that too often goes unrecognised by the insiders of the art establishment.”

The Workroom is now open to the public as part of The Outsiders Melbourne until 25 May 2025.

Photo Credit: Shannyn Higgins