SXSW is coming to Australia for the first time, and its Asia-Pacific location means South Asians from the subcontinent and from the diaspora here in Australia. For those of you in Sydney for the festival, here’s our list of South Asian-led screenings, musicians and panels to catch. 

Catch a screening

The Disposables  THU, OCT 19, 3:30 PM 

Don't miss ABC's social media interactive series about missing refugee dads and plastic-eating monsters, with South Asian Australians involved in writing, directing and starring roles.

Sahela SAT, OCT 21, 4:00 PM

A married couple in Parramatta struggle with Indian gender norms and societal expectations when the husband comes out as queer. 

Pink Shirt  MON, OCT 16, 2023 | 3:20 PM - 5:55 PM Cinema 2 - Palace Cinema, Central Park Mall

SXSW is screening the first two episodes of Sajal Aly and Wahaj Ali’s Indian-Pakistani romantic dramedy about finding love in spite of meddling aunties. 

Eid Mubarak MON, OCT 16, 2023 6:00 PM - 8:10 PM Cinema 5 - Event Cinema

A Pakistani short film deconstructing the idea of religious sacrifice. Screened as part of a series of short films. 

In Flames WED, OCT 18, 2023 9:15 PM - 11:05 PM Cinema 2 - Palace Cinema, Central Park Mall

This Pakistani-Canadian allegorical film by director-to-watch Zarrar Khan uses the supernatural to make a villain out of the patriarchy.

Agra WED, OCT 18, 2023 9:15 PM - 11:05 PM Cinema 2 - Palace Cinema, Central Park Mall

Kanu Behl picks apart some of the darkest aspects of Indian society, tackling overpopulation, misogyny and toxic masculinity. 

Record. Play. Stop.  THU, OCT 19, 1:15 PM | FRI, OCT 20, 10:30 AM | SAT, OCT 21, 7:00 PM

A beautifully animated film about space, death, and non-existence. Screened as part of a series of short films. 

Stolen TUE, OCT 17, 6:15 PM | THU, OCT 19, 4:30 PM

Straight from its debut at the Venice Film Festival, it explores the perilous journey of a family as they find their missing newborn.

Live music you can't miss 

Ashwarya WED, OCT 18, 2023 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM Pleasures Playhouse

The Melbourne independent artist is fresh off her latest EP, Why’s It Gotta Hurt, combining eclectic electronica with striking visuals. 

Ashy WED, OCT 18, 2023 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM APRA AMCOS

This New Zealand singer-songwriter layers R&B vocals on top of polished, textbook pop sounds. 

Milan Ring WED, OCT 18, 2023 11:10 PM - 11:40 PM The Barrie

The Sydney-based artist has revolutionised Australia’s R&B scene, and she credits her mother’s Indian heritage in helping form the sound of her debut album. 

Pania SAT, OCT 21, 2023 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM Downstairs - The Lord Gladstone

A self-proclaimed product of Western Sydney’s melting pot, Pania has made a splash in Australian music and many of fashion’s best dressed lists. 

Stray Gods in Concert feat. Troy Baker, Anjali Bhimani and Montaigne  TUE, OCT 17, 2023 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM Alienware Arena - Fortress Sydney

Australia’s latest runaway gaming success is the musical RPG Stray Gods, featuring legendary voice actress Anjali Bhimani who will be performing her music as Medusa. 

For if you're in the mood to learn 

New visions: the future of diaspora storytelling TUE, OCT 17, 2023 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Cinema Theatre - UTS Building 6

Sheila Jayadev of Matchbox Pictures and Emerald Productions joins others to chat about where diaspora storytelling is headed in the future. 

How to create a diverse, inclusive and gender-balanced screen production FRI, OCT 20, 2023 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Theatrette - Powerhouse Museum

Pakistani-Canadian producer Andria Wilson Mirza is amongst a panel discussion on how to create a diverse and inclusive environment behind the cameras as well as in front of it. 

The science of start-up  MON, OCT 16, 2023 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Room C3.6 - ICC Sydney

South Asians are talking about start-ups on the big stage – catch broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf and My Muscle Chef founder Tushar Menon on the highs and lows of being a founder. 

Masculinity reimagined  MON, OCT 16, 2023 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Theatre - Powerhouse Museum

Tarang Chawla joins the hosts of The Daily Aus to discuss the need for masculinity to evolve in the 21st century. 

Walking in two worlds: the space between cultures  SAT, OCT 21, 2023 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Room E3.5 - ICC Sydney

Moderated by Manisha Iman of Inclusive Design and joined by Senthan Sanchayan of Stuck In Between Media, the panel talk about Australia’s growing population of residents born overseas. 

The nanobots are coming (and that's a good thing): radical optimism for life in 2050 THU, OCT 19, 2023 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Room C2.5 & C2.6 - ICC Sydney

PhD student Karuna Skipper is at the forefront of robotics, and you can find her chatting further about how her research is going to change the world for the better.

Rohit Bhargava - how Non-Obvious thinkers change the world  TUE, OCT 17, 2023 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Pyrmont Theatre - ICC Sydney

A key figure in the Futurism movement, Rohit Bhargava brings his standing-room conversations from Austin, Texas to Sydney. 

Culture shift: how the world of work will be shaped by the next generation and new technologies  TUE, OCT 17, 2023 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Room C3.6 - ICC Sydney

This panel includes Tash Menon, founder of MASH Brands, and goes in-depth about how Gen Z and increasing globalisation will change the way we work. 

Immersive audio - the future of entertainment  TUE, OCT 17, 2023 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Cockle Bay 1 - ICC Sydney

This conversation on the growing demand for audio entertainment features two big South Asian names: Audible’s Karen Appathurai Wiggins, and ABC presenter Marc Fennell. 

The most investable opportunities in healthcare today  WED, OCT 18, 2023 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM The Guthrie Theatre - UTS Building 6

Catch a founder from our 101 South Asian Australian Startup Founders List, Ashwin Ramachandran of Sapyen, along with Dr Amandeep Hansra, GP and co-founder of Australian Medical Angels. 

Riot Games' Andrei Van Roon and Kjartan Asraelsson in conversation  FRI, OCT 20, 2023 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Cockle Bay 2 - ICC Sydney

Riot Games Sydney Head of Development Naresh Hirani moderates this conversation on the challenges of maintaining League of Legends. 

Women in the creator economy - monetisation and identity  WED, OCT 18, 2023 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Room E3.5 - ICC Sydney

Hero Packaging founder Anaita Sarkar forms part of this panel on the unique challenges of being a female creator-seller online, and why women-led community is beneficial to anyone who wants to try. 

Check out the full schedule of SXSW Sydney here.