South by Southwest (SXSW) Sydney 2024 is gearing up for its highly anticipated return from October 14–20. Following its groundbreaking debut in 2023, the global cultural festival has unveiled an exciting array of events for 2024, featuring prominent speakers, short films, artists, and gaming experiences.
With over 1,000 sessions and events lined up for more than 300,000 attendees, the festival promises to foster connections and ignite exciting ideas this year. The gathering of thought leaders and emerging talents is set to serve as a dynamic platform for all creative minds.
SXSW's Asia-Pacific location uniquely highlights South Asian talents, showcasing many screenings, musicians, and panels led by artists from the subcontinent and diaspora. For festival-goers in Sydney, here’s your essential guide to South Asian-led highlights that are not to be missed.
Beats & Vibes: Must-Attend Music Events
Date & Time: Sunday, 20 October, 1:00 PM -7:00 PM
Venue: Tumbalong Park Main Stage
A single-day music showcase festival will bring energy to the festival and feature six acts from India and the Indian diaspora—one of the most exciting entertainment influences of the moment—with genres spanning hip-hop, pop, R&B, club, and neo-classical. The showcase will feature top-tier talent that includes KRSNA (India), KAVYA (India), Yung Raja (India), Renao (UK), Manara (UK) (DJ), Chor Bazaar (AUS) (DJ), and more to be announced. +91 Calling is proudly supported by the Centre for Australia-India Relations.
Date & Time: +91 Is Calling!, 20 October, 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Venue: Tumbalog Park
Mali, alias Maalavika Manoj, is a Mumbai-based singer-songwriter known for her unique fusion of classic pop influences with a contemporary edge. Her debut album, 'Caution to the Wind,' garnered widespread acclaim in 2021, cementing her status as a standout artist in the Indian indie scene. With her evocative lyricism, angelic vocals, and innovative production, Mali remains a trailblazer in the music industry, captivating audiences worldwide.
Date & Time: Fri, Oct 18, 11:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Venue: Fortress Sydney, Alienware Arena
Starting his journey from a bedroom studio in New Delhi in 2010, Dualist Inquiry has earned widespread critical acclaim while building a dedicated following. With over a decade of remarkable development as an artist and performer – “a blur,” in Dualist Inquiry's own words – the left-of-center music-maker has cultivated a reputation for his unique artistic voice and authenticity.
Date & Time: SXSW Music Festival, Oct 14–20
Venue: Check SXSWSydney.com Music Festival for details.
Performance in all its forms has always been intrinsic to Ayesha Madon’s journey. For the rising creative, music and songwriting remain at the fore of her creative output as she strives for humility and grit in all aspects of her work. A deep consideration for authentic storytelling, humility, and a natural ability to keep it real is how Madon continues to captivate in whatever medium she harnesses.
Date & Time: 17 Oct, 8:30 pm - 9:15 pm
Venue: Kyiv Social
Esha is at the beginning of her career, mainly built through grassroots social media support. With her debut EP, “I Can,” Esha has cultivated a large following of over 100,000 supporters. Her original indie folk and rock songs aim to send listeners down their emotional path.
Date & Time: Wed, Oct 16, 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Venue: Sneaky Possum, Upstairs
TUSHAR’s relatable lyrics, dreamy vocals, and electric sounds will surely put an extra skip in your step. It's perfect for all hours of the day, whether lounging in your backyard on a beautiful summery afternoon or dancing your heart out when the sun sets. Drawing influence from artists such as Gus Dapperton, Dayglow, and Two Door Cinema Club, TUSHAR has been aiming to bring a strong live set into the festival music circuit.
Games And More
Date & Time: 18 October, 3:00 pm
Venue: Check SXSWSydney.com Games Showcase for details.
imissmyfriends studio, led by Rhea Gupte and Prateek Saxena, will present Fishbowl, a heartfelt coming-of-age story told over a month where you unpack puzzles to rediscover childhood memories. Twenty-one-year-old Alo gets her first job in a new city and is living by herself while grieving her grandma’s death; the choices she makes each day will lead to a unique journey of self-discovery.
Date & Time: Games Festival
Venue: Check out SXSWSydney.com Games Festival website
A heartfelt story of ambition, struggle, and friendship told from the perspective of a young boy in fictional 90s rural India. Explore ancient palace ruins, set up your garden, cook Indian food, run errands for quirky characters, and learn about your history by making art. The game has been developing since 2020 and was released in summer of 2024. Based out of India, the art direction is by Mala Sen, the programming is by Mridul Kashatria, and the music is composed by Srikant Krishna.
Exploring Business and Startup Landscape
The Indian Market - Opportunites & Obstacles
Date & Time: Thu, Oct 17, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Venue: JMC Academy, Student Lounge
Four South Asian music industry veterans—Ashish Jose, an artist, and curator; Peony Hirwani, the senior editor at Rolling Stone India; Tej Brar, the Head of Festivals at Nodwin Gaming; and Anuj Gupta of BookMyShow—will outline the opportunities the Indian market represents in touring, brand deals, distribution, and collaborations.
Global Down Under: VCs in APAC
Date & Time: Thu, Oct 17, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Venue: ICC Sydney, Next Stage
Connecting the best international investors with the best startups in Australia and abroad. Join a panel and Q&A session with some of the top VCs in APAC, including Managing Director at Peak XV Abheek Anand, January Capital, and Investible. Hear what these VCs are looking for when investing and what opportunities there are for Australian startups (and abroad). Then, connect with them in a casual networking format.
Date & Time: Tue, Oct 15, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Venue: UTS Building 8, Collaborative Theatre
“Whose Startup Is It Anyway?” is a unique way to explore the world of startups and deconstruct and reconstruct business pitches through improv. Laughter and learning collide, as understanding how the principles of improv unexpectedly champion business innovation, customer success, lowering stakes, making things feel less risky, and elevating company culture. Jeeves Verma, a South Asian Australian comedian and marriage celebrant, is one of the panelists. He performs a new live show every year, which has welcomed rave reviews at the Sydney Comedy and Melbourne International Comedy Festivals.
Date & Time: Thu, Oct 17, 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Venue: UTS Building 1, Balcony
India dominates the mobile games industry with nearly 10 billion gaming app downloads in 2023. However, with the rise of PC and console gaming, creators across India are flourishing in new frontiers of game development. Join speakers - Rhea Gupte and Prateek Saxena and Jinesh Raikangor as they discuss the changing markets in India and the growth of the indie games community.
Streaming Thieves: The Secret Networks Stealing Billions from Artists
Date & Time: Wed, Oct 16, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Venue: ICC Sydney, Cockle Bay 1
Artists and labels’ wallets are about to get hit hard due to outside forces they didn’t know existed and the DIY nature of distribution – all of which make up music streaming fraud. Who’s behind the scheme of stealing streams, and what safeguards can you put in place? Dive into the industry’s hot-button issue that’s got every label and DSP talking – detecting, combating, and collaborating to contain those contributing to fraud. Priyanka Khimani, a keynote speaker, is a leading global entertainment and music rights expert, especially for India and the South Asian diaspora.
From the World of Tech and Innovation
Date & Time: Mon, Oct 14, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Venue: ICC Sydney, Room C2.5 & C2.6
How do we build a globally competitive, world-class technology ecosystem in Australia? This fireside chat with Rohan Silva (Former Senior Policy Adviser to UK Prime Minister David Cameron) and Ben Grabiner (General Partner at Side Stage Ventures) will explore lessons from building Tech City in the UK and the role the government in Australia can and should play in fostering a high-tech economy.
Tech and Tonics: A Spotlight On Women Shaping The Digital Age
Date & Time: Fri, Oct 18, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Venue: ICC Sydney, Next Stage
Tired of feeling lost in a tech bro world? Tech & Tonics is your chance to meet leading women shaping the future of technology. Demystify emerging tech like AI and Blockchain—no jargon, just real-world examples of how it revolutionizes industries. Hear from industry pioneers: Ashi Bhat, a South Asian entrepreneur, futurist, and TEDx speaker. The Founder of INSIDER, a blockchain loyalty solution transforming customer engagement for consumer brands, will share her insights.
Is the Human Imagination Under Attack?
Date & Time: Tue, Oct 15, 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Venue: ICC Sydney, Parkside Ballroom 1
Will artificial intelligence overshadow human creativity, or can the two forces combine to achieve groundbreaking results? Ogilvy’s Devika Bulchandani explores the dynamic interplay between human imagination and artificial intelligence. Discover the collaborative potential of this technology, the evolving role of human insight, and how AI can become a powerful ally in unleashing creativity's full potential for impacting business and society.
Who’s really in charge – big tech or we, the people?
Date & Time: Wed, Oct 16, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Venue: ICC Sydney, Room C2.2
Every day, there are new media reports of action from policymakers and regulators worldwide against global tech platforms and marketplaces. While regulatory action appears to be happening at a rapid cadence, the tech industry moves even faster – and regulators often struggle to keep up. How do we think about regulation as these companies grow? Amit Singh, a South Asian panelist, is a former managing director of a major global consulting firm and has completed economic research and policy projects in over 25 countries. He has presented in international forums, including at the ILO and OECD.
Expert Knowledge, Direct to You
4 Secrets of Non-Obvious Thinking with Rohit Bhargava
Date & Time: Mon, Oct 14, 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Venue: ICC Sydney, Darling Harbour Theatre
After exploring the front lines of world-changing trends and writing about them for more than a decade, this session will be the exclusive premiere of the new book, Non-Obvious Thinking (coming September 2024) from #1 Wall Street Journal best-selling author and founder and Chief Trend Curator at The Non-Obvious Company Rohit Bhargava. Find out what it takes to identify trends and isolate patterns like futurists do.
Quantum Communication & Encryption
Date & Time: Thu, Oct 17, 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Venue: ICC Sydney, Room E3.7 - Short Talks
Quantum technology will transform the future cyber and data security landscape. Will it destroy our current security or give us more secure communication? Is the threat/opportunity imminent, or is it a distant possibility? What is hype and fear mongering, and what is real? Rajiv Shah, a quantum physicist and cyber security expert, will explain everything without equations or code.
Date & Time: Thu, Oct 17, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Venue: ICC Sydney, Room C3.6 - Podcast Stage | iHeart
As we hurtle towards 2050, the landscape of work and management is undergoing a radical transformation. The panel of industry leaders, futurists, and management experts will explore the evolving responsibilities of managers in 2050 and beyond. One of the speakers, Ryan Patel is a globally recognized futurist and go-to authority on global business, political economy, and corporate governance. An expert in scaling businesses, he has served startups and publicly traded firms.
Culture Fit: Why Migrants and WOC Should Be Founding More Companies
Date & Time: Fri, Oct 18, 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Venue: ICC Sydney, Room E3.7 - Short Talks
After hundreds of founder conversations, South Asian Venture Capitalists Samadhi Pelenda, Ananya Sinha, and Sandra Suen have observed that Women Of Colour (WOC) founders are highly educated and often technical domain experts in building products but have had limited exposure to finance and venture capital. Join the mission to uplift these founders and fill a gap in their capability to navigate the funding process.
Tea with Gen Z: Mental Health x Social Media Meetup
Date & Time: Tue, Oct 15, 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Venue: ICC Sydney, Darling Harbour Theatre Foyer
Gen Z carries its gravitational pull, disrupting the online/ offline world and workplace, with social impact and, more specifically, mental health remaining at the top of mind. So why are we speaking *about* them and not directly *to* them? Lean into Gen Z's outsize influence and dive into productive conversations at the cross-section of mental health and social media to make good stuff happen with Kriti Gupta, a South Asian social media whiz, influencer guru, and content creator.
SXSW Sydney is an extension of the iconic SXSW® Austin festival, initially founded in 1987. Recognized as the new premiere destination for creative discovery, it will celebrate the convergence of the tech, screen, music, and games industries. This will be an essential destination for professionals to discover the untapped potential of the APAC region, showcase talent, create unmatched connections, and marvel at the diverse topics and performances set to take place.
Radha Mishra is a seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience in newsrooms. Now practising independently, she is passionate about covering issues that matter. She strives to deliver accurate and impactful stories to audiences globally.
