Highlights for Upcoming SXSW Interactive 2008, Kicks Off Five-Day Festival March 7

Highlights for Upcoming SXSW Interactive 2008, Kicks Off Five-Day Festival March 7

ScreenBurn Arcade, Web Awards, 400+ compelling speakers and much more to make up 15th annual event

AUSTIN, Texas, March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival, a leading festival targeting Web technology innovators and digital creatives from across the globe, kicks off March 7, 2008. With compelling panels, keynotes and evening events, this year's festival is estimated to attract more attendees than ever before. Highlights of the upcoming five-day Festival also include the ScreenBurn Festival's gaming programming and ScreenBurn Arcade, the 11th Annual Web Awards as well as the iF! Trade Show + Exhibition.

   Festival Highlights Include:   Keynote Speakers (2:00 p.m. every day)    -- Saturday, March 8 - Henry Jenkins, Co-Director of the Comparative Media      Studies Program at MIT, and Steven Johnson, CEO of outside.in (Opening      Remarks)   -- Sunday, March 9 - Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook   -- Monday, March 10 - Frank Warren, founder and curator of the PostSecret      Project   -- Tuesday, March 11 - Jane McGonigal, senior researcher at the Institute      for the Future and well-known game designer     Panel Discussions  

SXSW Interactive includes more than 150 panels, covering topics such as: accessibility, advertising, blogging, business issues, content, creativity, design, entrepreneurial concerns, mobile technology, legal issues, online video, open source, podcasting, programming and usability.

2008 brings two new additions to the 2008 programming lineup as well, which include Core Conversations (http://2008.sxsw.com/interactive/programming/core_conversations/) and Book Readings (http://2008.sxsw.com/interactive/programming/readings/).

ScreenBurn Gaming Programming & ScreenBurn Arcade (open Saturday and Sunday)

The 2008 ScreenBurn Festival, the gaming component of SXSW Interactive, is a five-day event providing up-and-coming gaming industry talent an opportunity to learn from more established professionals. ScreenBurn enables consumers and game developers to preview the future of the gaming industry, hear about soon-to-be-released titles, learn fascinating insights from thought-provoking experts, and meet up-and-coming new talent whose innovations are powering the next generation of play.

In its third year, the ScreenBurn Festival will also include the ScreenBurn Arcade, an open platform of exhibitors and game tournaments. The 2nd annual ScreenBurn Arcade is free to the public and connects consumers, independents, developers, and soon to be masters of the game world. Highlights include the Championship Gaming Series (http://www.thecgs.com/), the only worldwide professional video gaming league, game tournaments hosted by Seagate Technology (http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/), featuring the Frag Dolls (http://www.fragdolls.com/), as well as many other top participating gamers and companies.

11th Annual 2008 Web Awards (Sunday, March 9, 7:30-8:45 p.m., Downtown Hilton Hotel)

The 11th annual Web Awards, one of the most popular evening events at the SXSW Interactive Festival, uncovers the best new websites and celebrates those who are building and implementing tomorrow's online trends.

Eugene Mirman, a comedian, writer and filmmaker best known for his work on the hit HBO show, "Flight of The Concords," and from his appearances on Comedy Central's "Premium Blend," will emcee the 2008 Web Awards Ceremony, which is presented by Adobe.

iF! Interactive/Film Trade Show (opens at noon Sunday, Monday and Tuesday)

With more than 125 booths, the three-day Interactive/Film (iF!) Trade Show + Exhibition reveals tools for development and productivity used by digital creatives and filmmakers alike. The exhibiting companies that come together to promote their services and organizations supporting independent filmmaking and digital culture are represented in this part of the conference as well. The SXSW Trade Show is home to the Adobe Day Stage Cafe (panels, demos and awards presentations), the South By Bookstore (scheduled appearances and book signings by industry notables), Studio SX (one-on-one conversations and interviews between conference delegates) and special Exhibitor Events.

About SXSW Interactive Festival

Scheduled March 7-11 in Austin, Texas, the 2008 SXSW Interactive Festival provides practical how-to information as well as unparalleled career inspiration, bringing together some of emerging technology's most creative thinkers. The event features five days of keynote speeches, more than 120 panels, the SXSW Web Awards, the iF! Trade Show & Exhibition, the ScreenBurn Arcade, and dozens of exciting evening events. For more information on SXSW Interactive, see http://www.sxsw.com/interactive.

    Press Contact:    Caroline Traylor    Porter Novelli    Caroline.Traylor@porternovelli.com    512-241-2239    210-365-8761 (cell)  

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Source: South by Southwest (SXSW)

CONTACT: Caroline Traylor of Porter Novelli, +1-512-241-2239, cell,
+1-210-365-8761, Caroline.Traylor@porternovelli.com, for South by Southwest -
SXSW

Web site: http://www.sxsw.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment