E.T: The Extraterrestrial. Jaws. Saving Private Ryan. Schindler’s List. The Color Purple. A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Minority Report. Munich. The Fabelmans. 1941. West Side Story. Raiders of the Lost Ark. There are legends of filmmaking and then there is Steven Spielberg, a leviathan who has kept us connected to our childhood dreams and educated us on the horrors of humanity for over five decades. And now he’s going to be part of this year’s South by Southwest Film & TV Festival (March 12-18).
This isn’t Spielberg’s first trip to SXSW. Back in 2018, he brought his adaptation of local author Ernie Cline’s sci-fi comic novel Ready Player One to Austin for its world premiere. This time, he’ll be appearing as a keynote speaker and special guest for a recording of the Ringer’s filmcentric podcast, The Big Picture, in which host Sean Fennessey will probe him on his unmatched filmography, from the groundbreaking minimalist horror of Duel to his upcoming alien conspiracy drama, Disclosure Day.
“Childhood dreams do come true,” VP of Film & TV Claudette Godfrey said. “Steven Spielberg is a true pioneer and legend whose seminal work has inspired generations of filmmakers and audiences alike. He’s given us some of cinema’s most formative, unforgettable, and magical experiences, always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on screen. He embodies the spirit of cinematic innovation and bold storytelling that defines SXSW, and bringing him to Austin for this special Keynote is going to be an extraordinary moment for our community. Making dreams come true is exactly why we do what we do. We’ll all be phoning home about this one!”
Spielberg joins an already packed lineup that includes the world premiere of I Love Boosters, the new comedy from Boots Riley, the return of beloved sitcom The Comeback, David E. Kelley’s new show Margo’s Got Money Troubles, and much, much more.
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