It is to my surprise that some people that live in Austin don't know what South by Southwest (SXSW) is. We all know that Austin, TX is definitely the "Live Music Capital of the World." South by Southwest (SXSW, Inc.) is a private company based in Austin, Texas, with a year-round staff of professionals dedicated to building and delivering conference and festival events for entertainment and related media industry professionals. Since 1987, SXSW has produced the internationally recognized Music and Media Conference and Festival.

There are 3 parts to SXSW, the first is Interactive Festival, the second is Film Conference and Festival, and the third is Music Conference and Festival.This year the Interactive Festival with run from March 7-11, the Film Conference and Festival will run from March 7-15, and the Music Conference and Festival will run from March 12-16.

The SXSW Interactive Festival features five days of exciting panel content and amazing parties. Attracting digital creatives as well as visionary technology entrepreneurs, the event celebrates the best minds and the brightest personalities of emerging technology. Whether you are a hard-core geek, a dedicated content creator, a new media entrepreneur, or just someone who likes being around an extremely creative community, SXSW Interactive is for you!

For nine days in March, the SXSW Film Festival screens the best in new independent film from around the world. SXSW has gained accolades for the quality of our programming, which focuses on both emerging talent and cinematic greats. With over 180 films, including innovative narrative and documentary features; narrative, documentary, animated, and experimental shorts; music videos; and midnight films, there’s plenty to satisfy every film lover. Here is a link so you can see the screening of the films for this year.

http://2008.sxsw.com/film/screenings/date/2008-03-07.html

SXSW Music Conference and Festival is one of the largest, most influential, and most anticipated music events of the year. Artists, agents, promoters, and talent buyers mix and mingle with hundreds of media representatives, managers, legal experts, and other professionals to hear amazing music of every genre and conduct crucial business. Careers are launched, deals are struck, advice is shared, fans are created, and media around the world fill TV screens, airwaves, magazine pages, and websites with daily reviews and reports. Here is a link to get a taste of what's going to be seen this year.
http://2008.sxsw.com/music/showcases/date/2008-03-12.html

If you plan on attending SXSW, you should register in order to receive a badge to attend one or all of the three Festivals. Although this year you must enter a local Austin address in order to receive your badge. Here is a link to register http://2008.sxsw.com/register_to_attend/