Seven Things We Learnt from SXSW 2014
The future is nearly here, and Game of Thrones' Hodor is a DJ.
It may be a severe case of FOMO, but for those a little more south than South by Southwest, this Austin-based festival seems like the dream. In just over a week, SXSW presents more than 800 sessions on technological innovation, hundreds of new and exciting films, and over 2000 musical acts.
Unfortunately this year's festival was marred by terrible news — a tragedy that has little reason or sense. But the festival as a whole is a world-renowned celebration of ideas, art and culture in all their forms. Here's a few things we took away from it all.
Films about Brooklyn hipsters are still, like, totally in
Following in the steps of Lena 'voice of her generation' Dunham, first-time filmmakers Sarah-Violet Bill and Charles Rogers took out this year's Grand Jury Prize for Fort Tilden. Much like Dunham's prized 2010 film Tiny Furniture, Fort Tilden is the story of two Brooklyn women working their way through a quarter-life crisis. Unlike Tiny Furniture, they choose to deal with their problems with a madcap sojourn to the beach rather than lying on the floor and complaining. It may not have the emotional heft of last year's winner Short Term 12, but it does make sense in SXSW's long line of indie flicks that analyse the life of creative millenials (know your audience). Other honourable mentions go to Joe, a Nic Cage film where he may in fact play a normal human, and the premiere of the much-awaited Veronica Mars film.
Apps are getting closer to making your favourite movies a reality
Anyone who's seen Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind has thought at least one of two things. One: both Kirsten Dunst and Mark Ruffalo look amazing in their underwear. Two: breakups are incredibly traumatic. And, while it's hard to split the two, the latter is probably the one that struck home. While we're not quite up to speed with the technological memory erasure of this critically acclaimed 2004 film, this year's SXSW drew attention to its digital equivalent. KillSwitch is an app that manages the increasingly troublesome problem of breaking up in the digital age by deleting all traces of your relationship. Is Facebook always telling you to 'reconnect' with your ex? Are you sick of seeing their incessant humble brags and stalking their profile for any glimpse of an interaction with someone new? Let technology free you from your sickness.
We shouldn't feel bad about not knowing all the bands
SXSW is a mecca for music fans and, as the industry's tastemaker, it understandably draws some big names. Jay-Z and Kanye rekindled the magic of their Watch the Throne tour, Coldplay soothed a crowd of people who were presumably missing the early noughties, and Tyler the Creator allegedly started a riot. Julian Casablancas seized the moment to release some new material, and indie favourites like Warpaint and Washed Out drew big buzz, but, as always, the real action was flying beneath the radar. With over 2,000 acts on show, SXSW is all about discovering 'the next big thing', and there are thousands of people desperate to be the first in the know. In a repeat of his Coachella segment last year, Jimmy Kimmel took advantage of this in the above video. What we learnt from it all: never trust anyone with a camera.
Good advice can come from very strange places
People were a little shocked when Lady Gaga was announced as the keynote speaker for the music portion of the festival. This wasn't because she was the first woman in 15 years to take the gig, nor because she was the youngest speaker ever; it was more to do with the fact that she's Lady Gaga — a woman who let someone vomit on her during a performance and came to the keynote speech dressed like one of the bad guys from the The Matrix: Reloaded. Regardless, her speech was a thing of beauty. She analysed the state of creativity in a corporate market, she slagged off Katy Perry — her speech had it all. Watch the full thing here.
Oreos are more delicious when they tell you the news
3D printing technology has a lot of potential. It's now used in medical breakthroughs, it can even be used to build a house pieced together like Lego, but I think it's just found its ultimate use — creating customised Oreos. In a joint venture between Oreo and Twitter, this year's SXSW featured a Trending Vending Lounge that created Oreos based on the trending news at each moment. With that, lucky festival-goers were actually able to taste the hashtag #SXSW. If we had to guess, it would be something like Texan BBQ and Red Bull but, hey, whatever you're into...
Famous people are exciting, even when they're Kevin Bacon
When a world-class festival bases itself around the creative industries of innovation, film and music, it's understandably going to get some stars. This year, big waves were made by Lena Dunham and her keynote that focused on the gender inequalities of Hollywood; funny people like Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, who gave an inside look into the world of Portlandia; and the cast of Game of Thrones, who dropped into their exhibit featuring the iron throne (did anyone else know Hodor is a DJ?). However, the unexpected highlight was a talk with that all but forgotten '80s dance king named after your favourite food: Kevin Bacon. After explaining that he once hated the game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, he went on to dish out a much-sought-after Bacon number of one to all the audience. For some reason, we're jealous.
Grumpy Cat will still steal the show every time
But all of this was nothing compared to the unrequited love shown to one feline friend. Marking her second year of SXSW domination, Grumpy Cat was undoubtedly the main attraction of SXSW Interactive. Not only did she steal the spotlight from the festival's biggest stars, she ruined the end of Game of Thrones and may have broken the internet in the process. Good one, Grumps.
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