They always say that one small initiative can easily become a massive movement, that all it takes is the first step for leaps and bounds to turn an event that may have had no more than a smattering of people at its first show into one crowded with thousands of attendees. When they say it, it may not always seem true, but for South by Southwest it most definitely was.



South by Southwest began as a small music festival in Austin 22 years ago. Today it has grown to include three different festivals - music, film and interactive - with thousands of participants, days of fun and networking at each and more positive press than the organization knows what to do with.

Events begin in mid-March, with the last to start being the Music and Media Conference. At this festival, 80 stages in downtown Austin hold bands and musical acts from around the world, for nights filled with unbelievable music. And at the South by Southwest Trade Show in the Austin Convention Center, attendees gather valuable information, listen to interesting panel discussions and network with others in the music and media field.

Before the music festival even gets started, the Film Conference and Festival begins. This 9-day event examines the art and business sides of independent filmmaking. For five days, speakers and mentors discuss trends and new technology in the film world; and for the full 9 days, documentaries, dramas, comedies and all types of independent films are showcased at various theatres throughout Austin. Anywhere between 150 and 200 films are shown, for a week of great entertainment and definite education.

Finally, the South by Southwest Interactive Festival, which runs at the same time as the Film Conference, offers five days of panel discussions and five nights of parties. You will challenge your creativity as you learn through hands-on demonstrations that test your ability and force you to think out of the box. Topics include Web design, blogging, usability, new technology business models and wireless innovation. It is a week of true geekiness you can't help but love.

If you want to attend any, or all, of the South by Southwest festivals, you should register . . . now, or as soon as you are able. There are several options for registration. You can get the Platinum badge, which will give you access to all three festivals, every day they are in session; the Gold badge, which gets you into the film and interactive conferences; or a badge for a specific festival (music, film or interactive). Whatever you decide, decide soon, for the closer it gets to start time, the more expensive the tickets become. And if you wait until the day of, you'll be paying far more than if you had bought them in November or even September.

South by Southwest is undoubtedly a festival not to be mixed. It is the perfect combination of geeky innovation and arty thought. You can be a witness to great film in the making, great music at its start and great ideas from their birth. So don't wait, visit Website SXSW for more information, today.