AUSTIN, Texas — With less than a month before South by Southwest floods Austin’s city center, three new keynote speakers have been announced.
Actress, writer, producer and director Issa Rae will deliver a keynote speech. Rae, famed for her acclaimed series “Insecure,” co-produced the SXSW 2025 documentary “Seen and Heard,” profiling creatives behind the Golden Age of Black television.
“A Conversation with Issa Rae” will revisit her career, highlighting her success as an actress, producer and writer.
Newly announced speakers Ben Lamm, Colossal Biosciences’ CEO, and actor/producer Joe Manganiello, will share a special announcement about Colossal’s progress in restoring extinct species using gene editing, cloning, and artificial wombs.
These speakers will be joining previously announced panelists, including Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey from “The Last of Us,” Gabriel Luna, Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced and Young Mazino, as well as creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, to discuss the show’s upcoming second season.
Blizzard Entertainment President Johanna Faries and TV personality Conan O’Brien will talk about gaming’s growth and how strong IPs build communities and engage audiences.
A keynote conversation with Bluesky’s Jay Graber and Techdirt’s Mike Masnick will explore reclaiming online control.
A panel featuring Chelsea Clinton, Nancy Northup, and Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, moderated by Rachel Scott, will explore the shifting legal landscape surrounding reproductive health care and the role of corporations in supporting access.
SXSW is March 7-15, 2025 in Austin, Texas. The SXSW Conference is organized into 23 programming tracks presented in a variety of session formats. Find out more about SXSW’s events here.
