The Austin Convention Center (ACC) is the hub of SXSW activity. Located in downtown Austin, the street address is 500 E. Cesar Chavez but the main SXSW entrance is on Fourth Street at Neches Street. Conference registration and badge pick-up is located in the ACC.

SXSW trade shows, industry talks, artist, filmmaker and press lounges, and many other events are located in the ACC. It is also where you can find information about all SXSW Film, Interactive and Music events, ScreenBurn, the Flatstock poster show, SXSWLive, a café and more. For more information about the ACC including maps, click here.

A carbon audit regime is an effective means of accounting for greenhouse gas control efforts. It establishes that the claimed reductions in emissions, or carbon sequestration, has actually occurred and is stable. (Courtesy of wikipedia.org)

SXSW is working towards being a green event. You can read more about carbon neutrality and SXSW’s efforts to reduce their carbon footprint here.

A panel, interview or address by a industry member of note. Recent Keynotes include Lou Reed, Mark Zuckerberg, Dan Rather, Pete Townshend, Phil Torrone, and Limor Fried. Film has “conversations” instead of keynotes. Recent Film conversations included Michael Eisner, Mark Cuban, Morgan Spurlock, Bill Paxton, Elizabeth Avellan and Richard Linklater.

The SXSW Lounges are the meeting places for SXSW Registrants to network. With several lounges tailored to specific industry badge holders and one all-encompassing Registrant's Lounge, there's always a place to relax, snack and have a midday beverage. These relaxing environments also have such amenities Wi-Fi, conversation areas, meeting tables and chair massages--Perfect for a break from the day or a preparation for the night!

Conversations, interviews, discussions or presentations given by industry professionals at the Austin Convention Center. Open to badge-holders only. However, Artist wristbands can attend Wednesday's Crash Courses. Also known as panels.

The goal of the SXSW Film Conference is to host discussions that serve two purposes: addressing the current issues of the film business, and providing crucial information for starting or maintaining a career as a filmmaker. Some of the speakers can get your film in theaters. Some of them have made the films we're seeing in theaters today. And, some are bypassing theaters more and more in favor of TV and DVD. No screenings, but other forms of entertainment and information.

Conference events take place from Friday, March 13th, until Tuesday, March 17th, 2009, and are primarily held within the Austin Convention Center. Access to Film Conference events is limited to Film, Gold or Platinum badge holders.

The goal of the SXSW Film Conference is to host discussions that serve two purposes: addressing the current issues of the film business, and providing crucial information for starting or maintaining a career as a filmmaker. Some of the speakers can get your film in theaters. Some of them have made the films we're seeing in theaters today. And, some are bypassing theaters more and more in favor of TV and DVD. No screenings, but other forms of entertainment and information.

Conference events take place from Friday, March 13th, until Tuesday, March 17th, 2009, and are primarily held within the Austin Convention Center. Access to Film Conference events is limited to Film, Gold or Platinum badge holders.

The SXSW Film Conference runs concurrently with the Interactive Festival, and their trade shows are known collectively as the Film and Interactive Trade Show Exhibition. The exhibition includes a bookstore, book signings, StudioSX interviews, and a day stage for special performances and presentations. The exhibition takes place at the ACC from noon to 6:00pm on Sunday and Monday (March 15th - March 16th) and Tuesday (March 17th) from noon to 4:00pm.

The SXSW Film Festival comprises all of the official SXSW film screenings. SXSW films represent many genres in both short and feature-length form. SXSW Film screenings are held in local theaters, most of which are within walking distance of the Austin Convention Center. SXSW Film presents more than 200 films each year, and most films are screened two or three times during the festival.

Genres include narrative features and shorts, documentary features and shorts, experimental shorts, animation, music videos, and a high school filmmaker program. Feature-length films are any films lasting 40 minutes or more, while short films run less than 40 minutes.

Screenings begin Friday, March 13th, and run through Saturday, March 21st, 2009. Access to SXSW film screenings is available to Film, Gold, or Platinum badge holders, as well as Film Pass holders and individual ticket buyers, when capacity allows.

The annual SXSW Film Awards Ceremony will take place at 8:00pm on Tuesday, March 17, at the ACC Theater. An intimate affair for filmmakers, industry and press, the Awards Ceremony is the chance for all of us to honor the films that audiences and juries have picked as the winners. Following the awards, badge holders are invited to the SXSW Film Conference Closing Party.

The SXSW Film Awards are open to all SXSW Film, Gold, and Platinum badge holders.

Categories eligible to receive Jury Awards include REEL Shorts, Animated Shorts, Experimental Shorts, Music Videos, Texas High School Competition, Documentary Feature and Narrative Feature categories. Additionally, SXSW audiences pick Audience Awards for the Emerging Visions, 24 Beats Per Second, Lone Star States, Documentary Feature. and Narrative Feature categories.

Please visit the Film Application page for more information on submitting your film for the SXSW 2009 Festival.

ScreenBurn programming (March 13th - 17th) programming features four days of presentations on the newest developments in the gaming industry. Access to ScreenBurn panels is limited to Interactive, Gold or Platinum badge holders.

The Screenburn Arcade (March 14th - 15th) is an open platform of exhibitors and tournaments — and is free and open to the public!

SXSW Interactive Festival runs concurrently with the Film Conference, and their trade shows are known collectively as the Film and Interactive Trade Show Exhibition. The exhibition includes book signings, StudioSX interviews, and a day stage for special performances and presentations.

It takes place at the ACC from noon to 6:00pm on Sunday and Monday (March 15th - March 16th), and Tuesday (March 17th) from noon to 4:00pm. Access is limited to Interactive, Film, Gold or Platinum Badge holders.

The Dewey Winburne Community Service Award celebrates the vision that technology is society's most effective tool to level the playing field between the haves and the have-nots. Like the man it honors, the criteria for judging this prize are somewhat open-ended and changeable: candidates need to primarily live in the Central Texas area and be involved with a grass-roots effort to use convergent media to better the lives of this community's less fortunate citizens. Beyond these two stipulations, qualifications for this award are largely dependent on the skill sets of the nominees.

The SXSW Music Conference comprises all of the daytime industry talks, meetings and discussions in the Austin Convention Center, as well as the trade show, artist lounge and parties. Conference events take place from Wednesday, March 18th, until Saturday, March 21st, 2009.

Access to Music Conference events is limited to Music or Platinum badge-holders, with the exception of the Trade Show, Wednesday's Crash Courses, and the Daystage Cafe, which are also available to Artist Wristband holders.

The world-renowned SXSW Music Festival presents hundreds of showcases over the course of five days (most in the evening), and is one of the most exciting events Austin has to offer. More than 1,800 artists played showcases participated in SXSW 2008.

Official SXSW showcases are held in more than 80 venues around downtown Austin, and take place between Wednesday, March 18th, and Sunday, March 22nd, 2009.

A performance by a featured artist at an official SXSW venue during the Music Festival.

If you would like to apply to be one of the SXSW Music Festival's featured artists, please visit the Showcase Application page.

The Austin Music Awards celebrates the local music scene. Come see performances and awards given to the best Austin has the offer.

The Austin Music Awards take place on Wednesday, March 18th, and are open at no charge to all Music and Platinum Badge holders as long as building capacity allows.

SXSW Live is a live TV broadcast shown exclusively on DIRECTV’s Channel 101. Produced in conjunction with Blaze TV, several of the hottest bands and artists on the SXSW will perform full 40-minute sets at the Lone Star Lounge & Bat Bar, built specifically for SXSWLive inside the Austin Convention Center. Schedule and admission information will be made available on the SXSW Live page in the coming months.

Auditorium Shores Stage (on Lady Bird Lake at the intersection of South 1st Street and Riverside Drive) features three days of concerts that are free and open to the public. The Auditorium Shores Stage will have shows on Thursday, March 19th (5:00 pm - 9:00 pm), Friday, March 20th (5:00 pm - 9:00 pm), and Saturday, March 21st (11:00 am - 9:00 pm). Schedule information will be available on the Auditorium Shores Stage page in the coming months.

A registration or badge is your pass to gain admission to the conference or festival event you would like to attend. Badges are conference-specific, so make sure you know what you're getting before you purchase your registration. Registrations are absolutely non-refundable, so do some research before you register to fine the badge that's right for you.

Under the direction of SXSW co-founder Louis Jay Meyers, the SXSW Golf Tournament has raised over $60,000 for various charities including the SIMS Foundation, AIDS Services of Austin, East Austin Optimist Club, Lone Star Musicians Foundation and others.

The 2009 tournament is in its 20th year and has had over 2000 golfers participate. The SXSW Golf Tournament is open to all musicians and music and media professionals. The SXSW Golf Tournament takes place on Wednesday, March 18th. To sign up, or for more information, please contact Louis.

The SXSW Housing Department is your best source to book a hotel for SXSW. Once you have purchased your registration, the Housing Department can book your hotel room at the SXSW group rate. An up-to-date list of available hotels and rates can be found here. Contact the Housing Department at housing at sxsw dot com. Invited Artists can request rooms through their Artist Information Page.

On Wednesday, March 18, 2009 enjoy a relaxing dinner (and a complimentary glass of wine) at the Four Seasons with other SXSW registrants. Specify your choice of entrees from the 4 menu options which can be found online. The cost is $90. Tickets must be purchased in advance when you register or by contacting registration department.

On the final day of SXSW, we hold our traditional softball tournament, pitting various areas of the music industry against one another: print media, radio/online, mixed media, record companies, musicians, clubs/talent buyers, agents and managers.

For players and non-players alike, we'll also have an authentic Texas barbecue spread with all the trimmings. Remember to bring your badge! Music and Platinum badge holders eat for free. If you are a non-registrant - or if you forgot to bring your badge - you may buy food tickets for $10 at the field.

For more information click here

"Goodie" bag for all SXSW Registrants designed by industry notables and filled with promotional items from the industry's top businesses

Cafe located on the second floor of the Austin Convention Center and next to the Trade Show and Exhibition; features networking opportunities and live performances by SXSW featured artists. Schedule information will be made available in the coming months.

Locations in the Austin Convention Center provided for Registrants to check the Internet and their E-Mail for free

Businesses exhibiting in the Trade Show may have special events at their booths such as Give-aways, Happy Hours, Meet & Greets, etc.

Station located in both Trade Shows to preview movie trailers and MP3s of the accepted films and artists of SXSW

Rock art poster show presented by the American Poster Institute and SXSW featuring artists from around the globe; free and open to the public.

A place in the Music Trade Show to meet and greet with some of the most recognized independent labels in the nation; open to all music badge and artist wristband holders

Artists and authors sign and personalize books and CDs at this bookstore on both Trade Show floors

Live interview broadcasts with some of the featured artists, filmmakers and industry professionals of SXSW; appears in both Trade Shows and open to all badge and artist wristband holders

Exhibitions of some of the top industry businesses in the world; One Trade Show focused on multimedia during Film and Interactive and one Trade Show geared toward the music industry during the Music Festival