by FilmInk Staff
Kym Barret, Michael Shanks, Liz Watts, Tony Ayres, Whitney Fuller, Alexandra Fredericks, Joe Yanick, Lisa Dreyer and more set to join the line-up.
Mentorship allocations are now open to SXSW Sydney Pass holders here, and close Monday 22 September, 2025.
South by Southwest Sydney® (SXSW Sydney) has unveiled the latest additions to its 2025 Screen industry program, featuring conference sessions with industry heavyweights from across the globe including Kym Barret (The Matrix), Michael Shanks (Together), Liz Watts (The King), Tony Ayres (Stateless), Whitney Fuller (Monkeypaw Productions), Alexandra Fredericks (Oscilloscope), Joe Yanick (Yellow Veil Pictures) and Lisa Dreyer (Fantastic Festival), alongside already announced keynote speaker, Hollywood icon Paul Feig (Bridesmaids).
Featuring an extensive array of seminars, workshops, live commentary sessions, and mentorships, this year’s program is designed to provide deep insights into the screen industry’s creative process – covering everything from accessible VFX skills to acquisitions and programming.
A hub for industry professionals, attendees can look forward to thought-provoking panels including ‘Blood, Sweat & Tears: The Indie Horror Producer’s Survival Guide’ presented by Jill Kingston (Pacific Shadow Pictures), Enzo Tedeschi (Deadhouse Films), Kate Separovich (Lake Martin Films) and Helen Tuck (Deadhouse Films) as they pull back the curtain on the unique opportunities and pitfalls of the genre; real talk, advice, and a few cautionary tales in ‘So You Want to Move to LA’ featuring Carmen Knox (Invention Studios) and actor Remy Hii; and ‘Pitch Please’ featuring practical tips, real advice, and a look at what the industry in Australia and overseas actually want with guest speakers including Knox and writer Shanrah Wakefield.
Of the speakers, Liz Watts and Tony Ayres will join each other on stage to discuss ‘What is An Australian Story?’, what defines them and if anyone can predict which Australian stories will take off overseas; Yellow Veil Pictures co-founder Joe Yanick is set to return for a second year to join Oscilloscope’s theatrical sales lead, Alexandra Fredericks to present a 101 talk on ‘Film Acquisitions’; and the development executive of Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, Whitney Fuller, will speak on the ‘Women in Genre’ panel to discuss the challenges women face in the industry and how we can strengthen this space on a global scale. Joining Fuller on the ‘Women in Genre’ panel, as well as a session titled ‘Programming Lens’ will be Lisa Dreyer, director of the largest genre film festival in the USA, Fantastic Festival, who will share insights into the current programming trends and the challenges facing festivals today. Those wanting to learn more about the essentials of building an online platform for your film can hear from social media expert, Rachel Watt (Watt Social) in ‘Script to Scroll: Social Media 101 for Filmmakers’.
The festival’s much-loved Screen Commentary sessions will return to Palace Cinemas, with acclaimed Hollywood costume designer, Kym Barret, joining audiences live to talk through her creative process working on the genre-defining sci-fi The Matrix as it plays out on the big screen; and Michael Shanks taking audiences on a deep dive into the making of his break-out horror, Together.
Also returning by popular demand will be ‘90 Min Film School’, providing a crash course on the things they do not get around to teaching you at film school. Expect practical advice from real professionals working in the real-world, including Emily Norton (The Music Soups), Kathy Lepan-Walker (Creative Wellbeing Support) and Rodney Bolt (Jorr).
The festival’s popular one-on-one and closed-door mentorship sessions will also return and are open to all SXSW Sydney Pass holders. Taking place throughout the week, each mentorship is carefully matchmade to spark real connections between applicants and experienced screen industry professionals, bringing together a diverse mix of voices, skills, and expertise. Mentorship allocations are now open here, and close Monday 22 September, 2025.
A must-attend event for professionals and innovators in leadership roles, SXSW Sydney runs from October 13-19, featuring 1,600 sessions and events including 400+ conference sessions, 150+ professional development sessions, 300+ music performances, 95 film screenings, 150 games and over 400 brand-led events.
Passes, Wristbands and rush tickets are on sale now, visit sxswsydney.com.
