SXSW Film Announces Mark Duplass Keynote and New 2015 Panels

The 2015 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival, running from March 13-31 in Austin, Tex., has booked acclaimed independent director and actor Mark Duplass as one of its four daily keynote speakers. The news was announced this morning, alongside twenty conference sessions and expanded conference programs for the 2015 event.

“SXSW Film’s conference sessions, known for their breadth and quality, lead the conversations about our rapidly changing industry,” said head of SXSW Film Janet Pierson. “We are thrilled that Mark Duplass is one of our keynote speakers because he personifies the SXSW ideal by working energetically as an actor, writer, director and producer of electric work, across film, television and web series.”

As announced last week, the first round of 2015 convergence programming sessions will include Cam Newton, mega-producer Brian Grazer, James Frey, Rich Eisen, Megan Rapinoe and comedian Russell Brand. Golden Globe-winning director Shekhar Kapur (“Elizabeth”) will hold one of the festival’s many Featured Session Conversations. New panels this year include “10 Lessons From a Decade Watching Pixar Movies” and “Directors Share Their POVs,” among others.

The full list of keynote speakers and panelists will be announced in early 2015. For more information, visit the SXSW Film website.