Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrives SXSW.
The author and co-founder of the Archewell Foundation and Archewell Productions will participate in the opening conference “Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen”, alongside the journalist Katie Couricactor Brooke Shields and diversity, equity and inclusion consultant at Peoplism, Nancy Wang Yuen. Errin Haines, host of The Amendment podcast and editor-in-chief of The 19th News, will moderate.
The discussion, which also takes place on International Women's Day, will focus on how the pervasiveness of social media “creates an often dangerous environment that has led to serious mental health problems among adolescent girls in particular,” according to the festival description.
“Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, Katie Couric, Brooke Shields, Nancy Wang Yuen and Errin Haines are the perfect finishing touch to eight days of remarkable speakers,” said Hugh Forrest, co-chair and director of programming for SXSW, in a statement. statement. “We are so honored to host this distinguished group on International Women’s Day for a meaningful discussion about the importance of representation in media and entertainment.”
The announcement is the latest addition to the robust lineup of speakers and conversations planned for this year's festival, which also includes talks from Oscar-winning directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Black Keys members Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, and a conversation between Lisa Su, CEO and Chairman of AMD, and Ryan Patel, futurist and host of “The Moment.”
Other guest speakers include several creatives whose projects are featured at the festival, including Sydney Sweeney (“Immaculate”); Lilly Singh (“Do It”); Alex Garland, Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura and Cailee Spaeny (“Civil War”); Colman Domingo, Paul Raci and Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin (“Sing Sing”); Pamela Adlon, Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau (“Babes”); and Nick Kroll (“I Don’t Understand You”) with Conan O’Brien.
SXSW runs March 8-16 in Austin, Texas.