White House Announces South by South Lawn Festival

South by Southwest is coming to the White House. On Oct. 3, the White House will hold the first annual South by South Lawn Festival to celebrate the spirit of innovation. The festival will feature music, films and panel discussions designed to “challenge creative thinkers and entrepreneurs from across the country to help tackle our toughest challenges.”

The festival is directly inspired by South by Southwest, where President Obama traveled this year to encourage civic engagement and a belief in a brighter tomorrow. The festival will be presented in conjunction with the American Film Institute, C3 Presents, The President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities and South by Southwest.

The interactive portion of the festival will involve panels designed to explore topics relating to making lasting change. It will also involve booths set up to encourage attendees to learn about new technologies and innovations.

Film, the second major component of the festival, will feature the 3rd Annual White House Student Film Festival. Students in grades K-12 have submitted more than 700 films centered on the theme of “The World I Want to Live In.” Select films and filmmakers will be honored during the festival.

The music portion of the festival will feature performances by “well-known and emerging artists,” with a more specific lineup still to come. All three portions are designed to inspire young people, with the goal of creating “an America that is more tolerant, fair, and full of opportunities.”

If you would like to nominate yourself or someone you know to attend the festival, visit the nomination page here. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 10 at 5 p.m.