SXSW transforms Sydney into the new creative capital

Hollywood star Naomi Watts has returned to Sydney during its transformation into the culture and arts capital of Australia for the world-renowned SXSW Festival descends on the city

Aussie superstar Naomi Watts has flown home for a whirlwind visit to promote all things Down Under back in Hollywood at South by Southwest Sydney.

The actor will take part in a SXSW panel discussion at 1pm on Tuesday, with the title Menopause and Midlife: A Springboard for Reinvention.

On Monday night, the Oscar-nominated actor was guest of honour at an Australians In Film event attended by some of the biggest names in the game.

Watts, 55, is one of our biggest acting exports and has been for several decades with major Hollywood roles in films including King Kong, Mulholland Drive, The Ring and The International.

Naomi Watts at the Australians In Film Hollywood mixer last night. Picture: Supplied

She was nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award for her role in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s 21 Grams in 2003. Critically acclaimed Penguin Bloom is her most recent Australian film and told the story of Sydney’s Sam Bloom who was rendered paraplegic in an accident in Thailand.

“SXSW in Austin is always a rollercoaster of inspiration, fresh ideas and amazing speakers,” Watts said.

“I’m so glad that it’s happening in Australia and I just can’t wait to have some real-talk about the whirlwind of menopause, women in their prime years and the hustle of a career in midlife and beyond. This is not the end, we’re not invisible or irrelevant. It’s the beginning of something wonderful, actually – we’ve earned this time, we’ve earned our stripes.”

The panel is one of 1200 world-class events to be held at SXSW this year, with the highly-anticipated Real Housewives of Sydney Q and A set to bring the extravagance tonight.

Real Housewives of Sydney star Krissy Marsh ahead of the tell-all Q and A. Picture: Richard Dobson

Three of the housewives, Dr Kate Adams, Krissy Marsh and Sally Obermeder, will grace the Daily Telegraph stage in Tumbalong Park at 7pm for a sunset chat about the lavish lifestyles and fiery drama that has defined the popular reality franchise.

More events are primed to pack-out the remaining days of the festival with highlights including artist Chance the Rapper’s “history of hip-hop” session on Thursday, and the world premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s new film Faraway Downs on Saturday night.

It’s bigger than Texas and it’s here

The festival has poised Sydney to steal Melbourne’s self-anointed crown as the country’s culture capital with SXSW securing global recognition for the city.

Known as SXSW, the festival has been held every year in Austin, Texas since it’s inception in 1987, and is one of the biggest exhibitions of tech, culture, entertainment and innovation in the world.

“Straight from Austin, Texas to Sydney, our city will be the centre of the music, screen, gaming and tech world this week as we welcome locals and visitors to enjoy the inaugural SXSW Sydney,” Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said.

“I’m very pleased that people attending SXSW will have the chance to see Sydney at its best after dark, soaking up music, ideas, and culture. It’s the first time this event is being held outside of its Texas origins.”

A bid from Destination NSW beat out global cities from around to make Sydney the official annual Asia-Pacific instalment of SXSW, with it still also taking place in Austin each year.

Sydney will pulsate with eclectic art exhibitions and host groundbreaking events including the Beauty & Beast, Wicked the Musical, Great Southern Nights and Tina Turner. Pictured is (left to right) Jackson Head, Edward Smith, Isabella Manfredi, John Graham, Emma Watkins, Adam Spencer, Tigist Strode, Jayme-Lee Hanekom and Rebecca Selley. Picture: David Swift

Aussie comedian Adam Spencer said Sydney’s technology, arts, innovation, and global events made it the ideal second home for the “festival of festivals”.

“This is a golden opportunity for the city,” he said, “they could have taken this anywhere in the world, and it’s never happened anywhere in the world outside of Texas and they’ve chosen us.”

Edward Smith from the musical Wicked. Picture: David Swift

“There’s just something about Sydney that’s makes it a curious, naturally inquisitive city. We know we’re not the centre of the absolute universe, so we’re humble enough to want to just exchange ideas with other people. That’s what SXSW is all about,” Mr Spencer said.

“Some of the really exciting start-ups that are coming out of Sydney, the fin-tech, the work going on in the quantum labs at Sydney University and UNSW are some of the best kept secrets in this city,” he said.

Jackson Head from the Beauty Beast stage show, who plays Gaston. Picture: David Swift

“I was really keen to go to SXSW Melbourne … but there isn’t one!,” Mr Spencer said.

Destination NSW hopes the event will give a major boost to the NSW economy, with 27,000 visitors expected to descend on the city and generate $24 million in revenue.

Stellar events including the Beauty & Beast, Wicked the Musical, Great Southern Nights and Tina Turner are just some of the groundbreaking performances on offer in Sydney.

Beyond SXSW Sydney, the city will pulsate with eclectic art exhibitions at our renowned galleries, world class music events like The ARIA Awards, Sydney Festival, and the Biennale of Sydney.

The festival will run from October 15-22nd with the week-long showcase running round the clock.

See the schedule here.