Another year of South by Southwest (SXSW) has come and gone, and we have the sore throats and trapezius muscles to show for it. The conference offered some inspiring moments, celebrity sightings, and the networking can never be beat — especially for the tireless penny pinchers and tree huggers who took the bus or got rides. But it was the local aspect that swept us away this year.
There were more than 25 conference tracks and hundreds of showcasing artists wrapped up in the 2023 festivities. Even an attendee who makes three events all 10 days only covers less than 10 percent of the schedule — and that’s not even counting all the unofficial parties. This year, we were proud to see the brightest cultural lights in Austin shining through on an international stage, and our favorite picks reflect that duality.
From hyperlocal to here-there-and-everywhere, here are our top films, concerts, parties, and more from SXSW 2023.
Most adventurous meal:National Geographic dinner
Austin chefs were busy during SXSW, but Arlo Grey’s Kristen Kish was busy long before the festival even started. The Top Chef winner is debuting a new National Geographic series this week, and CultureMap was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at a private preview dinner. The menu paired ingredients inspired by the remote locations featured in the four-part docuseries, giving us a culinary glimpse of Kish’s adventures in Restaurants at the End of the World, premiering March 21 on Disney+. — Hannah J. Frías, Editor
Favorite new product: Calibrate Wellness brunch
Speaking of busy chefs, Nic Yanes (Juniper, Uncle Nicky’s) recently launched Calibrate Wellness, a line of delicious Delta8 edibles with his co-founder Janice Omadeke, a former tech CEO of The Mentor Method (and the first Black woman with a venture-backed tech exit in Austin). The pair shared their wares during a special Future of Food brunch on the first Sunday of SXSW, with food from 1417 French Bistro. Inviting guests to try four different flavors of dosed or undosed samples, Yanes and Omadeke discussed their mission at Calibrate to provide safe, delicious, and even nutritious cannabis products. Considering we had a long day of SXSW ahead, we tried the undosed versions (the matcha one and the peanut butter were standouts), but we may or may not have saved a sample for a venture out to Willie Nelson’s ranch later in the week. — HJF
A new obsession:Balimaya Project
One of the best parts of SXSW is the international curation. Jazz re:freshed, a contemporary jazz record label in London, hosted an “outernational” showcase highlighting British jazz, which happened to feature Balimaya Project when I wandered into the seemingly defunct Seller’s Underground. The large band — too many to count through the packed crowd — piled onstage, but the figurative spotlight fell mostly on the kora player, Jali Bakary Konteh. The West African instrument is something between a harp and a banjo, and the crowd was transfixed by its spiraling tones and rhythms. The groove included lots of percussive elements and assertive horns for one of the most sonically and physically engaging live shows of the festival. — Brianna Caleri, Assistant Editor
Most inspiring documentary:Going Varsity in Mariachi
There was no shortage of star-studded premieres at SXSW this year, but my favorite film of the fest was Going Varsity in Mariachi. Mexican-American filmmakers Alejandra Vasquez and Sam Osborn have created something truly special with this one, blending the story arc of a high school underdog team with realistic, joyful, and at times raw insights into South Texas border culture. The film follows Edinburg North High School’s mariachi team on their road to the state championship, and all the challenges they face along the way — individually, and as a team. Paired with an incredible original soundtrack, the film often felt visually more like a Wes Anderson creation than a documentary, capturing the colors and sounds of life in the Rio Grand Valley and inviting viewers on a vibrant emotional journey. — HJF
