Announcing the Initial Film Screening and Q&A Lineup and Performances for SXSW EDU 2025

Grab your popcorn! SXSW EDU is no stranger to the power of storytelling, and we are thrilled to announce this year’s festival programming that will bring storytelling to life and foster growth in the next generation through films and performances. 

The nine films announced today, as part of the initial film lineup, feature educators invested in student wellbeing and community. From creating a place of belonging for refugee kids to changing our preconceptions about math, skills training to jumpstart students’ tech careers, and more, these films highlight the struggles and triumphs in our education system and communities. After each screening, the directors, producers, and participants of the films will join the stage for thought-provoking audience Q&As.

Additionally, taking a variety of formats including ballet, puppetry, magic, and music, the six performances that complete the performance program are sure to entertain. All performances will include embedded opportunities for the audience to learn from and gain actionable takeaways from the performers. 

Explore this year’s exciting festival lineup:

Films

Counted Out

Director: Vicki Abeles 

In the 21st century, our world is dominated by technology, data, and algorithms, yet we maintain the persistent myth that not everyone is a “math person.” Can changing our minds about math revolutionize who has power—and who is counted out? 

Home Court

Director: Erica Tanamachi

Home Court traces the ascent of Ashley Chea, a Cambodian American basketball prodigy whose life intensifies amid recruitment, injury, and triumph throughout her high school career.

I Am disABLEd

Director: Estlin Feigley

This heartwarming documentary follows the journey of nine youths with disabilities. As they stage the musical Seussical, the spotlight shines on these young artists’ abilities and similarities to all of us.

MAKE A CIRCLE

Directors: Jen Bradwell and Todd Boekelheide

From an award-winning filmmaking team, MAKE A CIRCLE is a love letter to early childhood educators and a rallying cry for a childcare system in crisis.

Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America

Director: Jon Osaki & Josh Chuck

Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America explores the struggle for self-determination through stories of Asian American activism, resilience, and belonging.

North Putnam

Director: Joel Fendelman

A year-in-the-life of a yes-saying rural Indiana school district and the community it serves.

Run, Hide, Fight: Growing Up Under the Gun

Director: Marie Cusick 

Run, Hide, Fight: Growing Up Under the Gun is a new 30-minute documentary about how gun violence affects young Americans, from PBS News Student Reporting Labs in collaboration with 14 student journalists from five U.S. cities: Philadelphia, Oakland, Washington D.C., Nashville, and East Lansing.

ULTIMATE CITIZENS

Director: Francine Strickwerda

An Iranian American primary school counselor helps immigrant and refugee kids find belonging in Seattle on their way to compete in the world's largest youth Ultimate Frisbee tournament. 

UNTAPPED: Closing America's Opportunity Gap

Director: Josh Kahn

Advocating for skills-based hiring, UNTAPPED follows several young adults from underserved communities as they take part in a rigorous skills-training program and compete for Fortune 500 internships to jump-start their tech careers.

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Performances

Anthropos Arts -  Inverting the Music Education Pyramid

This presentation will demonstrate how the current middle and high school-mandated curriculum is upside down, excluding and leaving behind a vast number of young artists and music students. By teaching students how to play music they already listen to, introducing improvisation from the beginning, and bringing them to real public music venues to perform, Anthropos has helped thousands of students growing up in poverty to navigate their way through middle/high school, with 90% going on to college on scholarship. These methods foster inclusion and give kids a tremendous boost in confidence.

Dylan Jones- Artistic & Executive Director, Anthropos Arts

Building the Next Generation of Black Ballerinas

How do we instill a love for the arts for children who aren't afforded the opportunity? The founders and leaders of Brown Girls Do Ballet will explore ways we can collectively rethink our advocacy for the arts. Attendees will learn how BGBD increases participation of underrepresented populations in ballet programs, including organizing and arranging ballet performances, and providing resources and scholarships to assist young girls in their ballet development and training. The panel will also have students whose lives have been transformed from taking part in the program! 

Amber Cabral - Executive Director, CabralCo
Joelle Kimbrough - Ballet Dancer & Student, The University of Oklahoma
Takiyah Wallace-McMillian - Executive Director, Brown Girls Do Ballet

Global Cypher: Building Inclusive Classrooms Through Music

This interactive performance lecture reimagines classroom pedagogy through hip-hop cypher-inspired approaches, offering strategies to foster inclusivity, creativity, and liberation. Participants will explore how to integrate lessons from the global cypher into teaching, enabling students to express themselves, collaborate, and engage with social justice themes. Attendees will leave with actionable methods for creating dynamic, liberated classrooms that empower students and cultivate a sense of belonging.

Aisha Fukushima - Speaker, Singer, Activist

"It's Not Magic, It's Science!"

Leverage the entertainment factor of magic to increase excitement and awareness in STEM. This keynote is a performance not a presentation. Each "trick" (experiment) is as entertaining as it is educational and is fun for all ages. Each experiment is designed with equity and access in mind so the majority of them can be completed with low-cost items audience members have at home or with materials they can easily purchase for only a few dollars. You won't believe how much excitement we can spark with so little. It's the presentation that makes these experiments uniquely inspiring!

Jay Flores - CEO, Invent The Change

Let's Kikabou! Puppets Are Tomorrow's Playful Educators

Have you ever seen a porcupine and a prairie dog sing a duet about camouflage? Or pollination? Swing by this entertaining and educational musical performance led by world-class puppeteers and musicians to experience first-hand how engaging learning can be in a theatrical environment. After each short performance, we'll offer discussion breaks to explore the design behind the lesson, music, and character development choices. Leave this session with a smile on your face and immediate takeaways for interactive STEAM learning and earth stewardship for all kids!

Cedwan Hooks - Performer & Puppet Artist, Kikabou Productions, LLC
Emily Marsh - Actress, Singer, & Puppeteer, Kikabou Productions, LLC
Loren Toolajian - Composer & Producer, Kikabou Productions, LLC
Megan Hall - Puppeteer, Kikabou Productions, LLC
Mandi Rudd - Host, Kikabou Productions, LLC
Zachery Garner - Puppeteer, Kikabou Productions, LLC

Jill Sobule Presents: Songs from F*ck 7th Grade & More

Join singer-songwriter and guitarist Jill Sobule, known for her hits “Supermodel, (the original) Kissed a Girl, and the critically acclaimed Off- Broadway show “F*ck 7th Grade” as she performs a lineup of her songs, diving into how they came to be. An interactive song-writing opportunity with the crowd will follow.

Jill Sobule - Singer/Songwriter, Pixie Herculon

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See You at SXSW EDU 2025

This year’s festival lineup spotlights the power of storytelling and creativity to inspire change and growth. Add these films and performances to your schedule and experience the transformative conversations they’ll spark. Plus, dive into more of this year's inspiring program featuring astronauts, authors, podcasters, and more.

Registration is open for SXSW EDU 2025! Book your hotel early for the best rates and hotel options March 3-6, 2025 in downtown Austin.

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SXSW EDU 2025 film and performance stills provided by the participants.