SXSW Announces Meghan the Duchess of Sussex, Katie Couric, Brooke Shields to Lead Keynote on Women in Media (EXCLUSIVE)

Adam B. Vary
·2 min read
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Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex is coming to SXSW.

The author and co-founder of the Archewell foundation and Archewell Productions will participate in the opening day keynote “Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen,” along with journalist Katie Couric, actor Brooke Shields and diversity equity and inclusion consultant at Peoplism, Nancy Wang Yuen. Errin Haines, host of The Amendment podcast and editor-at-large for The 19th News, will moderate.

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The discussion, which also takes place on International Women’s Day, will focus on how the ubiquitous nature of social media is “creating an often dangerous environment which has led to serious mental health issues for teenage 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 Keynote Speakers,” Hugh Forrest, co-president and chief programming officer of SXSW, said in a statement. “We are so honored to host this distinguished group on International Women’s Day for a significant discussion on the importance of representation in media and entertainment.”

The announcement is the final addition to the robust slate of speakers and conversations slated for this year’s festival, which also include keynotes from Oscar-winning directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, the Black Keys members Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, and a conversation between Lisa Su, president, CEO and chair of AMD, and Ryan Patel, futurist and host of “The Moment.”

Other featured speakers include several creatives with projects screening at the festival, including Sydney Sweeney (“Immaculate”); Lilly Singh (“Doin’ 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.

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