SXSW Internships | SXSW Conference & Festivals

South by Southwest offers a broad range of internships. Our focus is to provide a real-life learning experience within the organization, so that students are better prepared to seek employment after graduation.

Looking for a job? See our Careers Page for information about open positions at SXSW.

Current Internship Opportunities:

Business Development Intern (Sales and Exhibitions Department)

Role Description

The Business Development Internship will provide a hands-on experience working within the fast-paced environment of the Sales & Exhibitions Department of SXSW. The goal of the internship is to provide the winning candidate with a complete perspective on the event industry sales cycle via direct interaction with various components of the department.

The preferred candidate should have an inquisitive streak, a keen attention to detail, and the ability to understand and analyze data trends.

What you will learn:

Working with account managers to understand their sales goals and develop outbound target lists for the 2019 season

Compiling international sales and attendee data to understand key trends and growth prospects for global audiences at SXSW

Creating compelling marketing materials to attract key businesses and organizations to SXSW assets

Assisting in the logistical preparations of the exhibitions team to garner in-depth understandings of cutting-edge trade shows

Availability

This position requires a time commitment of 10-20 hours a week from June to September, 2018.

Application instructions

Submit resume and cover letter to the SXSW internship department intern@sxsw.com
Cover letter must include "Why you think an internship at SXSW would benefit you
Applicants can apply for up to 3 internships
Include top 3 choices order of preference in cover letter and body of submission email
Include any additional information required by the specific internship

To apply, send resumes/CVs to intern@sxsw.com

Public Relations Intern

Role Description

The SXSW Public Relations Department accepts up to three for-credit interns each term (Spring, Summer and Fall) from the University of Texas Moody School of Communications. We also accept interns from universities across the greater Austin university system and not-for credit internships from other departments.

During the internship, students will gain significant exposure and experience to all aspects entertainment communications and events production, using many tactics drawn from the communications toolbox. The Public Relations team works directly with media, publicists, talent, distributors, other SXSW departments as well as a wide swath of the entertainment industry. While the tasks and learning opportunities for each internship period will be shaped by its position in the calendar year, learning modules will ensure all interns achieve valuable insights, skills and marketable experience working in the communications shop for a world-renowned event dedicated to helping creative people achieve their goals.

What you will learn:

Year-round and on site media cultivation and management, as well as proficiency in accreditation processes, and outlet and journalist analysis.

Touch points and relationship management with talent, publicists, and external consultants throughout the festival cycle, from introduction to post event evaluation

Strategy, mechanics, timing and processes for planning and executing red carpets, junkets, and other on-site public relations activities

Sophisticated earned-media tracking and analysis as it relates to an event such as SXSW and its specific goals and objectives across events using customized tools

Filemaker Pro, Sports Systems, and other data management tools

 
Candidates should possess the follow attributes:

Highly organized self starter

Excellent leadership qualities

Ability to work in a team

Exceptional customer service

Superb communication skills (email, phone and conversation)

Strong attention to detail

Time-management skills

Availability

This position requires a time commitment of 15-20 hours a week and runs (a) June-August 2018; (b) September – December 2018; or (c) January-April 2019. For the Spring internship, near full-time availability during SXSWeek, March 8-17, 2019, may be required.

Application instructions

Submit resume and cover letter to the SXSW internship department intern@sxsw.com
Cover letter must include "Why you think an internship at SXSW would benefit you
Applicants can apply for up to 3 internships
Include top 3 choices order of preference in cover letter and body of submission email
Include any additional information required by the specific internship

To apply, send resumes/CVs to intern@sxsw.com

Video Content Intern

Role Description

Reporting to the Associate Creative Director of Video, the Video Post-Production Intern’s primary duties include logging and organizing footage, light editing, maintaining video content on websites and social media channels managed by SXSW, LLC. The intern will help pull selects and soundbites from sessions and Interviews for video projects, edit and add graphics to onsite sessions from SXSW for the web, support the posting and organization of video on YouTube. The opportunity for more advanced editing projects is available.

What you will learn:

Advanced edit techniques, including timing, sound mixing, color correction, working with graphics and music

How to pull good sound bites and what makes good content

How to post and manage a YouTube channel

How to create, edit, and create compelling digital content for a global audience

How to work with edit systems including RAIDS, backup systems, and external hard drives

Qualifications:

Working knowledge of Adobe Premier is a must, an understanding of the Adobe Creative Cloud applications is a plus

The ability to ingest, organize and export a large amount of video files

Familiarity with video hardware such as external hard drives

The ability to watch a lot of really interesting content and condense it down to digestible soundbites

Familiarity with social media platforms, specifically YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram

Interest in the creative industry

Microsoft Word, Excel, and Google Docs knowledge and ability

Meticulous attention to detail; highly organized

Work well within a team and independently on projects

Self-starter who can multitask and solve problems quickly and accurately

Be agile in a demanding environment

Availability

The position runs May 2018 – August 2018. Requires 15-20 hours per week. There is possibility to continue the internship through the Fall and Spring for the SXSW 2019 event. Short hiatuses may be required.

Application instructions

Submit resume and cover letter to the SXSW internship department intern@sxsw.com
Cover letter must include "Why you think an internship at SXSW would benefit you
Applicants can apply for up to 3 internships
Include top 3 choices order of preference in cover letter and body of submission email
Include any additional information required by the specific internship

To apply, send resumes/CVs to intern@sxsw.com