Photography & Videography Policy

Photography and Videography at SXSW Events is not permitted without press credentials and a Camera Tag provided by the SXSW Publicity Department.

At the event, you will need to bring your camera with you to the Press table in the Registration area of the Austin Convention Center to have the tag affixed to the housing of the camera. The camera tag must be affixed to your camera AT ALL TIMES. Only accredited press are eligible to receive a camera tag.

PHOTO POLICY

You must have an affixed SXSW camera tag to take photos in Music Conference events and in official Music venues. If you are planning on shooting still photos during the Music festival, please keep in mind the general rule is first three songs and after that no flash. Specific artists may have different rules regarding shooting their showcases. During the Music Keynote and panels, photographers will be allowed to take photographs in the first three minutes and then all cameras must be put away or leave the room. Personal digital cameras ARE allowed at SXSW Film and Interactive events, provided photography is not disruptive. Registrants may take photos from their seats, as long as they are not standing in the press area, obstructing views, or using a flash after the panel begins.

VIDEO POLICY

If you are granted press credentials by the SXSW Publicity Department, the following will be permitted with your credentials: news coverage of event activities, reviews, interviews, snippets of talks and performances.

However, in order to protect the rights of copyrighted artists and speakers, as well as SXSW, please note the following carefully: Your press credentials and camera tag will NOT allow you to webcast audio or video, broadcast or otherwise transmit, retransmit or copy in any form any artist performance, conference programming or Film Q&A longer than :45 seconds.

For the SXSW Music Festival, by accepting SXSW credentials you are agreeing that your coverage will be limited to shooting no more than 3 songs of any one artist's set. You also agree to broadcast no more than 45 seconds of live footage from any one song of any artist's performance in your final product. No board feeds will be allowed without prior consent from SXSW. If you intend to record the performances of acts performing official SXSW showcases, you must submit in advance for SXSW's approval a shooting schedule. It will be your sole responsibility to obtain and supply to SXSW written permission from artist management in advance before camera passes will be issued. Flash photography may only take place during the first 3 songs of an artist's set, after which no flash photography will be allowed.

For all (Music, Film & Interactive) Conference panels and other talks, by accepting SXSW credentials you are agreeing that your coverage will be limited to shooting the first 5 minutes of any session. You also agree to broadcast no more than 45 continuous seconds of any one session. Audio feeds are not allowed for any Interactive or Film panels/talks and are allowed during Music only with prior consent from SXSW.

For SXSW Film Festival Q&As and introductions, video recording of any kind is not allowed at the Paramount or Stateside Theatres without prior approval from the SXSW Film Press Office, and a Paramount/Stateside Theatre-specific Camera Tag. The Paramount/Stateside Camera Tag is different than the SXSW Camera Tag and will only be issued on a case-by-case basis directly from the SXSW Film Press Office. Any and all video cameras without the approved Paramount/Stateside Camera Tag will not be permitted in either theater. For all other official SXSW Film venues (Vimeo Theater at ACC, Alamo South Lamar, Alamo Ritz, Canon Screening Room, Violet Crown Cinema, Alamo Village and Alamo Slaughter Lane), filming of Q&As is permitted from your seat, but by accepting SXSW credentials you agree to broadcast no more than 45 continuous seconds of any one Q&A.

Press credentials and photographer/videographer camera tags are issued at the discretion of SXSW and can be withdrawn at any time if misused. Upon receipt of your camera tag, you will be required to sign a form confirming that you have read and understand this policy.

For questions about press credentials and camera tags, please email: press@sxsw.com.