Darren Aronofsky is joining the lineup of keynote speakers who will take the stage at the annual South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas, next March.
The mother! director will serve as one of the film keynotes during the 2018 conference, which will run March 9-18.
"A provocative and virtuoso filmmaker, we're thrilled to host Darren Aronofsky as one of the SXSW Film's 2018 keynotes," said Janet Pierson, director the festival's film program. "He's been an original since his first independent work, and we know it will be a blast for our passionate SXSW audiences to hear his story."
Aronofsky, who is also known for Black Swan, The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream, will join other keynote speakers Ta-Nehisi Coates, Moonlight director Barry Jenkins, psychotherapist Esther Perel and Chaotic Moon Studios co-founder whurley.
Other speakers who have been added to the lineup include musician Keith Urban, comedian W. Kamau Bell, This American Life host Ira Glass, With Friends Like These host Ana Marie Cox, Spotify content chief Stefan Blom and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.
"Some of the world's most imaginative thinkers are part of today's announcement," said SXSW chief programming officer Hugh Forrest. "These innovative speakers cover the depth and breadth of SXSW content, enhancing our standing as the foremost destination for creative people to gain the practical tools and outside-of-the-box inspiration to achieve their goals."
