Digital Arts: What Took Us so Long?

Digital technology has been reshaping arts and culture for decades, so why did Digital Arts only just become an official artform? Join us to unpick what ACE's landmark recognition really means for artists, funders and the creative industries, and what comes next. With Tonya Nelson (ACE), Owen Hopkin (ACE), Anne Rupert, (Blast Theory), Marc Boothe (B3 Media)

Partner: British Underground and Arts Council

THE NORTH IS NOW: From Mercury to Momentum

How the North of England is reshaping the UK music industry. From the Mercury Prize and MOBO Awards moving North, to the rise of new regional infrastructure, export offices and creative investment - the centre of gravity in UK music is shifting. Join us for a conversation hosted by BBC Radio 1’s Maia Beth exploring what this new era means for artists, industry and audiences alike - and why the future of UK music growth can’t be built from London alone.

Partner: Generator

From Zero to IP: A Film Founder’s Guide to Building Across Borders

A fireside conversation exploring what it takes to build a creative career and company from the outside - without inherited networks, across countries, and within an industry that can be difficult to access. Romanian-born, London-based producer Mara Cracaleanu reflects on her journey moving between Romania and the UK, starting from zero connections, and learning in real time how development, financing, international collaboration, and creative entrepreneurship actually work in practice. Structured as a layered conversation, the session moves from personal experience into wider industry insight: access, proof, borders, ownership, and scale. Through examples from her work across documentary and fiction, Mara will explore how emerging producers can build credibility, create opportunities, and think beyond traditional production models toward IP, cross-platform storytelling, and internationally connected creative businesses. At its core, this is a conversation about building without a roadmap, and creating your own blueprint.

Partner: Melancholia Pictures

Beautiful British Games with the Beautiful Games Club podcast

ustwo games - the studio behind Monument Valley, Alba and Assemble With Care - are bringing their Beautiful Games Club to a live stage at UK House, and they're asking the question that sits at the heart of everything they make: what actually makes a game beautiful? Part book club, part live podcast, the Beautiful Games Club celebrates video games that deserve a closer look - games that resonate visually, creatively and emotionally long after you’ve put the controller down. In this special live conversation, the team at ustwo games will unpack some standout British-made games, sharing their personal responses to them, the ideas they bring into the world, and the wider cultural impact they leave behind. Come join and have a cosy chat about games over a cuppa.

Partner: USTWO

Meet Them Where They Are: How Brands and Broadcasters Engage Hard-to-Reach Audiences in Gaming and Virtual Worlds

Young audiences aren't watching what they used to watch, or buying where they used to buy. For brands and broadcasters alike, the audiences hardest to reach through traditional channels are increasingly easy to find in gaming and virtual worlds, on platforms like Roblox and Fortnite, where hundreds of millions spend their time, attention and money. In this fireside chat, GEEIQ's CEO Charles Hambro sits down with Mariel Capisciolto, Head of Digital Development at BBC Content, for a conversation about what reaching these audiences actually looks like in practice. Mariel will share what the BBC is learning as it builds for digital-first viewers across gaming platforms, and Charles will draw on GEEIQ's data across the world's largest brand activations to show which approaches drive engagement, what brands and broadcasters can learn from each other, and what to avoid when the audience won't come to you. A practical look at meeting audiences where they are, with the data to back it up.

Partner: GeeIQ

SIGNALS: Designing TV for a Responsive Audience

Television has always tried to talk with us - from the phone-in shows of the seventies, to CEEFAX surfing over the picture, to the red button waiting patiently in the corner. Each was a signal of something bigger: an audience that wants to participate. In this session, Manon Dave, Head of Future World Design at BBC R&D, shares the story behind SIGNALS - a project reimagining interactive television for an audience expecting to participate. Expect a candid look at the prototypes, provocations, and design principles shaping what comes next for broadcast - and a glimpse of the responsive, conversational TV of tomorrow.

Partner: BBC

Not just Hollywood: where franchises start now.

Bluey started in Brisbane. Paddington started in a London picture book. Between them they’ve conquered theme parks, broken streaming and box office records, moved grown adults to tears, and built fan communities around the world. So, what does that tell us about where franchises actually come from now? This conversation explores why emotional specificity travels further than generic, what Bluey and Paddington can teach the next generation of franchise builders, and where the properties audiences will fall in love with next are already taking shape.

Partner: BBC Studios

What’s Investable in the Future of Creative Industries? CoSTAR Foresight Lab × UK House @ SXSW London 2026

A curated UK House investor discussion at SXSW London 2026, combining cinematic foresight with real world insight from CoSTAR Foresight Lab (futures opportunities), OlsbergSPI (incentives and policy), CoSTAR National Lab (startup pipeline), and Station 12 (investor perspective) focused on what’s investable now, what’s emerging next, and what unlocks opportunity in the creative industries.

Partner: CoSTAR & UKIE

Film/TV Happy Hour @ UK House, by invitation only

MARS Volume is proud to host the Film Happy Hour at UK House, SXSW London this June to celebrate the best and brightest in the industry. This is a chance to grab a drink and connect with industry peers from around the UK, Europe & the globe who have all come together in London to celebrate a range of outstanding international film premieres. World class producers, DPs, production companies, studios and industry partners will be present. Please RSVP as soon as possible, as this event will oversubscribe and the waitlist will be limited. This event is brought to you by: MARS Volume, Production Guild of Great Britain, British Cinematographer and the Department for Business and Trade. MARS Volume: A state-of-the-art Virtual Production facility, MARS Volume delivers comprehensive boutique services to Film & TV creators across all scales and budgets. Integrating advanced video solutions and gaming engines with high-end LED and tracking technology - creating a sophisticated, seamless environment where live performance meets digital artistry. Production Guild of Great Britain: The trusted, members-first community dedicated to helping the UK's world-class production talent including crew, management, and specialists get hired, grow, and thrive in the global industry. British Cinematographer: Europe’s premier magazine for the art, craft, and technology of international cinematography. It delivers expert analysis, behind-the-scenes features, and in-depth interviews with the leading image-makers from major global productions. Department for Business and Trade (DBT): The UK government department dedicated to driving economic growth. DBT leads on securing international trade agreements, boosting foreign investment, and supporting UK businesses to scale and export globally.

Partner: Bild/BFC

Northern Music Export Office Launch @ British Music Embassy, by invitation only

The Northern Music Export Office (NMEO) launch at SXSW London is a landmark moment positioning the North of England as a globally connected force in music, culture, and creativity. Bringing together Northern Mayors, industry leaders, international partners and artists, the event will formally launch the UK’s first pan-Northern music export office and showcase how collaboration across regions is helping reshape the future of the UK music industry.

Partner: Generator

Northern Sound @ BME showcaseBME at UK House, SXSW London in association with Northern Music Export Office Presents: Northern Sound

Join us for a Northern takeover showcase celebrating the official launch of the Northern Music Export Office at this year’s SXSW London BME Stage. Spotlighting some of the most exciting emerging artists from across the North.

Partner: Generator