The Panel Picker interface, which was launched by the Interactive Festival in 2006, received 350 entries in its inaugural year. Last season was the biggest yet, with over 1,400 submissions for the Interactive event alone. SXSW will maximize its impact by integrating the Panel Picker interface across the board, further enabling the unique SXSW opportunity for the intersection of creative and professional minds throughout all three events.

"The Panel Picker interface is a natural extension of the creative intermingling that takes place during the festival itself," says Roland Swenson, SXSW's Managing Director. "We are excited that we can provide a forum for new ideas to debut and flourish year-round."

The Panel Picker interface is essentially a two-step online application that allows the SXSW community to have a significant voice in programming. The first step is an open submission process starting June 1 and running through July 10, where we encourage the community to upload proposals for panels, discussions, mentors, demonstrations, etc. Step two, starting August 10 and running through August 28, allows the community to review all of the proposed ideas and rate the submissions they think are the best fit for the March event.

The system is accessible to all, whether a past attendee or engaged consumer, and participants will have the opportunity to submit and vote on proposals for any and all three of the events. Vote totals from the community, along with feedback from SXSW Advisory Boards and the SXSW staff, will determine the bulk of panel programming for the 2010 event. Participants who have a proposal selected will work with SXSW staff to help bring their panel to fruition.

"Our experience has proved that the Panel Picker interface is an invaluable way to connect with the thousands of professionals and informed consumers that make up the worldwide SXSW community," says SXSW Interactive Festival director, Hugh Forrest. "Not only does it help generate fresh ideas, it gives our participants an outlet to share with us what is most exciting, timely and relevant to them."