Organizers of Canada House cancel space at 2025 South By Southwest festival
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/02/2025 (399 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
TORONTO – Canadian talent will have one fewer space to network at this year’s South By Southwest music and film festival in Austin, Texas.
Telefilm says in a statement it’s decided to cancel its annual Canada House at the 2025 edition of SXSW next month, but it didn’t provide a reason or respond to questions for comment.
However, one of the participant organizations says it pulled out of Canada House due to rising costs and political uncertainty with the United States.
Canada House has been a regular presence at the U.S. festival, giving homegrown talent a venue to connect for business deals and showcase musical talent.
Andrew Cash, president and CEO of the Canadian Independent Music Association, says his organization decided last week to cancel their single-day booking at Canada House.
The former member of Parliament and musician cited the weak Canadian dollar and unpredictable Canada-U.S. relations as some reasons that made it difficult to “feel confident about making an investment” at the festival this year.
The relationship between the two countries has strained in recent months as U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested annexing Canada and threatened tariffs on all Canadian imports, which are currently set for early March.
“We really have no idea what the context and climate is going to be mid-March, and it made it difficult for me to kind of want to step confidently forward,” Cash said.
“The back and forth between Canada and the United States, and the fact that we don’t know what is coming down the chute.”
Telefilm’s senior vice-president of industry development Francesca Accinelli said in a statement that the organization will still be part of the Canadian Innovation Lounge, which focuses on technology.
“We are excited to continue celebrating and promoting Canadian teams whose films or projects are in selection at SXSW,” Accinelli added.
Representatives for South By Southwest did not return requests for comment.
The festival runs from March 7 to 15.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 21, 2025.