SXSW latest: President Obama and First Lady to deliver keynote addresses

The President will focus on tech and civic engagement; the First Lady on girls' education

You know you've really arrived as a festival when the President and First Lady honor you with their presence.

Such is the case with the SXSW Music, Film and Interactive Festival, which announced President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver separate keynotes at this year's event in Austin, Texas.

​The President will appear on Friday, March 11 as part of SXSW Interactive, sitting down with Evan Smith, Editor-in-Chief of the Texas Tribune, for a conversation about "civic engagement in the 21st Century," the festival said in a statement. 

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"The President will call on the audience to apply their ideas and talents to make technology work for us -- especially when it comes to tackling big challenges like increasing participation in the political process and fighting climate change," the festival said.

Mrs. Obama will appear in Austin on Wednesday, March 16 as part of SXSW Music to promote the Let Girls Learn initiative, which seeks to increase access to education for the millions of girls worldwide who are not in school.

"I can't imagine a better way to celebrate our event's 30th year than to welcome both the President and First Lady to SXSW," Roland Swenson, co-founder of SXSW, said in a statement. "As each new generation comes up at SXSW they look for ways they can be of service, and it's important to reflect and support that message. President and Mrs. Obama's visit here will inspire attendees to that purpose."

The festival said President Obama's appearance is open to all SXSW Interactive, Gold, and Platinum registrants.

The First Lady's appearance, meanwhile, is open to all SXSW Music, Film, Gold, and Platinum registrants.

​Information on registering can be found here.