The 2018 South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festivals has added Keynote Darren Aronofsky and another round of Featured Speakers to the programming lineup.

“A provocative, and virtuoso filmmaker, we’re thrilled to host Darren Aronofsky as one of SXSW Film’s 2018 Keynotes,” said Janet Pierson, Director of Film. “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.”

Darren Aronofsky is a film director, screenwriter and film producer whose latest film mother!  stars Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris, and Michelle Pfeiffer. His film Black Swan became an indie box office phenomenon and earned actress Natalie Portman an Academy Award® for her performance. His other films have included The Wrestler, The Fountain, Requiem for a Dream and Pi. Aronofsky joins previously announced SXSW Keynotes Ta-Nehisi Coates (Convergence), Barry Jenkins (Film Keynote), Esther Perel (Interactive Keynote), and whurley(Convergence Keynote).

“Some of the world’s most imaginative thinkers are part of today’s announcement,” said Hugh Forrest, Chief Programming Officer. “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.”

Other Featured Speakers announced today include writer and host of With Friends Like These podcast Ana Marie Cox, This American Life creator and host Ira Glass, design ethicist Tristan Harris, biophysicist and engineer Hugh Herr, Facebook Vice President of Messaging Products David Marcus, activist Bree Newsome, athlete and model Aimee Mullins, best-selling author Daniel H. Pink, Altimeter Principal Analyst and Futurist Brian Solis, GSD&M co-founder and chairman Roy Spence, Pulitzer prize-winning author Lawrence Wright, and many more.