With an estimated crowd of 150,000 attending this year's South by Southwest and the continued influx of brands hoping to get in front of the masses, the festival was teeming with events and promotional efforts. The music, film, and technology gathering, which ended Sunday, saw inventive activations from a wide array of companies, including Mashable, Spotify, IFC, HBO, Hulu, Pennzoil, Chevrolet, and 3M.
And although the festivities were marred by an accident that involved a drunk driver barreling through a barricaded road, which killed three people and injured 22 others, hosts were quick to adapt. The festival even partnered with nearby venues Mohawk and Cheer Up Charlies, as well as the Austin Community Foundation, to form SXSW Cares to raise money for those affected by the tragedy.