The South By Southwest Music Conference and Film Festival are pleased to announce that Lou Reed will be the keynote speaker for 2008. Reed’s keynote will be held in conjunction with a screening of Julian Schnabel’s film “Lou Reed’s ‘Berlin,’” which documents a recent performance of the landmark 1973 album. Reed’s groundbreaking work with the Velvet Underground and subsequent solo work reverberate through the music world to this day. His music continues to explore themes and sounds in a singular style, staking new territory for rock and roll. Reed will speak at the Austin Convention Center on March 13 as the kickoff of the twenty-second annual SXSW.