Diversity At Cannes Film Festival, A Dirty Job, But Someone Has To Do It

CANNES, France - May 17, 2015 - PRLog -- Yolonda Brinkley, creator of Beyond Borders: Diversity in Cannes is pleased to announce Diversity Day at the 68th Festival de Cannes, which will promote the presence of globally diverse filmmakers telling stories specific to age, gender, physical ability, race, religion and sexual orientation at the Cannes Film Festival, Monday, May 18, 2015, noon to 8:00 PM at the Radisson Blu Hotel, 2 boulevard Jean Hilbert, Cannes, France 06414.

Presented by Yolonda Brinkley, a US-based publicist and event producer, with support from RLJ Entertainment’s Urban Movie Channel, CBS Entertainment Diversity and Leonard Green of Digital Slang Comics, Diversity Day at the Cannes Film Festival is a three-part global industry event that will bridge the cultural & social gaps present at the Festival.

Part 1: Diversity in Cannes Filmmaker symposium where filmmakers discuss strategies to finance, produce and distribute their films.

Part 2: Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase
Eleven globally diverse short films selected by an independent screening committee of entertainment industry professionals led by Angela Northington of RLJ Entertainment’s Urban Movie Channel and Actor/Comedian John Witherspoon are considered official selections and in competition and will screen with a mini filmmaker Q & A afterwards. Judging takes place on site and winners are announced at the awards reception.

Part 2A: Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase Black Lives Black Stories Matter
Standing in solidarity with the countless black people around the world whose lives are marginalized and those victimized by the judicial system, this platform will feature positive images of the black experience across the Diaspora in hopes of shifting the negative perception of black lives in media as a change in perception results in a change in reality. As with the general showcase, eleven short films are considered official selections and in competition and will screen with a mini filmmaker Q & A afterwards. Judging takes place on site and winners are announced at the awards reception immediately following screening.

Part 3: Awards Networking Reception at the rooftop bar of the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Brinkley is committed to making diversity a priority at the Cannes Film Festival and has made great strides.To date, Beyond Borders: Diversity in Cannes has been nominated for a European Diversity Award, has received film submissions from Australia, Kenya, Korea, Reunion, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey and has hosted panelists from Ghana, Congo, Mexico, Brazil, the United Kingdom and the United States, including award-winning directors and producers Lisa Cortes, Michael Rowe, Alrick Brown and Annemarie Jacir, Palestineʼs first female feature filmmaker. https://youtu.be/vvkENq0ZIPA



While Hollywood and the international film community are just realizing the importance of diversity, Beyond Borders: Diversity in Cannes has been making strides to promote and ensure the presence of the underrepresented story at the Cannes Film Festival since 2010.

“Diversity was in motion at the Cannes Film Festival way before their current women in film initiative,” comments Yolonda Brinkley, Creator Beyond Borders: Diversity in Cannes. “For six years, I have independently championed diversity at the Cannes Film Festival, providing a platform for globally diverse filmmakers to be seen and heard at the world’s most prestigious film industry event. Emerging from a simple two-hour diversity filmmaker symposium to a comprehensive full-day program, Beyond Borders: Diversity in Cannes is truly the little engine that could and I am honored to be the driving force behind the movement to promote diversity in Cannes one short film at a time.”

Diversity Day at the Cannes Film Festival is Monday, May 18, 2015, noon to 8:00 PM at the Radisson Blu Hotel 2 boulevard Jean Hilbert Cannes, France 06414.

Invited guest include American Actors Jay Ellis of BET’s the Game and NCIS’ New Orleans CCH Pounder, Turkish Actor/Director Derya Dumaz, South Africa’s Bonginhlanhla Ncube and Rick Famuyiwa, director of Dope, a 2015 Director’s Fortnight official selection.

Diversity Day is open to the public, but RSVP is required. Click for program schedule: https://diversitydayatcannesfilmfestival.eventbrite.com.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/diversityincannes, www.diversityincannes.com, www.twitter.com/diversencannes for more information or email us at diversityincannes@hotmail.com.