Latest news with #Storytelling
Associated Press
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
New ‘IndigiPalooza' event in Montana to celebrate Native art, storytelling
Almost immediately after a successful 2022 festival that gathered Native authors to celebrate Native writing, participant and Montana Poet Laureate Chris La Tray said people began asking if something similar would happen again. That hunger for another event on the heels of the James Welch Native Lit Festiva l was the impetus behind IndigiPalooza, a two-day Indigenous arts and storytelling event. The event, which takes place Aug. 1-2 at the Missoula Public Library, will bring together more than a dozen Indigenous artists, musicians, writers and creators for panel discussions, live music, an art market and a traditional foods cooking demonstration. All events are free and open to the public. 'We never get this kind of a platform for just Native people to be talking about our work among other Native people,' La Tray said. A citizen of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians, La Tray said when he travels the country for book events, conferences and literary festivals, he is often the only Native person in the room. 'That can be exhausting,' he told Montana Free Press in a recent interview. 'Native people need opportunities for us to be gathered among ourselves.' Blackfeet artist John Pepion, who will appear on a panel at the event, said it's important for people to hear from Indigenous artists. 'We're out here telling the world, 'Look, here we are. This is what we've been through, and this is where we're going,'' he said. 'It's better to (do that) as a collective.' Joy Harjo, citizen of the Muscogee Nation and the first Native American U.S. Poet Laureate, will kick off the event Friday, Aug. 1, with a poetry reading and discussion. When La Tray and his co-organizers began planning the event about a year ago, he said he immediately thought of Harjo. 'The ground that she's broken for other people, she's one of our most cherished elders,' said La Tray. 'Whether it's in our community or just as an Indigenous person helping to keep us visible.' The IndigiPalooza schedule features several panel discussions, including one where writers will discuss the importance of Indigenous storytelling. A panel of three writers at IndigiPalooza will discuss the importance of Indigenous storytelling. Another panel of four community leaders will talk about their experiences sharing Native language and culture with the public. One session will focus on entrepreneurship, examining how Indigenous artists make a living, and another will explore poetry and oral tradition. Native musicians Foreshadow (Salish and Blackfeet) and Supaman (Apsáalooke) will perform an evening hip-hop show. 'It's entirely modern,' La Tray said. 'If you go to a powwow, there's this traditional dancing and a lot of this traditional stuff. I feel like there's plenty of opportunity to see that, but what can happen, too, is that people can get this idea that that's all we are. But we are modern participants in the world as it is today. … We can still be Native without being shoved into this box that people like to keep us in, like everything stopped in the 1880s.' La Tray organized the event with Selya Avila, community engagement specialist at the Missoula Public Library, and Anna East, founding director of Chickadee Community Services, a nonprofit that supports Indigenous education. IndigiPalooza, they said, was almost entirely grassroots-funded, with the majority of money coming from individual donors. 'The tradition of Indigenous storytelling goes back millennia,' East said. 'And right now, in the time of Lily Gladstone and Reservation Dogs and Indigenous fashion and a return to Indigenous approaches to nutrition and food sovereignty, all of those are important parts of the culture that everybody can learn from.' Bringing people together for storytelling, Avila said, builds power and sparks joy. 'It reminds us that we're not just talking about history or identity in abstract terms — we're talking about people, communities, creativity, and futures,' she said. 'That's what makes (IndigiPalooza) valuable. It's living, breathing and grounded in community. And really it's just going to be so much fun!' ___ This story was originally published by Montana Free Press and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
The National
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Nadine Labaki, Hend Sabry and Mo Amer to speak at Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries in Abu Dhabi
Palestinian-American actor and comedian Mo Amer and Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki will participate in this year's International Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries, taking place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on September 14 and 15. They will be joined by Tunisian actress Hend Sabry, and a number of other content creators, technologists and policymakers to discuss future opportunities and challenges in telling stories from the Arab world. Entry is free upon registration. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the congress will look at how artificial intelligence is reshaping regional creative industries with sessions focusing on how it enhances storytelling and audience development, preserves heritage and sparks new forms of creative entrepreneurship. Also part of the programme is a panel looking at how to maintain the appeal of Arabic language for future generations. Following core strands focusing on industry capacity building and a showcase of youth creative projects, the event will also feature exhibition stands and representatives from companies including Google, Meta, Snap Inc and TikTok. It will mark the return of the Innovation Awards – a competition encouraging students to pitch ideas to promote the Arabic language. 'This year's Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries marks a bold new chapter in our mission to position Arabic creativity at the forefront of global cultural discourse,' Ali bin Tamim, chairman of Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, tells The National. 'By convening some of the most dynamic thinkers and creators from the region and beyond, we are not only redefining the narrative around Arabic culture, but also actively shaping the future of storytelling.' Launched in 2022, the congress has steadily expanded from its focus on publishing to include the state of the creative industries. Last year's event featured DCT Abu Dhabi chairman Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, who called for a renewed role for the creative sector in education. 'This is an investment of the mind when it comes to school curricula, when it comes to cultural programming in understanding what the Arab world has contributed,' he said. 'It is not just about the present and past, but also the future.' Al Mubarak highlighted the need for new Arabic cultural content to reach younger generations and stressed that the UAE's growing creative economy, which at the time of the event employed more than 400,000 people and contributed four per cent to the GDP, is already a key driver of that shift. Egyptian-American economist Mohamed El Erian, also present at last year's event, praised the UAE's investments in artificial intelligence as a tool for enhancing rather than replacing creativity. 'AI is going to impact every single person,' he said. 'But I see that AI will be less of a replacement and more of an enhancer.'
Associated Press
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
ESSENCE GU® and Kensington Grey Partner to Power a New Standard for Creator Culture at ESSENCE Festival Of Culture® Presented By Coca-Cola®
NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 9, 2025-- At the nation's largest celebration of global Black culture, two creative forces partnered together to raise the bar for creators. ESSENCE GU ® (ESSENCE Girls United) and Kensington Grey, the premier talent agency for Black digital storytellers, partnered during the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture ® presented by Coca-Cola ® to present a weekend of high-impact, content-forward experiences built by and for today's most influential voices. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: At the heart of this collaboration was a shared mission: elevate Black creators not just as talent—but as industry leaders, cultural architects, and the future of storytelling. The ESSENCE GU ® x Kensington Grey Creator Mixer: A Cultural Convergence On Saturday, July 5th, the invite-only, #KGxGUHouseMixer, the crown jewel of the partnership, brought together a dynamic networking experience designed to spark collaboration across industries with an elite roster of Kensington Grey talent, creators on the rise, brand partners, and ESSENCE GU ® tastemakers for an afternoon of curated conversation, intentional connection, and content creation featuring J.C. Carter, Scot Louie, and Justine's Camera Roll. 'The ESSENCE Festival Of Culture ® has become a rite of passage for creators, on par with New York Fashion Week and Coachella. It's one of the largest and most culturally significant festivals in the world, and brands are increasingly turning to creators as the primary source of on-the-ground amplification. Whether it's a chance celebrity sighting, a standout culinary moment, or capturing the city's stunning architecture, the opportunities for viral storytelling are endless because there really is no place like New Orleans.' said Shannae Ingleton, co-founder of Kensington Grey. 'Partnering with ESSENCE on the GU ® Creator Mixer was an easy 'yes' for us at Kensington Grey. For starters, the ESSENCE brand is iconic, and our missions are perfectly aligned when it comes to celebrating creators, art, community, and culture. We're confident this is the first of many collaborations like this one.' ESSENCE GU ® Creator House & Kickback: The Full Weekend Vision The ESSENCE GU ® x Kensington Grey alliance extended beyond one moment. Throughout the weekend: 'Black women are forever the blueprint — and at ESSENCE Girls United ®, we build for us, by us, because we love us. By joining forces with a visionary agency like Kensington Grey, we're stepping beyond creating content to cultivate long-lasting legacy, connection, and joy, said Rechelle Dennis, co-founder and brand lead of ESSENCE Girls United ®. 'Together, we're designing a new pathway where creativity flourishes, culture leads, and the next generation of storytellers can rise unapologetically.' Through ushering in a new generation, this partnership between ESSENCE GU ® (ESSENCE Girls United) and Kensington Grey activates a powerful truth: when Black creators are centered, supported, and seen, the results are unforgettable. ABOUT SUNDIAL MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY GROUP Sundial Media & Technology Group (SMTG) is a human connections company — the signal powered by culture, scaled by technology, and built for community. SMTG connects, elevates, and empowers the most influential consumer segment in the market: HER, the Chief Influence Officer. With over 100 years of community knowledge and insights, SMTG is redefining the media model into a next-generation platform. Powered by proprietary intelligence and AI technology, it activates an ecosystem that scales HER influence and economic power. Its portfolio includes some of the most iconic, purpose-driven brands and experiences shaping culture today—ESSENCE (Girls United, ESSENCE Studios, ESSENCE Festival of Culture ® ), Refinery29, AFROPUNK, Beautycon™ (including NaturallyCurly), the Global Black Economic Forum, the Academy for Advancing Excellence, and the New Voices Fund. Through storytelling, products, and platforms, SMTG delivers the tools and technology to shape the future of media, commerce, and community—on HER terms. ABOUT ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA GROUP INC. ESSENCE Communications is the number one—and only 100% Black-owned—media, technology and commerce company at scale dedicated to Black women and communities. With a community of more than 31 million Black women, ESSENCE inspires a global audience through diverse storytelling and immersive original content rooted in Culture, Equity and Celebration. The brand's multi-platform presence in/ publishing, experiential and online encompasses its namesake magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; and signature live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, ESSENCE Black Women in Sports, Fashion House, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival of Culture ®. ABOUT KENSINGTON GREY Founded in 2019, Kensington Grey's mission is to invest in the moments that matter and advocate for groundbreaking opportunities, turning visionary talents into lifelong changemakers. Through expert influencer casting, talent, strategy, and campaign management, Kensington Grey creates impactful legacies, delivering exceptional results and supporting its clients in driving lasting social change. Kensington Grey commits to empowering the underrepresented voices of tomorrow by providing the platform and support needed to turn revolutionary ideas into reality. The agency's distinctive promise lies in its tailored approach to brand and influencer management, which focuses not just on growth but on inclusive and meaningful impact. View source version on CONTACT: [email protected] [email protected] KEYWORD: LOUISIANA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEDIA ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS/CONCERTS CONSUMER AFRICAN AMERICAN CELEBRITY PUBLISHING MARKETING MUSIC WOMEN ADVERTISING COMMUNICATIONS SOURCE: ESSENCE Communications Media Group Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 07/09/2025 11:52 AM/DISC: 07/09/2025 11:52 AM
Al Arabiya
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Arabiya
NBA Stars to Turn Filmmakers at Summer League Fest With Kevin Garnett, Mark Wahlberg and Deon Taylor
The NBA Summer League is giving athletes another shot that takes place behind the camera. With assists from Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett and Hollywood power players Mark Wahlberg and Deon Taylor, the league is bringing back the NBA Summer League Film Festival starting July 17 in Las Vegas. The three-day festival will bring big-screen storytelling through 34 selected projects spotlighting stories produced by NBA stars past and present, including Nikola Jokic, Luguentz Dort, Tony Allen, Nate Robinson, Cole Anthony, Keyon Dooling, and Udonis Haslem. 'We have a ton of NBA players who own production companies,' said Garnett, who won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics. He co-founded the production company Content King Studios. 'So the SLFF is a great opportunity to get together to share our projects, give each other our flowers for doing the work, and provide an opportunity to get projects financed and even sold,' Garnett said. The second annual film festival will take place at the Strip View Pavilion inside the Thomas & Mack Center, the longtime home of NBA Summer League, which was co-founded in 2004 by Warren LeGarie and Albert Hall. 'I've always been a big hoops fan, so it's amazing to see NBA players bring these incredible stories to life,' said Wahlberg, who has the production company Unrealistic Ideas. Deon and Roxanne Avent Taylor of Hidden Empire Film Group were brought on to help athletes explore the art of filmmaking and sharpen their acting chops. 'Today's athletes are more than players. They're storytellers, creators, and global influencers,' said Deon Taylor, director of Black and Blue, The Intruder, Meet the Blacks, and Fatale. This marks another sports-driven venture for Hidden Empire, which teamed up with Skydance Sports and the NFL in March to host film training sessions for more than 20 current and former NFL players. Taylor called the collaboration with Garnett, Wahlberg, Hall, and the NBA a culture shift. He said the festival would help athletes to control their narrative through film, television, and other media platforms. 'Together we're redefining where sports, art, and culture collide,' Taylor said. The festival will feature the premiere of UNLV: Kings of Vegas showcasing the untold story of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels. The documentary will include interviews with popular figures ranging from Snoop Dogg, Chuck D, and Jimmy Kimmel. It's produced by former UNLV stars Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, and Greg Anthony, along with Damien Big Percy Roderick and Hidden Empire Film Group. Along with screenings, the festival will host various private events, including a tipoff viewing of Tony Allen: The Grindfather and a wrap party. 'The SLFF team is passionate about amplifying these amazing films and filmmakers who are producing all forms of content at NBA Summer League,' Hall said. 'Because of all the talented filmmakers who submitted films this year, we believe the 2025 SLFF is poised to take on a life of its own and grow the second weekend of the Summer League.'
Khaleej Times
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Bollywood filmmaker Subhash Ghai remembers Irrfan Khan
Filmmaker Subhash Ghai recently took a trip down memory lane as he remembered the late actor Irrfan Khan. Ghai shared an old photo from an award ceremony with the actor, along with an emotional note that quickly caught the attention of fans online. In the photo, Ghai and Khan can be seen smiling. Ghai, who worked with Irrfan in the 2010 film Right Yaa Wrong, took to Instagram to share a post praising him not just as an actor but as someone who deeply understood the art of storytelling. He wrote, "I have always been more in admiration of good and great actors than just cosmetic stars of any time. Good actors enhance storytelling--stars play stars to glitter the film. I was more happy to receive compliments from Irrfan than an award at an award function. So, I remember this picture vividly. We miss you, Irrfan." View this post on Instagram A post shared by SG (@subhashghai1) Khan is considered one of the best actors in the Indian film industry. He made his debut with the Oscar-nominated Hindi film Salaam Bombay! and went on to star in critically acclaimed films such as Life in a... Metro, The Lunchbox and Hindi Medium. He performed exceptionally well in several international projects, which garnered him significant recognition abroad and put him on the map of world cinema. Khan died at a Mumbai hospital on April 29, 2020. He was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour.
