In this episode of “A Conversation With,” I sat down with Yolonda Brinkley, the creator of Diversity in Cannes.

Yolonda Brinkley BIO:

Yolonda Brinkley, the self-proclaimed global disruptor, is the creator of Diversity in Cannes, the independent film movement promoting inclusion at the Cannes Film Festival. Since its 2010 inception, with Yolonda at the helm, the initiative has emerged from a simple filmmaker symposium to a comprehensive movement, providing a platform for globally diverse filmmakers to be seen and heard at the Cannes Film Festival. More specifically, Diversity in Cannes promotes the presence of underrepresented content creators telling stories specific to marginalized populations and celebrates their achievements at the world’s most prestigious film festival.

In eleven years, Yolonda has hosted hundreds of filmmakers from five continents, received thousands of short film submissions from at least 35 countries including, India, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Turkey, UK, and the US, and has welcomed esteemed panelists, garnering a European Diversity Award nomination for her independent efforts to diversify the global film industry.

Having only scratched the service of possibilities, Yolonda’s expanding her efforts to include the production of her very first short film, “Justice Denied,” inspired by her cousin Kevin Brinkley, who was wrongfully imprisoned 40 years for a crime he didn’t commit, which will make its world premiere at the 2022 Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase. She’s proud of her accomplishments to date and excited to celebrate 12 years of independently promoting inclusion at the Cannes Film Festival and invites you to follow her journey.

Submit Your Short Film: The Film Collective

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