DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION FILM FESTIVAL
(DIFF)
Annual Film Festival Focusing on diversity & inclusion in the film industry by spotlighting diversity both behind and in front of the camera!
at:
Lincoln Center
Soho House
and coming soon...
DIFF HOUSE at Sundance
A Note from the Festival Directors:
We’re so happy to warmly welcome you all to the world of DIFF. We’ve been planning this for years and made the decision to delay the initial festival due to pandemic concerns. Since the successsful launch of the first year of the festival at Lincoln Center and Soho House, we’ve had so many things to ponder. So much has changed but one of the things that has flourished during this interesting time in history is the importance of diversity. The importance of this reality is that everyone needs and deserves to be able to see themselves on screen, in the media, and in our society as a whole. This is why we continue to plan to present DIFF every year. Now more than ever, the push for diversity support is something we hope will last as long as need be. Our hope is that there will be a day when diversity and inclusion is automatically present in all aspects of our lives. But while we wait for that day to come, DIFF will proudly screen films from filmmakers of all walks of life. DIFF is here to celebrate diversity and inclusion in front of and behind the camera. We thank you for supporting this festival. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to continuing to advocate for diversity and inclusion. Thank you!
Warm Regards,
Sola Fasehun & Sebastián Rea
ABOUT US
The founder of The Distribution Collective / TDC (creator of DIFF) is collaborating with The 30 Under 30 Film Festival, and other organizations to present: DIFF, with a focus on Diversity & Inclusion in the film industry. By spotlighting diversity both behind and in front of the camera, the Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival (DIFF) is a resource to connect diverse filmmakers with industry professionals. We screen films, organize panels, and host networking events all with the focus of cultivating a more diverse film industry.
THE TEAM
Sola Fasehun
Founder: The Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival (DIFF), The Distribution Collective (TDC)
Sola first began working in the film industry in development with Academy Award winning producer Michael Phillips (Taxi Driver, The Sting, Close Encounters) at Lighthouse Productions and soon after launched her own production company, Fasehun Films (Street Food, Masters of Creation). For several years Sola was a sales and distribution consultant at Submarine Entertainment / Deluxe (Winter’s Bone, Searching for Sugarman,Tangerine, Citizen Four). Previously Sola worked at United Talent Agency (UTA) where she was on the Leadership Team and in charge of programming for UTA’s Multi-Cultural EIG: UTA Unity whereby she helped to launch UTA’s first diversity initiative and was an MP / TV Literary Agent at Buchwald Agency where she was Inclusion Board Chair for the company’s first diversity initiative. Currently, Sola is the founder of The Distribution Collective; which aims to bring consulting for diversity initiatives to organizations and entertainment management to industry professionals. Previously, Sola was also a Producer at Jamie King’s (Sin City, Black Summer) production company Hooligan Dreamers and a Diversity Consultant for Bondit/Screencraft’s Film Fund Grant Program. Recently, Sola was one of the producers of Slayers (on Hulu) starring Abigail Breslin, Malin Akerman, Thomas Jane; Loser Leaves Town(on HBO Max); and Tribeca Film Festival awarding winning film (Special Jury Mention) Leylak. Sola has spearheaded numerous fundraisers for various charities including Dress for Success, City Harvest, Harmony House, Covenant House, Annunciation House, and many more. She is an alum of the Industry Academy at Film at Lincoln Center and a film Sola helped to produce (Fire Music) premiered at the New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center. Sola has a BHA degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a MFA degree from Columbia University.
https://fasehunfilms.wordpress.com/bio-2/
THE TEAM CONTINUED
Sebastian Rea
Co Director at DIFF & Founder / CEO: 30U30FF
Sebastián Rea is an Ecuadorian-American filmmaker from New York City. After studying cinema and political science at SUNY Purchase, he served as content manager for Tribeca Enterprises for 7 years, overseeing digital content across the festival, on-demand, and digital studios. His comedic short film, RUTA VIVA, based on his family in Ecuador can be streamed on HBOMAX, and his other dramady short, SKIN, about a gay man coming to terms with his weight, can be streamed on HereTV. He is the recipient of the IFP No Borders Lab for his concept pilot THE DRIP and was selected to be part of the Industry Academy and Artist Academy at Film at Lincoln Center in 2019. He is also the founder of the 30 UNDER 30 Film Festival, which screens 30 films from 30 directors under 30 years old. He volunteers his skills shooting documentaries for relief missions in Haiti, Puerto Rico, and other cities affected by natural disasters or poverty with the Jack Brewer Foundation and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is a mentor for the Smithsonian Institute Latino Center’s Young Ambassador Program as well as a Council of Urban Professionals Fellow. He was the assistant to director Jason Moore on Jennifer Lopez’s next feature film, Shotgun Wedding. Recently, Sebastián is the recipient of LALIFF Inclusion Fellowship 2022, in partnership with Netflix.
Festival Staff
Shea Davies - Festival Production Coordinator
Mark Brystowski - Festival Production Coordinator
Arjun Dhawan - Festival Photographer
THE DIFF MISSION
The DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION FILM FESTIVAL (DIFF) aims to discover emerging storytellers and give them the opportunity to present their fresh perspectives to audiences in New York City and around the World. We believe in using film to inspire social change and connect creatives for a more equal future. We are a resource for talent discovery and supporting filmmakers.
THE FUTURE OF DIFF...
The DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION FILM FESTIVAL (DIFF) is excited to announce the following:
DIFF at Lincoln Center - November 2024
DIFF at Sundance - January 2025
DIFF Fellows - providing mentorship to filmmakers
More details coming soon!
Sponsors
DIFF is made possible with our sponsors: Third Floor Productions. FLO Wine. Danceaholic Records. Chawar. TDC. Whisps. Vegan Robs. tewwy coffee. Lighthouse International Film Festival.
DIFF would like to Thank...
Eugene Hernandez, Jeff Delauter, Industry and Artist Academies at Lincoln Center, Chris D. Ramos, Jeff M. Rebudal, Y. Celia Fasehun, Femi Fasehun, Jack Lechner, Christine Rooney, Jack M. Dalgleish, Carol-Jeanette Jorgensen, Robert Brodie, Megan Alston, Ruggy Joesten, Cathy Curtin, Matthew Sibilia, Nicole Saldarriaga, D’Atra Cannon
DIFF Highlights
https://arts.columbia.edu/news/columbia-filmmakers-screen-first-annual-diversity-and-inclusion-film-festival
https://insight.balancenow.co/film-festivals-in-america-that-are-changing-the-narrative/
DIFF 2022 Photos available at GETTY IMAGES
https://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/news-photo/catherine-fordham-sushma-khadepaun-and-guest-attend-shorts-news-photo/1395827651
PAST DIFF PANELISTS HAVE BEEN AFFILIATED WITH THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES:
Neon
CNN
HBO
Nickelodeon
Viva Maude
1497 Lab
Submarine
IFC Films
ABC
OWN
Paramount... and many more!
and many more!
2022 Festival Highlights Day 1
Friday, May6th, 2022 at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center.
6:30pm SHORTS – PERSONAL JOURNEYS:
GREEN – Directed and written by Suzanne Andrews Correa, produced and written by Mustafa Kaymak
ANITA – Directed by Sushma Khadepaun, and produced by Ankur Singh.
KAYA – Directed and written by Catherine Fordham (FIlm at Lincoln Center’s Artist Academy Alumni)
CEMENTED ROSES – Directed and written by Andrew J. Rodriguez, Executive Produced by Dominic Colón
LEYLAK – Directed by Scott Aharoni and Dennis Latos, written and produced by: Mustafa Kaymak
Q&A Discussion with Award Winning Filmmakers Catherine Fordham (KAYA), Ansi Rodriguez (actor, CEMENTED ROSES), Dominic Colón (CEMENTED ROSES), and Sushma Khadepaun (ANITA) moderated by Sebastián Rea (30under30 Film Festival)
8:00pm Panel – A Discussion with The Filmmakers behind Award Winning Films Green and Leylak. Panelists: Mustafa Kaymak (Green, Leylak), Scott Aharoni (Leylak). Moderated by Sola Fasehun (The Distribution Collective)
9pm Closing Remarks & AFTERPARTY
2022 Festival Highlights Day 2
Saturday, May 7th, 2022 at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center
PANEL – Filmmakers Discuss The Perils, Fun, & Lessons Learned During Making Their First Feature Films
11am – Panelists: Quincy Ledbetter (Alieu the Dreamer), Sonia Kennebeck (National Bird, Enemies of the State), Shari L. Carpenter (Queen Sugar), Sharbari Z. Ahmed(Rickshaw Girl, Quantico), Victoria Negri (Gold Star). Moderated by Sola Fasehun (The Distribution Collective).
12:30pm – SHORTS: FAMILY TIES
ABSENT – written and directed by Sudarshan Suresh. produced by Steven Chua
1056 METERS – Directed by Edwin Ho
STILL WATER RUNS DEEP – written and directed by Abbesi Akhamie. produced by Melissa O. Adeyemo
A Special Preview by Director Jenn Shaw
THE SITE – Directed by Sola Fasehun (Film at Lincoln Center’s Industry Academy Alumni)
A Special Preview by Director Sarah Baskin
Q&A with Filmmakers Adiagha Faizah and Carol London (Absent), Edwin Ho (1056 Metres), Melissa O. Adeyemo and Rita Edward (Still Water Runs Deep), and Sarah Baskin, moderated by Sebastián Rea
2pm Panel – Diversity Impact Behind the Scenes: A Talk With Execs in the Entertainment Industry. Panelists include:
Kishori Rajan (VP of Production / Development at Viva Maude and Executive Producer on HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness), Darcy Heusel (VP Partnerships & Audience Engagement at Neon), Danielle Pretsfelder Demchick (former Director of Talent & Casting at Nickelodeon),
2022 Festival Highlights Day 2 Continued:
Alex Borden (Manager, Acquisitions Strategy at CNN+), Kamran Khan (Co-Founder of 1497 Lab). Moderated by Sola Fasehun (The Distribution Collective).
2:45pm Audience Q&A with the Panelists
3:15pm – 15 minute break
3:30pm SHORTS: EXCAVATING FOR TRUTH
SHE DREAMS AT SUNRISE – directed and written by Camrus Johnson.
MIZARU – written and directed by Sudarahan Suresh. produced by Ankur Singh and Dorian Cambi
ART IN NIGERIA – Directed by Sola Fasehun (Film at Lincoln Center’s Industry Academy Alumni)
KING HASIRA – Directed and Produced by Colin Bates, Chelsea Kurtz, and Davi Santos. Written by King Hasira, Omar Moh’d Bakar, Chelsea Kurtz, Colin Bates, and Davi Santos
TOGETHER One Time directed by Casey Brooks
PENN 3 – written and directed by Evelyn Chen, produced by Alec Funiciello
NO TE OLVIDES – Directed by Sebastián Rea (Film at Lincoln Center’s Artist Academy Alumni)
MAMI Y YO Y MI GALLITO – directed by Arisleyda Dilone (Film at Lincoln Center’s Artist Academy Alumni)
LOSER LEAVES TOWN – written and directed by Mark Nickelsburg. written and produced by Eric C. Johnson
Q&A with Filmmakers Mark Nickelsburg and Eric C. Johnson (Loser Leaves Town), Casey Brooks (Together One Time), and Arisleyda Dilone (Mami y Yo y Mi Gallito), moderated by Sebastián Rea (Film at Lincoln Center’s Artist Academy Alumni).
5 pm ENEMIES OF THE STATE feature film screening
ENEMIES OF THE STATE: Sonia Kennebeck’s film unfolds like a shape-shifting spy thriller, with twists and turns both complex and disturbing.
Filmmakers (director Sonia Kennebeck) and team will participate in a Q&A after the screening. Moderated by Sola Fasehun (The Distribution Collective).
TRAILER HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez9cg-qK6-k
Variety article: https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/enemies-of-the-state-review-espionage-style-whistle-blowing-documentary-thrills-and-shocks-until-the-end-1234767645/
8pm – AFTERPARTY!!!!!!!!
2022 Festival Highlights Day 3
Sunday, May 8th, 2022 at SOHO HOUSE
CLOSING NIGHT PANEL & RECEPTION
5:45pm Opening remarks by Founder of DIFF: Sola Fasehun
6pm – A Conversation About Post #MeToo, Wokeness, and Diversity in Hollywood. Panelists: Cathy Curtin (Insecure, Stranger Things), Doris Casap (former SVP of Feature Film Programming at HBO)
Moderated by Sola Fasehun (Founder of The Distribution Collective, Producer at Hooligan Dreamers)
7pm – Audience Q&A with the Panelists
7:30pm – Closing Remarks & Toast
8pm-9pm Network mingle
DIFF RELATED INQUIRIES
Are you an organization Interested in Partnering With us? Sponsoring us? Collaborating with us? Please reach out:
Email Address
thedistributioncollective@gmail.com