Breaking Barriers: The Entrepreneurship Journey Through Music, Film & Sports
Sponsored by
Oct 7
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
3:00PM – 3:25PM
Stage
Salon stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Bethann Hardison
Fashion Industry Icon
Coming soon.
DEBUT Films: Shorts Schedule
Sponsored by
Oct 7
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
5:00PM – 9:00PM
RSVP & PREMIER OR EXECUTIVE TICKET REQUIRED.
To RSVP:
1) Download the Blackweek Conference app from the App store or Google Play store.
2) Tap the RSVP tile on the app home screen.
3) Tap on the event.
4) Tap the RSVP button at the top of the event page.
5:00PM
Welcome Speeches
5:13PM
Blue
Dayna Lynn North
BLUE — is a layered romantic dramedy about possibly finding love, maybe losing love, and definitely finding yourself, in an era ruled by devices and emojis. When a heart-on-her-sleeve woman (Imani Cheadle) has a surprise reunion with an old friend, the ensuing roller-coaster culminates in a chance encounter with the love of her life.
5:41PM
The Making of a Matriarch
Vanessa Cruz
This “love letter to grandma” is voiced by a third-generation Dominican-American filmmaker as she uncovers her family heritage by examining the life of her grandmother who immigrated to the U.S in the 1960s.
6:09PM
Ariel Danziger
Despierto
In Mexico City, Juan Daniel García Treviño and Sasha Gonzalez explore their connection as a passage to different dimensions.
Opening up the infinite possibilities of dream states through the lens of real couples, director Ariel Danziger captures Mexican actors Juan Daniel García Treviño and Sasha Gonzalez in a parallel world for short film Despierto. An intimate portrait, told from a different dimension, Despierto journeys deep into Dani and Sasha’s relationship as they marvel at the dreams accessed through their connection, contemplating the profound forces that bring them together in the present.
Letter to Rosie
LETTER TO ROSIE captures an intimate portrait about survival, self worth, self love, and overcoming all of life’s obstacles. Matt’s tormented past sexual and physical abusive life finds its way into this visually depiction. Matt’s last letter he wrote to his deceased mother. Narrated by MATT SANCHEZ. Who at the young age now of 21 has lived through more pain and suffering than most young men. But this story isn’t about MATT The VICTIM it’s about MATT the survivor. Our story is told to help heal others. To inspire, to trigger something within.
6:39PM
Ruby Rose Collins
All the Love I Can Handle
all the love i could handle is a re-imagining of the filmmaker’s mother’s young diary, unraveling the raw complexities of motherhood, artistic ambition, and the enduring sacrifices women have to make as mothers and artists. Based on the true family story of pioneer filmmaker Kathleen Collins (Losing Ground, 1982).
7:11PM
Gaps
Jenn Shaw
GAPS follows the story of Sydney Bailey, a 12-year-old struggling with her self-esteem and obsessing over her two gapped front teeth.
Showing the highs and lows of a Black adolescent navigating loving herself – which is no easy challenge in a world of beauty standards stacked against her. Sydney views her unique smile as a barrier to beauty and seeks out a dangerous method to change her grin. Only through turning to the Black women in her life, does she begin to shift her perspective to accept her gap as a gorgeous trait that’s been passed down through family generations. Through self-acceptance, Sydney begins to love her gap, for it makes her smile real.
7:21PM
Keur Simbara
Sea Armstrong
Keur Simbara is a portrait of women leaders in a small village in the Thies region of Senegal. It explores the way that they have supported one another and their village through generations of care practices and organizing as they confront water scarcity while highlighting dreams for the future of their village.
7:53PM
Bygones
Angel McCoughtry
Bygones is a powerful short film that explores the evolving relationship between a young basketball player, Charissa, and her unexpected mentor, JJ, a former coach with a complicated past. As JJ helps Charissa regain her confidence on and off the court, their bond deepensuntil a painful secret from JJ’s history surfaces, one that’s tied directly to Charissa’s own family.
The End of the Open Web? Rethinking Advertising in a Conversational World
Sponsored by
Oct 7
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
12:15PM – 1:00PM
Stage
Impact stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Chief Executive Officer, Founder at XSTEREOTYPE
EVP, Head of Client Inclusivity & Impact, Digitas
Bethann Hardison
Fashion Industry Icon
As AI and conversational platforms reshape how people search, shop, and engage, the open web as we know it may be coming to an end. This panel brings together leaders in advertising, publishing, and technology to explore what this seismic shift means for the industry. From the future of programmatic models to the role of diverse data in driving authentic engagement, panelists will debate how advertising can adapt—and what true success will look like—in a conversational world.
Creator Upfronts TikTok
Oct 7
Details
Date
Wed, Oct 8
Time
4:30PM – 5:00PM
Stage
Salon stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Pitch #1: 4:30PM - 4:40PM
TAIWO ADEWUNMI (@taiwo.ade)
UX Researcher | Storyteller | Bridge Builder
Taiwo Ade is a UX researcher by weekday, storyteller by weekend, and all-around architect of opportunity. With nearly a decade of experience at tech giants like LinkedIn, Meta, and Etsy, she’s spent her career centering user voices—creators, small businesses, and global brands—to shape products that actually work for the people who use them.
When she’s not influencing product roadmaps, Taiwo’s inspiring the next generation through real talk on career pivots, travel, and what it really takes to break into tech. Recognized as a 2025 Future Leader on the Heroes Role Model List (supported by YouTube), Taiwo is leading the charge to open doors that have been closed for too long.
What She’s Pitching at Creator Upfronts
Introducing: Fifty50 Initiative — a career bridge for overlooked talent ready to make their move into tech. From teachers to retail workers to creators, many have the skills, but not the access. Taiwo’s building a pathway to change that.
The pitch:
- A structured apprenticeship program placing pivoters into short-term, paid roles in UX Research, Product Ops, Creator Partnerships, and more.
- Wraparound support like AI-powered coaching, upskilling, and real-world portfolio building.
- Companies get de-risked hiring. Participants get a foot in the door—and a future.
The vision? To make Fifty50 the go-to alternative to bootcamps and degrees. The ask? Pilot partners, funding for apprenticeships, and advisory support to shape high-impact career tracks. Taiwo’s not just pitching a program. She’s designing an entire ecosystem—where overlooked talent finally gets placed, not just prepped.
ERINA ADJEI-BAFFOUR (@365Binge)
Content Creator & Strategist | Making TV & Film Make Sense
Erina Adjei-Baffour is a powerhouse at the intersection of culture and content. As the mind behind 365binge, she’s carved out a loyal following of 200K+ fans who come for the sharp TV and film takes—but stay for her wit, insight, and trend-driven storytelling. Whether it’s a new streaming drop or a forgotten cult classic, Erina knows how to bring people closer to the stories they love—and the ones they didn’t know they needed.
What She’s Pitching at Creator Upfronts
Introducing: The Next Binge on TikTok — a creator-led, TikTok-native series that reimagines how audiences discover what to watch next. In a world where everyone’s asking “what should I watch?”, Erina’s answer is simple: Open TikTok.
This 10-minute Upfront segment will unpack:
- The concept of turning TikTok into a launchpad for new shows, films, and even podcasts.
- Creative formats like skits, green screen reactions, and micro-commentaries to make it scroll-stopping.
- The unique power TikTok creators have in shaping entertainment discoveryin real time.
More than just a pitch, this is a call to action: to see TikTok not just as where culture goes viral—but where the next big binge begins.
Erina is building the bridge between creators and content ecosystems. And she’s doing it one stitch-worthy scroll at a time.
YUNG ASTROO
Visual Storyteller | Content That Sticks
YUNG ASTROO is a visual storyteller who knows how to keep you watching. Blending razor-sharp humor with crisp, cinematic visuals, his content feels fast, fresh, and effortless—while always pushing a narrative forward. With brand collaborations spanning McDonald’s, Xfinity, Dollar Shave Club, and more, YUNG ASTROO continues to grow his presence, all while building a legacy as a name you’ll know before the logo even hits the screen.
YUNG ASTROO is solving one of the most frustrating pain points in the creator economy: late payments. His vision? A paid service that bridges the gap between creators and the net-30, 60, or even 90-day wait periods they face after a campaign wraps. Here’s how it works:
- Creator lists the paid service as the recipient of funds on the campaign agreement.
- Once the campaign video is live, the service pays the creator instantly.
- The brand/agency pays the service back based on their agreed terms.
This is more than a financial tool—it’s peace of mind. Many creators aren’t full-time, and waiting months for payment can make or break their ability to create. YUNG ASTROO o knows the struggle firsthand, and he’s determined to change the system. He’s not pitching a brand. He’s pitching a lifeline.
He’s looking for a partner to bring this idea to life. No name yet—but the vision is clear, and the mission is personal.
Entertain to Engage: Culture, Creators, and the Scroll-Stopping Power of Entertainment
Sponsored by
Oct 7
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
1:00PM – 1:45PM
Stage
Salon stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Bethann Hardison
Fashion Industry Icon
Today’s audiences scroll fast and expect more — especially on TikTok, where entertainment is the new entry point to culture. For multicultural communities in particular, entertainment isn’t just a break from the feed — it is the feed. In this panel, we’ll unpack how smart brands are shifting from broadcasting to co-creating, showing up with content that feels native, authentic, and worth watching.
We’ll explore how storytelling, humor, and creator collaboration are driving real impact — not by interrupting the experience, but by becoming part of it. And for the first time, we’ll debut findings from a new research study exploring how multicultural audiences engage with content on TikTok, and what that means for brand strategy moving forward.
The Sound of Purpose: Chairman T.D. Jakes on His Next Chapter of Storytelling and Impact
Sponsored by
Oct 7
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
4:15PM – 5:00PM
Stage
Breakthrough stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Founder and Chairman of TD Jakes Group, Founding Pastor of The Potter’s House
EVP of Multicultural Sales, iHeartMedia
Bethann Hardison
Fashion Industry Icon
Join iHeartPodcasts for an intimate fireside chat with Chairman T.D. Jakes. For decades, Jakes has been known as “The Bishop”—a world-renowned thought leader, filmmaker, philanthropist, author, and founder of The Potter’s House Church. After an incredible journey leading the church as its Senior Pastor, he’s turning the page to help shape new perspectives through the next generation of storytellers by teaming up with iHeartPodcasts to launch his brand-new podcast, NXT Chapter with T.D. Jakes.
The NXT Chapter podcast will offer a perspective you’ve never heard from T.D. Jakes before, as he sits down with global leaders, creatives, and change agents to uncover how they’ve faced life’s greatest shifts—and what came next. Drawing from his own remarkable life experience, this podcast will be more than conversation—it will be a guide for the evolution of purpose for all people, from all walks of life.
This special conversation, moderated by iHeartMedia’s Executive Vice President of Multicultural Sales, Nicky Sparrow, will explore how Jakes’ vision and voice are expanding into audio to inspire a digital-first, entrepreneurial, and wellness-minded generation—giving audiences and brands a first look at how they can participate in the next chapter of the Chairman’s impact on the media landscape.
Rooftop Lunch Sponsored by 8it
Sponsored by
Oct 7
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
1:00PM – 2:30PM
Location
Rooftop
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Chef
Chris Martin
Chef, CMarty’s Jerk
Aaron Walton
CEO, Walton Isaacson
Lunch by 8it | Join us on the rooftop for lunch by Cmarty’s Jerk, curated by NYC’s go-to app for food pop-ups, drops and trusted recos.
This Blackweek lunch is proudly sponsored by 8it. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
The Business of Belonging
Sponsored by
Oct 7
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
9:15AM – 10:00AM
Stage
Impact stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Diversity Media Strategy & Investment, General Motors
Mike Tresvant
TBD
Bethann Hardison
Fashion Industry Icon
Actor and musician Anthony Ramos joins global marketing leader Arturo Núñez for a dynamic conversation on the intersection of culture and commerce. From the stage, screen, and music studio to the boardroom and global marketplace, they’ll explore how creativity shapes economies, how business amplifies artistry, and why belonging is the essential bridge between the two.
Reputation Is Earned: The Connection Between Reputation & Culture
Sponsored by
Oct 7
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
2:30PM – 3:15PM
Stage
Premier stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
DJ, Host Personality and Beauty Creator
SVP, Strategy, Burson
SVP, Digital Transformation, Burson
Global Chief Inclusion & Impact Officer, Burson
Bethann Hardison
Fashion Industry Icon
In today’s hyperconnected world, reputation is no longer a matter relegated to the boardroom. It’s the ultimate brand capital, shaped in real-time by a variety of factors including cultural movements, social media narratives and community voices, among many others. The stakes have never been higher for brands, founders and leaders, as a single moment can amplify influence or dismantle reputation.
Join Burson’s Jeff Marshall, Tina Mulqueen and Crissy Spivey, alongside DJ, Host Personality and Beauty Creator Brittany Sky, as they examine the influence of culture and what it takes to remain relevant and respected in an era where authenticity and reputation are powerful currencies.
From navigating cultural tensions with creative bravery to leveraging modern communications tools and AI, our experts will share strategies for building a reputation that empowers bold growth and fosters enduring relationships. Learn how to ensure your words and actions reflect your values, resonate deeply with diverse communities and, ultimately, shape a future where your brand’s reputation is its most valuable asset.
DEBUT Films: Shorts Presented by P&G’s Widen The Screen
Sponsored by
Oct 7
Details
Date
Tue, Oct 7
Time
5:00PM – 9:00PM
GUEST LIST IS CLOSED. RSVP & PREMIER OR EXECUTIVE TICKET REQUIRED.
RSVP & PREMIER OR EXECUTIVE TICKET REQUIRED.
To RSVP:
1) Download the Blackweek Conference app from the App store or Google Play store.
2) Tap the RSVP tile on the app home screen.
3) Tap on the event.
4) Tap the RSVP button at the top of the event page.
DEBUT is Blackweek’s culture festival and showcase, dedicated to spotlighting what’s new and next in film. In 2025, BLACKWEEK will feature several film screenings of independent filmmakers, featuring shorts, documentaries and feature-length films.
DEBUT Films is proudly presented by P&G’s Widen The Screen — a content creation, talent development, and partnership platform that celebrates creativity and enables Black creators to share the full richness of the Black experience. Through sustained action and investment, P&G is working to broaden the spectrum of the images we see, the voices we hear, and the stories we tell.