PRESS

America’s lack of social safety net has been laid bare by the pandemic and has even further exposed how basic survival is especially difficult for those with any “strike” against them, such as addiction. Since the opioid crisis and the cynical exploitation of patients by drug companies with their addictive pain killers, most people now understand that addiction is a disease that can affect anyone. American Dream puts the gig-work economy into that context to show how precarious the American ethos of rugged individualism really is.

WIF Member Spotlight: Congratulations to WIF member Meredith Riley Stewart, who received the Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Film @film_seattle for AMERICAN DREAM. The short also won Best Acting @LAshortsFest earlier this summer. It was directed by WIF member Angela Garcia Combs.

Yolonda Brinkley, creator of Diversity in Cannes, the independent global film movement promoting inclusion at the Cannes Film Festival, is pleased to announce her return to the Croisette, for the 13th year, with Diversity Days, May 23 & 25, 2022.

Presented with support from Julius Tennon and Academy Award Winner Viola Davis’ JuVee Productions, Cheryl Magazine, Williamson Media Group, Joshua Griffin of Film TV Diversity and Cultured Focus Magazine, this year kicks off with the launch of Brinkley’s Dear Cannes digital social media campaign, encouraging the Festival to dismantle the patriarchy. It continues with a series of short film screenings, panel discussions and cocktail receptions. To culminate, Diversity in Cannes, will devote Wednesday, May 25, 2022 to the celebration of black women in film.