An online conference hosted by Women in Film & TV International is set to bring creatives, researchers, executives, financiers, and activists together to discuss how we can create “lasting structural change” in film and TV. Scheduled to take place August 21-23, Carla 2020’s keynote speakers include “A United Kingdom” director Amma Asante, who most recently helmed episodes of FX’s Cate Blanchett-starrer “Mrs. America”; Anna Serner, CEO, The Swedish Film Institute; Mo Abudu, Broadcaster & Entrepreneur, EbonyLife; and Tabitha Jackson, Director of Sundance Film Festival. A press release revealed details about the event.
Carla 2020 will offer “virtual and interactive keynotes, panels, roundtables, networking events and workshops [that] will introduce progressive research, discuss best practices and launch groundbreaking initiatives.” Promising to “provide knowledge, tools, and inspiration for rebuilding a more balanced industry post COVID-19,” Carla 2020’s mission is to “generate a deeper understanding of the power and impact of film and television to create cultural progress. The conference will highlight the fact that an increased focus on off- and on-screen representation is crucial for constructing a sustainable future,” the release details. “Reaching beyond the work of film festivals and industry events, systemic change and personal growth is the main focus at CARLA 2020.”
Programming will address topics such as unconscious bias, racism, and sexual harassment.
Speakers and panelists include “The Glorias” director Julie Taymor, “Community” alumna Yvette Nicole Brown, and “The Sky Is Pink” filmmaker Shonali Bose.
“Carla 2020 is an innovative collaboration within the global film and television industries. We’re aligning research and practice to forge new and bold paths forward. Carla is all about creating change in a time when we so desperately need it,” said Helene Granqvist, President of Women in Film & Television International.
Melissa Silverstein, Women and Hollywood’s Founder and Publisher, will serve as a moderator at the event, as will Wendy Mitchell, journalist and festival consultant; Victoria Thomas, London Film School; Themba Bhebhe, European Film Market; and Johanna Koljonen, journalist and media analyst.
Carla 2020 is hosting the launch of “Women in the International Film Industry: Policy, Practice and Power” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020). The book is edited by Dr. Susan Liddy and includes contributors from 17 countries who will present their research and “provide a comprehensive analysis of the scale and impact of gender inequality in industries across the world.”
The conference will also host a presentation discussing the findings of the Swedish Film Institute’s upcoming research report about racism and ageism in the film industry.
You can register for participation and find more information on Carla 2020’s website. Check out a list of confirmed speakers and panelists below.
Keynote speakers:
Amma Asante, Director (UK)
Anna Serner, CEO, The Swedish Film Institute (Sweden)
Mo Abudu, Broadcaster & Entrepreneur, EbonyLife (Nigeria)
Tabitha Jackson, Director of Sundance Film Festival (US)
Speakers and panelists include:
Paul Feig, Director, (US)
Julie Taymor, Director, The Glorias (US)
Gale Anne Hurd, Producer (US)
Yvette Nicole Brown, Actress (US)
Heather Rae, Producer (US)
Lesli Linka Glatter, Director (US)
Ita O’Brien, Intimacy Director (UK)
Emilia Roig, Co-founder, Center for Intersectionality (Germany)
Shonali Bose, Director (India)
Kalki Koechlin, Actress (India)
Adrian Politowski, Align-Group (Brussels & LA)
