The second annual Benevolent Media Festival will return to Washington, D.C. on June 21-25.
The citywide series of events is a celebration of storytellers, designers, filmmakers, photographers and other creatives dedicated to social and environmental good. The festival focuses on people, organizations and projects that compel audiences to care about a cause, take action on an issue, or promote a point of view through strategic and inspiring multimedia.
This year’s festival is organized along five main themes: Learn, Revive, Sustain, Heal, and Empower. Signature events include the following:
- Epic Opening Party, a party at Epic Yoga studios, featuring eco-conscious food and drink, with an art and music showcase produced by cause-oriented creatives.
- Cycle-In Cinema, a group bicycle ride to community gardens, with everyone convening at a film screening and discussion of a new feature-length documentary, “A Community of Gardeners,” that promotes urban sustainability and green spaces.
- Networking Lounges, providing a welcoming space for in-person conversations about projects, pitches and opportunities related to storytelling and design for good.
- Structure Closing Party, a fundraiser for Architecture for Humanity, set against a backdrop of stunning images, curated by New York-based photo company Nuru Project, which sells prints created by photojournalists dedicated to using their craft for social change.
In addition, festival organizers invited individuals and organizations to submit their own community events to the agenda. These include an eco-chic pop-up shop, panel discussions on transmedia, a storytelling workshop on immigration, a comedy show about anti-bullying, and a poetry reading to promote healing.
The inaugural festival was held last November during Digital Capital Week, when more than 400 people engaged in 18 different events held across the city.
For more information, visit the website: http://benevolentmedia.org/
Follow the fest on Twitter: @benevolentmedia #benmedfest
Be a fan on Facebook: facebook.com/benevolentmedia
About the Author Erica Schlaikjer
Erica Schlaikjer is the Creator and Curator of Benevolent Media. She lives in Washington, D.C. Follow her on Twitter: @benevolentmedia and @eschlaik.
