BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//MCS//Los-Angeles//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:UTC BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20260101T080000 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT UID:864383 DTSTART:20260604T233000 DTEND:20260605T060000 STATUS:TENTATIVE SUMMARY:17th Annual New Media Film Festival DESCRIPTION:In a World of AI\, Humans Matter\n \nIn a world of AI\, t he New Media Film Festival® celebrates the people behind the stories — June 3–4\, with perspective from Philip Horváth\, a leading thi nker on human evolution and technology.\nLOS ANGELES\, CA\, May 01\, 2 026- The 17th New Media Film Festival® returns with 80 films and proj ects from 20 countries\, each reminding us that in an AI‑driven era\ , the human spark still matters most. With 58 premieres across narrati ve\, documentary\, science‑driven\, music‑centered\, and immersive work\, this year's program reflects a global community exploring what it means to stay human in a rapidly evolving world.\nPhilip Horváth — a leading thinker on human evolution in the age of intelligent mac hines — will share a curated contribution crafted specifically for f estival audiences. His insight reinforces the festival's commitment to elevating human imagination as technology accelerates\, setting the s tage for creators redefining storytelling in deeply personal ways.\nEa ch title in this year's program is represented by one creative lead wh ose vision anchors the work. Emmy winner Mary Lou Belli brings her sig nature blend of warmth and precision to a story centered on connection . Blair Underwood\, a Golden Globe and Grammy nominee\, lends emotiona l depth to a narrative exploring identity and transformation. Internat ional Emmy winner Ernesto Paglia contributes a documentary rooted in g lobal perspective\, while Sports Emmy winner Vernon Davis continues ex panding his creative range with a project about perseverance and purpo se.\nFirst‑Time Filmmakers and Breakthrough Voices\nThe season also highlights creators stepping into new territory. South Korea's Da Eun Kim offers a quiet\, beautifully observed debut with A Day (HARU). Lee orah Hursky explores vulnerability and self‑expression in Naked Soul \, blending personal storytelling with visual experimentation. And Lor i Moilov\, known for the Limitless podcast\, presents Reach the Sky\, featuring her rare and insightful interview with Bob Weis\, former Pre sident of Walt Disney Imagineering — a conversation that bridges cre ativity\, leadership\, and the future of immersive experiences.\nIndig enous and Sámi Storytellers\nRepresentation remains a cornerstone of the festival. Native American filmmaker Jonathan Thunder brings imagin ation and cultural heritage together in Ish Meets a Mermaid\, while S ámi multimedia artist Gjert Rognli offers a visually striking work ro oted in Arctic landscapes\, ancestral knowledge\, and contemporary art .\nStories from Around the World — Including Kazakhstan\nThe global scope of the season includes projects filmed in locations rarely seen on screen. Bartogay Lake\, shot in Kazakhstan\, uses the region's star k beauty as both setting and metaphor\, exploring themes of memory\, i solation\, and belonging.\nScience\, Art\, and the Mystery of Emergenc e\nEmergence in Marfa brings together contemporary artists working at the intersection of science\, perception\, and generative systems. Set against the Marfa desert\, the project examines emergent behavior and the natural patterns that shape our world.\nWorld Premiere Spotlight: Turiya\nOne of the most anticipated premieres of the season is Turiya \, a feature documentary exploring human consciousness and the univers al search for meaning. Blending neuroscience\, spirituality\, and pers onal narrative\, the film invites audiences to consider what it means to be fully awake in an era defined by rapid technological change.\nMu sic\, Nature\, and Cultural Fusion\nMulti‑platinum artists Pendulum and WARGASM present Cannibal\, a high‑energy visual collaboration ex ploring identity and digital culture. Rod Findley offers a cinematic l ook at marine intelligence in Dolphins of the Reef. And David Byrne — the Oscar\, Grammy\, and Golden Globe winner — contributes a new visual teaser that continues his lifelong exploration of movement\, p erformance\, and conceptual storytelling.\nA Season Defined by Humanit y\nFrom Seoul to Chicago\, from the Arctic Circle to Kazakhstan\, from Marfa's desert light to the depths of the reef\, the 2026 creators sh are one thing: a commitment to telling stories that remind us who we a re. Their work spans genres and technologies\, but at its core\, this season is about people — their questions\, their imagination\, and t heir capacity to create meaning in a world that's changing fast.\nAbou t Susan Johnston\nSusan is a pioneering producer and creative catalyst whose work has opened doors for some of the most innovative voices in film\, television\, and emerging media. Long before "new media" becam e a recognized category\, she championed creators experimenting with d igital formats\, immersive storytelling\, and technologies that would later reshape the entertainment landscape. Her career is marked by ind ustry firsts — from early adoption of digital production workflows t o building platforms that gave independent and international artists a ccess to opportunities they had never been offered before.\nAs the Fou nder and Director of the New Media Film Festival®\, Johnston has spen t nearly two decades curating breakthrough work from around the world and elevating creators who challenge convention. Known for spotting ta lent and trends years ahead of the curve\, she has earned a reputation as one of the most forward‑thinking leaders in the festival space. Her ability to bridge technology and humanity continues to inspire fil mmakers\, innovators\, and audiences who believe creativity can shape a better future.\nThe New Media Film Festival® honors stories worth t elling across both emerging and established formats. The festival show cases work from around the world in more than 28 categories\, includin g narrative\, documentary\, animation\, music‑driven visuals\, scien ce programming\, immersive media\, and tech‑forward storytelling. Kn own for championing innovation long before it becomes mainstream\, the festival has featured creators who push the boundaries of art\, cultu re\, and technology. Its distinguished judging body has included profe ssionals from Marvel\, HBO\, PBS\, BBC\, ABC\, and other leading creat ive institutions. Each year\, the festival brings together global voic es\, industry leaders\, and audiences seeking fresh perspectives on th e future of storytelling.\n  URL:https://www.newmediafilmfestival.com/schedule-tickets/ DTSTAMP:20260609T025445Z ORGANIZER;SENT-BY="mailto:info@newmediafilmfestival.com";CN=crystal zen: END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR