Sir Lenny Henry will open the second edition of Soho Media Club’s annual festival of media culture, Be You, taking place on July 13th in Soho.
“I want the next wave of talent to feel inspired and empowered about building a career in film and TV and feel confident that their voices will be heard,” says Henry. “I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge and stories, but I also am keen to hear from the younger talent and have an honest conversation on how we can create a safe and equal industry – that’s why I am excited to be part of Soho Media Club’s Be You Festival this year.”
Soho Media Club’s Resident MC, Muki Kulhan will lead a discussion between Sir Lenny Henry and an industry rising star to challenge the status quo, compare and contrast generational experiences and explore what we can all do to improve culture and drive positive change.
This year’s Be You Festival tackles a slate of topics addressing media culture, including why authentic storytelling and representation matter, how young filmmakers can get their foot in the door, curating a culture of belonging for young intersectional identities and advice on how to call out toxic behaviour.
New to the programme this year, an Ask Me Anything session will hear industry experts share their personal career stories and ask the panel for advice. Moderated by Jasmine Dotiwala, Ask Me Anything will feature Mobeen Azhar, TV executive Fatima Salaria and TV and radio presenter and Melvin Odoom.
Co-founder of Soho Media Club, Tomasz Witkowski says, “We are excited that Sir Lenny Henry, who has long been an advocate for equal rights and representation, will be opening the Be You Festival to talk about paving the way for positive change and increasing diversity on and off screen. The conversation is going to be fresh and fun, so be prepared for a few surprises.”
Co-founder of Soho Media Club, Jaisica Lapsiwala says, “This is Soho Media Club’s second edition of the Be You Festival and it’s back with a bang! Along with covering topical themes and bringing inspiring speakers to the stage for panels, interviews, workshops and a Festival Party, we are building an active community of talented changemakers to move the dial and change the narrative of the media industry.”
Be You is designed to spark honest conversations about the whole slate of film, TV and multimedia cultures, including the visible and hidden challenges of diversity, inclusion, belonging wellbeing, having your voice heard and inspiring and nurturing this and future generations of talent.
A mix of over 200 industry heavyweights and newcomers come together in Soho to discuss the challenges of media culture and celebrate successes. Everyone attending is encouraged to participate in frank discussion, get stuck into candid conversations, share ideas and express themselves, so that attendees leave feeling empowered and armed with ideas, inspiration and contacts.
BE YOU takes place on 13th July 2023 in Soho, London. More information and tickets are available at www.sohomediaclub.com/beyou
Soho Media Club, founded in 2018, is a free members network designed to bring together the film, TV and media communities to share stories, exchange ideas and collaborate, with one goal in mind – to create amazing content for our screens. Our ethos is built on being a diverse and inclusive community, where everyone has a voice.
Through in-person events, video content, articles and podcasts, it brings together a community of over 2000 change-makers to connect with each other and facilitate honest discussions about the media industry and how we can spark positive change.
Pippa Considine
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