Afrofuturist
Resource Group
Leveraging the extraordinary success of #WakandaForever, The Afrofuturist Resource Network will organize and steward a cross-sector ‘genius bank’ of the most innovative thought leaders, experts, and influencers in Afrofuturist thought and aesthetic. Through the collective creativity, scholarship, and industry experience, this resource group will provide studios, networks, and brands with the cultural analysis, strategy, tools, and community relationships to reshape storytelling surrounding the histories and future of Black-led societies.
Panels / Trainings / Webinars
We will curate thought leadership and educational presentations for creative storytellers, marketers and other key stakeholders to learn about the rich culture of Afrofuturism and relevant narratives to inform upcoming projects in development and those that are preparing to go-to-market.
Script & Creative Review
We will review scripts, creative assets and other materials and advise on ways to authentically integrate Afrofuturist themes and values in order to reach the largest and most loyal fans of the genre.
Events & Experiences
We will curate entertaining and immersive Afrofurist experiences for storytellers and other creative leaders to enjoy the unique and original themes produced by experienced and emerging Afrofuturist artists and creatives.
Key Themes
From Story To Screen
Afrofuturist stories and characters have been captivating readers, critics and cultural influencers for over four decades. Hear from advisors about the most important stories and ways to create new stories and characters for screen.
Afrofuturism and Audience Engagement
As audiences and fandoms of Afrofuturism have grown exponentially with an increase in TV and film titles, so has their appreciation and desire for virtual and IRL touchpoints and experiences with the creators, characters and subject matter experts. From cutting edge technology, to emerging cultural influencers, hear from advisors as they discuss the unique methods and partners to engage to build authentic audience and community connections around Afrofuturist stories and themes.
Afrofuturism, Equity, and Inclusion
FOUNDING ADVISORY GROUP
Tananarive Due
Tananarive Due (tah-nah-nah-REEVE doo) is an award-winning author who teaches Black Horror and Afrofuturism at UCLA. She is an executive producer on Shudder’s groundbreaking documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror. A leading voice in black speculative fiction for more than 20 years, Due has won an American Book Award, an NAACP Image Award, and a British Fantasy Award, and her writing has been included in best-of-the-year anthologies.
Mutale Nkonde
Mutale Nkonde is the founding CEO
of AI For the People (AFP) a non profit communications agency. AFP’s mission is to eliminate the under representation of black professionals in the American technology sector by 2030. Prior to this Nkonde worked in AI Governance. During that time she was part of the team that introduced the Algorithmic and Deep Fakes Algorithmic Acts, as well as the No Biometric Barriers to Housing Act to the US House of Representatives.
Shawn Taylor
Shawn Taylor is also a writer, university lecturer, and scholar. He is the founding author of the geek culture site Nerds of Color and a founding organizer of the Black and Brown Comix Arts Festival.
Malakai
Malakai is an award-winning director and philanthropist who has made it her mission to be a disruptor by telling world-building and fantastical narratives that turn archetypes of the black diaspora on its head. Malakai is desert born afropunk with a deep love of technology and afro-futurism.
Kamal Sinclair
Kamal Sinclair is the Senior Director of Digital Innovation at The Music Center. Sinclair previously was director of Sundance Institute’s groundbreaking New Frontier Labs Program, which identified and fostered independent artists innovating the art and form of storytelling through the convergence of film, art, media performance, music, literature and technology.
Behind
the
scenes
About Picture Motion
Picture Motion is the leading social impact agency developing award-winning advocacy and marketing campaigns for films, television, and entertainment. For a decade filmmakers, studios, and brands have turned to Picture Motion’s expert team of impact strategists to amplify their content, mobilize key communities and change makers to drive impact beyond the credits for 300+ projects. In 2022, Picture Motion built campaigns for over 45 titles and drove 125,000+ tangible actions for change.
About Pop Culture Collaborative
The Pop Culture Collaborative is a philanthropic resource and funder learning community working to transform the narrative landscape in America around people of color, immigrants, refugees, Muslims, and Indigenous peoples, especially those
who are women, queer, transgender and/or disabled. The Collaborative supports the growth of the pop culture for social change field through four interconnected program areas: grantmaking, convening and networking, narrative design and philanthropic learning.
