Rafael Espinal, Commissioner, NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), delivers keynote remarks on the future of New York City's creative economy.

Soundstages are rising across the region. Training programs are expanding. Yet the media industry is still recalibrating after a major downturn—and the future of work is evolving fast. This panel asks a bold question: Is the region truly positioned for the next 25 years of media production? 

MODERATOR: John Gibson, Vice President, Public Affairs and Industry Relations, Motion Picture Association

SPEAKERS:

• Kenneth Adams, President, LaGuardia Community College

• Lamonia Brown, Founder and Creative Director, Cultural Connections Film Festival

• Joseph Nardini, Director of Sales, Sunset Pier 94 Studios

• Jamie Silverstein, Director of Photography / Local 600 National Vice President, International Cinematographers Guild, IATSE Local 600

The creative economy sits at the intersection of culture, technology, and commerce. This panel focuses on the importance of understanding and highlighting the power diverse communities have in the US on media, marketing and advertising and why that matters.

MODERATOR:‍ ‍Amber Guild, Chief Executive Officer | McCann

SPEAKERS:

• Walter Geer, Chief Creative Officer, Innovation, North America VML

• Megan Segarra, Executive Producer, Blackweek

Cal Roberts, Director of Creative Strategy and Insights at Shutterstock, presents key findings from Shutterstock's 2025 Creative Impact Report — exploring the trends shaping visual storytelling and creative production across the industry.

Chris Brancato, Television and Film Writer and Producer, joins Dometi Pongo, Journalist, Pongo Strategy Group, for a conversation about creativity, storytelling, and the evolving landscape of access in media.

In this 20-minute moderated conversation, Bob Caniglia, Director of Sales Operations, North America at BlackMagic Design, explores how creator-focused tools and AI-enabled technologies are shaping new possibilities for storytelling.

MODERATOR: Nico Sahi, Master of Business Administration Candidate, Yale School of Management

PANELIST: Bob Caniglia, Director of Sales Operations, North America, BlackMagic Design

AI is reshaping how content is developed, produced, and delivered, influencing workflows and decision-making across media. This panel explores how leaders balance efficiency with responsibility, where human judgment remains essential, and how creators are using AI to expand access and accelerate independent storytelling.

MODERATOR: Kanene Ayo Holder, AI Advisor, FutureFixer AI Insights

SPEAKERS:

• Nyasha Foy, Business and Legal Affairs Executive, Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association

• Renard T. Jenkins, President and Chief Executive Officer, I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs

• Tiffani Lee Joseph, AI Storyteller, Filmmaker, Creative Director, and Co-Founder, Machine Cinema NYC

• Lasherelle Morgan, Senior Vice President, Legal, AI Innovation & Acceleration, NBCUniversal