9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Thursday, March 5 | 1515 Broadway, Times Square, NYC

BUY TICKETS | PANELS | SPEAKERS | ABOUT MEDIAMKRS

WHO CREATES, WHO OWNS, WHO DECIDES: MEDIA’S NEXT 25 YEARS

Each year, the MediaMKRS Summit brings together leaders and emerging talent across media, entertainment, technology, education, labor, philanthropy, and government to build a more equitable creative workforce.


The 2026 MediaMKRS Summit focuses on access, ownership, and innovation - connecting industry decision-makers with the next generation of storytellers at a pivotal moment for the entertainment industry.

The Lineup

  • 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:

  • 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

Tickets & Sponsorships

Meet the Speakers

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Rafael Espinal

Commissioner, NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment

FIRESIDE CHAT

Dometi Pongo

Journalist, Pongo Strategy Group

Chris Brancato

Television and Film Writer and Producer

Summit Speakers

  • Ken Adams

    President, LaGuardia Community College

    Legacy & Future of Media

  • Lamonia Brown

    Founder and Creative Director, Cultural Connections Film Festival

    Legacy & Future of Media

  • Bob Caniglia

    Director of Sales Operations, North America, BlackMagic Design

    Creating with BlackMagic Design

  • Nyasha Foy

    Business and Legal Affairs Executive, BESLA

    The Business of Ethical AI in Media

  • Walter T. Geer III

    Chief Creative Officer, Innovation North America, VML

    The Purchasing Power Of Culture

  • John Gibson

    Vice President, Public Affairs and Industry Relations, Motion Picture Association

    Legacy & Future of Media, Moderator

  • Amber Guild

    CEO, McCann NY

    The Purchasing Power Of Culture, Moderator

  • Kanene Ayo Holder

    AI Ethics, Future of Work & Inclusive Innovation Consultant

    The Business of Ethical AI in Media, Moderator

  • Renard T. Jenkins

    President and CEO, I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs

    The Business of Ethical AI in Media

  • Tiffani Lee Joseph

    AI Storyteller, Filmmaker, Creative Director, Co-Founder, Machine Cinema NYC

    The Business of Ethical AI in Media

  • Lasherelle Morgan

    SVP, Legal, AI Innovation & Acceleration, NBCUniversal

    The Business of Ethical AI in Media

  • Joseph Nardini

    Director of Sales, Sunset Pier 94 Studios

    Legacy & Future of Media

  • Cal Roberts

    Director, Creative Strategy and Insights, Shutterstock

    Lightning Talk

  • Nico Sahi

    MBA Candidate, Yale School of Management

    Creating with BlackMagic Design, Moderator

  • Megan Segarra

    Executive Producer, Blackweek

    The Purchasing Power Of Culture

  • Jamie Silverstein

    Director of Photography & Local 600 National Vice President, International Cinematographers Guild, IATSE Local 600

    Legacy & Future of Media

Co-Chairs

  • Shawn Finnie

    Executive Vice President, CULTURAL AGENCY

    Reel Works Board Member

  • Dayo Harewood

    Senior Vice President, Creative, Paramount Brand Studio

    Reel Works Board Member

  • Dee Murray

    Vice President, Human Resources, Universal Entertainment Group

    Reel Works Board Member

  • Gerald Yarborough

    Creative Executive

    Reel Works Board Member

Become a Sponsor

    • Exclusive Presenting Sponsor recognition across the Summit

    • Verbal acknowledgment during the program

    • Full-page digital ad displayed throughout the Summit

    • Recognition across Summit-related social media

    • Eight all-day Summit access passes

    • Logo placement across Summit materials

    • On-screen recognition during Summit programming and breaks

    • Full-page digital ad displayed throughout the Summit

    • Six all-day Summit access passes

    • Logo placement on the Summit website

    • Half-page digital ad displayed during the Summit

    • Four all-day Summit access passes

    • Logo placement on the Summit website

    • Quarter-page digital ad displayed during the Summit

    • Two all-day Summit access passes

Learn more

WATCH THE 2025 SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS

About MediaMKRS

MediaMKRS by Reel Works educates and empowers individuals to succeed in the media industry. Our program offers comprehensive training, hands-on work experiences, networking opportunities, and unparalleled access to industry professionals needed for a thriving career.

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