Presence Is the Actor’s Invisible Chemistry

The New Global Aesthetic

The next big ideas in visual culture aren’t coming from Hollywood or Paris—they’re emerging from Nairobi, Beirut, Mumbai, and Medellín. In this session, creators and image-makers from across the world explore how local perspectives are transforming global storytelling. From the languages of TikTok and street photography to the craft of short documentaries, they unpack how authenticity, access, and identity are reshaping what the world sees—and believes.

The Experimental Economy - Why Discomfort Drives Growth

Daredevil creator Michelle Khare has trained with NASA astronauts, run 7 marathons on all 7 continents in 1 week's time, and even escaped Harry Houdini’s deadliest stunt. Her hit docuseries Challenge Accepted has earned more than 850 million views and successfully petitioned to join the Primetime Emmy® ballot this year. In this fireside chat, Michelle reveals how intentional discomfort fuels elite performance, and how creators, leaders, and brands can use challenge, experimentation, and narrative rigor to build companies that rival the ambition of Hollywood.

Closing Remarks

Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern

Before the rise of bite-sized content and algorithm-driven storytelling, some creators built influence the long way, through deep curiosity, lived experience, and long-form craft. In this intergenerational conversation, award-winning chef and storyteller Andrew Zimmern reflects on how he went from kitchens to global screens, using food as a bridge to culture, identity, and understanding. Joining him is a new-generation creator who ascended through digital platforms, bringing a fresh perspective shaped by real-time audiences and algorithmic winds. Together, they explore what has changed, and what hasn’t, when it comes to building trust, telling human stories, and connecting across cultures. What can today’s creators learn from the depth and patience of pre-social-media storytelling? And how can legacy storytellers adapt to a world moving at the speed of the scroll while keeping meaning at the center?

Building a New Backbone for Journalism

In a fragmented information landscape where politics is both a content and commodity, the role of a journalist is being fundamentally rewritten. Veteran broadcaster Chuck Todd and award winning correspondent turned tech startup founder Jane Ferguson, reflect on how platforms, algorithms, and polarization are reshaping the craft of reporting, and what it will take for political journalism to remain credible and relevant in an era of speed, spectacle, and suspicion.

The Future of Streaming Monetization Models 

As audiences fragment and attention becomes the ultimate currency, streaming platforms are rethinking how value is created and shared. This session explores the next phase of digital entertainment—from evolving subscription models and ad-supported hybrids to strategic partnerships between tech, media, and creators. What will define profitability in an era where engagement, not just viewership, drives growth?