AGBO+Slamdance DTLA Summer Showcase

DTLA SUMMER SHOWCASE

A MULTI-FACETED SHOWCASE INCLUDING DIGITAL, INTERACTIVE AND GAMING WORK, STAND UP COMEDY, SCREENPLAY WORKSHOPS, AND AWARD WINNING SHORT FILMS.

600+ ATTENDEES. 5 UNIQUE PROGRAMS. ACCESSIBLE.

OUR SHOWCASE

provided creatives and the L.A. community with what it needed and still craves; a gathering place to unite, experience, discuss, and debate the stories that shape our world.

Together, we achieved our goal of celebrating the power of inclusivity, storytelling, creativity.

It was more than just a celebration; it was critical.

SHORTWAVE

An award-winning shorts film program that pushed visual storytelling to the edge with a focus on Los Angeles based filmmakers.

Yuchi Ma, Rashayla, Brandon Rivera, Brenna Power, Tij (with mic, AGBO Fellowship Winner) Frank Volk, John Kelley, Kevin Ralston.

DIG: BRAVE NEW WORLDS

was our portal to the future of storytelling. Here, creators wielded immersive XR and interactive platforms as their tools, daring us to explore new dimensions in narrative expression.

Chris Peters, Jon Sims, Nim Shapira, Aaron Harris, Charlotte Triebus, Yihan Lin, Alani Ilongwe, Cade Mirabitur, Sam Crane.

UNSTOPPABLE A curated program of short films by and for creators with visible and non-visible disabilities.

Nina Mahesh Aleeya, Alessandra Lichtenfeld, Phoebe Jane Hart, Peter Hoffman, Ashley Eakin, Alaa Zabara, Clare Barnett, Storm Smith.

PUNCH

UP A new stand-up comedy showcase celebrating seven diverse comedians selected by Slamdance’s Alum & Ambassador of Comedy Kristian Mercado, including actor and Unstoppable Co-Founder Steve Way.

Yedoye Travis, Danielle Perez, Nori Reed, Sasha Merci, Steve Way, and Joey Dardano.

“We’ve purposefully stayed connected to Slamdance all these years. Bringing the sense of community for emerging talents to AGBO is something we’ve been wanting to do with them for a long time.”

- Anthony and Joe Russo

SCRIPT SHOP

A day of screenplay workshops formed and led by Slamdance alumni dedicated to emerging screenwriters.

James Allerdyce, Steven Pierce, Jamie King, Dekker Dreyer, Beverly Neufeld, Kristian Mercado, James Cox, Anna Lee Lawson, Zack Zucker.

THANK YOU

to everyone who took part and being a part of this transformative journey.

We could not have done this Showcase without the great support of our partners Anthony and Joe Russo and the entire AGBO team!

We want to thank our dedicated sponsors ATIAN Gin, BlackMagic, Coverfly, Final Draft, and Unity.

We also want to thank all of our artists for sharing their vision with us, our American Sign Language interpreters (Flo McHenry, Keila Marroquin, Lexi Yorba, Jesus Vedoy, David Garcia, and Rosie Huante), our incomparable volunteers (Cory Reader, Bernadette Speakes, Jamal Speakes Sr, Shaily Sanghvi, Theresa Pelogar, Juliet Romeo, Alexa Coblentz, Abe Birbrayer, Tera Lecuona, Ravit Markus, Cheryl Bookout, Sandra Beatrice, and Anthony Buchanan)

And our amazing photographer Lauren Desberg.

Angela Russo-Otstot (AGBO Chief Creative Officer), Brett Schmulian (ATIAN Gin Founder), Taylor Miller (Festival Director), Peter Baxter (Slamdance President and Co-Founder)