Welcome to the U.S.A.

We’re looking at the stories behind those stars and stripes. [View Online]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Forward]( Hi there, We are SO excited coming home from this year’s Cannes International Film Festival, where two of our films had their world premiere and another returned to the silver screen in outdoor celebration at the festival’s conclusion. We can already feel the return to a sense of community, as we shared with filmmakers and artists from around the world our passion for the power of storytelling. This year’s films had us buzzing about one theme in particular: American identity. We're thinking about this theme through the lens of artists who re-examine the narratives of the "American hero" and the "American Dream"; the voices of a community that stood up to racism, and the experience of leaving your home country to join this great experiment called America. These stories are challenging what we thought we knew, inviting us to dig deeper, and helping us begin to imagine a better future - at home and abroad. - Your fellow Participants [Big News] [Cannes 2021 Films ] A Global Return of the Film Community After the lost year that was 2020, this year’s Cannes Film Festival saw the premieres of some fantastic films from the U.S. and around the world, inviting us to take a moment for self-reflection. Tom McCarthy’s newest film, STILLWATER, is a "humbling" look at how the world sees Americans” ([Variety]( and challenges the audience to reflect on many of the assumptions Americans hold about themselves. The film premiered to a moving 5-minute standing ovation. The film's star, Matt Damon, said it best when he described what it was like to return to the theater: "It was completely overwhelming. It was a really powerful reminder of watching things on the little screen in my house, what the experience is of sitting with a thousand people who are strangers and watching this thing and taking it together -- and why we do that. [...] It’s a form of worship. It’s like church. And I forgot how great that felt." We can’t wait for its stateside opening on July 30. This year we were also able to [finally]( experience [in person]( the gift that is DAVID BYRNE’S AMERICAN UTOPIA, directed by this year’s Cannes President of the Jury, Spike Lee. It’s a joyful celebration of the beauty of our differences, and an invitation to reimagine an America where light can come out of dark times. Also making a splash at the festival's Cinema for the Climate sidebar was INVISIBLE DEMONS, an [eye-opening documentary]( about the devastating consequences of climate change on the health of New Delhi’s 30 million citizens. The film takes place in India, but in this globalized age, it’s truly a commentary on the state of our planet Earth. And speaking of global cinema for climate, we’re [thrilled to announce]( our partnership with MK2 Films and Endeavour content on our upcoming film, COSTA BRAVA, LEBANON , directed by Lebanese filmmaker Mounia Akl. [READ MORE]( [Headlines + Highlights] [Flee]( A Refugee's Journey Our new documentary, FLEE, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year, follows the true story of “Amin,” a refugee who migrated from Afghanistan as a child in the 1980s and now lives in Denmark as an openly gay man. Our friend, Oscar-nominated actor Riz Ahmed, is an executive producer on the film along with Nikolaj Coster-Waldeau. [Riz said]( "This is a unique project that pushes forward our ideas of what documentary, animation, and refugee-centered narratives can be." We’re big fans of Riz, not only because of his talent but also his passionate activism. He recently launched his long-awaited [Blueprint for Muslim Inclusion]( along with USC Annenberg, the Ford Foundation and the Pillars Fund to challenge the status quo on Muslim representation in film. Our partners at NEON are co-distributors on Flee. And while the release date hasn't ben set yet, the film has already started garnering [Oscar buzz]( [WATCH THE TRAILER]( [Vincent Chin's Family] The Hate Crime That Changed History If you don’t know the story of Vincent Chin, you’re not alone. This pivotal moment in Asian American history is rarely taught in schools, but in 1982 his murder caused such a uproar among the Asian American community that it sparked a movement that resulted in landmark federal anti-hate crime legislation. We’re honored to have the opportunity to work with the Vincent Chin Estate and its executor, activist Helen Zia, to develop a new scripted series about this story. These are the kinds of stories we’re looking forward to as we continue our journey to self re-discovery, and we can't wait for you to watch it when it's released. #StopAsianHate Above, Vincent’s family after hearing his killers’ sentencing. [LEARN MORE]( [art + activism in the world] [Immigrants Are Essential Campaign]( Photo: Keri Goff [@wearesoze]( Design: Alex Izaguirre [@mamut_creative]( Welcome to the U.S.A. What does it mean to be an American? Is it generations having inhabited this soil long before colonizers arrived? Does it mean coming from different backgrounds and adding our own diverse perspectives? Here are the artists that are lifting the voices that need to be heard and inspiring us with their take on America today. - These [Native American fashion designers]( are paving the way for the future by celebrating the traditions of their past. - The [#ImmigrantsAreEssential]( campaign led by [@ResilienceForce]( and [@NILC]( works with artists to shine a light on the true stories of immigrant essential workers who are on the front lines of both COVID-19 and the climate disaster. - Meet [Hadi Fallahpisheh]( an Iranian immigrant artist and his surprising art that documents the anguish of living in this country without a visa. Like this email? [Forward to a friend]( or share on [Facebook]( or [Twitter](. Feedback? Reply and let us know what you think. Participants wanted. You are not a viewer. These are your stories. You are a Participant. [GET INVOLVED]( Participant is the leading media company dedicated to entertainment that inspires and compels social change. Founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll, Participant's content combines the power of a good story well told with opportunities for real-world impact and awareness around the most pressing global issues of our time. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [LinkedIn]( [Instagram]( [ABOUT US]( // [PRIVACY POLICY]( // [TERMS OF SERVICE]( // [UNSUBSCRIBE]( © Copyright 2021 Participant, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This email was sent by: Participant 331 Foothill Rd 3rd Floor Beverly Hills, CA, 90210,