We are not talking about the famous film festival in Cannes. The Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity is one of the biggest events in the world where business people, thought leaders and celebs, from all over gather in France to discuss topics in creative communications, entertainment, design, tech, and advertising industries.
Black people came in mass to discuss inclusion and diversity in the industries. Around the same time, Paris Fashion Week was making headlines as Black celebrities from all over the world came in their best fits to take in shows across the city, particularly— Pharrell Williams’ 1st Louis Vuitton Show.
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Cannes Can: Diversity Collective
Adrianne C. Smith created the Cannes Can: Diversity Collective (CC: DC), a non-profit organization that gives young people of color the opportunity to attend the annual festival in a way they previously were not able to.
This year, the CC: DC held the 2023 Inkwell Beach activation, a five-day event that was “created to highlight and showcase the theme of equality, diversity, and inclusion.”
Spike Lee
Academy Award-winning director and filmmaker Spike Lee spoke at multiple events during the Cannes Lions Festival.
Spike Lee
Spike Lee is wearing his New York City gear, but yet so far from the city.
Issa Rae
Issa was among the celebrities who attended the Cannes Lions Festival.
Issa Rae
Here Issa Rae, the actor and producer, answers questions from Adrianne C. Smith
Amanda Gorman
Popular poet and activist Amanda Gorman was present at the Cannes Lions Festival.
Amanda Gorman
Amanda Gorman, who gained notoriety after she read her original poem, “The Hill We Climb,” during President Biden’s Inauguration, also did a panel for the CC: DC.
Bozoma Saint John
Bozoma Saint John is a businesswoman who was most recently the chief marketing officer at Netflix. She’s the author of the recently published book, “The Urgent Life: My Story of Love, Loss and Survival.” She came to speak to answer questions from young people at CC: DC.
Bozoma Saint John
Bozoma Saint John was one of the celebrity panelists.
Sam Barrington
Former NFL player Sam Barrington was also a part of the event at the Cannes Lions Festival.
Sam Barrington
Former NFL player Sam Barrington serves as the president of Sky Limit Crane & Rigging.
CC: DC Inkwell Beach Activation
Highlights of the five-day CC: DC event held at the Cannes Lions Festival.
Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton Fashion Show
Before the Cannes Lions Festival, Black celebrities came in droves to witness Pharrell’s fashion show for his first collection with Louis Vuitton.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé
Jay-Z and Beyoncé were front row at Pharrell’s first Louis Vuitton show.
LeBron and Savannah James
NBA superstar LeBron James and his wife also stepped out for the much-anticipated show.
Willow and Jaden Smith
The Smith siblings, Willow and Jaden, came in their flyest LV fits to watch the menswear show from Pharrell.
Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton Fashion Show
Here’s some Highlights from the LV show.
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