The Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival has confirmed its programme highlights for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
The event will include panels, performances and mixers (supporting inclusion, impact, belonging and diversity) throughout Sundance’s run in Utah.
A sneak peek at DIFF’s programme, provided by event organisers, is available below.
FRIDAY 23 JANUARY 2026:
United Airlines Lounge
Panels Presented by: Latino Filmmakers Network (LFN), United Airlines, and The Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival (DIFF)
Welcome Intro: Moi Santos (Manager – Equity, Impact & Belonging Program at Sundance Institute)
Panel 1: Our Road to the Sundance Film Festival
Date: January 23rd
Time: 2pm
Highlighting some of the Filmmakers whose movies are playing at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, their journey in getting their movies made that led them to this moment in time. Get inspired to never give up on telling your stories.
moderated by LFN Founder: Maylen Calienes
Panelists: David Alvarado – American Pachuco (Director), Walter Thompson Hernandez– If I Go Will They Miss Me (Writer, Director, Editor) , Giselle Bonilla –The Musical (Director), Ana A. Alpizar – Norheimsund (Director, Writer, Editor), Suzanne Andrews Correa– The Huntress (Director, Writer)
Panel 2: Access, Allies & Action: Rethinking How Films Get Made.
Date: January 23rd
Time: 3pm
Diversity isn’t a trend, it’s a necessity. This panel brings together professionals from across the filmmaking ecosystem casting, producing, acting, and finance to explore how access, inclusion, and collaboration can truly transform the industry. Panelists will share practical strategies for creating opportunity, supporting underrepresented voices, and building sustainable careers, while shaping stories that resonate both culturally and globally.
moderated by DIFF Founder: Sola Fasehun
Panelists: Alan Luna – IF I GO WILL THEY MISS ME (Co-Producer, Casting Director) and MARGA EN CDMX (Casting Director) , Daniel Benge – Attorney Partner in Fox Rothschild Entertainment & Sports, Cristina Garza – United Talent Agency/UTA, Independent Film Agent, Aitch Alberto – HBO Max’s DUSTER & Apple TV+’s LITTLE AMERICA (Writer, Director), Gabriela Ortega – MARGA EN EL DF (Director, Writer, Actress)
Location: United Airlines Lounge on Main Street, Park City, Utah
Impact Lounge
Voices of a People’s History: The People Speak and Sing!
Date: Friday January 23rd
Time: 5:30pm
Live Performance / 5:30pm
Cocktail Reception / 6:30pm
Location: Impact Lounge, Prospector Square, Park City, Utah
Presented by: Impact Lounge, Voices of a People’s History (VPH), Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival (DIFF)
Produced by: Heather Mason, Anna Strout, Sola Fasehun
Creative Director: Cassie Bradley
Digital Media Manager: Shade Adeyemo
Stage Manager: Mark Brystowski
Technical Manager: Rachael Conrad
Performers: Tatiana Maslany (Sundance Film: Keeper, Orphan Black), Aasif Mandvi (Evil, Mr. Robot), Alysia Reiner (The Diplomat, Ms. Marvel), Brendan Hines (The Tick, Suits), Gabriela Ortega (Filmmaker, Sundance Film: Marga En El DF), Cassie Bradley (Coronation Street, Casualty), H. Lynn Pai (And Just Like That, Tulsa King), Sola Fasehun (Founder, DIFF), Tanya Selvaratnam (Filmmaker, Author of Assume Nothing), More TBA
Event Description: Join us at Impact Lounge for DIFF at Sundance Presents: VPH – The People Speak and Sing for a night of powerful voices and inspiring stories!
Impact Lounge and Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival at Sundance Presents…Voices of a People’s History: The People Speak and Sing!
Come join us for an unforgettable evening at The Impact Lounge at The Prospector Conference Center and Theatre! Experience the power of music and spoken word as we celebrate the voices of the people. A live performance that brings to life marginalized stories through readings and songs, inspired by Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove’s book, featuring an all-star cast of actors, musicians and activists.
SUNDAY 25 JANUARY 2026:
Impact Lounge
Panel Title: DIFF Explores – Inclusion & Impact in Entertainment
Panel Presented by: Impact Lounge and The Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival (DIFF)
Panel Description: With today’s changing world and the shifting landscape of entertainment, executives from various industry organizations (that are known for championing diversity, impact, & belonging) come together to discuss ways to support filmmakers, movies, and artists during these turbulent times. Please join us as the panelists reveal insight into how filmmakers can navigate the current landscape of entertainment (Film, TV) to continue to tell stories that promote representation and champion inclusion. These changemakers will also discuss the power of and the continued goal of bringing people together from all walks of life to celebrate inclusion and art despite living in a divided world. A Q&A will follow the panel discussion.
Panelists: Heather Mason (Founder, Impact Lounge), Bing Chen (Co-Founder, Gold House), Maylen Calienes (Founder, Latino Filmmakers Network/LFN), Moi Santos (Manager – Equity, Impact & Belonging Program at Sundance Institute), Jenny Halper (EVP at Maven Screen Media, EP of Sundance Film The Kindergarten Teacher), Sola Fasehun (Founder, Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival/DIFF), more TBA
Moderator: Larry Laboe (Co-Founder, New Filmmakers Los Angeles/NFMLA)
Date: Sunday January 25th
Time: 11:30am
Location: Impact Lounge, Prospector Square, Park City, Utah
Sundance Film Festival’s Filmmaker Lodge
Sundance and New Filmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) Panel/Q&A
Date: Sunday January 25th
Time: 1:30pm – 3pm
Moderator: Sola Fasehun (Founder, The Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival/DIFF)
Location: Sundance Film Festival’s Filmmaker Lodge, 550 Main St, Park City, UT 84060
Panel Title: From First Break to Lasting Impact: Building Creative Pipelines in Film & Media
Panel Header: Join NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA), Alliance of Women Directors (AWD), Shine Global, and Creating Creators for an Official 2026 Sundance Film Festival Panel held at Sundance Film Festival’s Filmmaker Lodge on Main Street in Park City. Moderated by Sola Fasehun.
Panel Description:
Panelists will discuss the ways in which intentional career pipeline programs fuel long-term success in the entertainment industry. Bringing together leaders from each organization, the conversation will spotlight how professional development initiatives support creatives at critical moments—from early-career discovery and skill-building, to mid-career expansion and leadership, to late-career sustainability and legacy-building.
About NFMLA:
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization that champions emerging and independent filmmakers and storytellers from around the world and provides a forum where filmmakers can be recognized for their contributions, have open audience discussions about their work and connect with industry professionals for insight on distribution, production and representation.
Panelists:
● Gianfranco Fernández-Ruiz | Alumni Filmmaker & Ambassador, NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA),
● Kylie Eaton | Interim Executive Director, Alliance of Women Directors (AWD)
● Alexandra Blaney | Co-CEO & Creative Director, Shine Global
● Jessica Just | CEO & Co-Founder, Creating Creators
Moderator:
● Sola Fasehun | Founder, The Distribution Collective, Fasehun Films, and the Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival
Sola worked with Oscar-winning producer Michael Phillips. She was a sales agent/distribution consultant at Submarine Entertainment/Deluxe. While at UTA, Sola launched the diversity initiative. She repped talent as an MP/TV Lit agent. Sola is the founder of The Distribution Collective, Fasehun Films, and the Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival.
More information is available on the DIFF website.
