Sundance Institute's Story Forum: Exploring Art and Innovation is a space to learn, collaborate, and join the conversation; inviting thoughtful dialogue about the artist-first tools and technologies supporting visual storytelling today.


We are drowning in Content but starving for the communal experience of Story. How can filmmakers capitalize on this new wave of Vertical Storytelling to give audiences the opportunity to consume serotonin-rich narrative Story over the quick dopamine rush that Content currently provides? This panel discussion explores these questions from the perspective of the creator and provides insights into how to bridge the gap between content creation and storytelling in the social media landscape.


Explore Sundance Institute's Story Forum: On Demand Collection

Jim Festante
Executive Director, Health-e-Habits
Jim Festante (Executive Director) founded Health-e-Habits to promote thoughtful technology and gaming use, emphasizing informed decision-making and community building. He spent 20 years in media production and knows how the engagement loops are built because he worked in the industries that built them. more...
Denver Humphrey
Filmmaker, Advocate, and Co-founder of Fourddo
Denver Humphrey is a 17-year-old advocate, award-winning filmmaker, and musician dedicated to using storytelling as a tool for justice, empathy, and connection. She is the co-founder of Fourddo (four-dee-do), a nonprofit that has reached more than 30,000 young people through campaigns and collaborations with brands like Macy’s, KIA Motors, UNESCO, and Seventeen. In 2025, Fourddo launched a national mindfulness tour that inspired the upcoming documentary DREAMERS (2026). more...
Shira Lazar
Digital Culture Expert and Founder of What’s Trending
Shira Lazar is an Emmy-nominated digital culture expert, keynote speaker, and mental health advocate with over 1 million followers across platforms. She is the founder of What’s Trending, a pioneering digital media brand with more than 3 million followers, where she has been covering and shaping internet culture, technology, and the creator economy for nearly two decades. more...
Justin Trevor Winters
Moderator | Co-founder and CEO, Verified Labs
Justin Trevor Winters is the co-founder and CEO of Verified Labs, an AI-powered creative studio that partners with talent, brands, and major estates including Ernest Hemingway, Steve McQueen, and Triumph Motorcycles to expand their legacy through emerging technology.
Tags:Emerging Media

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