Julie Pennini, Founder of Big Planet, Small World and Director of Community and Global Partners for the Richmond International Film & Music Festival partnered with Shared Studios Richmond Portal to import and export free film and music programming, from around the world, throughout the six day festival in Richmond, Virginia, USA. This year’s festival theme was BRIDGES and in honor of that, attendees were offered an opportunity to connect with other portals, in real time, in cities around the world to engage and share in global conversations about film, music and art – things that have always served as a bridge for cultures, communities and individuals. Some of the highlights throughout the week were connections with refugees from Lesbos, Greece for a musical concert exchange, with Stockholm, Sweden and The Swedish Film Institute for a discussion on documentary filmmaking, with Mexico City for a jam session and with West Virginia, USA for a celebration of Appalachian music. There were also plenty of opportunities for one on one discussions and conversations that started with this idea of a mutual connection through the arts, but eventually led to magical places and exchanges that no one could have imagined. The Portals offer a unique and profound way to connect with others and offer an important world view from the smallest of spaces.
| BIG PLANET, small world | 