Cedric the Entertainer, Brooklyn Beckham and Alexis McGill Johnson Tommaso Boddi/Variety/Getty Images; Francois Durand/Getty Images; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images The Tribeca Festival‘s Tribeca X program highlighting brand-driven storytelling has revealed its first batch of speakers.
Cedric the Entertainer, Ted Danson, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham and Planned Parenthood CEO Alexis McGill Johnson are all set to speak during the two-day showcase, running from June 8-9 at the Tribeca Festival hub of Spring Studios in New York.
Additional speakers set for this year’s edition of Tribeca X include Dhar Mann and Dhar Mann Studios CEO Sean Atkins; Michael Symon; Clinton Kelly; KPop Demon Hunters writers Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan; American Express CMO Elizabeth Rutledge; Whaler co-CEO Jo Cronk; Chronicle Studios CEO Aaron Sisto; Moet Hennessy senior vp Carlos Zepeda; NBA on Prime host Taylor Rooks; Founder of Brother Vellies and the Fifteen Percent Pledge Aurora James; Kickstarter Metalabel and Dark Forest OS co-founder Yancey Strickler; Spin Master CEO Christina Miller; WNBA CMO Phil Cook; New York Liberty CEO Keia Clarke; ESPN sports marketing vp Rachel Epstein; Imagine Entertainment president of brands, IP & partnerships Marc Gilbar; Challenge Accepted creator and host Michelle Khare; LG Channels head of content acquisition Kathi Chandler-Payatt; Simple Alien president and executive producer Nicholas Panagopulos; and former Rolling Stone CEO, now executive chairman of Public Opinion, Gus Wenner, who will be joined by Public Opinion CEO and co-founder Jack Coyne, who also hosts popular social video show Track Star.
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Cedric the Entertainer is set to speak as part of his role as partner AC BBQ and founder of Setta Wines, while Beckham is representing his international culinary brand Cloud23, which he founded. Symon and Kelly, co-hosts of Chewed Up, will be joined by Panagopulos and Chandler-Payatt for a conversation about how creators are building new media empires pivoting from linear TV to owned platforms and why brands benedit from authentic, long-term creator partnerships.
The KPop Demon Hunters team will be discussing the Oscar-winning animated film and the value of authentic writing in creating stories for a global audience and how the writer’s voice is key to building successful IP.
Johnson will talk about using storytelling as a brand and mission tool, normalizing reproducting health and reducing stigma.
Miller will speak about building brand universes through cross-platform storytelling in a presentation that will touch on Paw Patrol‘s theatrical success and Spin Master’s original film development, while Rutledge will talk about how AmEx is evolving into a cultural access platform via sports, music and live experiences; and Khare will talk about turning her channel into an in-house production company and how she approaches brand partnerships as creative collaborations. Gilbar will be joined by reps from Dick’s Sporting Goods’ Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios and Fox Sports to talk about extending sports sponsorships into entertainment projects like their new World Cup documentary Summer of ’94.
Strickler, Wenner and Coyne will join forces for a panel about the infrastructure needed for creators to own their work and build sustainable businesses. Rooks and James will team up to talk about blending sports storytelling, fashion influence and social impact, including the way they’re building equity and access. Cook, Clarke and Epstein will discuss the evolution and future of women’s sports marketing.
Tribeca X will also feature speakers from OKX, McDonald’s, Lavazza and NFL Films.
“Tribeca X is a unique gathering that could only happen here, under the Tribeca umbrella and in the heart of New York City,” Tribeca Enterprises CEO Rebecca Glashow said. “Tribeca has always lived at the intersection of storytelling, culture, and creativity, and Tribeca X brings that spirit into the world of brand storytelling. We’re excited to bring together these extraordinary artists, creators, and innovators downtown in the global home of both advertising and independent film, creating a powerful space to help push the industry forward.”
The Tribeca X event also includes the Tribeca X Awards, honoring the most innovative and impactful brand storytelling across film, series, podcasts, social and traditional commercial work.
The X Awards jury includes Lena Waithe, Vans CMO Daniel Cherry III and 72andSunny chief creative officer Juliana Cobb. Audio jurors include Higher Ground vp, business development Carrie Brody; Crooked Media vp sales, Giancarlo Bizzarro and Independent Media Initiative president and co-founder Stuart Sevier.
The 2026 Tribeca Festival is set to run from June 3-14 in New York.
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