(NEWARK, NJ) -- Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Kenneth Gifford, founder of the Newark International Film Festival (NewarkIFF), will announce the official partnership between NewarkIFF and Cannes Can: Diversity Collective (CC:DC) at a press conference on Tuesday, June 11, at 11:00am at Newark City Hall (920 Broad Street).

The newly formed partnership, in collaboration with the Newark Office of Film + Television and Rutgers Express Newark Community Media Center (CMC), will send three local filmmakers to the 66th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France. The filmmakers will travel to France on June 12 and return June 22. While there, they will film CC:DC’s Inkwell Beach Cannes activities and surrounding festival activities and ultimately create a short documentary of their experiences.

A historical nod to the famous beach in Martha’s Vineyard (a Cape Cod, Massachusetts, island popular among African-American vacationers), Inkwell Beach Cannes will celebrate the contributions/perspectives of persons of color and from underrepresented communities in creative, media, marketing, entertainment, technology, and communication fields, explored through panel discussions, creative pitch competitions, talent showcases, and more.

This collaboration will give diverse filmmakers the opportunity to film and experience new cultures and strengthen their industry résumés and relationships. Equipment, training, and resources for the filmmakers will be provided by the Rutgers Express Newark CMC and the sponsorship of NewarkIFF by Prudential Foundation and PSEG Foundation.