Text #GBCannes to 646-759-1837 for updates and exclusive access to our events in Cannes.

june 19-22, 2023

Watch last year's recap


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inkwell beach

Group Black is back again at Inkwell Beach for Cannes Lions 2023. We've built our own special oasis on the beach featuring two cabanas, a self service quick spa, air conditioned meeting spaces, and even a hidden speakeasy. So if you're interested in collaborating with us, want to meet, or just want to get to know us, reach out to our team to book some time.

Contact our team at:
cannes@groupblack.co

Group Black will make a splash at our first year in Cannes. Join us for engaging events, cultural activations, and thought-provoking panels underscoring our mission and spotlighting our collective of Black-owned media brands. Group Black will be at the center of the action at Inkwell Beach, the first beach focused on celebrating equity and diversity in creative, media, marketing, and entertainment. Please see our programming schedule below and join us for some incredible events throughout the week that you won’t want to miss!

Inkwell Beach at Vegaluna: Bd de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France
Tuesday june 20, 2023
Club Quarantine at Bisous Bisous: 1 Bd de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France

PROGRAMMING Schedule

Panel

This Is About Business Growth For Brands

Storytelling has always been an integral part of human culture, and it's crucial that we provide a platform for all communities to share their unique perspectives. Not only is featuring diverse voices in your media plans good for society, it’s good for business. Join Group Black collective members in conversation with Group Black CSO & co-founder Bonin Bough as they delve into the gravity and importance of diverse storytelling and why investing in Black-owend media is the current largest path to seeing exponential growth.

Panelist: Bonin Bough, Co-Founder/Chief Strategy Officer Group Black, Lynwood Bibbens CEO- Reach TV; Christian Facey, CEO AudioMob; Gary Coichy, CEO/Founder - Pod Digital; Pauline Malcom - Thornton, Chief Revenue Officer, Essence Ventures

Date:
Monday, June 19
Time:
12:00PM - 1:00PM
Location:
Inclusion Cafe powered by Infillion, Mondrian Garden
No RSVP Necessary 

Panel

The Power of Freedom presented by OMG

Examine the power of information, data and insights to free us from inequity. Against the backdrop of Juneteenth, what is our role in ensuring no identities are marginalized and that Black and Brown people have the power to thrive.

Panelist: Cavel Kahn, Chief Growth Officer, Group Black; Erica Taylor, Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Genentech; Stacie M. de Armas, SVP of Diverse Intelligence & Initiatives, Nielsen

Date:
Monday, June 19
Time:
3:00PM - 4:00PM
Location:
Inkwell Beach
No RSVP Necessary 

Happy Hour Soirée

Equity in Media: The Power of Inclusion

Join Nielsen, Group Black and some of the industry's leading advocacy organizations for an evening of celebration. Come connect as we highlight the importance of accurate and culturally meaningful representation across the media industry - inspiring a better media future for all! Space is limited. Request your invite today!

Date:
Monday, June 19
Time:
4:00PM - 6:00PM
Location:
Nielsen Yacht
Request an Invite

Panel and Party

META Limitless Celebration of Diversity

Limitless at Meta Beach, a celebration of creativity, DE&I, and community-building.

Date:
Monday, June 19
Time:
5:00PM - 9:00PM
Location:
Meta Beach
RSVP

Panel

The Impact of Investing in Diversity

Did you know that if BIPOC companies and creators were given the same level of investment as their peers, America's GDP would see a 6% increase? That's why investing in Black-owned businesses and creatives isn't just the right thing to do, it's also a smart business move. Join us for a dynamic panel that will walk through a data-driven study created by Group Black in partnership with Nieslen that explores the growth opportunities available when brands and marketers invest in diversity.

Panelists: Kerel Cooper, President of Sales, Group Black; Charlamagne tha God; Chantel Nicole George CEO & Founder, Sistas In Sales, Charlene Polite Corley VP, Diverse Insights & Partnerships, Nielsen

Date:
Tuesday, June 20
Time:
12:00PM - 1:00PM
Location:
Inkwell Beach
No RSVP Necessary 

Panel

Where Are We Now: An Intimate Conversation with Media’s Top Agency Executives

In the last three years the media industry has made significant strides towards investing in DE&I efforts and delivering on the dollars they promised, but there is still a long way to go in achieving true media equity. Join media’s most influential stakeholders on stage with Group Black's Chief Growth Officer Cavel Khan as they discuss the state of the industry today and why it is important to continue to invest in diverse and Black-owned media.

Panelists: Cavel Khan, Chief Growth Officer of Group Black, Gonzalo Del Fa, President, Group M Multicultural; Shelby Saville, Chief Investment Officer for Publicis US; Mark Prince, SVP, Head of Economic Empowerment at dentsu media; Geoffrey Calabrese, Chief Investment Officer at Omnicom Media Group, Alejandro Clabiorne; Executive Director, Mediahub Worldwide

Date:
Tuesday, June 20
Time:
2:00PM - 3:00PM
Location:
Inkwell Beach
No RSVP Necessary 

Party

Club Quarantine Cannes La Nuit Tombée

Come celebrate and experience lively late-night vibes with the incomparable D-Nice, and an opening set by Natasha Diggs.

Date:
Tuesday, June 20
Time:
11:00PM - 3:00AM
Location:
Bisous Bisous Club at Hotel Barriere Le Majestic - 1 jetée Albert Édouard - Palais des Festivals Cannes
RSVP

Lunch and Cocktails

Culture Island

An exclusive lunch and cocktails experience on breathtaking Culture Island, just off the coast of Cannes. Amazing views, great company, and exquisite local fare.

Date:
Wednesday, June 21
Time:
11:45AM - 2:30PM
Location:
IYKYK
By Invitation Only

Panel

Embracing the Influence: Black Culture, Media and Democracy

Black culture permeates various aspects of society, including art, music, fashion, and media, wielding an undeniable power that deserves recognition. It is high time to acknowledge and appreciate the immense contributions Black creators bring to the cultural table. To truly amplify BIPOC voices and ensure their adequate representation, it is essential to provide proper investment and support for Black-owned media platforms. Group Black's CEO, Travis Montaque, and Richelieu Dennis, founder of Essence Ventures and chairman and co-founder of Group Black, and Derrick Johnson, President of the NAACP, to delve into the transformative potential of an equitable and inclusive media ecosystem, as well as the profound impact diverse perspectives can have on democracy. This panel discussion will explore the critical intersections of Black culture, media, and democracy, emphasizing the need to nurture a media landscape that champions inclusivity and equitable representation. By shedding light on the power of diverse narratives and perspectives, the conversation aims to inspire action toward fostering a more inclusive society and media industry. Join us for an enlightening and thought-provoking session that celebrates the profound influence of Black culture and its role in shaping a vibrant and democratic media landscape.

Panelist: Bonin Bough, Co-Founder/Chief Strategy Officer Group Black, Lynwood Bibbens CEO- Reach TV; Christian Facey, CEO AudioMob; Gary Coichy, CEO/Founder - Pod Digital; Pauline Malcom - Thornton, Chief Revenue Officer, Essence Ventures, Regina Gwynn, Co Founder, Black Women Talk Tech

Date:
Thursday, June 22
Time:
3:00PM - 4:00PM
Location:
Inkwell Beach
No RSVP Necessary 

Panel

This Is About Business Growth For Brands

Date:
Monday, June 19
Time:
12:00PM - 1:00PM
Location:
Inclusion Cafe powered by Infillion, Mondrian Garden
No RSVP Necessary 

Panel

The Power of Freedom presented by OMG

Date:
Monday, June 19
Time:
3:00PM - 4:00PM
Location:
Inkwell Beach
No RSVP Necessary 

Happy Hour Soirée

Equity in Media: The Power of Inclusion

Date:
Monday, June 19
Time:
4:00PM - 6:00PM
Location:
Nielsen Yacht
Request an Invite

Panel and Party

META Limitless Celebration of Diversity

Date:
Monday, June 19
Time:
5:00PM - 9:00PM
Location:
Meta Beach
RSVP

Panel

The Impact of Investing in Diversity

Did you know that if BIPOC companies and creators were given the same level of investment as their peers, America's GDP would see a 6% increase? That's why investing in Black-owned businesses and creatives isn't just the right thing to do, it's also a smart business move. Join us for a dynamic panel that will walk through a data-driven study created by Group Black in partnership with Nieslen that explores the growth opportunities available when brands and marketers invest in diversity. Panelist: Kerel Cooper, President of Sales, Group Black; Charlamagne tha God; Chantel Nicole George CEO & Founder, Sistas In Sales, Charlene Polite Corley VP, Diverse Insights & Partnerships, Nielsen

Date:
Tuesday, June 20
Time:
12:00PM - 1:00PM
Location:
Inkwell Beach
No RSVP Necessary 

Panel

Where Are We Now: An Intimate Conversation with Media’s Top Agency Executives

In the last three years the media industry has made significant strides towards investing in DE&I efforts and delivering on the dollars they promised, but there is still a long way to go in achieving true media equity. Join media’s most influential stakeholders on stage with Group Black's Chief Growth Officer Cavel Khan as they discuss the state of the industry today and why it is important to continue to invest in diverse and Black-owned media. Panelists: Cavel Khan, Chief Growth Officer of Group Black, Gonzalo Del Fa, President, Group M Multicultural; Shelby Saville, Chief Investment Officer for Publicis US; Mark Prince, SVP, Head of Economic Empowerment at dentsu media; Geoffrey Calabrese, Chief Investment Officer at Omnicom Media Group, Alejandro Clabiorne; Executive Director, Mediahub Worldwide

Date:
Tuesday, June 20
Time:
2:00PM - 3:00PM
Location:
Inkwell Beach
No RSVP Necessary 

Party

Club Quarantine Cannes La Nuit Tombée

Come celebrate and experience lively late-night vibes with the incomparable D-Nice, and an opening set by Natasha Diggs.

Date:
Tuesday, June 20
Time:
11:00PM - 3:00AM
Location:
Bisous Bisous Club at Hotel Barriere Le Majestic - 1 jetée Albert Édouard - Palais des Festivals Cannes
RSVP

Lunch and Cocktails

Culture Island

An exclusive lunch and cocktails experience on breathtaking Culture Island, just off the coast of Cannes. Amazing views, great company, and exquisite local fare.

Date:
Wednesday, June 21
Time:
11:45AM - 2:30PM
Location:
IYKYK
By Invitation Only

Panel

Embracing the Influence: Black Culture, Media and Democracy

Date:
Thursday, June 22
Time:
3:00PM - 4:00PM
Location:
Inkwell Beach
No RSVP Necessary 

where
culture
calls home

With the simple mission to dramatically transform the face of media investment and ownership, Group Black seeks to connect a diverse generation seeking content and experiences that are reflective of their identity.

Group Black is building the largest collective of Black-owned media and diverse creators. We support their development by actively deepening the pipeline of media dollars allocated to Black-owned media businesses and facilitating investment in that media and those creators.

To learn how your brand can develop meaningful partnerships with diverse audiences, media, and creators, contact:

Contact our team at:
cannes@groupblack.co