BEL at 2026 Sundance Film Festival: “Stories That Unite”

​​​(Recording of the full panel discussion)

As America kicks off its 250th year of independence we will contemplate how entertainment storytelling is a key driver fostering connection and healthier conflict across our unique lived experiences. Research consistently shows that audiences are hungry for a reset—stories that reflect a broader spectrum of American life and a more pluralistic vision of the American dream, where difference is a source of strength. 

​This conversation will convene filmmaking talent, studio executives and bridge-building leaders to unpack research that identifies the shared beliefs, values, and behaviors that unify Americans across backgrounds, uncovering how entertainment can build social cohesion by helping Americans from disparate groups to better see each other.  We will also share tips on how storytelling can challenge false narratives of division, inspire curiosity, and bolster the creative courage of artists seeking to portray the full complexity of the American experience.  

Bridge Entertainment Labs (BEL) is the entertainment office for the national movement to combat toxic polarization and build social cohesion in America. 

When: January 24, 11:30 am – 1:00pm MST

Where: The Box at the Ray, 1768 Park Avenue, Park City, UT

Recap of the Panel:

The panel discussion went beautifully. This full-house conversation explored the power of storytelling to help us see each other across divides, the role stories play in why some people feel so hopeful about the state of our country while others feel so bleak, and how a lot of our division is actually a “collective illusion.”

Some of the moments that resonated:

Throughout the panel, our speakers shared insights on the power of storytelling to heal the divisions in our society.

Jared Ian Goldman (Mighty Engine, Producer of In The Blink of an Eye) described how vulnerability is an “engine for compassion,” and says one of the roles of storytelling is to create a safe space where people from different groups can experience each other in their vulnerability.

Takeaway for storytellers: You don’t always have to write “unity.” Focus on moments of vulnerability, where a character risks being seen.

Jared Geesey (Angel Studios) talked about the challenges when it comes to creating depolarizing content: there’s a wide audience for it, but marketing these stories requires going against the grain because the algorithm rewards content that narrowly appeals to specific groups.

Takeaway for storytellers: Telling a more inclusive story can broaden some stories’ reach. Ask which audiences you would like to reach that you aren’t. 

Becca Kearl (Living Room Conversation) led audience members through two interactive exercises designed to foster deep listening (listening for feeling and meaning), and to help us question the assumptions that we make about people we see as “others.”

The first exercise was challenging, and audience members reflected on how difficult it was to just listen instead of thinking about how they would respond. As Becca said, deep listening requires curiosity and empathy.

In the second exercise, Becca encouraged participants to notice their snap judgments, pause,  then move towards curiosity. She gave the example of social media: instead of asking “How could someone possibly post this!?” we can ask “Why would someone post this?”

She offered three questions to ask when we hear someone say something we disagree with:

“How did you come to your position on X?”, “How is X affecting your life or your community right now?”, and “What are your hopes and concerns moving forward on X?”

These three questions can help us turn a conversation that could have been an argument into an opportunity to explore our shared humanity.

Takeaway for storytellers: If a scene is two ideologies debating, you may be writing a stalemate. Consider converting the argument into: backstory + what it costs me + what I’m afraid of.

Steven Olikara (Bridge Entertainment Labs) talked about the power of curiosity: instead of putting fellow Americans in boxes, he wants to be surprised by them. 

Takeaway for storytellers: let your characters have nuance and depth. Often audiences’ favorite and most memorable moments are when they are confronted with the unexpected.

Steven also unveiled our Storytelling Principles Tips, a new resource to help storytellers counter the “division industrial complex” and create stories that foster social cohesion.

Our Storytelling Principles focus on the 4 “C”s:

Curiosity: characters ask real questions (not rhetorical traps).

Complexity: characters are written with depth and nuance. No cardboard villains or “representative” stereotypes.

Contact: characters get out of their bubbles.

(Good) conflict: the story moves people—some new understanding is reached, or there is movement towards a common goal, even if the characters don’t “agree.” Stories bridge when they create connection, not when they try to score points. 

The Jareds both referenced their most recent movies: