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Bridging Divides Through Storytelling (Sundance Collab) How do creatives actually execute these ideas in the writer’s room or on set without sacrificing pacing, dramatic tension, or their creative integrity? To answer that, we are partnering with Sundance Collab for a … Continue reading
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Aspen Ideas Festival We are thrilled to bring the BEL framework to one of the country’s premier gatherings of leaders, creators, and innovators: the Aspen Ideas Festival. BEL’s panel is born out of this year’s festival theme: independence. Who has … Continue reading
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Spring Storytelling Salon — April 2026 As America’s 250th anniversary approaches, we convened sixty storytelling creatives, executives, and educators to uncover how our craft can bridge the gap between a polarized country and an audience craving connection. Guests represented a … Continue reading
BEL honored in the lead up to Oscars at Lumen Awards This month, in the lead up to the Oscars, our founding CEO Steven Olikara was honored with a Lumen Award, recognizing leaders at the intersection of storytelling and changemaking! … Continue reading
The Chronicle of Philanthropy Features BEL The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently published an in-depth feature on the strategic bet behind our work: catalyzing the entertainment industry to create better Stories of Us. “This Nonprofit Whispers in Hollywood’s Ear About Polarization. … Continue reading
New Study Finds Storytelling Reduces Political Polarization A groundbreaking new study from the University of Oxford and The Ohio State University reveals compelling evidence that storytelling reduces polarization and measurably strengthens emotional connection, active citizenship and social cohesion among high … Continue reading
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Democracy 2076: The Power of Story to Grow Democracy Over the last two years, Democracy 2076 and Harmony Labs teamed up to understand how entertainment media shapes people’s understanding of democracy, and find ways to tell better stories about democracy. … Continue reading
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Storytelling Principles This document, “Storytelling Principles for Creating New American Stories of Us,” by Bridge Entertainment Labs, introduces “The 4 C’s” for storytellers to help bridge societal divides and foster a more resilient democracy. The authors argue that despite perceived … Continue reading
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An Evening of Ideas & Influence in partnership with Builders Movement and CAA Foundation Last week, Bridge Entertainment Labs gathered in partnership with the Builders Movement and the CAA Foundation. We convened a remarkable community of leaders from education, city … Continue reading
