Meet Trailblazer Yolonda Brinkley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yolonda Brinkley.

Yolonda Brinkley, the self-proclaimed global disruptor, is the creator of Diversity in Cannes, the independent film movement promoting inclusion at the Cannes Film Festival, which was birthed as a result of her first trip to the Festival in 2009.

Despite her French language abilities and her familiarity with the city of Cannes, Yolonda, the former 8th-grade French teacher, felt like an outsider. Armed with a borrowed video camera, she interviewed as many black attendees as possible and learned that many of them had the same sentiments. With a myriad of emotions, Yolonda left the festival vowing to never return but later decided that running away from the Festival wasn’t the answer. Instead, she committed to enhancing the visibility of diverse groups at the Cannes Film Festival and has been pioneering the inclusion effort, arming filmmakers with the tools they need to take their seat at the table of the global film industry.

Since its 2010 inception, with Yolonda at the helm, the initiative has emerged from a simple filmmaker symposium to a comprehensive movement, providing a platform for globally diverse filmmakers to be seen and heard at the Cannes Film Festival. More specifically, Diversity in Cannes promotes the presence of underrepresented content creators telling stories specific to marginalized populations and celebrates their achievements at the worlds most prestigious film festival.

In nine short years, Yolonda has hosted hundreds of filmmakers from five continents, received thousands of short film submissions from at least 35 countries and has welcomed esteemed panelists. She was even nominated for a European Diversity Award in 2012 and invited to the Inaugural White House South by South Lawn Festival of ideas for her efforts to diversify the global film industry.

Having only scratched the service of possibilities, Yolonda’s expanding her efforts and reach as she celebrates 10 years of independently promoting inclusion at the Cannes Film Festival. Follow her journey.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Though rewarding, the journey to build Diversity in Cannes has had its share of adversity. From the revocation of my Festival de Cannes accreditation in the early years to being scammed by fake housing companies, building this movement has been a wonderful experience. While those issues were setbacks, the biggest obstacles I face are budgetary constraints.

I initialing started building the movement with my own savings from my days in corporate America. I considered it an international marketing budget, but as the funds dwindled, I had to get creative, which lead to the introduction of the Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase. For the first few years of the showcase, I had to add my own funds to cover event expenses, but by God’s grace, I am now able to produce the event using film submissions.

Diversity in Cannes is the little engine that could. Our budgets are small but our movement has a heart as evidenced by filmmaker participation, reviews and record submissions each year since inception. I produce the best event possible with the funds I have, wearing many hats in the process, which sometimes means aspects of the event production process fall through the cracks. With that, are my suggestions for anyone embarking on a journey:

1. Go for it!!! If it’s in your heart it’s worth the start. Trust me the desire will not go away.
2. Make room for mistakes. No one’s perfect. Forgive yourself, learn the lesson and move on.
3. Seek support from those who believe in your vision. It’s hard to go at it alone, though sometimes the only person you can depend on is you.. after all, it is your vision.
4. Be grateful and remember no one owes you anything!!!

We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud? What sets you apart from others?
Yolonda Brinkley, a full-service marketing communications professional, is an Illinois MBA with extensive brand development, event production, and public relations experience. She holds a BA from Clark Atlanta University & is fluent in French with international experience.

A corporately trained marketer, Yolonda worked ten years at Ford Motor Company, including assignments with the Lincoln-Mercury and Aston Martin, Jaguar Land Rover brands. During her 10 year tenure, Yolonda established herself as a valuable resource within the branded entertainment community. She fostered relationships with fortune 500 companies and other notable organizations.

As an entrepreneur, the momentum continues. Since 2008, Yolonda has managed events for the NAACP Hollywood Bureau (Image Awards), the Hollywood Black Film Festival and Filmmakers Alliance. She’s represented actors and filmmakers at global film festivals including Sundance and the Toronto International Film Festival. Additionally, she sets brand marketing strategy for sports and entertainment figures including Bill Duke, for whom she served as personal and production publicist for the “Light Girls” Documentary, which premiered on The Oprah Winfrey Network.

Yolonda constantly creates opportunities for herself and impacts the global entertainment industry as the creator of Beyond Borders: Diversity in Cannes, an independent filmmaker movement promoting inclusion at the Cannes Film Festival. Celebrating a decade of diversity in May 2019, the movement was established to promote the presence of underrepresented filmmakers sharing stories about marginalized populations during the Cannes Film Festival.

On a personal note, Yolonda loves traveling, coordinating special events
and all facets of the performing arts; especially dance. Most important, however, is her love of family. She understands the need for a solid foundation and appreciates those who have contributed to the woman she is today. Yolonda is excited by the possibilities and looks forward to sharing her experiences!

While no idea is a new idea, the characteristic that differentiates me from others is ME as I am unique and wonderfully made. Made in God’s image. My vision is meant for me and no one else will do it quite like me.

The achievement I’m most proud of is building a global movement promoting inclusion at the world’s most prestigious film industry event, with very little money for production, marketing or PR. Diversity in Cannes was built one social media post at a time and grew by word of mouth. This May 2019, I’m happy to celebrate 10 years of independently blazing the trail for diverse filmmakers to take their seats at the proverbial Cannes Film Festival table, I’m even more proud that I saw a need and have been in the trenches putting in the work before diversity and inclusion was trending in Hollywood.

Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
Becoming by former First Lady Michelle Obama is the newest book that helps me live my best life.
Who Moved My Cheese is another book that helps me navigate life.
The Richest Man in Babylon.
The Automatic Millionaire.
Oh, and I can’t forget my girl Suze Orman!!

Contact Info:

• Website: diversityincannes.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/diversencannes
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/diversityincannes
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/diversencannes
• Other: https://youtu.be/bfOSYmS604Y

Image Credit:
Red Carpet Images red and black Marcelo Nlele

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