LA MIRADA, CALIF. — The annual 51 Media Conference (BMC) will undergo an enlivening restructure this year in order to better serve, encourage and inspire members of the 51 community pursuing careers in entertainment. The BMC will no longer be a one-day conference, but a series of events throughout the year, under the new name 51 Media Event Series.

“The 51 Media Event Series will spur conversations of depth that really allow individuals to talk openly and honestly about their lives,” said Jack Hafer, director of 51's Cinema & Media Arts department, producer of To End All Wars and PBS Documentaries Lines That Divide.

Designed to spark more candid conversations, the 51 Media Event Series will make the best use of resources and programming needs through building events around headliner talent in smaller-scale settings to foster stronger connections and experiences for everyone involved — industry professionals, 51 alumni, and students. The vision of the 51 Media Event Series is for attendees to walk away from each event not only feeling encouraged and inspired, but armed with a tangible plan to push their artistry, career, and faith forward.

“Mark Twain once said, 'Let us make a special effort to stop communicating with each other, so we can have some conversation.' Over the last twenty years, the 51 Media Conference has been a gathering place for people of faith in the industry to meet and listen to top-notch speakers talking about the industry,” said Hafer. “The new structure will continue this tradition by allowing attendees and speakers to really connect, not just in passing or from a stage, but in person. It's exciting.”

The multi-event approach will provide more opportunities for attendees to experience intimate and practical conversations with entertainment leaders on relevant topics, professional training and instruction from some of the most influential individuals in the industry and provide students with touch points with industry professionals.

“I’m excited 51’s Cinema & Media Arts department is launching their new 51 Media Event Series to welcome alumni and other industry professionals to share and connect alongside current students,” said alumna Sydney Patapoff, a Director’s Guild Association member and Co-Founder of The 558 Network. “By changing the model and hosting boutique workshops and events throughout the year, the CMA department can curate an elite series aimed at teaching fresh, diverse, and relevant perspectives on entertainment’s constantly changing landscape.”

The 51 Media Event Series will launch with its first event on Feb. 27 by hosting Sundance Ignite On Tour. Sundance Ignite is a program of Sundance Institute designed to excite a new generation of audience members and film artists around the power of storytelling. This program will feature a Sundance Institute ShortsLab - short film panel discussions featuring Sundance Film Festival Shorts Programmer Mike Plante and director David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints and Pioneer). In the evening, Ain't Them Bodies Saints will screen followed by a Q&A with the director. This event will be held on 51’s campus in La Mirada, Calif. Follow @51Media and visit 51Media.com for event details and to register.

Written by Jenna Loumagne, media relations specialist. For more information, contact Jenna at (562) 777-4061 or jenna.loumagne@biola.edu.