Thursday, February 26, 2026
The Academy Award for Best Director: It’s All About the Race
Panel Discussion
7:00 pm PT/10:00 pm ET
This panel will feature industry professors and industry professional who will discuss historical inequities in the Best Director category of the Academy Awards. The focus of the discussion will be recent research on this subject conducted by Professor Ken Grout, a Senior Executive-in-Residence at Emerson College.
Sharifa Simon-Roberts, Moderator
Sharifa serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Emerson College. She hails from Trinidad and Tobago and brings her unique perspective to teaching and to her research. Sharifa earned her doctorate from Howard University and her work centers on television, new communication technologies, and culture. She places special attention on groups traditionally underrepresented in the media — and society as a whole — such as women, Caribbean immigrants, and Black audiences. With media being an omnipresent force in society, one of Sharifa’s goals is to empower individuals to be critical consumers of media and conscientious creators of content.
Ken Grout, Panelist
Ken Grout is an accomplished writer, actor, speaker and Senior Executive-in-Residence in the Communication Studies department at Emerson College. A 2020 recipient of the Alan L. Stanzler Award for Excellence in Teaching, he is known for his work in the Southwick Recitals and has authored works on film history, including a book on Oscar winners.
Ikanyeng Rammutla, Panelist
Ikanyeng (Ika) Rammutla, currently a Masters of Finance candidate at Babson College, is Founder and Managing Director of The Function Creative Company t/a Function Studios, an emerging multinational creative studio at the intersection of science, mathematics, and visual storytelling, empowering purpose-driven innovation for global media and humanitarian initiatives. Ika’s work as a creative entrepreneur and visual artist is inspired by his mission to democratize the finding and execution of purpose for all humanity, drawing from his South African roots and multidisciplinary education to empower individuals and communities worldwide. Since 2023, Function Studios has collaborated with leading entertainment platforms including Netflix International on highly successful productions such as Bridgerton, Blood and Water Season 3 and Heart of the Hunter, while building a diverse global team of creatives and business professionals to deliver scalable visual and strategic solutions.
Rey Saint-Vil, Panelist
Rey Saint-Vil is a film distribution consultant, writer, director, and producer who utilizes his talent to tell unique, well-designed stories. With an extensive background in television and film productions, he has devoted his life to creating strategic opportunities for filmmakers and media companies, enabling them to grow. Rey was previously employed as a Production/Technical Associate and Tech Research Analyst at NBCUniversal, CNBC, Oprah’s Next Chapter, Iconic TV, and as a Senior Producer at Meero, a photo and video production AI-driven company. He currently serves as Senior Lead of Business Strategy & Operations at Orka TV as well as a Director of Operations at Black Film Space, in addition to project managing at several film distribution companies.
Oscar Buzz
Panel Discussion
8:00 pm PT/11:00 pm ET
This panel will feature the perspectives of consultants, journalists, film critics and marketing executives on the strategies and tactics used to generate Oscar buzz. Our panelists will also provide their expert opinions on the current nominees and predict the outcomes for the 98th Annual Academy Awards to be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Owen Eagan, Moderator
Owen Eagan serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies at Emerson College and as a Senior Vice President for Consensus Strategies. He specializes in measuring and assessing strategic communications in business and political environments. His book, Oscar Buzz and the Influence of Word of Mouth on Movie Success, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in April 2020.
Kymn Goldstein, Panelist
Kymn Goldstein is a business leader who drives strategy, marketing, operations, and sales for established, growth stage and start-up organizations. She is a champion of people and processes, building strong internal and external partnerships. As Head of Innovation and Growth for AI technology company StoryFit, Kymn led product positioning, built industry relationships, and drove revenue through a successful Series A. Prior to that Kymn served as Chief Operating Officer for Allied Global Marketing, a $50 million+ lifestyle entertainment agency, she transformed and expanded the agency by adding services and business units while creating campaigns to connect clients to consumers. She started her career at News America Marketing where she rose to SVP, Western Region working with Fortune 500 brands. She left there to join retail digital streaming start-up IMPLI where she led sales. Kymn is frequently sought as an expert on women’s issues, film, creativity + technology. She also consults for numerous companies and served on the board of Ticktbox Enterprises LLC, an intelligent marketing and ticketing SaaS platform.
Tim Gray, Panelist
Tim Gray is an Executive Vice President of the Golden Globes, with oversight of the Membership Board of Directors. He formerly served as the Awards Editor and Senior Vice President for Variety. In 2021, he was named Print Journalist of the Year by the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. In his 40-plus years at Variety, he held a number of positions including Editor in Chief and oversaw special reports on important issues such as an 80-page study of Hollywood and violence, marriage equality, and criminal justice reform. He also is the author of the Rizzoli book, “Variety: An Illustrated History of the World,” about world events and their connection, or disconnect, to entertainment, and he wrote “75 Years of the Golden Globe Awards,” to honor their diamond anniversary. In addition, he was co-producer of the HBO documentary Boffo.
Jami Philbrick, Panelist
Jami Philbrick is the Editor-in-Chief of Moviefone, a digital media service for moviegoers that provides local showtimes, movie tickets, trailers, and streaming information for TV and films. He is recognized for his work in journalism, producing, and editing content for the outlet, including coverage of major industry events. He is a member of the Critics Choice Association, and winner of the 2019 International Media Award at the 56th Annual ICG Publicists Awards. He received his BFA from Emerson College.
Carla Renata, Panelist
A proud Howard University graduate, Carla Renata, aka The Curvy Critic, has had reviews and/or op-ed’s published in Variety, Sundance.org, Sotheby’s, The Wrap, RogerEbert.com and more. She is a highly sought after host/moderator who had the privilege to host an evening of The Black Experience on Film for Turner Classic Movies sponsored by the African American Film Critics Association. She is also a frequent Guest Film Expert for CNN, Fox 11 LA, Good Day LA, The Stream Team, ITV, BBC Radio. In addition, she joined other film critics and enthusiasts as part of Focus Feature’s “You Know That Scene” Seasons Two & Three, streaming NOW via Facebook and Instagram. She is a proud member of the African American Film Critics Association and the Online Association of Female Film Critics and is a Tomatometer-approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes. Carla is also a Board member of the Critics Choice Association, where she completed a two-year term as Documentary Branch Co-President. Her award-winning podcast The Curvy Critic with Carla Renata has over 14 million views and streams LIVE weekly via YouTube featuring reviews, news and interviews with talent in front and behind the camera.