Jan 26

Jan 26 "Variety x Audible Cocktails and Conversations" Returns to Sundance to Celebrate Audio Storytelling

Sundance Film Festival has always been a time where insiders get a sneak peek to hundreds of films from both well-known filmmakers as well as indie filmmakers. Over the course of two weeks, filmmakers are vying to not only get picked up by pronounced networks like HBO, Netflix, and Amazon attendees are provided with the opportunity of hearing from a few of their favorite creators. Audible hosted “Variety x Audible Cocktails and Conversations,” which featured panels from trailblazing storytellers and creators.

Kenya Barris, Audible's Bob Carrigan, Audible's Rachel Ghiazza, and Brent Lang at Variety x Audible Cocktails & Conversations (Courtesy Photo - Photo Credit: John Salangsang, Variety for Audible)

The Audible Listening Lodge was present during opening weekend of the prominent film festival and hosted actors, directors, and creators from a variety of mediums and backgrounds for their annual “Variety x Audible Cocktails and Conversations” sessions.

Friday evening at Sundance Film Festival, Audible, the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling and Sundance Film Festival’s Official Audio Entertainment Partner, hosted a “Variety x Audible Cocktails and Conversations” panel at The Audible Listening Lodge. Kenya Barris — the award-winning creator behind titles such as “Black-ish,” “You People,” “#blackAF,” “Girls Trip, “and the Founder & CEO of Khalabo Ink Society — and Audible’s Chief Content Officer Rachel Ghiazza spoke with Variety’s Brent Lang about the creative opportunities in audio, highlighting content from the multi-project development deal between Khalabo Ink Society and Audible.

Daniel Dae Kim & Audible's Bob Carrigan at Variety x Audible Cocktails & Conversations. (Courtesy Photo- Photo Credit: John Salangsang, Variety for Audible)

Barris is no stranger to working with Audible projects including DJ Drama’s Gangsta Grillz Podcast. “Audible wanted to do things that were far beyond anyone else [in audio], Immersive, really sort of 360-degree sonic things that make you feel something different than a normal podcast. It didn't feel flat, and it felt like, as a storyteller, the kind of thing I want to do.”

Over the previous years Audible has taken tremendous steps to bring quality content to individuals and welcoming all conversations both insightful and challenging with the common denominator being to deliver quality content FOR the listeners. “[At Audible] we really care about the creative arts,” Ghiazza shares. “We create things where there are strong characters that leave listeners feeling like they understand who they are, have some kind of connection to them, and there was a real story.”

Kenya Barris & Audible's Rachel Ghiazza @ Variety x Audible Cocktails and Conversations. (Courtesy Photo - Photo Credit: Katie Jones, Variety for Audible)

Rightfully so, Barris has led some of the most prominent television shows and films in today's society that cover a range of meaningful topics that span many generations and remain relevant through visual and audio storytelling. “Podcasting can be relevant now, and I think that’s a really important and special part of the medium. We need to be able to talk about what we’re experiencing right now, and do it in a real, immediate way.”

Taking place on Friday, January 19and Sunday, January 21, the panels featured thoughtful and inspiring conversations with visionary creatives around topics such as The Art of Conversation and Breaking Down Genres, defining and defying expectations in modern storytelling.