About us
The Columbia University School of the Arts' Digital Storytelling Lab holds monthly meetups for those interested in how to harness story, play, design and technology for social innovation. Meetups mix ignite style talks, with rapid prototyping and social mixers. We're looking for thinkers & doers - Wanted storytellers, game designers, makers, hackers, educators, activists and anyone who is interested in learning, doing and sharing. We're part of an initiative at Columbia University that is focused on story-driven innovation. We hold events and labs around the world and are always up for an interesting collaboration.
Upcoming events
1
Who’s Paying for Story Now? Inside the Brand-Funded Boom
Film at Lincoln Center - Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, 144 W 65th St, New York, NY, USIn 2026, branded entertainment is evolving. As audiences spend more time in ad-light and ad-free environments, brands are moving upstream: building entertainment arms, partnering with storytellers, and funding films, series, docs, podcasts, and “new form” experiences that can’t be reduced to a 30-second spot.
We’ll ground the conversation in a few timely examples of brands building dedicated entertainment arms and partnering with storytellers to co-develop and co-finance film, TV, documentary, and audio projects. We’ll unpack what these collaborations actually unlock beyond money (access to archives, expertise, locations, rights, and cultural heritage) and how creators can approach brands as creative partners in authenticity and reach (not just marketing). Superconnector Studios will join us to share what they’re seeing from the inside: how these deals get structured, what brands are looking for, and where creators can find opportunities in 2026.
What you’ll leave with: an understanding of emerging trends in branded entertainment , who’s funding what, what brands actually want (often access + authenticity, not product placement), common deal shapes, how to pitch value-aligned stories, and how to protect the work so it lands as entertainment first.
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SPECIAL EVENT THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 7th
Columbia DSL's Story I/O returns for a day of experimentation. Space is limited and the event will take place on campus and is open to the public. Read More44 attendees
Past events
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