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HHEC: H2O 2027

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H2O↗HIP-HOP
ODYSSEY

September 2027

HIP-HOP EDUCATION CENTER PRESENTS

THE CULTURE.
THE CAMERA.
THE LEGACY.

H2O International Film Festival
25th Anniversary Celebration

A new chapter for Hip-Hop on film. Celebrate the storytellers, revisit the moments, and help preserve what comes next.

Explore the experience Become a sponsor

SEPTEMBER 2027Planning underway. Dates & venues to be announced.

Made You Look H2O artwork with a hand framing the festival's history
MADE YOU LOOK / THE H2O STORY
25YEARS OF
MAKING HISTORY2002 → 2027

01 / THE ORIGIN STORY

WE PUT HIP-HOP
IN THE FRAME.

From the festival floor
to the cultural record.

Founded by Martha Diaz in 2002, the Hip-Hop Odyssey International Film Festival brought Hip-Hop storytelling to the screen and created a gathering place for filmmakers and the communities behind the culture.

Its mission connects media and Hip-Hop with critical thinking, storytelling, social change, and unity. The September 2027 anniversary concept carries that work forward through screenings, conversations, education, and preservation.

Step inside the archive

2002

THE FIRST FRAME

H2O launches. Film becomes a meeting point for Hip-Hop artists, storytellers, and audiences.

2012

A HOME FOR THE HISTORY

The festival archives are donated to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, according to the event deck.

2027

THE NEXT CHAPTER

A 25th anniversary celebration is planned for September.

SCREENINGSTALKBACKSWORKSHOPSPERFORMANCESODYSSEY AWARDS

02 / THE EXPERIENCE

PRESS PLAY ON
WHAT’S NEXT.

2027 PROGRAM

A festival within a festival. Cinema, conversation, hands-on discovery, and a celebration of the people who made it possible.

8 experiences

01 / FILM

OPENING NIGHT.
BIG SCREEN ENERGY.

Red carpet, opening reception, a featured film, and a filmmaker conversation to set the tone.

02 / CONVERSATION

THE EVOLUTION
OF HIP-HOP CINEMA.

A fireside chat and town hall tracing the culture’s screen history and asking where it goes next.

03 / THE ARCHIVE

THE VAULT
OPENS UP.

An introduction to the H2O Media Archives and a deeper look at the images, films, and stories behind the festival.

04 / NEW TOOLS

FILMMAKING.
MEET THE FUTURE.

A filmmaking and AI conversation, with a Dream Lab exploring VR, AR, and creative practice.

05 / THE REWIND

FLASHBACK
SCREENINGS.

Revisit the films and cultural milestones that helped shape Hip-Hop cinema, with space to talk about their impact.

06 / THE HONORS

GIVE THE
STORYTELLERS FLOWERS.

Odyssey Awards, performances, and tributes honoring filmmakers and cultural pioneers. Honorees to be announced.

07 / PARTICIPATE

YOUR HISTORY.
OUR LIVING ARCHIVE.

Community Archiving Day invites a conversation about preserving personal and collective Hip-Hop histories.

08 / IN PRINT

MADE YOU LOOK.
NOW TURN THE PAGE.

A coffee-table book and DIY film festival toolkit documenting H2O’s history and impact.

THE FESTIVAL FLOW

THREE CHAPTERS.
ONE ODYSSEY.

Sequence. Dates, session times, locations, and guests will be announced.

01 OPENING CHAPTER

Early registration, press gathering, opening reception, red carpet, and opening film screening.

02 THE DEEP DIVE

Hip-Hop cinema symposium, fireside chat, town hall, archive conversation, filmmaking and AI panel, reception, and evening screening.

03 THE CELEBRATION

Community brunch, Odyssey Awards, performances, memorial tributes, impact presentation, and celebration party.

03 / REWIND THE CULTURE

REAL MOMENTS.
LIVING HISTORY.

Open a frame.
Get closer to the story.

A selection from the H2O deck. These archival images and past film materials celebrate the festival’s history. The 2027 film lineup is still to come.






Explore H2O’s ongoing screening series with Maysles Documentary Center.

Visit the film series ↗

Made You Look H2O book artworkTHE STORY CONTINUES IN PRINT

FROM SCREEN TO SHELF

MADE
YOU LOOK.

A retrospective. A record of the movement. A toolkit for the next generation.

The anniversary concept includes a coffee-table book documenting the festival’s history and impact, paired with a DIY film festival toolkit. Release details will be announced.

Ask about the book

04 / BACK THE NEXT CHAPTER

CULTURE NEEDS
CO-PRODUCERS.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Put your support behind Hip-Hop storytelling, filmmaker visibility, and the preservation of cultural memory.

Rates, availability, and benefits require confirmation for September 2027.

01 / THE HEADLINER

PRESENTING
SPONSOR

$50,000

Title sponsorship, opening night, and a leading presence across H2O.

02 / THE BIG SCREEN

SUPPORTING
SPONSOR

$20,000

Support the H2O Flashback screening program and its conversations.

03 / WHAT’S NEXT

TRACK
SPONSOR

$10,000

Champion the Dream Lab and its VR and AR programming.

04 / IN THE MIX

TABLING /
PROGRAM AD

$2,500

Connect through a table or a program advertisement opportunity.

YOUR SELECTED PACKAGE

Presenting Sponsor

Title sponsorship, opening reception, opening film and talkback, Flashback screenings, and three Dream Lab sessions.

Discuss this package ↗

  • Representative remarks at opening night
  • Logo on the pre-screening loop and website
  • Logo on event signage and press wall
  • Title/header inclusion in press releases
  • Social media campaign inclusion
  • Logo on palm card flyers
  • 10 × 10 tabling opportunity at H2O
  • 10 H2O badges

COMPARE THE PACKAGES
2027 planning reference, adapted from deck slide 22
Benefit Presenting Supporting Track Table / Ad
Investment $50,000 $20,000 $10,000 $2,500
Website, social, palm card recognition Included Included Included Included
Event signage + press wall Included Included Included Not listed
Pre-screening loop Included Included Not listed Not listed
Press release placement Title/header Body mention Body mention Not listed
Representative remarks Opening night Screenings Dream Lab Not listed
H2O badges 10 4 4 2
Tabling placement H2O H2O Dream Lab Confirm option

HAVE A DIFFERENT IDEA?

Let’s discuss media, food and beverage, community support, or a custom partnership.

Start the conversation ↗

HOW THE TEAM PLANS TO MEASURE IMPACT

Registration & attendancePost-program surveysParticipant stories & feedbackTeam evaluation

Items available post-event.

05 / BEHIND THE MOVEMENT

THE PEOPLE
BEHIND THE PICTURE.

Meet the producers.
Tap to read their stories.


06 / BE IN THE ROOM

YOUR NEXT
GREAT FILM MEMORY.

SEP2027

Exact dates, venues, access details, and registration are coming. Here is the admission framework from the deck, pending confirmation for 2027.

GENERAL ADMISSION

DAY PASS

$50

Single-day access.

THE FULL EXPERIENCE

3-DAY PASS

$150

Three-day admission.

VIP

3-DAY VIP

$300

VIP inclusions to be announced.

NONPROFIT / COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY RATE

$25 / day

$75 for three days. Eligibility details to follow.

BE FIRST TO KNOW WHAT’S NEXT.

Registration has not opened. Contact the team about attendance or program updates.

When and where will H2O 2027 take place?+

The target month is September 2027. Exact dates and venues are being developed. Earlier locations and November dates in the planning deck are not confirmed for this event.

Are the films, speakers, and honorees confirmed?+

The page presents the tentative program. The final lineup, guest list, and honorees will be announced by HHEC.

Can my organization become a sponsor?+

Yes, you can start a conversation with the producing team. Select a sponsorship level above or ask about a custom opportunity. Final rates and benefits will be confirmed directly.

How can I participate in Community Archiving Day?+

Contact the team to express interest. Collection guidelines, formats, appointments, and participation details will be shared when the program is finalized.

Will accessibility information be available?+

Venue access, captioning, accommodation requests, and other access details will be published with the confirmed program. You can contact the team now about your access needs.

07 / LET’S BUILD THIS TOGETHER

BE PART OF
THE NEXT FRAME.

Bring your questions, your community, or your partnership idea. The next chapter starts with a conversation.

Hip-Hop Education Center

SPONSORSHIP + EVENT INQUIRIES

STACEY L’AIR-EASILEY

Executive Producer · L’Air Dimensions

[email protected] ↗845-540-2782

MARTHA DIAZ

Founder & Executive Producer · HHEC

[email protected] ↗917-330-6413

H2O↗THE CULTURE.
ON THE RECORD.

© 2027 Hip-Hop Education Center
September 2027 planning preview. Details subject to confirmation.

ProgramSponsor ↗

All program and sponsorship information is available on this page. Enable JavaScript for bio popups, gallery previews, filters, and the expandable navigation. Contact the team using the email links above.