Culture Over Everything


Culture Over Everything

17TH Annual Global Mixx Music & Film Forum Announce

Game Changers Award Recipients

CHICAGO — Global Mixx Creative Arts, NFP proudly announces the honorees of The Game Changer Awards on Friday, November 13, 2026. The ceremony kicks off the 17th Annual Global Mixx Music and Film Forum, which takes place November 14, 2026, at Malcolm X College in Chicago.

Recognized as one of Chicago’s premier creative-industry safe spaces, the Global Mixx Music and Film Forum will once again bring together artists, filmmakers, media professionals, cultural leaders, and emerging creatives for a powerful day of connection, inspiration, and opportunity.

This year’s theme, “Culture Over Everything,” celebrates the diverse communities that shape the heartbeat of the urban creative landscape—spanning music production, filmmaking, acting, digital creative media, DJ culture, radio, artist advocacy, and the latest business techniques in the entertainment industry.

On Friday, November 13, the VIP Game Changers Awards reception will honor community stakeholders in music, film, media, education, and business at Imani Studio, 5917 S. State Street, from 6:00 pm–9:00 pm. Hosted by legendary music retailer and historian George Daniels, this year’s honorees include:

Bo Deal, Catrice Antoine, Carlos Rolon, Cortez Smith, Commissioner Bill Lowry, Dani Jackson-Smith, Frayne Lewis, Keke Hampton, Lisa E. Finkle, Lupe Fiasco, Poinesha Barnes, and Vince Lawrence. The program will recognize Dr. Carol Adams with The Oracle Lifetime Achievement Award.

On Saturday, November 14, The Global Mixx Music and Film Forum will host a day of panel discussions, workshops, speed mentoring sessions, a creative vendor area, and short doc film screenings at Malcolm X College, located at 1900 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60612.

A dynamic lineup of film, social media marketing and music industry panels and conversations featuring 5x Grammy Award-winning producer Malik Yusef, who will co-

lead a special songwriting and production bootcamp along with producer and musical director for Chief Keef, Johnny 6bravo, and singer/songwriter Jameisha Trice. High school and college students can attend at no charge.

"When we launched the first Global Mixx DJ Retreat in 2005, we couldn't have foreseen that our focus on building relationships across entertainment spaces would become a blueprint for other programs," said founder Mary Datcher. "Business models are constantly changing, and our mission is to keep equipping creators with the resources to grow and sharpen their professional skills. That's what the Global Mixx Music and Film Forum is all about.”

Past forum speakers and featured guests have included acclaimed film directors Carl Seaton, Sam Bailey, George Tillman Jr., and Christine Swanson; visionary storytellers Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah; and celebrated recording artists Common, Kanye West, DJ Red Alert, Syleena Johnson, Twista, Naughty by Nature, Kindred the Family Soul, Terisa Griffin and Korporate. The forum has also welcomed industry veterans, Natasha Olguin, John Monopoly, Robin Thede, Carlos King, along with Grammy Award–winning producers Rico Love, No I.D., Kosign, Johnny 6ravo, Tuo Clark, Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley, Bryan Michael Cox, Terry Hunter, and Xtreme, among many other influential leaders across music, film, and media.


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