Event

The Power of Storytelling

Featuring award-winning filmmaker and Canon Ambassador Elisa Iannacone

  • Thu 27 Feb 25

    10:00 - 16:00

  • Colchester Campus

    Lecture Theatre Building

  • Event speaker

    Elisa Iannacone, Filmmaker and Canon Ambassador

  • Event type

    Workshops, training and support

  • Event organiser

    Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies, Department of

  • Contact details

    Dr Tasos Giapoutzis

Join us for an exclusive event featuring award-winning filmmaker and Canon Ambassador Elisa Iannacone, as she takes us on a journey through the power of storytelling in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

This event is ideal for students, researchers, and professionals across a wide range of disciplines, including Film, Media, Journalism, Sociology, Human Rights, Psychology, and Creative Arts.

Whether you are a storyteller, filmmaker, journalist, photographer, writer, or researcher, this event will offer valuable insights into the power of narrative, ethical storytelling, and the role of media in shaping perspectives on trauma, conflict, and resilience. Participants will gain practical knowledge from an award-winning filmmaker, exploring how to craft compelling stories in challenging environments while maintaining emotional well-being and professional integrity.

Schedule

Session 1: Conflict Reporting to Magical Realism – Merging Worlds for Storytelling | 13:00 - 14:00 | LTB 10

Embark on a transformative journey from the heart of conflict zones to the enchanting realms of magical realism, where storytelling becomes a powerful vessel for healing. In this session, Canon Ambassador Elisa Iannacone, will present the alchemical transformation of pain and suffering into narratives that not only captivate the imagination but also serve as a source of empowerment and catharsis.

Drawing from her own encounters with trauma and conflict, she unveils the resilience of the human spirit and the role storytelling plays in navigating and transcending trauma. You will see the potential for magical realism to emerge as a conduit for telling impactful stories, and how the imagination can provide a unique lens through which to process and make sense of the complexities of the human condition. This session promises to be a thought-provoking and inspirational journey, inviting you to reconsider the ways in which stories can be both a refuge and a catalyst for profound healing in the face of adversity.

Session 2: Keeping the Balance – How to Tell Impactful Stories in the Most Challenging Environments | 14:30 - 16:00 | LTB 10

Elisa Iannacone explores the art of storytelling in high-pressure, complex settings, emphasizing the importance of maintaining emotional and mental well-being, as well as navigating difficult ethical lines. Participants will learn techniques to craft compelling narratives that resonate even in difficult circumstances, while also ensuring personal resilience and balance. Through interactive exercises and insightful discussions, this session equips storytellers with the tools to navigate both the challenges of their environment and the emotional demands of their craft.

Canon Equipment Showcase | 10:00 - 16:00 | LTB Foyer

Try out the latest Canon cameras and video equipment with expert guidance from Canon technicians, available all day in the LTB Foyer.

No booking required. Seating is first come, first served, so please arrive early to secure your place.

The event is sponsored by Canon.

Speaker

Elisa Iannacone has worked as a photographer and cinematographer on six continents producing work for outlets such as Newsweek, National Geographic, and BBC. Covering challenging environments, from the Rabaa massacre in Cairo and domestic violence within Iraqi refugee camps to the impact of cyclone Idai in Mozambique, has fuelled her work with social consciousness.