Sundance 2022 Cinema Café is where conversational culture is reinvigorated. A series of informal discussions brings together special guests for stimulating encounters and fascinating dialogue. Previous Cinema Café guests have included Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Tessa Thompson, Jane Campion, Dave Grohl, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lena Dunham, Norman Lear, Kumail Nanjiani, Zazie Beetz, Saoirse Ronan, Spike Lee, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Radha Blank, Ira Glass , Hillary Rodham Clinton, Bassem Youssef, Charlie Kaufman, Ice-T, Nick Hornby, Winston Duke, Samantha Power, Steve Coogan, Roger Corman and many more.

Moderator Hannah Giorgis discussions with the panelists Keke Palmer (Alice) and dakota johnson (Cha Cha Real Smooth & Am I Ok?) during the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Watch their Cinema Café chat below!

Keke Palmer is a millennial actress, singer-songwriter, host, producer, author and passionate voice. Palmer rose to prominence through her breakthrough role in Akeelah and the bee at 12 and starred in over 25 movies and 30 TV shows, including STX’s Hustlersthe FOXs Scream Queens, and of course, Nickelodeon True Jackson, Vice President.

KEKE PALMER on why she was drawn to horror as a genre: “My love for horror started at a very young age – I’m a big fan of horror, as far as the viewer is concerned… The thing about horror is, if it’s done ‘right’, it’s going to have the elements of all types of movies: you’re going to have comedy, drama, romance, you’re going to have suspense and action in there. It really has the potential to be a genre unlimited.

KEKE PALMER on how she chooses upcoming projects: “I really want to make sure my roles are useful and impactful. And the way I see art is a version of my activism. So most certainly when I’m choosing roles, knowing how people perceive me and knowing that I’m the voice of my community, I’m very aware of how that role will be perceived. What does he say and how does that make me feel?

dakota johnson is a BAFTA nominated and award-winning actress and producer. After bursting onto the stage with her performance in David Fincher’s critically acclaimed film The social networkJohnson starred as Anastasia Steele in Universal’s billion-dollar franchise Fifty shades of Grey, fifty shades darkerand fifty shades lighter. Johnson was last seen in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s nominated film The lost girl alongside Olivia Coleman, Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal for Netflix.

DAKOTA JOHNSON explains why she feels the need to channel her creativity into acting: “There are so many discoveries that happen when you play a role. That’s mainly why I try things because it’s really gonna teach me something or I’m drawn to it for some reason I can’t explain but it’s like going deep inside of me -even, in a way. Like, reaching the farthest corners of my heart or my mind. And there’s a whole different woman in there.

DAKOTA JOHNSON on the films that have touched her the most recently:“I think when I watch movies and it hurts, it’s usually because I like it. You know? I think the most recent – ​​I don’t know if you’ve seen the movie – The Worst person in the world? Oh my god, that’s so brilliant. And it destroyed me! I was crying in a weird way. I was trying to cry less than my body wanted to cry.

Moderator: Hannah Giorgis

Hannah Giorgis is an editor at Atlantic. In a recent cover story, Hannah provided an in-depth look at the representation of black people behind the camera and decades of progress and obstacles for television creators. His essays, reviews and reports have appeared in publications such as The New York Times Magazine,the new yorkerandThe Guardian. She has written short stories for publications such asThe raised eyebrow literary review andAddis Ababa Black.

2022 Sundance Films Starring, Directed or Written by Black Talent