On May 9th and 10th, 2026 I had the honour of attending Webby Creator Weekend in New York City, an invite-only two-day gathering of 500 plus Webby-recognised creators, platforms, and brands held during Webby Awards week. Set on the rooftop of the Elsie in Midtown Manhattan and presented by Adobe, the weekend brought together some of the most impactful voices in digital creativity for two days of panels, fireside chats, networking, brand activations, and genuine conversation.
Our invitation came as a result of Thoughts Become Things receiving two Webby recognitions at the 30th Annual Webby Awards, a Webby Honoree distinction in the Independent Short Film category and a Nomination in the Creators: Art, Culture and Music category. Being welcomed into that room as a Bermudian filmmaker and poet was something I will not forget.
I attended to represent the team and to carry Bermudian culture into a space it had never been before. Day one opened with a series of panel discussions covering topics including building a podcast audience that lasts with Patreon, how AI is expanding who gets to create, and how creators are building in public and scaling everyday content. One of the unexpected highlights of the day was an installation by Adobe showcasing new AI features through their Firefly platform. The day closed with a private evening event hosted by Patreon at Apothecary NoMad, a rooftop speakeasy on the other side of the city. A very cool ending to a very full day.
Day two opened at noon with a discussion called Black and Viral, exploring how Black creators define internet culture and shape the digital landscape. The conversations that followed covered creator journeys, brand partnerships, and the realities of building something meaningful in a crowded space. The day closed the same way it opened, with people talking, sharing, and connecting.
Coming from a place like Bermuda and being welcomed and recognised in New York City alongside creators from around the world was the highlight of this trip. Sharing the story of Thoughts Become Things and what Bermudian culture means to us with a room full of like-minded creatives reminded me exactly why we made this film.
Thank you to the Webby Awards for the invitation and for recognising the work we put into this project. The journey continues.
By Stephan Johnstone
