"Converting Art Into Dollars" Spotlights the Hustle, Hope & Hunger of Creativity

The Philadelphia Film Society, in partnership with Build the Table and United We Heal, invites the public to a powerful cultural experience: "Converting Art to Dollars: Short Films Screenings and Panel Discussions."

"Converting Art Into Dollars" Spotlights the Hustle, Hope & Hunger of Creativity

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – In a city where creativity pulses through cobblestone streets and inspiration echoes through corner studios and underground galleries, Philadelphia artists are doing more than dreaming — they’re surviving, thriving, and redefining what it means to make a living with their talent. 

On Saturday, July 12, 2025, the Philadelphia Film Society, in partnership with Build the Table and United We Heal, invites the public to a powerful cultural experience: "Converting Art to Dollars: Short Films Screenings and Panel Discussions" — a community-powered, 21+ BYOB event where hustle meets hope, and storytelling meets survival.

Held at the intimate Film Society East Theater at 125 South 2nd Street, the evening begins with a lively mixer at 2:30 p.m., leading into a screening of four bold, original short films at 3 p.m. — each one a lens into the lived experience of artists who are flipping their creativity into currency in a city where cost-of-living pressures are at an all-time high.

The Art of Survival: When Passion Pays the Rent

Forget the cliché of the starving artist. Today’s creatives are economic warriors. They’re photographers freelancing by day, poets coaching brand storytelling at night, and musicians vending hand-painted tees between gigs. At “Converting Art to Dollars,” these stories come alive through film and conversation, shedding light on the grit, grief, grind, and glory of making it work in today’s arts economy.

Jeta Simone, a retired banker turned "financial storyteller," co-founded the United We Heal Film Festival to expose how money can be both a weapon and an essential balm. “Art saved me,” she shares. “But it also taught me how to hustle. We’re here to show that creativity is currency — and it’s time Philly treats it that way.”

Joining her is Tiara Brown, founder of the lifestyle jewelry brand Daily Dressings and creator of Build the Table, who left the tech world to create space for creatives to eat — literally.

“I got tired of seeing brilliant artists with empty fridges,” she says. “This isn’t just about art. It’s about agency. We’re building platforms so that no one has to choose between their calling and their bills.”

Screenings + Stories + Solutions

The afternoon features four compelling films:

  • The Time Thief by Kyra Knox
  • Sisters of the Soil by Raishad Momar & Aidan Un
  • United We Heal by Ebony Roberts
  • Build the Table by Jamaal Jackson  & Tiara Brown

Two live panel conversations will follow:

  • Panel 1: “Breaking the Broke Artist Mindset” — Real talk on entrepreneurship, moderated by Jeta Simone
  • Panel 2: “The Art of Storytelling in Business” — How creativity is solving real economic problems, moderated by Azili Almaz

Featured panelists include:
Imani Harris (Pish Posh Brand), Steven CW Taylor (Ubuntu Fine Art), Nas Cooke (youth empowerment leader), Julivia Christa (actor & entrepreneur), and more Philly-born visionaries.

Experience More Than an Afternoon Matinee

The lobby will transform into a mini market, where artists sell their work and network with creatives, media, and entrepreneurs.

Enjoy:

  • A headshot station by Arekusn
  • Pop-ups from Daily Dressings, Pish Posh, ASGNMT and more
  • Wine and vibes in a 21+ BYOB atmosphere

TICKETS: Available now at Philadelphia Film Society

LOCATION: Film Society East, 125 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA
TIME: Mixer 2:30 PM | Screenings 3:00 PM | Panels 4:15 PM


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