Festival International Day 1 Vlog - Culture is free, even when the people aren't.

Day One at Festival International was a powerful reminder of how culture moves even when people can't. As a Political Communication student, I spent the day helping with merchandise for the Moroccan-French band Yallah Yallah, connecting with festival personnel, and listening to the excitement of festivalgoers discovering new sounds. I spoke with activist and artist Nattali Rize about how festivals like this become platforms for resistance and awareness, and I ended the day drawn into the indie rock set of Conor Donohue. In a world where policies build barriers, today showed me that community, creativity, and culture still find a way to rise.

Check out my vlog of Day 1 on Festival International here!

Read my video script here:

Script:

Culture is free — even when the people aren’t.”

Hi everyone, my name is Dorene Hantzis. I’m a junior at LSU studying Political Communication, with minors in Applied Statistics and Leadership Development.

When I joined the content team for the Manship School’s trip Festival International in Lafayette, Louisiana, I dove deep — researching the artists, the history, the logistics. But something stuck with me during our team meeting: one professor described the theme of this year’s event as “Free is the vibe.”

And it’s true — Festival International is free to attend. People stroll the streets without tickets, without barriers. Music from every corner of the world pulses through downtown Lafayette. You can taste flavors from across continents, see traditions woven into clothing, listen to instruments whose names you might not even know. Here, culture is everywhere — shared freely, joyfully.

But as a Political Communication student, I can’t help but ask: free for whom?

Because while we gather under open skies to celebrate global expression, the harsh reality is this — not every artist who wanted to be here could be. Visa restrictions, travel bans, economic hardship, and political instability prevent so many from crossing borders. The movement of culture is fluid. The movement of people is not.

Art is not exempt from geopolitics. Performers face obstacles shaped by policies, not passions. And even here in the U.S., we know that access to expression — to freedom — isn’t always equal.

But in this moment, despite it all, something beautiful is happening. In the face of systemic inequality, a community is choosing connection. People of different backgrounds, colors, and beliefs are dancing side by side. Laughing. Listening. Existing together.

This is why I chose the theme "Culture is Free — Even When the People Aren’t."

Because when policy draws lines, community redraws them.