MICRORAMA PITCHATHON   ESSENCE Festival goers – join us!   Hartbeat x Codeblack presents a live, Shark Tank-style Vertical Pitchathon spotlighting bold new microdrama ideas built for today’s mobile-first audience.   Watch emerging creators pitch their stories live in front of actress and filmmaker Sanaa Lathan, top industry executives, and the Codeblack/Hartbeat team – with winners chosen on the spot.   The winning pitch will receive funding and production support to bring their vertical series to life.   This is where the next wave of Black storytelling begins.       •    Ernest N. Morial Convention Center     •    Saturday, July 4th, 2026     •    Room 206/207     •    12:00 PM   See you there! Register on the E360 app! #Codeblack #ESSENCEFestival #Microdrama #VerticalSeries #Filmmakers