CANNES, FRANCE — ELYSIAN Founder, Publisher and Filmmaker Karen Floyd was honored with the Âme de lumière (Soul of Light) award at the Sustainable Responsibility Gala during the 78th Cannes Film Festival. The award, which celebrates individuals making transformative contributions through cinematic storytelling and humanitarian impact, underscores Floyd’s groundbreaking contributions to philanthropic cinema and responsible storytelling.
This international honor celebrates Floyd’s use of film as a powerful medium for social change. ELYSIAN’s CatWalk FurBaby 2 is the behind-the-scenes story of a small team from South Carolina taking New York Fashion Week by storm, elevating the work of 21 participating charities from across the country. The documentary has been cut multiple times in order to give each individual charity the spotlight – becoming a tool that charity can use in its own fundraising endeavors.
“To be honored here at Cannes — among the most influential voices in global cinema — is both humbling and deeply meaningful,” Floyd said. “ELYSIAN was created to inspire and connect extraordinary women around the world through storytelling, beauty, and impact. This award affirms that when purpose meets platform, our reach knows no bounds — and our stories can truly change the world.”
Launched in 2023, CatWalk FurBaby is ELYSIAN’s signature event that pairs models, designers, and animal rescues to kick off New York Fashion Week. The event features eco-conscious fashion through a partnership with DRC Ventures and Merci Dupre Clothiers, with each couture piece incorporating cutting-edge sustainable technologies.
With the Âme de lumière award, Floyd joins a global circle of changemakers committed to sustainable responsibility and using the power of storytelling as a force for good.
Such storytelling was on display Tuesday at the official Cannes Doc Day, where the trailer for ELYSIAN’s Ukraine: For the Children was screened at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. Ukraine: For the Children is an unflinching exploration of a woman’s perspective of the chaos of war. Floyd, the film’s executive producer, made her second trip to Ukraine in late 2023, driven by a determination to document the experiences of children living through unimaginable trauma. The film draws inspiration from a striking mural in Kyiv, where a soldier’s hands cradle those of a woman, whose hands in turn protect a child – a powerful symbol of the layered shields that remain even as war threatens to unravel them.
The screening of the Ukraine: For the Children trailer was complemented by an intimate conversation with Floyd, who talked about her filmmaking journey and the hope and resilience she witnessed among those on the front lines of war.
A former prosecutor who devoted her early career to cases of violence against women and children, Floyd has dedicated her life to giving a voice to those who have none. As the visionary behind ELYSIAN – a global multimedia platform for women – she has built a brand that spans print, digital, film, and exclusive events, all united by a mission to inspire and empower. Through its philanthropic arm, ELYSIAN Impact, the organization has distributed nearly $17 million over the past decade to causes benefiting women, children, animals, service, and the environment.