Two years ago, a documentary filmmaker named Jehane Noujaim won $100,000 in seed money and support at the TED conference to create a one-day, global, cross-cultural film festival. This May 10th, Pangea Day will present 24 short films selected from around the world for their ability to foster cross-cultural understanding and tolerance. Live broadcasts of the event will take place simultaneously in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro with content streamed online, featured on network television and broadcast on cable channels like Current TV.

Judging by other global online extravaganzas like Live Earth, this event will be more of a symbolic gesture of solidarity than the real deal. But art has the power to transform and as long as product placement is minimal and celebrity hosts reign in their desire to self-congratulate, Pangea Day will be a good start towards better global dialogue.