Forum

Katie Bignell

Festival Strategist

Festival Formula

Katie founded Festival Formula in 2014 and with 20+ years experience behind it they provide strategy support to filmmakers world-wide. She's an active member of the Short Film Conference, Film Festival Alliance, and also a key voice on festival issues with coverage in The Hollywood Reporter and Screen Daily regarding fraudulent film festivals. Katie was the co-recipient of the Pioneering Spirit Award alongside her husband Ian which was awarded by Heartland Film (2024). The company received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Film from London Breeze Film Festival (2024), and the Impact Award from Poppy Jasper International Film Festival (2025).

Ernest Quiroz

Film Programmer

Santa Barbara, the Loft, Phoenix Art Museum

Ernie Quiroz is a filmmaker, curator and programmer with over 15 years of film programming experience. He works as an Associate Programmer for Sundance as well as Telluride. He's based in Phoenix, AZ and is the Curator of Film at the Phoenix Art Museum and also programs for numerous festivals including the Phoenix Film Festival, the Loft Film Festival, Santa Barbara International and Cine Las Americas in Austin, TX.

Irene Soriano Saxon

Film Programmer [Short Film]

Sundance Film Festival

Irene Soriano Saxon is an LA–based film curator and festival programmer. She programs short films for the Sundance Film Festival and has curated programs for the Norwegian Short Film Festival and Outfest Fusion QTBIPOC Film Festival. She has moderated conversations and filmmaker Q&As for Sundance London and DOK Leipzig, and served on juries including QCinema Project Market, Tampere Film Festival, Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival Market, Los Angeles Greek Festival and the Nashville Film Festival. Through Studio Iró, her curatorial work centers on community, collaboration, and the inclusive cinematic representation of diasporic Filipinos across global independent film spaces.

Gabe Van Amburgh

Senior Film & TV Programming

SXSW

Gabe Van Amburgh is a Senior Film Programmer and Manager for the SXSW Film & TV Festival in Austin, Texas. As a key figure in film programming for over 10 years, Gabe has curated and shaped a variety of vital festival categories, including Narrative Shorts, Documentary Shorts, Midnight Shorts, and Music Videos. Since 2011, he has directed all aspects of exhibition, overseeing film print logistics, theater build- outs, and the full transition to 100% digital DCP exhibition. His work has been integral to the festival’s evolution, with Gabe also contributing valuable analytical and strategic insights as part of the Film & TV team.

Jennifer Van Camp

Programming Manager

Palm Springs international Film Society

Jennifer Van Camp is the Programming Manager for the Palm Springs International Film Society, where she manages year-round programming initiatives for both the Palm Springs International Film Festival & ShortFest. Working closely with the festival’s programmers, she contributes to the curation & presentation of films across both festivals while supporting the development of the lineups. Beyond the festivals, she manages the Society’s year-round community screening programs, connecting audiences with diverse stories and filmmakers.

Mia McNiece (Moderator)

Gold Derby

Mia McNiece is an entertainment journalist and editor with over 20 years of experience. As Senior Editor of News and Awards at Gold Derby, she spearheads coverage of major accolades like the Oscars and Emmys, alongside conducting in-depth interviews with A-list actors, directors, and showrunners. Previously, she served as Senior Entertainment Editor at PEOPLE, where she spearheaded high-profile cover stories and oversaw television, film, and pop culture content. Celebrated for her sharp editorial instincts, Mia has dedicated her career to connecting audiences with the creative voices shaping Hollywood.

Erin Brown Thomas

Salute Your Shorts Film Festival

Erin Brown Thomas is an award-winning director, writer, and producer who creates “traumedies” — emotionally charged dramedies that disguise deep pathos beneath sharp humor. Her single-shot pilot CHASERS, which she pitched at ShortFest ’24, made history as the first narrative project accepted into both Sundance and Slamdance. She is currently in post-production on her debut feature, LADY KINGS OF TEXAS, a dystopian satire about reproductive rights. A Nicholl Fellowship semifinalist, Erin was also an associate producer on the Academy Award-winning short THE SINGERS (2026). She is the co-founder of Salute Your Shorts Film Festival, where she champions emerging filmmakers.

Sue-Ellen Chitunya

263 Reels Productions

Sue-Ellen Chitunya hails from Zimbabwe. She is a member of The Academy. She is a Roger and Chaz Ebert Fellow. She is also an alumni of Rotterdam Lab and Film Independent Amplifier. Her projects have been selected for Durban FilmMart, SFFILM, Red Sea and The Gotham. Her varied work experience includes Post-Production Coordinator on Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame (2019) and Black Panther (2018). She recently produced the documentary For Tomorrow (2022) available on Amazon Prime and the interactive romcom, Mr. Right (2022) available on mobile app stores.

Kyle Greenberg

Utopia

Kyle Greenberg is an American film distributor, filmmaker and artist. The Head of Marketing and Distribution at Utopia, Greenberg's distributed over one hundred and twenty five feature films over the last dozen years working with the likes of filmmakers such as Gaspar Noé, Jonas Akerlund, Errol Morris, Kristoffer Borgli, Emma Seligman, the Ross Brothers and many more. As a filmmaker, his work has exhibited with the likes of Fantasia, SXSW Sydney, Morbido and more with his art-work exhibited or sold in spaces such as Posteritati, Skylight Books, Dale Zine, Dashwood Books, Public Records, Printed Matter and beyond.

Angela Lee

FiLM iNDEPENDENT

Angela C. Lee is the Director of Artist Development at Film Independent where she oversees filmmaker labs and workshops across fiction and nonfiction including Project Involve, Amplifier Fellowship and Imaginar Producers Residency. Angela is a Spirit Award nominated independent producer of Songs My Brothers Taught Me, the debut feature of Oscar winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao. She has previously been supported by the Berlinale, Film Independent, Gotham PGA, SFFilm, Sundance Institute, and the Center for Asian American Media. A native Chicagoan, Angela graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics.

Hayley Marie Norman

Filmmaker

Hayley Marie Norman boasts a distinguished list of on-camera credits and accolades from Roger Ebert to Vulture. As a writer, she has sold projects to and developed with top Hollywood studios and networks. The Errand, her directorial debut short film, played at the 2025 Palm Springs ShortFest (among many others) and was subsequently awarded a Vimeo Staff Pick. Hayley also wrote and starred in the film. Hayley won the Silver Lake Shorts fellowship to make her next project- a comedy short titled My Black Vagina. Again, she serves as the writer, director, and lead actor.

Jacob Adler

Musician/Filmmaker

Jacob is a pianist, composer, educator, and filmmaker. His video essay Total Pixel Space was awarded the Grand Prix at the 2025 Runway AI Film Festival. Jacob is currently making a feature length film exploring the intersection between counterpoint, evolution, information, consciousness, and the nested structure of reality. Jacob teaches music theory at ASU, performs regularly on the piano and organ, directs ensembles, and has released 6 albums of music.

Jeff Bowers

Asteria

Jeff Bowers is a creative producer, film programmer, and community builder working where independent film, artist development, and emerging technology collide. He is currently Senior Creative Development & Community Producer at Asteria, supporting filmmakers, creative partnerships, and new AI-assisted production workflows. Previously, he served as Head of Curation at Vimeo, where he led Staff Picks and championed thousands of filmmakers. His programming work spans Tribeca, Hamptons, Rooftop Films, VICE, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, and more.

Laura Coover

Orbital Studios

Laura Coover is an award-winning actor, director, and producer. She produced and directed a PSA for the SoCal Fire Fund that aired nationally on over $9 million in donated ad placements and won a Gold Anthem Award from the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences. She produced and starred in the short film AS EASY AS CLOSING YOUR EYES, which screened at over 200 festivals, winning Festival Treasure at Catalina Film Festival and an Award of Excellence for her performance. Her 2026 Cannes Next keynote showcased her pioneering work with Gaussian splatting and emerging workflows for filmmakers.

Aidan Kelley

Collider

In addition to being a die-hard fan of filmmaking, television, gaming, and anything else with a gripping narrative, Aidan Kelley is also a passionate writer, journalist, and editor at Collider.com. Prior to his work as a News and Interview editor for Collider, Aidan began his journey with the website as a Resource Writer and also contributed to Collider's features and news sections. He has covered major industry events, such as San Diego Comic-Con, the Palm Springs Film Festival, and the D23 Expo, and has had the privilege of interviewing industry stars like Bruce Campbell, Maggie Q, Chad Stahelski, and more.

Lizz Lyons

Promise

Lizz Lyons is an award-winning Producer and Development Executive at Promise, where she works closely with filmmakers and GenAI artists to develop stories at the intersection of human creativity and emerging technology. Drawing on her background across global entertainment, she specializes in partnering with talent to shape ideas from early development through production. Prior to Promise, Lizz developed international series for Amazon MGM Studios including Modern Love Tokyo and LOL: Last One Laughing. She is a member of the Television Academy and Producers Guild of America, with credits on the Emmy- nominated series Homeland and House of Cards.

Wilson Chapman (Moderator)

Animation Editor

IndieWire

Wilson Chapman is an editor and writer at IndieWire, covering film and television with a focus on animation. He has been at the company since 2023, where he writes the animation newsletter Sketch to Screen. Prior to IndieWire, he interned at Variety Magazine. He received his B.A. in Journalism and Political Science from the Medill School at Northwestern University in 2020.

Andrew Carlberg

Producer

The Carlberg Company LLC

Named by Variety as one of “Hollywoodʼs New Leaders,” Carlberg is an Academy Award and Emmy Award winning film, television, new media, Broadway and Los Angeles stage producer.

Ebony Elaine Hardin

Founder/Producer

POV Co.

Talia Shea Levin

Director, Writer, Producer

Talia has produced two shorts with writer/director Matthew Serrano, including XOLO (ShortFest 2026). Her films as writer/director have screened at 70+ festivals and been featured by IndieWire, Vimeo Staff Picks, Short of the Week, and NOWNESS. She is developing her viral short MAKE ME A PIZZA (SXSW 2024) into a feature after winning awards at Fantasia Frontières and PROOF Film Festival. A Carnegie Mellon graduate in Screenwriting and Directing, she has developed projects at residencies like Cine Qua Non and PlayLab Film’s Amazon workshop with Apichatpong Weerasethakul. She is also a passionate educator at AMDA and the Youth Cinema Project.

Jesy Odio

Production Manager

FUJIFILM

Jesy Odio is a Costa Rican film producer drawn to original voices and bold, irreverent storytelling. Her feature Every Day in Kaimukī premiered at Sundance 2022 and won Best Narrative Feature at Bentonville Film Festival. A Sundance Producers Intensive and Gotham Market fellow, her short films have screened at Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, Sitges, Fantasia, and Slamdance. She has produced for Netflix, Hulu, and Paul Feig's Incubator Powderkeg, and produced Moloka'i Bound with Google, ARRAY, Nina Yang Bongiovi, and Forest Whitaker. She holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson and works Production at FUJIFILM.

Dino-Ray Ramos (Moderator)

Founder

DIASPORA

Dino-Ray Ramos is an award-winning journalist and media consultant. In 2021, he founded DIASPORA, which shifted to a nonprofit media organization in 2025. He served as an editor at Deadline Hollywood, where he produced and hosted the GLAAD Media Award-winning New Hollywood podcast Dino works in the intersection of entertainment, advocacy, and culture. He has worked with GLAAD, Amazon/MGM Studios, Lionsgate, Film Independent, the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), and others. He was also adjunct faculty at Columbia College of Chicago and continues to actively participate in journalism mentorship programs.

William Caballero

Director/Producer

Colibri Creative Media

William D. Caballero is an award-winning filmmaker and multidisciplinary visual storyteller, who tells big stories using small figures. His feature documentary TheyDream won the Special Jury Award for Creative Expression at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, following the Sundance premieres of his acclaimed shorts Victor and Isolina and Chilly & Milly. He is also the creator of Gran'pa Knows Best for HBO. A recipient of a 2018 Guggenheim Fellowship and 2022 Creative Capital Award, Caballero has built a reputation for developing visually singular projects that merge auteur sensibility with commercial imagination.

Pip Ngo

EVP of Sales and Acquisitions

XYZ Films

Pip Ngo is the EVP of Sales and Acquisitions for XYZ Films. He’s negotiated over a hundred distribution deals for XYZ’s robust sales and production slate, including titles like SKYWALKERS: A LOVE STORY, DANIELA FOREVER, and THE FURIOUS which is set to be released by Lionsgate in June 2026. He has also served as producer or executive producer on films like THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW, MY ANIMAL, GET AWAY, and HISTORY OF EVIL. He began his career in the independent film space after joining CAA’s Film Finance Group, before moving over to Sierra/Affinity and later Vimeo.

Nick Ogiony

Media Finance Agent

CAA

Nick Ogiony is a Film Finance Agent at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Nick works in the Los Angeles office and specializes in film packaging, financing, and sales. Nick joined CAA in 2009 from the William Morris Agency. Nick graduated from Boston University with a degree in Film.

Peter Van Steemburg

Talent Manager

XYZ Films

Peter Van Steemburg started his career in NYC with stints at Miramax & Cinetic Media. He spent the next 7 years working in the Acquisitions department of Magnolia Pictures. He relocated to LA to run West Coast acquisitions in 2010. In 2015, Peter joined ICM as an Agent where he arranged financing and distribution for feature films before returning to film distribution. He was most recently the VP of Acquisitions & Production at the Universal Pictures Content Group. He’s been at XYZ Films as the Head of Talent Management since 2019 building out the talent management roster, focusing on global genre filmmakers.

Eleanor Wilson

Writer/Director

Wicker, Save Yourselves!

Eleanor Wilson is a writer/director from South Australia, who often collaborates with her partner Alex Fischer. Their most recent film, WICKER, starring Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård, Peter Dinklage & Elizabeth Debicki, had its premiere at Sundance and will be distributed by Black Bear. Their debut feature SAVE YOURSELVES! premiered at Sundance 2020. Her solo work includes the award winning short films Low Road, Everything All At Once and Possum which have screened at MoMA, Nitehawk Shorts Fest and SundanceTV, among many others.

Noah Baldwin

Executive Assistant/ Internship Coordinator

Tremolo Productions

Noah Baldwin is a documentary production professional and assistant to the Oscar, Emmy and Grammy award winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville at Tremolo Productions, where he has worked for nearly seven years. During his time at Tremolo, he has production coordinated projects including Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut and Saint of Second Chances, and founded the company’s internship program, which he continues to lead as primary supervisor. In addition to his production work, Baldwin has supported Neville across a range of high-profile projects, including, Piece by Piece, Paul McCartney: Man on the Run, Lorne, and Breakdown: 1975

Katie Bignell

Festival Strategist

Festival Formula

Katie founded Festival Formula in 2014 and with 20+ years experience behind it they provide strategy support to filmmakers world-wide. She's an active member of the Short Film Conference, Film Festival Alliance, and also a key voice on festival issues with coverage in The Hollywood Reporter and Screen Daily regarding fraudulent film festivals. Katie was the co-recipient of the Pioneering Spirit Award alongside her husband Ian which was awarded by Heartland Film (2024). The company received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Film from London Breeze Film Festival (2024), and the Impact Award from Poppy Jasper International Film Festival (2025).

Ian Bignell

Festival Strategist

Festival Formula

Ian is a Film Festival Strategist at Festival Formula. He watches films that come into the company, providing impartial feedback on how they best fit into the worldwide film festival circuit. Away from the desk, you will often find him at festivals worldwide as an industry guest, sharing his expertise and giving honest advice. Previous speaking engagements include: HollyShorts, Heartland Film Festival, Hamburg Short Film Festival, Bolton International Film Festival, Palm Springs Shortfest, Cordillera International Film Festival and many more. Selected prior jury service includes: DC Shorts, Oxford Film Festival, Indy Shorts, Tallgrass Film Festival, HollyShorts London. He was the co-recipient of the Pioneering Spirit Award alongside his wife Katie Bignell which was awarded by Heartland Film, and also received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Film from London Breeze Film Festival both in 2024. The company received the Impact Award from Poppy Jasper International Film Festival in 2025.

Ash Cook

Founder

Video Store•Age

ASH COOK [HOYLE] is the founder & CEO of Video Store•Age an unconventional, grassroots distribution label. Prior, he was a longtime features Programmer at the Sundance Film Festival. Ash is currently serving as the Festival Director of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival and the Associate Director of Programming & Operations of the Los Angeles Festival of Movies. Ash is a 2026 Queer|Art Mentorship Fellow & a 2021 Project Involve Fellow with Film Independent. He has also worked as the Director of Programming of Damn These Heels Film Festival, a Senior Programmer at Outfest Los Angeles & a Programmer at Palm Springs Shorts Fest.

Laura Coover

R&D Lead

Orbital Studios

Laura Coover is an award-winning actor, director, and producer. She produced and directed a PSA for the SoCal Fire Fund that aired nationally on over $9 million in donated ad placements and won a Gold Anthem Award from the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences. She produced and starred in the short film AS EASY AS CLOSING YOUR EYES, which screened at over 200 festivals, winning Festival Treasure at Catalina Film Festival and an Award of Excellence for her performance. Her 2026 Cannes Next keynote showcased her pioneering work with Gaussian splatting and emerging workflows for filmmakers.

Imani Davis

Film Programmer

American Cinematheque

Imani Davis is a film programmer, producer and writer. Currently, she is a film programmer at the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles. Imani has worked to put on events with A-list filmmakers and talent such as Timothée Chalamet, Sofia Coppola, Spike Lee, Sean Baker, Jordan Peele, Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Damien Chazelle, Christopher Nolan, and more. Imani is also the founder of the American Cinematheque's short film festival called PROOF, which is the only festival completely dedicated to proof-of-concept short films, already resulting in projects coming to fruition and premiering at festivals such as Sundance and Rotterdam.

Jay Glazer

Manager/Producer

Neon Kite

Jay Glazer is a manager/producer at Neon Kite, representing actors and writers in film and television. Jay studied business and film at USC and began his career at Gersh, Elevate, and Neon Kite before founding Neon Kite. He serves as President of Vista Lane Pictures, Brandon Sklenar's Lionsgate first-look production company. His producing credits include Get Luke Lowe and Body Language for Fox. He is currently in pre-production on GRENDEL, starring Jeff Bridges and Dave Bautista, and IRON JANE, starring Brandon Sklenar and Eiza González.

Bill Hargreaves

Festival Director

San Jose International Short Film Festival

Co-Founder and Festival Director of the San Jose International Short Film Festival (SJSFF). Based in San Jose, CA the festival is now in its 18th year. Every October we screen over 150 short films over 4 days. Every year we enjoy attending the Palm Springs ShortFest, it is one of the best festivals in the world and a true celebration of the short film format.

Rebecca Linfoot

VP, Film & Television

Metronome Film Co.

Rebecca is a Film Executive with 11 years’ experience in the Film and Television industries. At Metronome, she oversees US operations and works across the full lifecycle of their projects from conception through to release. Rebecca’s passion lies in bringing meaningful stories to life on screen for global audiences. The combination of her industry experience, combined with the knowledge from her MBA, gives her a distinctive set of skills when advising on business decisions that commercially satisfy stakeholders while maintaining the creative integrity of the filmmakers.

Edda Manriquez

Program Director

Femtasia Fest

Edda Manriquez is an award-winning Latinx experimental filmmaker, documentarian, and founder/director of Femtasia Fest, formerly Les Femmes Underground International Film Festival. Femtasia Fest is an official 501(c)(3) centered on women, femme, and non-binary filmmakers. Her avant-garde and documentary work preserves Latinx oral histories in Southern California. She holds an MFA from CalArts and a B.A. from UCSD. She has served as a juror for FilmOut San Diego, Fantasia International Film Festival, Etheria Film Night, Blumhouse, SD Italian Film Festival, and the SD Latino Film Festival. She currently works at a major film archive, where she manages access to its collections.

Alberto Medina

Founder

BASH Entertainment

Alberto Medina is a producer, entrepreneur, talent manager, and founder of BASH Entertainment, a next-generation entertainment company building talent, original IP, creator-led brands, and culturally driven partnerships. Medina produced the independent crime thriller Hierarchy, which reached #1 on STARZ before becoming a Global Top 10 film on Netflix, reaching audiences in more than 20 countries. He is currently producing HALFRICAN with Vic Mensa and Edgar Esteves. Through BASH, he has collaborated with companies including Netflix, Warner Bros., Cash App, and Mountain Dew while helping creators build businesses rooted in ownership, long-term value creation, and cultural impact.

Yulissa Morales

VP of Distribution and Creative

Epic Pictures | Dread

A first-generation Colombian-American, Yulissa Morales has carved out a distinct voice in the industry, driven by a deep passion for film. With experience spanning acquisitions, development, distribution, and marketing, she is committed to championing projects and positioning them for success. Known among peers as a collaborative, decisive leader with sharp taste and a reputation for being very well dressed.

Jacqueline Mosher

Manager

Industry Entertainment

Jacqueline Mosher is a Manager at Industry Entertainment in Los Angeles, with the company also having offices in New York. She has been representing unique, versatile writers and filmmakers for about 10 years now. Jacqueline is from Northern California, is an LMU Film School Grad, and previous to Industry, was a representative at both Rain Management and Paradigm Talent Agency.

Karen Noble

Director, Filmmaker & Content Stratgies

Universal Film

Karen Noble partners with global and domestic writers, directors, and on-camera talent, shaping strategic initiatives that support creative storytelling and talent development. She joined Universal in 2022 as Senior Manager of Creative Talent & Content within the Global Talent Development & Inclusion team. Prior to Universal, Noble was an Entertainment Manager with Disney Parks Live Entertainment, overseeing large-scale productions at Walt Disney World. She also served as Manager of Casting at ABC, leading initiatives to discover and develop new voices while overseeing casting for more than 20 network and cable series, including Criminal Minds, Brothers and Sisters, and Army Wives. She holds a BA from Michigan State University and an MFA from Columbia College Chicago.

Ahbra Perry

VP Chroma

Chroma - Narrative Distribution

Formerly of Alamo Drafthouse and Giant Pictures, Ahbra Perry joined Narrative Distribution as Vice President to run Chroma. Chroma is a US-based film and TV distribution and production label launched in 2025 to champion bold, independent voices in science fiction and horror. She released 20+ films in the first year began production on Chromas Original slate which will begin to hit theaters in 2027. Ahbra also works for Fantastic Fest, where she programs Burnt Ends and the Fantastic Pitches, a first-of- its-kind micro-budget funding competition.

Catalina Rojter

Producer

PASTEL

Catalina Rojter is a Producer with PASTEL. Founded by Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski, and Mark Ceryak, the company’s work spans the acclaimed projects Mufasa: The Lion King, True Detective: Night Country, The Underground Railroad, If Beale Street Could Talk, and Never Rarely Sometimes Always, alongside a series of celebrated debut films. Rojter began her time at PASTEL as an assistant on Charlotte Wells' first feature Aftersun. She was an Associate Producer on Raven Jackson's debut All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt for A24 and an Executive Producer on Eva Victor's Sorry, Baby, which was released by A24.

Nick Romano

Vice President, Features

18Hz

Nick Romano is the Vice President, Features at 18Hz, having served as a production executive on PRIMATE and PASSENGER since he joined the company at its inception. He is an Executive Producer on upcoming projects including Andrew Duplessie's The Littles, Rodrigue Huart’s Suffer Little Children, and Dave Boyle's Untitled Horror Project. Prior to 18Hz, he worked in development at New Line Cinema and before that, got his start on a motion picture lit desk at ICM Partners. A graduate of Brooklyn College, the Queens-born exec has also served on horror film juries for SXSW, Fantasia, and Palm Springs Shorts Fest.

Rebekah Smith

Film Festival Strategist

The Film Festival Doctor

Dr. Rebekah Louisa Smith, The Film Festival Doctor, is a change agent. Her focus on film festivals and mental health is the first of its kind within the film industry. She creates new ways to approach festival strategies and redefine how to look after one’s mental health within the intense & rewarding world of the film festival circuit. Rebekah and team are committed to nurturing filmmakers in order to help them secure film festival screenings, win awards, and cultivate a positive recognition within the film industry. She has helped her clients win over 3,000 awards and four Oscar success stories.

Willie Trieger

VP, Development

Sight Unseen

Willie Trieger is the Vice President at Sight Unseen, an independent production company based in Los Angeles, California. He's worked on films including Cory Finley's BAD EDUCATION, A.V. Rockwell's A THOUSAND AND ONE, and Hikari's RENTAL FAMILY, as well as additional projects currently in post- production: Guy Nattiv's next film and the Caleb Hearon-starrer TRASH MOUNTAIN. Prior to joining Sight Unseen in 2018, Willie was an assistant in the Motion Picture Literary department at WME for nearly three years. Hailing from Chicago, Willie is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in Cinema Studies and minored in History.

Ambriehl Turrentine

Programming Manager

Denver Film

Ambriehl Turrentine is the Programming Manager at Denver Film and a passionate film programmer with experience curating screenings at festivals and theaters nationwide. A graduate of the University of Missouri, she has enjoyed work with BendFilm, Destiny City Film Festival, True/False Film Festival, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Her interests in political and pop cultural histories, classic cinema, and physical media collecting continue to shape her work as a communicator, educator, and storyteller in film.

Abby Wright

Founder/Festival Director

Femme Filth Fest

Abby Wright is a film programmer and festival director who believes that the future of film is filthy. She is the founder of Femme Filth Fest, a Los Angeles-based film festival showcasing gross, weird, taboo, provocative, and transgressive films made by women & queer/trans people. She is also a shorts programmer at the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY), Etheria Film Festival, and the Woods Hole Film Festival. She has presented films at the American Cinematheque, The Frida Cinema, Now Instant Image Hall, the Lumiere Cinema Beverly Hills, and more.

Heidi Zwicker

Senior Programmer, Feature Films and Short Films

Sundance Film Festival

Heidi Zwicker is Senior Programmer, Feature Films and Shorts Films at the Sundance Film Festival. She focuses on international and U.S. Narrative Feature Films and Midnight in addition to leading the Short Film programming process. She frequently travels representing the programming team at festivals and markets, meeting emerging filmmakers, and serving on juries. Heidi was Programmer at Palm Springs International Shortfest from 2011-2014 and is Senior Programmer at the Provincetown International Film Festival. Originally from Boston, she has a degree in English from University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth and an M.A. in Critical Studies of Film and Television from UCLA.

Erin Brown Thomas

Salute Your Shorts Film Festival

Erin Brown Thomas is an award-winning director, writer, and producer who creates “traumedies” — emotionally charged dramedies that disguise deep pathos beneath sharp humor. Her single-shot pilot CHASERS, which she pitched at ShortFest ’24, made history as the first narrative project accepted into both Sundance and Slamdance. She is currently in post-production on her debut feature, LADY KINGS OF TEXAS, a dystopian satire about reproductive rights. A Nicholl Fellowship semifinalist, Erin was also an associate producer on the Academy Award-winning short THE SINGERS (2026). She is the co-founder of Salute Your Shorts Film Festival, where she champions emerging filmmakers.

Andrew Carlberg

The Carlberg Company LLC

Named by Variety as one of “Hollywoodʼs New Leaders,” Carlberg is an Academy Award and Emmy Award winning film, television, new media, Broadway and Los Angeles stage producer.

Rona Edwards

Rona Edwards Productions

Rona Edwards is a producer who has had both film and tv projects in development or made by Warner Bros, NBC, CBS, ABC, Lifetime, VH1, USA Network, HBO & more. Currently she is working on Feature Film with a Spanish director and another film in Singapore. She is the co-author of “The Complete Filmmakers Guide to Film Festivals” soon to be published in its 2nd edition & “I Liked It Didn’t Love it (Screenplay Development from the Inside Out)” now in its 3rd edition. She’s a member of the TV Academy & the Producers Guild of America.

Alex Fischer

Writer/Director (Wicker, Save Yourselves!)

Alex Huston Fischer writes and directs, often in collaboration with his wife, Eleanor Wilson. Their latest film, WICKER, starring Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård, had its premiere at Sundance 2026 and is being distributed by Black Bear. Their debut feature SAVE YOURSELVES! premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2020. Alex’s previous 40-minute dance comedy SNOWY BING BONGS, directed with Rachel Wolther, premiered at BAM CinemaFest 2017. He is an alum of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab and appeared in Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film.

Lucas Ford

Producer

Ford Films

Lucas Ford is a film/TV producer and principal at Ford Films. Previously, he was a development executive at 21 Laps Entertainment, where he most notably brought in Kane Parsons’ viral adaptation of Backrooms (A24) and worked on cultural hits including Stranger Things and Free Guy. Through Ford Films, he focuses on elevated genre and director-driven films. Project selections include SXSW, Slamdance, and Frontières at Cannes. Lucas started his career working for the CEO at the Toronto International Film Festival and on the hit Canadian series Letterkenny. He’s a Film Independent and BAFTA Fellow and USC Stark Producing Program alumni.

Marissa Goldman

Marissa Goldman is an LA/NY based filmmaker making surreal and dark comedy films. She has made work for Adult Swim, Vice, Complex, and more. She has written and directed numerous videos and films that have screened at SXSW, Aspen Film, Palm Springs Shortsfest, and more. Currently she is working on her first feature.

Rowan Haber

Writer & Director

Rowan Haber is an award-winning writer and director whose work spans documentary, narrative, and commercials, often exploring queer history, identity, and cultural memory. Their work has been supported by Sundance, Tribeca, SFFILM, MacArthur and Ford Foundation. They have participated in labs and residencies including Sundance, AFI, Film Independent, MacDowell, Yaddo, and Millay. Their series New Deep South won Webby, New Orleans Film Festival awards. Their documentary We Are Pat (2025), executive produced by Alan Cumming and Lilly Wachowski, received Special Jury Mention Best New Documentary Director at Tribeca and will be streaming in August. Their television work includes FX’s Pride.

Maria Hatzakou

Writer/Director/Producer and Musician based In Athens Greece. Maria Hatzakou is an award winning film writer/director, producer and a musician based in Athens GR. Worked as a film programmer for the Athens iFF and the Thessaloniki IFF.In 2007, she started working as a producer at Haos FIlm. Producing credits include Attenberg, Chevalier, The Capsule (dir. A Tsangari) and Alps (dir. Y. Lanthimos) amongst others. In 2011, she was selected for the “Producers on the Move” forum as part of the Cannes Film Festival. She is also a Sundace Institute and an Oxbelly Amumna. In 2021 she founded her own production company MERRICAT, a production company dedicated to female and queer voices. She has written & directed 4 shorts and is currently developing her 1st feature.

Dwayne LeBlanc

Dwayne LeBlanc is a first-generation Caribbean-American filmmaker whose work explores migration, visibility, and dual identities. His debut narrative short, CIVIC, was named one of The New Yorker’s Best Movies of 2023. His sophomore film, NOW, HEAR ME GOOD, premiered in the Tiger Shorts Competition at IFFR and has screened at major institutions and festivals worldwide. Both films are streaming on the Criterion Channel. His latest work, YOU DO NOT EXIST, premiered at IFFR in 2026, completing his short film trilogy. LeBlanc is a Filmmaker Magazine 25 New Faces alum, a Dolby Institute Fellow, a Berlinale Talents alum, a Zurich Film Festival Academy alum, and a MacDowell artist in residence. He is currently developing his debut feature film.

Rachel Moss

Rachel is an Emmy-nominated producer, director, and writer, with work that spans across documentary and narrative. She has produced for several documentaries that have premiered on Netflix, HBO, Amazon, Apple, and at the Sundance Film Festival. Rachel additionally independently produces film and live comedy, and is a 2026 Film Independent Project Involve Producer Fellow. She most recently produced the narrative short, Max Distance, which world premiered at SXSW 2025. Rachel has brought several comedians’ solo shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to much critical acclaim, including nominations and wins at the Comedians’ Choice Awards. She got her start in late night and scripted comedies, cutting her teeth on TV shows such as Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (Netflix), Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS), and Broad City (Comedy Central). She also has produced sold out comedy shows in New York and Los Angeles.

Diego Najera

Artefacto Cinema

Diego Nájera is a producer with over a decade of experience in development, financing, and curation, and is the founder of LA-based production company Artefacto Cinema. Previously, he served as Director of Narrative Film at Participant, the award-winning, impact-driven studio, where he worked with filmmakers including Sebastian Lelio, Marc Forster, and Mounia Akl. Nájera produced the Oscar-nominated short film "Please Hold," and his work has been recognized at festivals such as the Berlinale and SXSW. He is a Sundance Creative Producing Fellow and began his career as a producer and programmer for the Guadalajara International Film Festival.

Erin Ploss-Campoamor

Producer

Mare’s Hoof Productions LLC

Erin Ploss-Campoamor is a filmmaker with over 20 years of experience in documentary and narrative storytelling. As a producer, she helped craft Las Marthas (PBS/Independent Lens), which the New York Times hailed as “a striking alternative portrait of border-town life,” and Dark Mirror (IFC Films), which Variety called a “tour-de-force.” As writer-director, she created La Americanita (The American Girl), an award-winning short film that weaves personal history with questions of belonging and identity. Most recently, she produced and co-wrote TheyDream, a feature documentary that won a Special Jury Award at Sundance.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Briana Pozner

Briana Pozner is an Altadena-based writer-director and recent Black List/Women in Film Episodic Fellow. Her work spans television, film, and personal essays, with writing published in The New York Times and The Huffington Post. Her pilots Vigilantes and Settling are Black List–recommended, and her short films have been Vimeo Staff Picks and screened at Oscar-qualifying festivals nationwide. Her micro-short series The Non-Essentials premiered on Adult Swim Smalls. She recently served as a consultant on the upcoming Netflix series Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen and is currently developing a pilot with Tornante and Olive Bridge producing.

Monika Skerbelis

American Pavilion

Monika Skerbelis is the director of The American Pavilion's Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival since 2009. She was the artistic & programming director for the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival for fourteen years. She is the co-author of I Liked It, Didn’t Love It: Screenplay Development from the Inside Out and currently co-writing a 2nd edition of The Complete Filmmakers Guide to Film Festivals: Your All Access Pass to Launching your Film on the Festival Circuit. She's a former studio executive who worked at Paramount, Fox and Universal. She's a member of the Producers Guild of America.

Steven Snyder

Cienega Films

Steven Snyder is an independent producer and 2025 Sundance Producers Lab fellow. His short film work, Azi and Seniors, both premiered at the Sundance Film Festival (2026 and 2025 respectively). He's participated in such programs as Film Independent's Fast Track, PGA Create, and Inside Out’s International Finance Forum, the first and only 2SLGBTQ+ finance forum of its kind promoting queer creatives.

Valerie Steinberg

Valerie Steinberg Productions

Named one of Variety’s 10 Producers to Watch, Valerie produces director-driven, boundary-pushing films for global audiences. Her work has premiered at Cannes, Venice, Sundance, Tribeca, and Toronto, including Riley Keough’s War Pony (Cannes Caméra D'Or winner); Karmalink (Venice Critics’ Week); A24's The Inspection; Queens of the Dead (Tribeca Audience Award winner; IFC Films); Motherwitch (Rotterdam 2026); and Esta Isla (three-time Tribeca award winner; 2026 Independent Spirit Award winner). Her short film producing credits include Hair Wolf (Sundance winner), Fry Day (Tribeca/SXSW winner), Blocks (Sundance), The Breakthrough (SXSW), and Bug Bite, all of which played Palm Springs ShortFest.

Daniel Talbott

DANIEL TALBOTT is an award-winning screenwriter and director and co-curator of The Black Cat Cinema Series. He runs Orphan Andy Films and is co-producing the feature film Starvation with Neeraj Churi, as well as the half hour queer drama series Born Again (SeriesFest 2026). His feature script Gray is in active development with Motor Productions and Killer Films, and he also co-directed the queer doc film Welcome to Tool Shed that just began its festival run in Cannes 2026. He is currently directing his second and third feature films The World’s Coming In Fast and Stand Tall Go Higher. TV writing includes The Mist based on the Stephen King novella, and The Conners on ABC. He is a graduate of Juilliard.

Séverine Tibi

Sevana Films

Séverine Tibi is a film producer from Cannes currently living in Los Angeles. After working in distribution and in sponsorship at the British Film Institute in London, she co-founded the Cannes-based production company Sevana Films. Séverine has produced films in several countries, which have screened at festivals such as Locarno, Toronto, SXSW and Palm Springs. She is a Sundance Producers Summit, Rotterdam Lab and Zurich Film Festival Academy alumna, and she was a Film Mentor at SXSW. Since February 2022, Séverine has also been working as Creative Analyst at the independent finance and co-production company Sons of Rigor.

Katie White

Light Up Gold

KATIE WHITE is an Emmy Award-winning producer. Her credits include Amanda Kramer and Magdalena Bay's IMAGINAL DISK and Lindsay Calleran's CAITY, both of which premiered at Tribeca 2026. Drawn to the space where brand meets cinema, she produced BRIDESMAN for Grindr, a bold queer comedy that earned an Emmy nomination and a Tribeca X Awards nomination. Her short films, including ILY, BYE and SHE RAISED ME, have played festivals worldwide, including Palm Springs Shortfest. She is an alum of Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women's Filmmaker Program, the Sundance Producers Lab and Catalyst programs, and the Gotham Institute.

Alex Williams

Dracena Pictures

Alex was born and raised in Texas, and after graduating from the University of Texas in 2014, his lifelong love of cinema drew him to Los Angeles. He worked at XYZ Films from 2018-2025, and led producing efforts on numerous titles including THE EDGE OF NORMAL starring Chloe Grace Moretz and directed by Carlota Pereda. In 2026, Alex founded Dracena Pictures with a mission to continue discovering bold new voices in independent film. His current slate of upcoming projects includes THE BROODMARE, to be directed by Anna Zlokovic, and yet-to-be-announced titles from filmmakers Jacqueline Castel and Jim Byrkit.

Ahkeyah Andrada

Lord Miller

Ahkeyah Andrada is the Director of Development at Lord Miller. Previously she worked as a book scout at Conner Literary, as well as at Gersh and at Harpo.

Rika Dharmesh Bhakta

Independent Producer

Rika Dharmesh Bhakta is a professional storyteller, or as the industry calls it, a development executive and producer of television and film. She’s worked in development and production at Rob Mac’s More Better, Carlton Cuse’s Genre Arts, and Lord Miller, expanding her taste and finding her love of the strange. Her north star has always been elevating creative and diverse, character-driven voices through left-of-center, genre bending stories. She’s a sucker for romance and dystopian novels, obsessed with Marvel and Star Wars, and is very much a Bollywood loving Brown girl.

Alana Duthie

Agent

Gersh

Alana Duthie is an agent in the Feature Film Department at Gersh, where she represents writers and directors across film and television. She specializes in identifying singular voices, packaging projects, and building strategic partnerships between filmmakers, producers, financiers, and buyers.

Max Geschwind

Creative Artists Agency

Max Geschwind works in the Media Finance department, which focuses on packaging, sourcing financing for, and/or selling the distribution rights to independently financed films, at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Geschwind, who joined the agency in 2021, is a member of CAA Elevate, a state-of-the-art program for agents and executives in training. He graduated from the University of Southern California with degrees in Cinema and Media Studies and Political Science. Geschwind is based in Los Angeles.

Marc Mounier

Entertainment 360

Marc Mounier is a literary manager and producer at Entertainment 360. His clients have won Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys, and WGA Awards, and worked for every studio and streamer in town. He is passionate about horror films and international cinema, and loves comedy. He has a proven track record of supporting filmmakers transitioning from shorts to features or TV. As a producer, he worked on the Oscar-nominated short film PLEASE HOLD. In features, associate-produced PONYBOI, which premiered at Sundance in 2024, and co-executive-produced the upcoming film STUFFED. Both films are based on shorts.

Maddie Neil

WME

Maddie started at WME in 2018 before joining the film group at Endeavor Content. She returned to the agency in 2021 as part of the WME Independent division, where she currently works as a film finance, consulting & sales agent.

Matty Rosen

Navigation

Matt Rosen is a literary manager with years of experience championing emerging writers and filmmakers. In a recent four year stretch, his clients landed 15 screenplays on The Black List, Hollywood’s annual roundup of its most celebrated unproduced scripts. In 2023, Rosen brokered a major preemptive deal with Sony and Escape Artists to develop his client Chris Grillot’s grounded sci-fi short story BLISS as a feature film. A passionate cinephile, Rosen began his career at UTA before moving into management, where he continues to identify and nurture bold new voices in film and television.

Helena Sardinha

Simbelle Productions

Helena Sardinha is a creative producer and co-founder of Driven Equation, whose acclaimed work has screened at Sundance, Tribeca, and SXSW. A Sundance Producing Lab and Film Independent Fellow, she serves as Head of Development at Simbelle Productions, a nonprofit dedicated to amplifying women’s narratives. Helena recently premiered her feature Satisfaction at SXSW and executive produced I’ll Be Gone in June, which premiered at Cannes in Un Certain Regard. Her credits also include associate producing Blue Heron, which won the prestigious Swatch First Feature Award at the Locarno Film Festival.

Maura Towey

Love & Squalor Pictures

Maura Towey is a producer and development executive based in Los Angeles. She is the Director of Development for Elisabeth Moss’ Love & Squalor Pictures where she works across both film & television. Love & Squalor most recently produced IMPERFECT WOMEN for Apple TV and THE TESTAMENTS for Hulu. Previously, Maura held artist development positions at Sundance and AFI where she focused on identifying & supporting emerging talent, including leading 23 directors and their short films through the AFI DWW+ initiative.

Natalia Williams

M88

An LA native and a graduate of USC Film School raised by Haitian immigrants on one end and Mexican Angelenos on the other, Natalia has been driven by the unseen perspectives that stem from working with global artists. Natalia got her start at Paradigm where she worked as a literary film agent. Now at M88/Macro, her main focus has been partnering with writers and directors, while also helping talent clients to build out their own prod. cos. Overall, Natalia has made a point to sign multihyphenates with a singularity of vision coming from multicultural backgrounds.

Daniel Cardone

Senior Manager, Nonfiction Programs & Fiscal Sponsorship

Film Independent

In Australia, Daniel Cardone worked on critically acclaimed productions such as “The Home Song Stories,” “Animal Kingdom,” and the Emmy award-winning “The Pacific.” Moving to the US, Daniel was a contributing director to the anthology “Still Around” (2011), and wrote and directed the short “Incident,” premiering at Palm Springs Shortfest 2012. In 2015, he completed his first feature film, the documentary “Desert Migration", which premiered at Frameline Film Festival, San Francisco. Since 2019, Daniel has been employed with Film Independent, Los Angeles, where he currently serves as Senior Manager of Nonfiction Programs and Fiscal Sponsorship.

Micah Gottlieb

Artistic Director

Los Angeles Festival of Movies

Micah Gottlieb is the artistic director of Mezzanine, a nonprofit supporting independent and arthouse cinema in Los Angeles, whose programs are frequently done in collaboration with artists, curators, and other luminaries. He is also the co-founder and director of programming of the Los Angeles Festival of Movies. He is formerly the assistant programmer at the Quad Cinema in Manhattan and previously worked in independent film distribution in New York.

Eliza Hajek

Manager of Development

SAGindie

Eliza Hajek is an LA-based writer/producer in addition to Manager of Development at SAGindie. Her duties with SAGindie include traveling to film festivals, speaking on panels and at seminars, and interacting with independent producers worldwide in order to demystify the SAG-AFTRA Low Budget Agreements.

Adam Keresztes

Lead Shorts Programmer

Calgary International Film Festival

Adam Keresztes has served as the lead shorts programmer at the Calgary International Film Festival since 2020 and has also programmed in sections including New American Cinema Features and Generation Next Features. In addition to his work at the Calgary International Film Festival, Adam has been programming for the Chilliwack Independent Film Festival since 2024 as a shorts programmer. He has also served on multiple juries across Canada and spoken on multiple film festival panels. You can usually find him in the nearest movie theatre, at a film festival, or writing hot takes on old classics on Letterboxd.

Craig Parish

Senior Programmer

Slamdance Film Festival

Craig began his entertainment career as Writer/Producer at Sony Studios then transitioning to Spectrum Cable where he established the Originals Series Slate as head of production. As a longtime festival programmer at Slamdance, Craig co-founded the Episodes Program in 2017. He currently leads Creative Development for Sudaco Inc Ent, managing new TV/Film/Streaming projects for A-list actors with U.S. based Loan out Corporations. Craig, his husband John & rescue terrier Bella, have lived primarily in Rancho Mirage, CA since 2020.

Ina Pira

Head of Curation

Vimeo

Ina Pira is the Head of Curation at Vimeo, where she leads the platform’s curation efforts, including the celebrated Staff Picks program. In this role, she is responsible for identifying and showcasing standout films and shaping Vimeo's creative community efforts through grant programs, screenings, and more.

Francis Román

Senior Film & TV Programming Manager

SXSW

Francis Román is a second-generation Ecuadorian-American writer/director with a deep passion for film and event production. As Senior Film & TV Programming Manager at SXSW, she oversees submissions and filmmaker logistics and leads Shorts and Independent TV Pilot Programming, championing new creative voices and bold storytelling. She has served as a juror, panelist, and mentor at film events and festivals around the world. Beyond SXSW, Francis co-founded The Direct Line production company and co- hosts How to Texas, a podcast highlighting below-the-line crew in the Texas film community.

Sudeep Sharma

Programmer

Sundance Film Festival

Sudeep Sharma is a Programmer for the Sundance Film Festival with a focus on documentary feature films. With nearly two decades of experience in film curation, Sudeep has worked in programming at many eclectic organizations including Film Independent, AFI Fest, Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. He has also been Director of Programming and Interim Artistic Director for the Palm Springs International ShortFest. He has served on festival juries and film award committees around the world and holds a PhD in Cinema and Media Studies from UCLA.

Paul Sloop

Director of Programming

Cleveland International Film Festival - Cordillera International Film Festival - Film Pittsburgh

Paul Sloop was the Lead Programmer of Short Films at the Oscar qualifying Cleveland International Film Festival from 2003 until late 2025 when he took on his new role as the Director of Programming at CIFF where they just celebrated their 50th anniversary festival in spring of 2026. He is also the Director of Programming at the Cordillera International Film Festival in Reno/Tahoe, NV and the Artistic Director at Film Pittsburgh which operates the long-running Three Rivers Film Festival. Paul lives in Mentor, OH with his wife of 25 years, Sarah and 5 of their 8 children.

Matthew Takata

Assistant Director, Feature Film Program, International

Sundance Institute

Matthew Takata is the Assistant Director for the Feature Film Program’s international work at the Sundance Institute. His focus is on international outreach and selection for the Institute’s Screenwriters and Directors Labs in Utah, FFP’s international labs, which have included India, Jordan, Greece, Mexico and Cuba, and the annual Sundance/NHK Award. Previously, Takata worked in development at GK Films, following a stint at Key Creatives and International Creative Management. Takata attended the University of California, Los Angeles, and is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area.