Honorary Full Board Members

Mark Mos
Executive Director
Los Angeles-based Kodak Entertainment Imaging Awarded filmmaker and Film Premieres organizer. Mark has organized premieres such as Oscar's Awarded "Gladiator" (Russell Crowe), "Mission Impossible 2" (Tom Cruise), "Gone in 60 seconds" (Nicholas Cage, Angelina Jolie), "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (Jim Carrey), and much more. Mark is also a filmmaker; he has a master's degree in TV and Film Production. His films were shown at film festivals in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago or Salt Lake City, and also European countries.

Elena Bayona
Honorary Full Board Member
(Guadalajara, Mexico). Actress and acting coach. Elena has worked in the entertainment industry for over thirteen years. She holds a bachelor 's degree in Human Behavioral Sciences. Currently a member of ANDA.
She has participated in "Vencer la culpa"(Televisa), 2023, and "Guerra de vecinos" (Netflix), 2020. She has acted in films and over twenty short films such as: "La ultima melodia", produced by FilmaJalisco and Smart Happy People; "Sin Salida", selected at the national Cineteca in the 48 Film Project competition, 2023; "En las estrellas" by Juan Pablo Lozano and Benny Ibarra voice over, officially selected at the Shorts Mexico festival, 2022; and "Molecula", directed by Raul Ramon.
She also has appeared in several commercials, including Honda. 
In theater she has performed in various plays, the last one, "De quien es la Tierra", 2025; some others for the Instituto Cultural de Aguascalientes.

Kevin Mannens
Kevin is an Academy Award-nominated and Annie Award-winning technical director and visual effects designer who has been instrumental in close to a dozen Hollywood blockbusters. His credits include Transformers: Age of Extinction, Captain America:The Winter Soldier, Pacific Rim, The Amazing Spiderman, G-Force, The Chronicles of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, and more. A visual storyteller first and foremost, Kevin is fluent across various media from 3D animation and VFX to Live action and virtual reality. Kevin is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker. His social impact and wildlife documentaries (Malpelo: Mountain of Sharks, Marsh Clouds, The Taking of Harris Neck, Mud Harvest, and more) have won hundreds of awards in international film festivals; and were screened all over the world.

Viveca Chow
Creative trailblazer Viveca Chow, rewrote Hong Kong’s history as the first born and raised Broadway musical performer. Now a NYC Lifestyle Expert as well, she is passionate about using her storytelling skills to cultivate a community rooted in creativity, positivity and adventure. Viveca’s most recent prestigious performer credits include Miss Saigon (Broadway Revival), The Country Club (starring Elaine Hendrix), Exception(al) (directed by Michelle Bossy), The Other Two (MAX), Dear Edward (Apple TV+) and Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (Netflix). She also was chosen out of 20,000 actors to be a part of one of the most competitive industry showcases in the world, the Disney Television Discovers: Talent Showcase.

Janelle Christine Simmons, Ed.D. (Dr.)
Janelle holds multiple degrees in Psychology, Divinity and Education. Often using film to teach key principles in her classroom, she knows the power of visual aids. She has participated in theatre productions since 6th grade as well as commercials, as an extra, in the news, and in various films as a principal. Dr. Simmons also created her first horror film in junior high school with some classmates for a Media Art Course. Janelle also writes screen plays occasionally. She is a true thespian with a foot in the Indie scene. One of her last principal roles was in a film titled "37 Dollars" as Jessica and as a Psychologist in a  film short titled "Noise" both in 2025. Currently, "37 Dollars" is being viewed at film festivals.  Dr. Simmons is currently located in New York with a second base in the L.A. area.

Somayyeh Chaychi
Somayyeh Chaychi is an international film producer and the co-founder of Noghteh Group, established in 2012 in Iran. Over the past decade, she has produced more than ten documentaries and short films that have collectively been featured in over 50 film festivals worldwide. Her works have been screened across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Australia, and Venezuela, among others. Her most recent short film, A Borrowed Life, has been selected by more than 20 international film festivals and is currently streaming on Amazon Prime in the US and UK. Now based in Toronto, Somayyeh serves as the CEO and Head of Production at Noghteh Inc., an international multimedia company dedicated to producing impactful and socially engaged films.

Mara Cracaleanu
Mara Cracaleanu is a Romanian-born, London-based film producer and founder of Melancholia, a UK and Romania-based production company focused on international co-productions bridging Europe, North America, and Asia. Her work has earned over 70 international awards and official selections at renowned festivals such as BFI Flare, TIFF, Torino FF, DocuDays, FipaDoc, Rhode Island, Hollywood Women’s Film Institute and Florence Biennale. Her projects have been screened and distributed across several countries. She regularly participates in major film markets and festivals including Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, EFM, Marché du Film, MIA, and TIFF. Her docu-series project was selected and pitched at MIA Market’s Doc Forum, East Doc Platform, and Docs Ireland, and was part of the Ex Oriente Lab (Institute of Documentary Film), where it received the Council of Europe Series Co-Development Award. Mara is currently developing a slate of 5+ international features. She serves as a jury member at three U.S. film festivals, and is an active member of Women in Film & TV UK and Women in Film Los Angeles. A Film London Connect alumna, she has received mentorship from Netflix and HBO executives and holds diplomas in Law and Leadership from Harvard online, blending creative vision with strong legal and business acumen.

Daniel Alexander
Daniel Alexander is a visionary BAFTA Connect filmmaker and award-winning director
based in Birmingham, UK. He is renowned for directing the official film for the
Commonwealth Games Handover Ceremony, which was broadcast to a staggering
audience of over 1.5 billion viewers worldwide. This achievement underscores his ability
to create impactful content on a global scale.
As the creator and director of the viral horror film "Gale: Yellow Brick Road," a dark
reimagining of "The Wizard of Oz," Daniel has captivated audiences worldwide, amassing
multi-million views. His expertise has led him to provide training for filmmakers through
prestigious organisations such as BAFTA, BBC, Apple, and BFI.
Daniel's recent documentary "LEGACY," which explores the origins of rap and grime
music in the Midlands, has achieved remarkable success. Featured on Google Arts, it is
now being adapted into a live symphony orchestra rendition by the City of Birmingham
Symphony Orchestra (CBSO).

Cameron Mitchell
Cameron has been writing all his life. Growing up in Anchorage, Alaska, there was nothing else to do.
When he moved to LA he discovered his love of directing and realized how important it was to build the right team. Writing was something he could do alone, but filmmaking is not a solo art; it involves collaboration at every level. He made sure to come away from every gig with new contacts, new friends, and new members of his team.
In 2017 he started his production company Tequila Mockingbird Productions. He wanted to produce his own work outside the rigors and obstacles of the studio system, but more than that, he wanted to help new and underrepresented voices create their films. He’s helped countless creatives tell their stories in the years since. Tequila Mockingbird closed its doors in 2024, but he remains committed to that same mission.
Cameron’s debut feature This Sucks was released in 2024. It is currently available on Amazon Prime and Tubi. He's currently in pre-production for his next film, a gnarly horror movie called Last Rest Stop.

Armyn Naderi
Armyn Naderi is a Toronto-based film director and co-founder of Noghteh Inc. Born in Mashhad, Iran, he was introduced to filmmaking through his father, a director and producer at IRIB, and soon developed his own creative path. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Cinema Directing from the Media and Broadcasting University in Tehran and has since directed several acclaimed short and feature documentaries. His films have been recognized nationally and internationally, earning nominations and awards including Semi-Finalist at the Los Angeles CineFest (2017) for his VR short Beauty Is in the Eyes of the Beholder and Best Visual Research at the 3rd Annual Iranian Cinematic Research Awards (2019) for Iran’s Cinema in Pursuit of Happiness. His feature documentary Broken Grail has been officially selected in several international festivals, with screenings in England and the U.S. His latest short film, A Borrowed Life, has received multiple awards and is streaming on Amazon Prime in the U.S. and U.K. Armyn has also served on the jury of various film festivals, including the Los Angeles CineFest, Hollywood Screening Awards, and Bengaluru International Short Film Festival. He is selected to be part of the ArtWorksTO program, designed by the Toronto Arts Council, for the 2025–26 cohort.

Zeff Lawless
Zeff is an Irish writer, director, producer, filmmaker and actor. He has been involved in the arts all his life, having run a successful Graphic Design company in Dublin for 35 years. 
His passion for filmmaking came after being introduced to the world of SA’s, working on feature films like The Last Duel, and television shows, Vikings and Penny Dreadful.
His screenplays and short films have won over 160 Awards from International Film Festivals all over the world, with another 180 further accolades.
Now based in Spain he is an Executive Producer on the upcoming feature film “Manana Mammon” by Anton Olandersson, due for completion in early 2026.
He is also developing his short Dark Comedy/LBGTQ+/Musical screenplay "Hallelujah", and his Dark Comedy/Fantasy/SciFi feature script “Kerry Cowboys”, to bring them into production

Eddie Portoghese
Eddie Portoghese is both a stunt performer and coordinator living in Colorado. He has performed stunts for both film and television.  Recently he performed stunts for the TUBI TV show Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch and coordinated two Colorado based feature films, American Vampire, a Hank Braxtan production in Grand Junction and Bonding, directed by Victoria Trofimenko and starring Jefferson White, Tate Donovan and Alexandra Doke. Both are currently in post production. In addition to his stunt work in film he has written, directed, acted in and produced several short films.  He and his business partner, executive producer, Stephen Zappalla founded Bacon, Egg & Cheese Productions and their newest project is entitled Laundry Day, a short film comedy which wrapped in Los Angeles this October.  Their first film, Statistical Probabilities, won several awards on the festival circuit.

Kelly Sarri
Kelly is a Greek-born, LA-based director, producer, and creative educator who turns burning questions into unforgettable cinema. Her work lives where emotion meets intellect—blending social commentary with satire, sincerity with style, and always through the female gaze. Her award-winning short film Heat Me — a climate-fiction dramedy exploring intergenerational women’s resilience during an extreme heatwave — won the Joe McMahon Award for Best International Short Drama at the Oscar-qualifying Galway Film Fleadh and continues its festival run worldwide. Kelly also created Gynarchy, the first fictional series designed for Instagram and TikTok, celebrated for its originality. Her projects have earned honors from the Webby and Telly Awards and have screened across continents for their bold visual language and emotional authenticity. She works across narrative, documentary, music video, and branded content—always driven by visual symbolism, emotional nuance, and purposeful world-building. With two Master’s degrees in Film and over a decade of directing experience, Kelly leads workshops on filmmaking, sustainable production, and creative pitch decks. She runs majority-female, inclusive sets—because the future of storytelling depends not only on what we make, but how we make it.

Mo Lee
Mo is a film student and independent blogger based in Fort Worth studying at the University of North Texas. Their aspirations are to be a film critic, media journalist, or culture correspondent. Being a part of this board is a privilege they hold dear and see as a monumental step towards joining the fray of the film industry. They can be found on IMDb for their credits from production assistant to script supervisor, in addition to acting. Their words can also be found on their blog Mo's Media, where they analyze all forms of media and share independent projects from in and out of film school.

Roberto I. Ercolalo
Roberto I. Ercolalo
Born February 21, 1992 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and based in Madrid, Spain, is an Italian-Argentine director, editor, screenwriter, and producer. 
Official jury of the Durban International Film Festival 2023, (Academy Awards - Oscars® Qualifier Competition). Official jury member of the Los Angeles CineFest® 2018, 2019, and 2021 (California, USA). Member of Honor of the Buenos Aires International Film Festival - BUEIFF® (Argentina, Spain) since 2019 and Founder and Director of the Madrid Film Awards - MADFA® (Spain).

Nominated for an Academy Award®, Canadian Screen Award®, and BAFTA® Qualifying Film Festival in the United States (Rhode Island International Film Festival). Named "Master of Cinema" by the Calcutta Film Festival in 2024. Winner of 15 official IMDb film festivals with 27 nominations, Winner of 22 prizes as a Director, and his works have obtained more than 160 international laurels in 34 countries.
This 2025, he managed to bring the "Madrid Film Awards - MADFA®" event to the most emblematic street in Europe. The gala took place at the Press Palace on Madrid's Gran Vía, where he personally presented an Honorable Mention recognition to Sir Ian McKellen ("The Lord of the Rings"; "The Hobbit"; "X-Men"; "The Da Vinci Code"; etc.). 

Official Website: www.robertoercolalo.com
Official Instagram: @filmmaker.ercolalo

Antonio Rodriguez
Based in Los Angeles, Antonio is an avid screenwriter with over 10 years experience crafting original feature length screenplays, poems, and short novels. He worked on the buzzworthy short film, ‘Nadine.’ Antonio remains busy as he prepares to make his directional debut with a biographical drama with sci-fi elements. 

Allan Cordero
Allan Cordero is a London-based photographer and set designer with a lifelong dedication to the arts. He began his creative studies in industrial design at EDINBA (Escuela de Diseño del Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes / School of Design at the National Institute of Fine Arts) in Mexico City. While studying, he discovered a passion for film photography and decided to leave design school to fully pursue it. He went on to graduate in photography, completing numerous projects that helped him build a strong foundation in visual storytelling. Soon after, he began teaching at ENAF (Escuela Nacional de Fotografía / National School of Photography) while also exploring a career in cinema.

Merging his expertise in design, photography, and filmmaking, Allan developed a specialization in set design and prop making, contributing to projects internationally. He has also participated in creative work within the music scene, including photography and videography for a few international artists.

Growing up in a creatively engaged family, Allan’s artistic path was shaped from an early age. He continues to focus on photography and set design while exploring new technologies and engaging with a wide range of creative projects.

Anar Azimov
Anar Azimov is a multidisciplinary filmmaker, writer, and academic whose work spans fiction, documentary, and experimental forms. Azimov’s filmmaking journey began with Tailor (2014), a 10-minute short selected for the Cannes Short Film Corner, marking his first international exposure. He followed this with Short Story (2016), which earned an Honourable Mention at the Los Angeles Film Awards. His 2017 short Birthday won Best Director at the Rome Prisma Awards in 2018.  Azimov’s debut feature Six (2017) was nominated by Fabrique du Cinema in 2018 and received Best Script at the Taranto Film Festival in 2022. His next feature, Crossing the Line (2018), premiered at Filmfest Bremen in 2019 and won Best Idea at Bucovina International Film Festival (Ukraine) same year.   In 2020, he expanded into docufiction with MacGuffin (official selection at Filmfest Bremen again) and “…and Juliet”. The latter received a Dziga Vertov Award nomination at Chicago Blow-up Film festival in 2023. His 2021 mid-length CU: Farewell garnered the Tarkovsky Grant and was featured at the Brussels Independent Film Festival and Cannes International Film Week in 2025.

Christopher Phipps
With a career rooted in technology, I bring a blend of innovation and creativity to my role as board member for the IFFA organization. My professional journey began in the tech industry spanning 4 decades from big companies to several startups and VC work.  Currently I am an executive at an AI startup.
15 years ago, I was drawn into the world of acting, and since then have maintained a continuous presence in television, film, and voiceover work. My passion for storytelling has extended to screenplay writing and co-producing projects, further deepening my connection to the cinematic arts.
It is this fusion of technological expertise and hands-on experience in the entertainment industry that I am honored to contribute to this film festival’s mission.

Eliza Claudia Filimon
Eliza Claudia Filimon is a PhD Associate Professor of Film Studies, Literary and Audiovisual Translation and the Director of the MA ‘The Theory and Practice of Translation’ at the West University of Timisoara, Romania. Awarded the title of Professor Bologna in 2018, Eliza is a member of the European Film Academy. She served as a member of the Steering Committee of the European Parliament terminology unit DG TRAD-Term Coord- YOURTERM (2019-2021), and is currently a Board member of the European networks ICC (International Language Conferences) and PETRA-E (European Association for the Training of Literary Translators). Eliza is an active member of international assessment boards in the fields of Film, Art and Language. She blends research with practical activities by organising activities such as the European Symposium ‘Wise Choices in Audiovisual Translation’ (2 editions so far) and ‘Freeze-Frame – West University of Timișoara in Dialogue with the Reel World’, which facilitate interaction between representatives of the film industry and the academic community. Eliza’s assessment skills have earned her roles as a jury member in major international literary competitions, and an assessor of films and screenplays in international film festivals (‘Dracula Digital Romania’, ‘Holywood Screenings’, ‘Sunset Film Festival’, IEMMY), and she engages in activities with CICAE (International Confederation of Art Cinemas) and ESIST (European Studies in Screen Translation). Eliza is the Head of the audiovisual translation team (subtitling, dubbing, audio description) and a member of the Programming team of ‘The Galactic Imaginarium’ SFF Timișoara Film Festival, now past its 6th edition, running workshops with the cast and crew of films during the festival. Eliza was the ProZ Pro Bono Ambassador to Romania (2023-2024).

Miguel Ángel Santacruz Sevilla
Miguel Ángel Santacruz Sevilla is a Spanish filmmaker and writer whose work bridges documentary, short film, and literature. His debut short documentary Searching for Dénia (2017) was a semi-finalist at the Los Angeles CineFest, followed by Alone with the Sea (2019), winner of Best Documentary at the West Side Mountains Documentary Film Festival in Athens. In 2024, his film A Sea of Woods received the award for Best Specialized Thematic Documentary at the same festival. His films are known for their visual lyricism, blending natural landscapes, emotional introspection, and poetic narration. His short film An Afternoon in the Garden highlights his poetic and atmospheric visual style. Also an accomplished novelist, Santacruz is the author of Sofía (2022) and the upcoming Victoria: Blood and Ashes, a gothic fantasy exploring love, time, and destiny.
His dual career in cinema and literature reflects a deep fascination with narrative form, making him a distinguished voice in contemporary independent art and a valuable honorary board member of the Independent Film Festival Association.

Ria Patel
is an Actor, writer & dancer. She is the lead in the feature "How to Talk Australians" with the wonderful director Tony Rogers (Wilfred). A story about the immigrant dream and illuminating the Australia-India relations. She has worked with many brands such as Toyota, Kmart, HP but working with Libra Australia was very special. Not only did they represent a South Asian woman but period pain is such a taboo topic which Ria is inspired to shed light upon. Her other recent work include: Netflix' "Apple Cider Vinegar" and ABC TV's "Urvi Went to an All Girls School".

Her award-winning short film "The Rose Garden" has picked up awards across the US and has been screened across Australia to spark discussions on mental health within South Asian and multicultural communities. She has facilitated panels with South Asian mental health leaders, and successfully secured grants to fund these important initiatives. Ria spoke at events for organisations like: Australian South Asian Centre, Shakti Mental Health and CrewHQ at Crew Con about diversity in the entertainment industry.

Ria truly believes storytelling has the power to connect, comfort and also challenge the audience to evoke change in the world and within themselves.

Kushoth Krishnaraja
Based in Sri Lanka, Kushoth Krishnaraja is an award-winning 3D Animated Short Film Director and 3D Artist. with over 15 years of experience in the CG industry. He holds a Bachelor (Hons) Degree in 3D Animation and VFX, combining strong technical expertise with artistic vision. Passionate about storytelling and visual artistry, Kushoth enjoys crafting original stories and bringing them to life through 3D animation. His award-winning short animated film was celebrated and recognized as a Semi-Finalist at the Los Angeles CineFest, reflecting his dedication to cinematic storytelling, innovation, and creativity in digital art

Ron Arthurs
Ron has worked in the entertainment industry for over fifty years, his long-standing passion. Over most of that time, he was a stage actor, and since the early 2010’s he has branched into performing in film, television, and subsidiary areas, appearing in over 150 projects including TV commercials and voice overs. Ron holds three business degrees, including a Master’s Degree in Information System Management (with Distinction) from Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Western Australia. Alongside his acting, Ron had a corporate IT professional life until his retirement in 2013. As a leader in the IT industry, he managed numerous projects providing technology solutions to corporate entities.
Over the years he has directed and produced many theatrical productions, and in 2019 he directed and produced a cast and crew of 35 for a community theatre production. It made a healthy profit to support the theatre. In 2022 Ron was attached as producer to a feature film which would later become a multi-series episodic narrative TV production. (NDA in place).
 
While still acting in theatre & film, he is now producing a documentary TV series and a co-producing an action feature film, both in Western Australia.
Along with his wife, Sue, they operate Camelot Productions Australia, a vehicle created for film, television, and theatre productions

Shri OPENDER CHANANA
Shri OPENDER CHANANA has put not only India but the land that gave birth to the Father of Indian Cinema, Shri Dadasaheb Phalke proud on global map.
His feature length documentary LIVING ON THE EDGE-Deglamorizing Bollywood has already been bestowed with 360 International awards and accolades in over 36 countries across the world and 20 states in India, a feat that is perhaps not surpassed by any other documentary in India. It has been acclaimed by critics all over the world.  It also led to the adoption of his resolution regarding HEALTH & SAFETY global code for workforce of Bollywood.

Author of several books on National and International Cinema, his voluminous book 'The Missing 3 in Bollywood-Safety, Security, Shelter" penned by him was released by an eminent retired Justice. Kochar, who also wrote its preface.  Being one of its kind it has been acclaimed all over the world. In 2018 he was conferred with DADASAHEB PHALKE AWARD by Dadasaheb Phalke Film Foundation. In 2019 he was given the NATIONAL EXECELLENCE AWARD by World Book of Records, London which also honored him for matchless contribution in generating awareness through his award-winning documentary. For this feat he was honored by World Book of Awards, London.

He has represented India as a member of International Jury of International Film Festivals including twice in Oberhausen, Germany, besides serving as a panelist on national and international seminars and conventions.
His contribution was recognized bt three eminent International Film Festivals in USA & RUSSIA and he was bestowed with the honor of being being their online Judge.
He was part of the campaign to launch the first ever International Festival of Documentary, short and animation films in Mumbai in 1990. He was part of Indian film delegation to several International Film Festivals.  Diploma in German language by SCD College at a very young age.  Subsequently he also did certificate course in Spanish language.

He he has been instrumental in providing better living conditions and environment for technicians and craftsmen and access to professional training for upgrading their knowledge and skills.  He has the unique distinction of heading various unions in Mumbai entertainment industry.  He has represented the workers and was the member of World Executive Committee of non-political body representing 144 countries.

Marco Vitale
Marco is an award-winning cinematographer and visual storyteller whose work bridges the worlds of fine art, documentary, and luxury brand film. Based in New York City, he currently serves as Director of Photography within Sotheby’s in-house creative team, shaping the visual identity of some of the world’s most prestigious art and culture productions. Across his career, Vitale has crafted a distinct visual language defined by emotional precision, natural light, and painterly composition. His collaborations span global fashion houses such as Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Carolina Herrera, as well as a growing body of acclaimed documentary work—including The Lost Painting, Comida Gratis, and Stonebreakers—projects that explore heritage, social memory, and the politics of everyday life. In 2025, Vitale’s cinematography was honored with four Webby Awards for projects produced under the Sotheby’s creative division, recognizing excellence in direction, visual design, and storytelling. Through his independent banner Lightoffilm, Marco continues to develop projects that merge cinematic craft with authenticity and human intimacy—celebrating the beauty, contradictions, and resilience that define contemporary visual culture.

Antonio Vigna
Antonio obtained his bachelors degree in Science in Communications at his hometown Guadalajara, Mexico, He worked as a journalist for about 5 years, writing for magazines and Newspapers. At the same time, he was a lead host for the sports sections in the shows “Arriba Corazones” and “Aqui en la Autonoma”. At some point he was also one of the main news anchors for “Aqui en la Autonoma”. Following his passion for the film industry, he decided to move to Los Angeles, CA, where he got a Masters Degree in Acting at the New York Film Academy. Within two years of landing in Hollywood, he has already worked in over 30 different productions. He considers himself as a “Filmmaker in an Actor’s body”. With that philosophy on his mind, he keeps working as an Actor and as a Producer in LA. As a Producer he’s completed productions that have been recognized world wide. “In a heart beat” and “Dia de Muertos’ being some of his best films, which were part of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6923079/

Roseanne Robertson
Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Roseanne Robertson considers herself a supporter of the Arts. For the past six years, she has had the privilege of being a part of several film festivals such as the Winter Film Festival, the Valley Film Festival, L.A. Cinefest, and Atlanta Film Festival, as a film screener and judge. She is now pursuing and expanding her understanding of the art of cinema by helping to produce independent films and support her hometown's burgeoning film scene. She is a firm believer in the healing power of the Arts and consider them essential to our collective understanding of ourselves and the world.

Alayne Meeks
Alayne began her love of movies in her grandmother's 250 seat movie theater, the Lyric, in downtown San Jose, CA. She went on to earn a Master's Degree in Film Studies at San Francisco State University and to TA at the University of California Santa Cruz's Film and Digital Media department. Both these academic experiences were great exposures to student film projects and student essays on film topics. Alayne also voluntarily taught a film unit at the local high school on film literacy entitled "Teenage Images in Hollywood." And if you go to a movie with Alayne be prepared to sit through all the credits.

Barbara Bullen
Barbara Bullen, a graduate of Cal State Los Angeles University with a B.A. in Political Science with a Minor in Prelaw changed careers to the literary and entertainment industry.
An author. screenwriter, poet, playwright, actor and producer has been involved in the industry for ten years. 
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11298546/
Although I specialize in fantasy, I write in all genres, consistently developing my skills, my screenplay projects and literary works. I have written sixty plus books and numerous screenplays
as the love of the industry is an everlasting decision to achieve success of the greats.

Liam Alex Heffron
Liam is an Irish actor, writer, and producer based in Los Angeles, known from leading roles in Prospect House (2023—CIFF award winner) and RTÉ’s long-running drama Fair City, with additional credits in cult comedy series Hardy Bucks and the award-winning short Top of the Rock (2015). Founder of 919 Films, an independent production company focused on bold storytelling with Irish and transatlantic appeal, he has produced most recently; Speed Dating (2024), a dark comedy exploring modern loneliness, Breaking Hollywood (2025), a satirical web series capturing the absurdity and ambition of actors in LA. He began producing for stage with his original plays The Tinker’s Blade and 1798: The Year of the French, later training with the Irish Film Academy (Dublin) and Howard Fine Acting Studio (Los Angeles), continuing to develop independent film projects on both sides of the Atlantic. A published PhD historian, Liam is also a regular newspaper columnist and blogger.

Oleksii Kyselov
Oleksii is an Ukrainian actor and film director based in Wroclaw, Poland.
As a director, Oleksii workes with Solaris Video Production, where he has created award-winning short films and music videos, including The Smell of Coffee Woke Me Up (winner of IX International Film Festival Cinema And You), White Elephants (Best Director, Best Short Film, Creative Vision Film Festival 2023), and a music videos Bilodub - Ptaha Na Jmennja Nachtigall (winner of Indie Online Film Award, Onyko Films Awards, etc), Ola Borodkina - Vasya Klyukvin (Winner of the X International Film Festival Cinema and You, Special Mention of the Bardak Film Fest).
His work often explores the intersection of human vulnerability and inner strength, framed through dark aesthetics and emotional realism.
As an actor he has appeared in more than 50 Ukrainian TV series and short films, portraying complex and psychologically rich characters.
Oleksii Kyselov's latest film Ways of the Dawn, set on the eve and at the beginning of a full-scale war in Ukraine, is currently traveling to film festivals around the world.

Sabrina Percario
An award-winning actress/producer that includes 32+ successfully completed projects of various genres, lengths, and budgets. Sabrina has won a total of 43 awards, including, Best Film at the Glendale International Film Festival and Los Angeles CineFest, Best Producer at LAIFFA (L.A Independent Film Festival Awards), and Honorable Mention at the Santa Monica Film Festival. Her purpose is to touch people's hearts, inspire them, and spread a good positive message through her characters and the films she produces

Jess Paxton
Jess has degrees in Theatre Arts, English Literature, and Creative Writing, and he is finishing up degrees in Acting and Film Production.   He is also working towards  a BA in Screenwriting, has written several screenplays, including the award-winning short “Smiley’s Move”,  based on his short story, and has produced and directed two short films. He is currently working on a fantasy novel and a thriller screenplay.

Luca Caserta
Luca is an Italian filmmaker who graduated in directing and screenwriting from the Movie Academy of Cinecittà in Rome, where he trained under the renowned Neorealist master Carlo Lizzani. He later deepened his expertise in cinematography at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, studying with acclaimed DoP Giuseppe Lanci.
His films have been showcased at numerous international festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival, Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival (Oscar Qualifying), Carmarthen Bay Film Festival (BAFTA Qualifying), and San Diego International Film Festival (Canadian Screen Award Qualifying). His short film “Tell Me Who I Am” has won 181 awards worldwide, including the Award of Excellence in Directing at the Best Shorts Competition (USA). The film features the song “Piccola stella senza cielo” by iconic Italian rockstar Luciano Ligabue.
His latest short, “The Reach”, is officially based on a short story by Stephen King and features “Moonlight Motel” by Bruce Springsteen, courtesy of the legendary singer-songwriter and Sony Music. After watching it, Stephen King personally wrote to Luca Caserta to congratulate him, describing the film as “a lovely piece of work.” “The Reach” is currently touring international film festivals and has won numerous awards.
Luca’s work spans a wide range of genres and themes (from comedy to civil and social engagement, human rights, psychological exploration, and the supernatural) demonstrating notable artistic versatility.
He’s a member of ANAC (National Association of Film Authors), of SIAD (Italian Society of Dramatic Authors), of SIAE (Italian Society of Authors and Publishers), and serves as a juror for the Sunset Film Festival in Los Angeles.

Pete Berger
Swiss filmmaker Peter Berger treats cinema as a living organism — something instinctive, poetic and deeply human. Acting as writer, director, cinematographer, editor and performer, he treats each film as a bespoke creation, in which image and rhythm convey emotion as effectively as words.
His critically acclaimed short films Liftoff and The Crow's Head showcase his fascination with transformation and the primal layers of identity. In the latter, Berger appears as an ape-like creature himself — a recurring motif that embodies the tension between evolution and instinct.
“I like to blur the line between the human and the instinctual,” he says. “Film lets us confront the part of ourselves that refuses to evolve — and perhaps shouldn’t.”
Drawing inspiration from classic cinema, Pete's influences range from the lyrical fatalism of Opfergang and the moral gravity of The Grapes of Wrath to the kinetic cool of Bullitt, the existential depth of Det sjunde inseglet, the paranoia of Marathon Man, and the cosmic awe of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Like his own work, these films balance emotional truth with bold visual storytelling. As an Honorary Full Board Member of the Independent Film Festival Association, he shares his passion for authentic, character-driven storytelling. He believes that cinema is one of the most powerful ways for humanity to dream, remember and connect. Although this form of art is fading in the age of streaming, it still has an unmatched capacity for collective emotion and timeless beauty.

Amanda Lou
Amanda is a Fairleigh Dickinson University graduate with a passion for cinema & marketing. Passionate about crafting compelling narratives and driving impactful marketing strategies, Amanda is a marketing professional with a diverse skill set that is driven by a customer-centric mindset. With a proven track record of success in project management, event marketing, video production, and tactical marketing, she thrives in dynamic environments where she can build out processes and help execute on marketing tactics. Amanda has experience working in healthcare, retail, medical device, non-profit, travel, luxury goods, entertainment, and SaaS companies.

Carolyn Meyer
A talented actress and emerging producer, Carolyn has garnered 13 wins & 6 nominations for her acting work. She grew up in a small town in Michigan, just northeast of Lansing. After graduating from High School and making a short stop in Florida, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career and has played a variety of roles in film and television. Dramatic acting was Carolyn's sole focus until she co-created the role of Caroline McCluskey with writer-director Zack Van Eyck. Carolyn played the comedic lead in "Sweet Caroline," a mocku-reality TV series they co-created. Carolyn embraced the role of the uneducated and hopelessly idealistic Caroline McCluskey, delivering strong performances in "Sweet Caroline" and the prequel series, "Caroline the Job Hunter."

Carolyn received the Best Actress Award at the 2016 Hollywood Short Film Festival for "Sweet Caroline." Her show took home the best-of-fest Grand Jury Prize and two other awards at the 2015 Hollywood & Vine Film Festival and was nominated for Best Web Series at the 2015 Orlando International Film Festival.

She is especially proud of her role as 'Sober Woman' in the official music video for "Tiny Dancer". The video premiered at the Cannes fillm festival in 2017 and was featured during Elton John's concerts when he performed the song. The video has since garnered over 195 million views on Youtube.

Sélynne Silver 
Sélynne is a multi-awarded French performer with significant credits in several content including multi-awarded feature (The Sheperd Code) & short films (What Daphne Saw), television pilots (Black Title Here) & shows (Emmy winner- John Mulaney presents: Everybody’s in LA), commercials (California Tobacco Control Program), prints (Terriennes) and narrative music videos (Imagine Dragon’s Bones).  She graduated with Distinction from the University of California, Los Angeles - UCLA Extension where she received an Acting Certificate and trained at several reputable acting schools including Studio Interieur Jour with coaches from La LIFI (French Improvisation league), Gloria Gifford Conservatory with the award-winning actress Gloria herself, notorious in Broadway, Playhouse West founded by Oscar nominee/ multi-award winner Jeff Goldblum & Robert Canergie, and Killian’s workshop, a top Los Angeles commercial school. 

Biozid Al Mahmud
Biozid is a Bangladesh-based, award-winning independent filmmaker and visual storyteller with a deep passion for cinematic expression and creative storytelling. With over six years of experience in film production as a Director, Cinematographer, and Editor. A graduate in Media Studies, Biozid blends social awareness with visual artistry, exploring themes of emotion, identity, and human connection. As an enthusiastic advocate for independent cinema, he is dedicated to empowering emerging filmmakers and pushing creative boundaries.

Regina Lenzner
Regina Lenzner is an accomplished film critic, journalist, producer, and media creator whose work spans film, television, literature, and community advocacy. She has served as a respected film critic for both the Louisville Kentucky International Film Festival and the Los Angeles Hollywood Film Festival, offering insightful reviews across films, screenplays, stage plays, documentaries, and digital media. Her outstanding contributions to the arts were formally recognized when she was honored as a Kentucky Colonel, awarded by festival founder, mentor, and actor Conrad Bachmann, along with the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Regina is the founder and creative force behind The Hollywood Advocate News, a television show, podcast, and media news outlet dedicated to amplifying arts, culture, and industry voices. She has also been cast in and contributed to numerous film and documentary projects, supporting both production development and on-screen roles.

As a journalist, Regina strengthened her reporting foundation by graduating from the prestigious Camp News TV Reporting Camp, founded by Hal Eisner, retired FOX News reporter and host of FOX 11 News In Depth. Her training enhances her work across broadcast media, interviews, and news storytelling.

A multi-talented communicator, Regina is also a published author, writer, TV show producer, scriptwriter, and podcaster. She is currently pursuing her degree in psychology at Touro University, enriching her understanding of human behavior and strengthening her storytelling and investigative approach.

Beyond her professional achievements, Regina is committed to service. She volunteers with multiple nonprofit organizations in the mental health, education, and entertainment sectors, reflecting her passion for community uplift, creative expression, and social impact.