Born & raised in Puerto Rico, Sol Miranda (she, her) is known widely for her roles as "mole woman" Donna Maria Nuñez in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and the medium Beatriz on Archive 81 both series #1 globally on Netflix. Most recently, she co-starred in Daniel Poliner's indie feature Come Find Me, a Latinx mother-daughter story with Victoria Cartagena and Tovah Feldshuh. On stage, her one woman show “I Am Here. I Belong. This is Peekskill a Friendly Town”, based on interviews to Latino/a/e residents in Peekskill, was presented at MOCA in 2017 thanks to a NEA grant for Lana Yu’s “What Matters?” multidisciplinary project. MFA/Acting from UC San Diego.

ANNETTA MARION is a Primetime Emmy Award-winning, BAFTA-nominated, Peabody-nominated and Oscar short-listed filmmaker, showrunner and director. She’s known for her work on Oprah’s Master Class, NBC’s Making It with Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, and most recently, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie that she produced and second unit directed. Annetta has worked with some of the biggest stars on major shows for Netflix, ESPN, OWN, MTV, VH1, Apple+ and Investigation Discovery. 

She serves the Directors Guild of America on the National Board (alternate), Eastern Directors Council, and as co-chair of the Focus on Women Committee. Annetta is also a sought-after speaker: recently at New York Women in Film & Television's NYWIFT talks, Filmmakers and Artists Welcome at Sundance, and the SWSX Portrait House Filmmakerspanels. 

https://www.annettamarion.com/

Haviland Stillwell has performed on Broadway, TV, Film, in Voiceover, and has become very well known on social media. Career highlights Include performing on Broadway (Fiddler on the Roof, Les Miserables), singing live on both the Oscars and the Tonys; Acting on camera in Ava Duvernay’s Selma, Magic Mike XXL; and being the voice of dozens of brands and animated characters. She is most well known as the voice of Raquelle in Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse. Her creative partner and wife, Reed Stillwell, collaborate together with their company, Team Stillwell. Their projects include the feature, Under the Influencer, the short Literal Nightmare, an upcoming Broadway musical, and several projects in development for theatre, TV and film. Www.havilandstillwell.com // IG @haviland // TikTok @havilandhaviland 

Stacey Larkins is an award winning filmmaker, writer and musician. She has shot, written, directed, composed and edited several short films that have played in various film festivals as well as Shorts TV International, Kweli TV and Aspire TV’s Urban Indie Film Block.

She has also written work for theater, that has been produced by theatrical production companies in New York City and in the U.K.

Melanie co-founded Nerve Tank Media in 2006 and has directed multiple live shows and two audio dramas under its umbrella. She's also produced five short films and recently directed her own first short. Favorite NTM productions include The Maiden with La Mama E.T.C., and two pieces for Arts Brookfield at the Winter Garden and Grace Plaza. Regionally her work includes Hamlet for Rebel & Misfits Productions, and Twelfth Night and UBU ROI for Long Island University Post. She is a proud alumnus of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab and Directors Lab West. She served for two years as Artistic Director of New Circle Theatre Company, the reincarnation of Circle Rep (her early artistic home). She assisted Len Foglia on Wait Until Dark on Broadway.

Dionna Johnson is a New York based emerging filmmaker, but grew up in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. She has worked as a writer, director, and production assistant on various projects in her career. Her film One Night Friend has currently achieved three film festival selections, and she hopes it may be selected into a couple more. Glass Ceiling Breakers is the first US based festival that One Night Friend will be premiering at, and Dionna is very excited to be able to share it with all of you. 

Heather Spilkin is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, producer, and TV editor. Her films have screened at festivals across the country, including Rooftop Films, Citizen Jane, Anthology Film Archives, Big Apple Film Festival, and LaFemme. Heather's TV editing credits include programming for ABC, Food Network, Bravo, History, A&E, Lifetime, Travel, and TLC. Her comedy writing/directing credits include the commercial parody Just End It!, episode two of the Lountess web series, and Breaking and Entering, which won Best Web Series at World Web Fest Mania and Best Web Series Episode at Portland Comedy Film Fest. She also produced and directed the feature documentary Above Brooklyn, which premiered to a sold-out crowd at the Rooftop Films Series.

Dr. Psyche D. Young, a Caribbean native immigrated to Queens, NY in 2003 to pursue several dreams, one of which was to become a Psychotherapist and the other, a filmmaker. 

Dr. Psyche was mentored in the early stages of her film journey by Director/Cinematographer Biju Viswanath, getting her start in the film industry working as production manager on his film 'Viola' (2010).

In 2006, Dr. Psyche met her soon to be husband Terek M. Young, their mutual love of film led them to found together YaH Vision Productions, a film production company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar is a South Asian American novelist, scholar, and screenwriter, with a PhD in English, who tells women-centric stories in unusual settings.  Mohana was a semi-finalist in at the Austin Film Festival, Humanitias Awards, WrapWomen Pitch Fest and BRIC Open TV Pitch competition. Her short film Me Against the World, a collegiate romantic comedy, with diverse leads and a sports element, is now streaming on iTunes. It was also named Best American Short, Best Romantic comedy, and an official selection at 8 international film festivals and winner at 5. American Baby, a short about Indians ordering tacos for the first time, won Best Micro Short at the New York Women in Film and Television Shorts Festival. 

Yarilis Ramos López is a Puerto Rican writer and director focused on bringing hidden stories to life through films based on real events. With a bachelor's degree in radio and television communication, she made her way into working with various local filmmakers and film festivals, gaining over 20 credits in the US. Pursuing a master's degree in film at SBU Manhattan NYC, she aims to grow as much as she can and come back prepared to enrich the art of cinema even more in the island.

Originally from Tennessee, Mia Geere is a New York and Los Angeles based actress, director, producer, and writer. As an actress, she can be seen performing on stage, as well as in TV/film. Most recently, she played the leading role of Dortchen Wild in the feature film Brothers Grimm Sisters Wild. She has also been producing independent films, as well as writing and directing her own work. Mia is a proud member of Inner City Shakespeare Ensemble's Board of Directors, and a member of Grace Chorale of Brooklyn.

Rachel Strauss-Muniz is an Actor, Producer, Professor, Writer, Philanthropist, Podcaster, VO Artist and Marketer. She currently voices the role of “Mrs. Tuttle” on the animated series, “The Tuttle Twins”. Rachel is a member of ECCO (Entertainment Creative Collaborative Outreach) Program; where she gets invited to the US Senate and The White House to help bring needed attention to key issues and initiatives that will have a positive impact on the national, regional and local levels via public policy, civic engagement, and legislation.She was a selected writer for the National Hispanic Media Coalition‘s 2021 LatinX Stream Showcase, where her short film, “The Swimmers” was produced. It was also featured in the 2021 Official Latino Film Festival and the 2023 Dominican Film Festival.  

Thea is a senior at Georgetown University, studying English and Film. She formerly worked at the Kennedy Center as a multimedia intern, where she learned all sides of filmmaking while working on projects like The Mark Twain Awards, Millennium Stage, Next at the Kennedy Center, and more. She is also a writer and actor, and currently interns for The Arlook Group and The Playwrights' Theater of New York. She was the youngest member of the Playwrights' Arena at Arena Stage, run by Jocelyn Clarke, and a two-time participant in the Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive, run by Gary Garrison and TJ Young. Her play, Model United Nations, premiered at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Region 2 this year. As a performer, she has worked at The Gateway Playhouse, Bay Street Theatre, and Theatre Row.

As a transgender artist originating from the Philippines, Dominique’s journey to America for safety and medical access ignited the inspiration for their art. In NYC, their first artist residency was with The High Line Nine, producing "Impressionique I," the runner-up in 2022’s Stonewall Painting Contest. Recently awarded a grant from Creatives Rebuild NY and sponsored by The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and LMCC, they center marginalized voices in their work and strive to uplift those historically disenfranchised. Having faced homelessness, workplace bullying and separation from family, led to a collaboration with New Alternatives, a shelter for LGBTQIA+ youth in Manhattan. 

Melissa Skirboll is an award winning director, writer, actor and producer based in NYC. Her directorial and editing work was seen at GCB in 2023 with the short Greetings from Sarajevo. She is pleased to be returning with Blood is Thicker, a piece she first wrote as a short play that received a staged reading at the Abingdon Theater in NYC. She is currently developing a feature and a series as she continues to make short films.

Kristin Battersby is SAG actor, playwright, and director residing in Beacon, NY. She can be seen on screen in a variety of short films, features, and industrials, and has performed on stages across the Hudson Valley, with performances at Powerhouse Theater and the HV Performing Arts Lab. Directing credits include IUD Play at the 2023 Glass Ceiling Breakers Festival, Uncanny Valley at County Players Falls Theater, and several sketch comedy shorts in her backyard with friends. This is her first short film.

V. Leigh is a dream-maker, a lover of imagination, and a storyteller. She earned a BFA in Motion Pictures & Television from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where she studied both visual storytelling and screenwriting.

V. Leigh has worked in the entertainment industry for the better part of the past twenty years and spends her time supporting artists and helping their dreams come true. She is excited to finally share her own stories in the written and visual form.

She lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband Michael, her mom "Mama Ann" and their goldendoodle Galadriel.

Letitia Guillory is a multi-hyphenate creative working in film, television and theatre. She produced the award-winning short comedy, Pas Honteux (REVOLT TV), and thriller, Winston.
Her work has been presented at the American Black Film Festival, Bronze Lens Film Festival, Hip Hop Film Festival, Blackstar Film Festival, TIDE Film Festival, Lincoln Center, P.S. 122, Harlem Stage, Project Row Houses, Oaxaca Film Festival, BRIC Media Arts, National Black Theatre Festival and more. Letitia’s writing credits include: 8:42 (Austin Film Festival Second Rounder), Hound Dog (Oaxaca Film Festival Global Script Competition Finalist), gATES (Austin Film Festival Second Rounder, Semifinalist Screencraft TV Pilot Launch).

Writer/Director Debra Markowitz was the Nassau County Film Commissioner for 33 years, the founder and president of the Long Island International Film Expo for 27 years, and is a prolific, multi award  winning filmmaker who has had scripts in Academy Award qualifying film festivals. Debra in currently filming feature film Wait List: A Love-ish Story, continues to shoot series, Couple of Guys, and has five films on the festival circuit. You can find out more about her projects at www.intentionfilmsandmedia.com 

Grace, a bisexual female filmmaker, champion of underrepresented voices, finds laughter in dark places. Her career began writing, producing, and starring in her debut feature film WHEN WE GROW UP, winning a Best Feature Film award & attending 8 festivals. Watch it on Amazon! She's a former finalist for the Tangerine Entertainment Fellowship & a two-time participant of Stowe Story Labs.

Kerri Quinn is a writer, producer and director, New York City born and raised. Tragic themes and humor are present in her stories, which feature women over the age of fifty who are unconventional, funny, raw, make mistakes (lots of them), take risks (more of these) and don’t take no for an answer. Her stories almost always include a character who has died and a character grieving this death. In the vein of the Greek tragedies, all of her characters die off stage. Her stories for children feature female characters who are brave, adventurous and mighty. These stories are tender, a little zany and empower girls to embrace their extraordinary selves. She teaches writing at Northern Arizona University and facilitates writing workshops for women and young girls. She holds a PhD from The University of Southern Mississippi.

Stephanie Schleicher took over her family's video camera at age ten and never looked back.  She has been pumping out films while raising kids and teaching for about twenty years now. Her dream is to heal the United States through a coast-to-coast documentary series about community theater.

Tova Hopemark is an award-winning actor and writer. She recently played an unfiltered new mom (BABY BUMPS), a cunning religious fanatic (FROM THE FLESH), a depressed overachiever (ALRIGHT ROBOT, Winner: Best Leading Actress), and a grieving mother (HISTORY OF NOW).

Tova won a screenplay award from the Best Shorts Competition for her first film - a comedy about depression. Her play about queer pregnancy premiered at The Tank NYC as part of the International Human Rights Festival.

Tova is an alum of Harvard University’s Mellon School of Theatre and Performance and Northwestern University’s Interdisciplinary PhD in Theatre and Drama. 

Vivian Cheung is an emerging Chinese-Canadian female filmmaker born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. She made her directorial debut with her short film, 'For Roy', which earned her Best First Time Director and People's Choice Best Short at the 17th Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon, an annual competition presented by the Vancouver Asian Film Festival. The film continues to win multiple awards and screen in festivals around the world. Since MAMM17, Vivian was selected as a finalist in Regent Park Film Festival's 2022 Emerging Filmmaker Pitch Competition, was one of the fifteen selected science filmmakers to workshop with CBC's popular show, 'The Nature of Things' and one of fifteen filmmakers in the Vancouver International Film Festival's 2023 Catalyst Mentorship Program.

Gillian Simpson is an Award winning writer/director and VFX artist from Scotland, starting her career as an editor with over 15 years experience in documentary, music and children’s shows, she retrained to be a VFX artist at the prestigious National Film and Television School and since then has worked on Isle of Dogs, The French Dispatch, Dumbo, 1917 and House of the Dragon seasons 1 and 2. She has also written and directed several short films and currently she is developing the feature film Grenades based on the award winning play.

Roe Moore, acclaimed director, brings laughter to screens big and small. From directing the award-winning play "Recess" to key roles in HBO Max's "Fresh Prince of Bel Air Reunion" and CW's "Masters of Illusion," Roe's expertise shines. A seasoned comedian, Roe is a graduate of Second City's Conservatory program and a standout on Gold Comedy's sketch team, Crop Top. Actively engaged in industry initiatives like Black Magic Collective's Future Women of TV, Roe balances her professional pursuits with a love for running and baking. With a commitment to excellence and a knack for humor, Roe Moore is a dynamic force in entertainment.

Marta Renzi has made more than 75 dances for her Project Company including her Bessie- award-winning VITAL SIGNS. Her site-specific pieces in locations such as the Guggenheim Museum, Union Station and the Staten Island Ferry led naturally to her work in video and film. In 1981 You Little Wild Heart, to music by Bruce Springsteen, was Marta's first half-hour for PBS, followed by Mountainview, made in 1989. Since 2005 Marta has self-produced over three dozen short videodances, which have been presented at over 300 festivals nationally and internationally. Her debut feature film Her Magnum Opus was released in 2017. 

Born and raised in China, Mo now lives in New York. She's an engineer by day, a screenwriter at night and occasionally a director on weekends. She loves cinema and would like to film a feature one day.

Yufei Du is a 2D animator originally from China but is now living in the UK. Inspired by her experiences and driven by a passion for experimental storytelling, she crafts visually stunning narratives that explore themes of light, self-discovery, and human complexity.

Julia McGill is a Brazilian-American filmmaker. Her first short film, “Two” premiered at the 2017 Brooklyn Film Festival. Her second short film “parenthesis”, was a finalist at the 2019 Oaxaca Film Festival, and Audience Award Winner at YoFi Festival in 2023. 

Her production work can be found in documentaries including "Britney vs. Spears", "D.B. Cooper: Where Are You?", and “Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste”. She has also dabbled in narrative feature formats through her work on “Abe”, a Sundance 2019 charmer starring Noah Schnapp. She is currently developing several documentary and scripted projects.

Sara Elbatheshay is an Industrial Engineering student at Qatar University. She is a cinema geek who is interested in all of the filmmaking processes. She has published 2 horror stories two years in a row in the Cairo book fair in 2019 and 2020. She applied to the Short Film Lab because of her interest in learning more about filmmaking and being a part of reviving Egyptian cinema. In her free time, she loves photography, content creation, and cycling.