Created in honor of our 50th Anniversary, this flagship program welcomes Fellows from all areas of the entertainment industry for a year of mentoring, master classes, network building, and one-on-one career strategy sessions.
The 2025 WIF Director and Cinematography Fellowship circles are generously supported by:
The 2025 WIF Business Fellowship cohort is made possible through the generous support of:
The 2025 WIF Writers Fellowship cohort is generously supported by:
Hazel Katz is a filmmaker and video artist. Her short narrative film SYDNEY & KIM is shot on 16mm and premiered at NewFest in 2024. Her feature length documentary FLORIDA WATER is now distributed by Collective Eye Films. Hazel’s work has been supported by ICA San Diego, MOMA PS1, Queer Art Mentorship, and festivals internationally. She has attended residencies at MacDowell, Anderson Ranch, Bemis Center, UnionDocs, Abrons Art Center, and Acre. Hazel has a BA from Oberlin College and an MFA in Visual Art from UC San Diego. She has taught young people of all ages, and is currently a teaching fellow at Smith College.
Having played many roles within the film industry over the last fifteen years– from casting director to actor to producer, Meghan Lennox has recently transitioned to writer/director with her debut short Show Pony, a queer drama starring Britt Lower and Clara McGregor, which finished its festival run in the Emerging Filmmaker LGBTQ+ Showcase in the American Pavilion at Cannes. Meghan was recently accepted into the 2024 Black List Projects Lab with her first feature script, queer coming-of-age dramedy, Gay for Amy, and is thrilled to be participating in the upcoming Women in Film Director’s Fellowhip. She lives in Los Angeles with her kiddos, Jack and Hudson.
Radha Mehta is civil engineer turned filmmaker with an MFA in Directing at American Film Institute, an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, and is an active voting member of The Recording Academy. Her works stem from personal experience as an Indian first generation mother raised in the US, exploring themes of parenting, self-empowerment, and dismantling cultural taboos around mental health and disabilities. Radha’s award winning films include DOSH (Slamdance Spirit Award); SŪNNA (CAPE Julia Gouw + Janet Yang Grant Winner; Witness (Netflix/Tasveer, InsideOut RE:Focus); Winds of Silence (16Days16Films w/ UN Women, Geena Davis Institute, TimesUp); Standing With Moms (Women’s Voices Now Best Short Doc Winner); Being Gina (STARZ/Lionsgate/WRAP Top 3 Finalist); and Evan Ever After.
Anna is a Cuban-Swedish writer/director based in Los Angeles, and the creator of the popular webcomic Bad Comix By Anna. Anna has written on various TV shows including Loot (AppleTV), Mo (Netflix), Flatbush Misdemeanors (Showtime), and the Big Mouth spin-off Human Resources. Her half-hour spy comedy, Inside Cunt, was named to the Blacklist Latinx TV list, and earned her a blind script deal with Hulu. She has also developed projects for Sony and Disney. As a filmmaker, Anna has made several short films, including most recently, MAL CULO, which premiered at Austin Film Festival last year. Anna got her start in filmmaking through her sketch comedy duo “John Baxter”, most known for their viral parody trailer, A Star is Korn. Their videos have been featured in Mashable, Vulture, and more.
Shay Ball is a screenwriter from the San Francisco Bay Area. She started her early career working as a government consultant before pivoting to screenwriting. Her projects have placed in the We Screenplay Diverse Voices Screenwriting Competition, the Moonshot Pilot Accelerator, and the Harvardwood Writing Competition. A 90’s obsessed book lover with a fondness for happy endings, Shay went from elementary school to high school in a little over a year thanks to extremely poor timing and a multiple choice test. She continues to make up for lost time as a writer of diverse comedy-dramas.
Rae Binstock (Columbia University ’15) is a playwright and screenwriter whose work reflects the harsh climate, acid humor, and multicultural frictions of her Massachusetts upbringing. She wrote the book for Midnight at the Palace, a new musical premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2025. Her play Relentless will have its world premiere at Syracuse Stage in February 2026. Other plays include That Heaven’s Vault Should Crack (New Group) and land of no mercy (Princess Grace finalist). Rae was the Writers’ Assistant on FX Networks’ FOSSE/VERDON and Apple TV+’s Schmigadoon, IF/THEN, and LIBERTY. She is one of the authors of the Climate Storytelling Playbook and has won fellowships with, among others, Almanack Screenwriters and the Dramatists Guild. Rae lives in Los Angeles.
Carolyn Klarecki is a writer from Big Rapids, Michigan. She has worked as TV writers room support staff on projects including ALIEN: EARTH, FARGO, DUNE: PROPHECY, OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH, and more. Carolyn is a participant in the 2025 Black List x Women in Film Episodic Lab. She wrote and directed the short film NOT AS WE DO, which played at six festivals. She has completed the Upright Citizens Brigade improv coursework and ran a bi-weekly comedy show Midnight Snack with her improv troupe Cobbler for five years. Carolyn studied Film and Communications at the University of Michigan where she was an editor at The Michigan Daily. She spent summers working at a living history museum, dressing as an 18th-century Colonial woman. She no longer cooks on an open hearth, but still enjoys quilting.
Jessica Kozak is a writer/director with an MFA in Screenwriting from UCLA (2019). Her feature script THE WILD (fka WILDER THAN HER) was selected for the Bloodlist as one of the best unproduced genre scripts of 2020. It was sold and became Jessica’s debut feature as writer/director. It screened at multiple festivals including the Atlanta Film Festival, Geena Davis’ Bentonville Film Festival, Brooklyn Horror Festival, Lower Eastside Festival pop-up, and was selected for Film Independent’s festival highlight online pick. It’s distributed by Vertical and was in select theaters March 7, 2025, and available now On-Demand on Apple TV and Amazon. Before that, Jessica worked on THE BOLD TYPE and co-wrote the finale episode. She is currently a fellow for the Black List x WIF Episodic Lab 2025.
Melissa Li (she/her) is a composer, lyricist, and writer for stage and screen based in Montreal. She is a recipient of the 2022 Harold Adamson Lyric Award, 2021 Kleban Prize and 2007 Jonathan Larson Award. She is an alumnus of the 2025 Black List x WIF Episodic Lab, a Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellow, a Lincoln Center Theater Writer-in-Residence, a MacDowell Fellow, and more. Musicals include INTERSTATE (East West Players, Mixed Blood), MISS STEP (MCC, 5th Avenue Theatre), AGAIN (Theater Mu), CANCELLED (Keen Company), and SURVIVING THE NIAN (The Theater Offensive). Her works have received support from MCC Theater, Playwrights Horizons, 5th Avenue Theatre, The Village Theater, among others. Melissa has released music solo and collaboratively. She is a member of the WGA, the Dramatists Guild, and ASCAP.
Kit is a writer for stage and screen and a recipient of the Kleban Prize, Helen Merrill Playwriting Award, The Vivace Award, ASCAP Harold Adamson Lyric Award, and Jonathan Larson Grant. Along with his writing partner Melissa Li, they have sold a feature film to Disney Channel, have several tv and film projects in development including an original drama with Archer Gray, and are alumni of the 2025 Blacklist/WIF Episodic Lab. Kit’s plays have been produced by Lincoln Center, the American Repertory Theater, East West Players, Weston Playhouse, Keen Company, and New York Repertory Theater. His work has also been commissioned or developed by MCC, Playwrights Horizons, NAMT, The Playwright’s Center, Musical Theater Factory, and the Kennedy Center among many others.
Nikki Palumbo is a non-binary writer and comedian based in Los Angeles, but still reeks of New Jersey. Their writing has appeared on The New Yorker, McSweeney’s, and Reductress. Most recently, they wrote for the WGA Award-nominated Tiny Time Travel on PBS Kids and apologetically for Google’s AI, Gemini. Their queer mob comedy LIL ITALY won the ATX TV Festival Pitch Competition in 2022 and was selected for the 2025 Black List x WIF Episodic Lab. Nikki writes subversive queer comedy, mostly by accident.
Sybil Azur served as writers’ researcher for ABC/Shondaland’s STATION 19, where she co-wrote and produced the show’s 99th episode. She adapted the novel WHY? into a screenplay and was a 2021 Comedy Writing Fellow with the Television Academy Foundation. Sybil is a former actress and professional dancer, who produced and co-directed the powerful documentary, PUSHING MOTHERHOOD. She graduated summa cum laude from UCLA and earned an M.F.A. with distinction from CSUN. Sybil was the 2022 recipient of Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project Green Ring Award, served as an assembly delegate to the CA Democratic Party, and was a long-time Board Member for Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives. Sybil is a fierce mother of two who enjoys Yacht Rock, fanny packs, and all iterations of 90 Day Fiancé.
Lainnie Contreras Felán is a Mexican American writer and filmmaker from rural South Texas, now based in Los Angeles. She specializes in witty Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Supernatural storytelling, often exploring dysfunctional, codependent family dynamics inspired by her upbringing as a child of divorce. Raised in a low-income Mexican American community, she highlights working-class struggles, always centering Latinx and BIPOC characters. She’s a member of the Los Angeles Female Playwrights Initiative, First Fifteen Los Angeles, NALIP, SAG-AFTRA, and a Read Latinx Writers Initiative alum and Tomorrow’s Filmmakers Today Fellow. She’s best known for her award-winning sci-fi comedy web series Couch Potato Chronicles and spooky comedy short Nightmare of La Lechuza.
Meagan Noel Fulps is a former professional athlete turned writer/director from Denver, Colorado, and now based in Los Angeles. She’s drawn to character-driven, slice-of-life stories that subvert gender norms, explore identity, and challenge traditional family dynamics. Meagan currently supports an A-list actor and has previously assisted several successful writer/directors. She’s a top-5 finalist for the Tribeca x AT&T Untold Stories Film Fund and a past finalist for AFI DWW+ (2025, 2024), Moonshot Feature Accelerator (2025), SeriesFest x Shondaland (2023), Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative (2023), and Imagine Entertainment’s From Minutes to Movies (2024). She’s awaiting the premiere of her latest short, “The Untying,” starring Alex R. Hibbert (“Moonlight”) and Hisham Tawfiq (“The Blacklist”).
Spencer Jamison is a Richmond, VA native whose work is rooted in care, curiosity, and community. She is a graduate of James Madison University and the Yale School of Drama MFA acting program. Her directorial debut, Day 74, won the 2020 Curbside Shorts Film Challenge Grand Prize sponsored by Women in Film LA, IMDbPro, and ReFrame Project. As a writers’ assistant, she has supported writer-directors building projects with Outlier Society, Warner Bros., and Party Over Here. Her romantic comedy short, At Capacity, premiered at the 2024 LA Shorts International Film Festival and won the Audience Award at the Baltimore International Black Film Festival. Spencer writes ensemble-driven narratives across genres, centering the humor, depth, and complexity of Black womanhood.
Melissa Peng is a writer, comedian, and filmmaker from the Bay Area. Her half-hour TV pilot Baby Gay has placed in competitions (Austin Film Festival, Writers X Writers, and ISA Fast Track) and the proof-of-concept short film she made for it, BABY GAY, has played in Oscar-qualifying film festivals. She puts up new live comedy shows regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) Theater with her beloved sketch team Lasers and performs improv and clown all around Los Angeles, including at UCB and the Elysian Theater. Her greatest dream is to inherit a chocolate factory from an eccentric retiring candymaker.
Aline Andrade is a Brazilian-American producer, director, and screenwriter
based in the Los Angeles area and founder of Fine Frenzy Films. With a degree
in Film and Media Arts from the University of Utah, she has produced scripted
and documentary content for Netflix, National Geographic, PBS, Spotify, Hulu,
ABC, CNN, and FIFA+. Her mission is to ignite audiences through bold,
emotionally resonant stories that celebrate human resilience and the power to
overcome challenges. With multiple projects in development and festival selections worldwide, she is building a storytelling brand driven by vision and grit. Aline is a member of Women Independent Producers (WIP) and the Producers Guild of America (PGA).
Claire Brooks is a producer with a decade of experience across independent film, global marketing strategy, and branded content. She served as Director of Production at Stephanie Allain’s Homegrown Pictures, where she produced Titus Kaphar’s directorial debut Exhibiting Forgiveness (Sundance 2024) and developed TV projects under a first-look deal with WBTV. Claire also designed and launched Netflix’s Emerging Filmmaker Initiative, producing studio-backed short films with rising directors. She began her career in marketing at Illumination Entertainment and the NBA. With a B.A. from NYU Gallatin and an MFA from Columbia University, Claire aims to champion groundbreaking new voices and identify stories with the potential to shift culture.
Quinn Curry is an award-winning independent film producer drawn to stories that explore human psychology, emotional experience, and connection. She began her career at Annapurna Pictures, working on Phantom Thread, If Beale Street Could Talk, and Vice. She later joined Made With Love Media (They Cloned Tyrone), where she executive produced Shadow Force for Lionsgate and developed projects through first-look deals with Lionsgate and AMC Studios. A Film Independent Producers Lab and Sundance Catalyst Fellow, she earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Rocky Road on Channel Three, and co-produced Slanted, which won Best Narrative Feature at SXSW 2025. She believes infusing a small dose of discomfort in every story can unlock universal truths for audiences.
Born and raised in China, Xin has spent the past decade living and working across the U.S.. After earning her MFA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, she has produced award-winning documentaries and narrative films that have screened at SXSW, Tribeca, DOC NYC, Aspen Shortfest, and been distributed on The New Yorker, Short of the Week and HBO MAX. A short film she produced, DEAR MAMA…, won NAACP Image Awards as Outstanding Short-Form in 2023. Xin is a Film Independent Project Involve Fellow and has received fellowships from Netflix, WBD Access, and Visual Communications. SANTA ANITA, a narrative feature film she’s producing, has been supported by SFFILM Rainin Grant, ARRAY, Gotham Week and the Sundance Feature Film Program.
Sally Sujin Oh is a Korean American writer and producer raised in Los Angeles. She most recently served as a producer on narrative indie feature BLUE SUN PALACE starring Ke-Xi Wu and Lee Kang Sheng, which won the French Touch Jury Prize at Critics Week in the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Additionally, her short film Trokas Duras premiered at Sundance 2025, taking home the Jury Award for U.S. Fiction. Oh received a Grammy for her work on ‘Black is King,’ a visual album by Beyonce. Oh has recently collaborated with celebrated R&B artist Kehlani as her creative producer on her last album, CRASH. Past work includes co-founding the production company Field Trip, which facilitated Main Stage performances at Coachella for 88Rising and music videos for Bad Bunny, Karol G, Tyler the Creator, and Megan Thee Stallion.
Laura Reich is a producer creating narrative, documentary, and branded content. She’s passionate about projects from emerging and underrepresented voices. Her documentary work includes the PBS American Masters film “Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided To Go For It”, and the award-winning short “Status Pending” which aired on Al Jazeera Witness. She’s produced two narrative feature films, “All Sorts” and “Kept Boy” and is in production on her third – a feminist horror comedy about friendship and toxic positivity. She’s produced many shorts including “Sojourn”, an AT&T SHAPE Film Award winner. Her branded work includes projects for LEGO, Red Bull, Twitch, and Riot Games, among others. She is a member of the Documentary Producers Alliance, and the LA Co-Chair of Women Independent Producers.
Nina Burnett is a producer with a passion for building bold, imaginative worlds. With 15 years of experience in line producing, production and project management for marketing campaigns and short form content at Epix, YouTube, and Apple TV+ (where she currently supports original scripted series), she now brings her logistical precision to narrative storytelling. Her first producer credit, Demo-Lition, screened at PAFF, Micheaux, and Omaha Film Festivals. As a Physical Producer Fellow, Nina is focused on crafting epic sci-fi and period films and series with scale, culture, and heart. Born on Chicago’s South Side and shaped at Howard University, her upbringing has fortified her passion and affirmed her vision to create expansive stories centering the Black diaspora.
Amanda Cruz González is a queer, first generation Mexican-American, film producer. Their most recent productions include an array of narrative films, commercial projects, and documentaries. Most recently, Amanda participated in a Career Development Lab sponsored by the Transgender Film Center and Netflix. Amanda’s credits span projects across Amazon Live, Netflix, Paramount, and WB, including a 2025 remake of A Star is Born, unscripted shows for Amazon Live, and a feature length documentary titled Mi Tierra Me Llama, slated for 2026. Amanda brings experience in film financing, sales, and development, having worked as the manager of international sales and distribution for Premiere Entertainment in Los Angeles. Amanda has a sharp business sense and a unique understanding of what makes a compelling story.
Philinese Kirkwood is a visionary physical producer with 13+ years of experience across TV, branded content, and film. A former Netflix producer and founder of Lottie, a values-driven production service company, she blends sharp production strategy—competitive bids, diverse hiring, union compliance—with a passion for inclusive storytelling. As a 2025 WIF Fellow, she’s expanding into creative development to shape stories from pitch to production. She also curates a monthly film series on TikTok, including 30 Women in Film You Should Know and 28 Black Directors You Should Know, highlighting underrepresented voices and building a growing archive of talent the industry should champion.
Alyssa Gonzalez is a queer Mexican American woman and a first-generation college graduate from Southern California. She studied Cinema and Television Arts at Cal State Fullerton and now works as an Online Editor and Post-Production Supervisor. Having worked on various feature films, episodic content, and marketing projects, her passion for post-production has grown exponentially. Most recently, Alyssa worked on the ASL versioning of HBO’s The Last of Us, which sparked a deeper interest in supporting more inclusive accessibility in media. She is committed to uplifting womxn and queer voices in a male-dominated industry and has found strength in community, particularly among womxn and sapphic spaces. Alyssa strives to amplify marginalized voices and foster inclusive, collaborative environments in media.
Sarah Al-Qatou is a producer & development executive with an array of experiences championing crowd-pleasing and culturally-resonate narratives that elevate diverse perspectives. She is the Creative Executive at Rideback RISE, where she spearheads development of the 2025 slate of film & TV projects within RISE’s filmmaker fellowship program. Previously, she was an executive at Issa Rae’s banner, Hoorae – where she produced across film, TV, and unscripted, notably working on Rap Sh!t S2. In addition, she worked with filmmaker Lulu Wang under her banner Local Time, supporting development & production of Wang’s limited series, Expats. She has also worked at film financier Big Beach & in acquisitions at Focus Features. A UCLA grad, Sarah firmly believes in the mantra ‘we rise together.’
Erin Jones-Wesley is a creative executive at Lionsgate, where she helps oversee the production and development of films, including ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR, THE LONG WALK, NOW YOU SEE ME: NOW YOU DON’T, THE HOUSEMAID, and I CAN ONLY IMAGINE 2. After earning her MFA from the AFI Conservatory as a Producing Fellow, Erin launched her film career. She also boasts a notable background as an NCAA Division I softball pitcher at Long Beach State, where she was inducted into the Hall of Fame. In 2020, MACRO recognized her as one of TikTok’s Top 100 Black Creatives, leading to partnerships with brands like Coca-Cola. In 2023, she was recruited to join the Entertainment Creative Collaborative Outreach initiative to support White House initiatives. Erin is passionate about storytelling.
Andrea Juárez Wax is a Mexican-born talent manager with a background in film production and programming. She began her career producing commercials before co-founding and leading film programming at an independent movie theater in Mexico City, where she championed emerging filmmakers and curated compelling content. Andrea later pivoted to talent management, starting as an assistant at Entertainment 360 and advancing to her current role as a manager at Cinetic Media, where she is strategically building a roster of writers, directors, and storytellers with a focus on elevating emerging voices and distinctive perspectives.
Chloe Morris is an LA-based associate literary manager. After graduating from The University of Texas at Austin, Chloe worked at WME before getting the opportunity to work as showrunner’s assistant on shows such as TITANS (Max), LOOKING FOR ALASKA (Hulu) and MARVEL’S RUNAWAYS (Hulu). While her initial goal was to become a writer, Chloe soon turned her attention to film & TV development, moving over to London and LA based management-production company 42 as a development executive. Chloe was later asked to join 42’s literary management team, and is now building a diverse list of writers and directors in addition to continuing her development work.
Vanessa is an LA-based marketing leader with experiences at top companies, including Google, Meta, and most recently Prime Video. At Prime Video, she launched the company’s first always-on multicultural-oriented marketing programs to drive awareness and engagement with underserved communities. This led to the brand’s first 360 showings at the BET Awards, ESSENCE Fest, and more. She also recently launched Rooted & Radiant, a wellness collective and experience for women in LA. She graduated from Yale University with a major in political science and attended Phillips Exeter for high school. She grew up in a large Nigerian and Trinidadian family, which has been a huge motivator for her drive and passion for community-building and culture.
Jane hails from upstate NY and moved to Los Angeles to get her MFA in Acting from UCLA. She transitioned to casting in 2011 and is passionate about getting actors jobs! Jane is particularly proud to have cast “Calamity Jane” as part of a series of short films commissioned by the WB called “REFRAMED: NEXT GEN NARRATIVES” which is now streaming on HBO MAX. Other recent credits include Die Hart Season 2 & 3 (short form series starring Kevin Hart), Big Mike’s Cabin (Indie starring Christian Camargo, Cleo King and Brett Butler) and Cursed Friends (Comedy Central feature). In 2024, she was nominated for two Artios Awards for “Daisy Jones & The Six” and “Die Hart Season 2”.
Miko Alicia Mariscal, is a Los Angeles native and interdisciplinary artist with a career spanning film, TV, and theatre. She found her passion for casting and development at USC while contributing to the Norman Lear Center’s Media Impact Project, focusing on representation and equity in storytelling. This experience deepened her commitment to inclusive storytelling. Following that, she joined NBCUniversal’s LAUNCH team, supporting training programs and helping nurture emerging talent across the industry. Today, she brings her skills to scripted and unscripted projects at ABC, Hulu, and Onyx Collective. She continues to champion meaningful and diverse representation in entertainment, driven by the belief that powerful storytelling can shift culture and create lasting impact.
Andressa Cordeiro is a member of the Brazilian Society of Cinematographers (ABC). Her work in narrative has been screened at major film festivals around the globe such as Cannes and Tiff, and has been distributed by AMC+ ALLBLK, Lifetime, Starz and to theaters worldwide. She has shot commercials for major brands such as Nissan, Facebook, Disney+, Paramount+ and her work has been praised by AdWeek and published by Deadline. Based in Los Angeles, she is local to Los Angeles (USA) and São Paulo (Brazil), and she is represented by DDA Talent Agency.As a director of Photography, Andressa has over 15 years of experience in TV Series, Feature Films, commercials, short movies and documentaries. She grew up performing classical piano in her hometown. She holds an MFA in cinematography by the American Film Institute (AFI).
Rayana Rasamee is a Thai-American director of photography specializing in narrative, commercial, and documentaries. Her work is defined by a distinctive use of mixed media, bold color palettes, and a deep commitment to telling stories that center marginalized and underrepresented voices. She earned her MFA in Cinematography from the AFI Conservatory in 2022, supported by the AFI Awards Audi Scholarship, the Tom Yoda Award, and the P.E.O. International Scholarship. In 2023, she was selected as one of four cinematographers for Issa Rae’s ColorCreative “Find Your People” inaugural cohort, and in 2025, she was named a WIF Cinematography Fellow. Her films have screened at renowned festivals including AFI Fest, LALIFF, Newport Beach and the Edmonton International Film Festival.
Giuliana Tambellini is a Brazilian cinematographer currently based in Los Angeles. She is pursuing her MFA in Cinematography at the American Film Institute (AFI) and holds a BA in Cinematic Arts from the University of São Paulo. She received the Best Student Film Photography Award from the Brazilian Association of Cinematographers (ABC) for How to Breathe Out of Water, which screened at festivals including Clermont-Ferrand and Black Star International. With a strong foundation in narrative visual storytelling, she has shot numerous short films and a feature, while also gaining valuable experience in the camera department on productions for Netflix, Disney+, and HBO.
Born in Romania, Ioana and her family emigrated to Canada as refugees when she was only four years old. The daughter of an architect, at a very young age Ioana developed a passion for the visual arts. As her artistic interests developed she found her life’s passion in filmmaking. After moving to Los Angeles and expanding her industry experience, she further developed her skill by pursuing an MFA in Cinematography at the AFI Conservatory. Ioana has shot a wide range of projects including music videos, commercials, and narrative films. Her latest feature ‘The Dead Thing’ (dir: Elric Kane) premiered at Fantasia Film Festival and was released on Shudder/AMC+ on Valentine’s Day of 2025. When she’s not shooting, she’s compulsively doing yoga, cuddling her kids, and catching up on films.
Sadé N. Robinson has spent over ten years as a Camera Assistant and five as a Camera Operator, mostly on indie and short format projects where quick thinking and teamwork are key. Growing up in the South taught her to be resourceful and creative—a mindset that still shapes how she approaches storytelling. She’s now starting her journey in color grading, drawn to the challenge of shaping a story’s tone and emotion through color. Sadé brings a unique perspective, steady work ethic, and collaborative spirit to every project. She’s excited to continue learning and growing in this new chapter. Sadé earned her BFA in Film & TV from the Academy of Art University.
Aisha Alhakawati is a Syrian-American costume designer and stylist based in LA. She obtained her BA in Film Studies at Chapman University while costume designing her first shorts with her peers. She began her TV and film career as a costume PA with credits on Grand Crew, I Love That For You, Air, Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl, and Night Court. She has worked as a costumer on-set for features such as Stone Cold Fox and commercials with brands such as Mattel and Aura. Most recently, Aisha designed numerous vertical series and styles for e-commerce brands such as Popflex and Florence by Mills. Aisha is passionate about community and inclusion in the film industry and is excited about this chapter as a WIF fellow.
Isabell Chavez Vega is an LA-based editor and assistant editor working across scripted and documentary film. Her assistant editor credits include Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, No Time to Die, and Marvel’s Echo. She’s currently editing a feature documentary about Indigenous women, two-spirit, and queer-led resistance to oil pipelines. A third-culture kid—born to a Russian mother, a Peruvian father, and raised in Finland—Isabell embodies a rich cultural perspective. She studied Film and English Literature in Canada before moving to England to pursue film. Her diverse background and nomadic lifestyle enrich her storytelling, giving her a unique viewpoint and the ability to connect with a wide array of narratives and people. Her goal is to bring outsider stories to broader audiences.
Nova is an Emmy-winning video editor living in Los Angeles, California. They started their career in the unscripted space working on Bravo shows, including the Real Housewives of Atlanta and The Real Housewives of Potomac. Nova went on to edit Netflix’s first reality show, Queer Eye, which became an instant cultural phenomenon. Nova was nominated for five Emmys during this time, winning two for Outstanding Picture Editing For A Structured Reality Or Competition Program. Nova was also nominated for an ACE EDDIE Award for Best Edited Non-Scripted Series. Since, they have worked on a variety of unscripted, documentary, and comedy series for Netflix, Hulu, E!, And Roku.
When they are not video editing, Nova makes music, draws, enjoys camping, and taking care of their cat Turbo.
After many years as a dancer, Allison entered UCLA as a dance major, transferred to theatre, graduated magna cum laude, and spent several years pursuing a dancing and acting career. She enjoyed some memorable gigs, including a national tour of a Broadway musical, entertaining U.S. troops in Bosnia, co-starring in a movie opposite James Franco, and EPing two Hallmark movies. She eventually moved out of performing and into choreographing and directing. Then, in early 2019, Allison saw the play Linda Vista at The Mark Taper Forum. It had the most realistic depictions of sex on stage she had ever seen. After some research, she learned of the new field of Intimacy Coordination. She traveled extensively, including to London, for IC training, and is now one of only 46 ICs on SAG’s IC Registry.
Tammy Ari is a Los Angeles based music composer who has splashed notes against a wide spectrum of film and television projects. Born in Australia and of Sri Lankan heritage, the elixir of her classical pianist roots, coupled with prior ventures as an EDM songwriter-producer, give her creations a unique sensory tone. She has worked with globally renowned production houses such as Quincy Jones Productions, Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions, and has also collaborated with The DA’s Office, Hyperballad Music, and Cleod9 Music. Tammy most recently scored In Her Nature (PBS), For Winter (National Geographic), Drug Lords: The Takedown (National Geographic), Tripped Up (Lunch Hour Productions), and more.
Gabriella is a composer and lyricist based in west L.A. A lifelong pianist and sometimes-guitar player and vocalist, she loves blending classical instrumentation with contemporary scoring approaches into her work for all genres of film. Her recent projects include Fern (Nominee: Best Comedy, New Young Filmmakers L.A.) and Jalopy (Nominee: Best Score, Short Sounds Film Fest). She was selected for the Composer Filmmaker Accelerator at the Vancouver International Film Festival, where the VSO performed her piece Cabin Games live-to-picture. She wrote the music and co-wrote the lyrics for the original musical Lucky (Winner: Best Lyrics, Chicago Musical Theatre Festival). She holds a Master’s degree in Music Composition (NYU) and a Bachelor’s in Piano Performance (University of Miami).
María Eugenia León is an award-winning film and concert music composer from the Canary Islands (Spain), based in Los Angeles. Her music is defined by strong melodies that take the audience on a transformative journey. In 2024, she was part of the VIFF Composer/Filmmaker Program, and in 2022 she won the Inaugural Composition Award from the Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra. Her scores have been recognized at the HMMAs (Inés Unfortunately), ISFMF (Flow, Inés Unfortunately, LAPSO), and more. The projects she has scored have been to Outfest and LALIFF (Inés Unfortunately), and Cannes Short Film Corner (Birthday), among others. León studied Piano at the Canary Islands Music Conservatory and she earned a Dual Bachelor’s Degree in Composition and Film Scoring, at Berklee College of Music.
Hope Bartimioli Thal (H.B. Thal) is a Los Angeles-based composer, producer, and songwriter whose work spans film, TV, and pop music. She’s contributed to acclaimed projects like Minari, The Woman King, and Presumed Innocent, and assisted composer Alex Geringas on titles including Trolls and Arlo the Alligator Boy. As a songwriter, her music has appeared on MTV, ESPN, Netflix, and The CW. She wrote the end-title song for No Time to Spy: A Loud House Movie (2024). Her composing credits include Trollstopia, I Heart Arlo, and American Girl: Kavi. Hope blends orchestration, songwriting, and production to deliver music that enhances story and emotion.
Hua-Hsuan Tseng is a composer and cellist based in Los Angeles, working under the name HUA. Her music blends Eastern and Western traditions, spanning classical, electronic, Chinese, and pop styles. She is known for combining traditional Chinese instruments with modern scoring techniques to create emotionally rich, cross-cultural soundscapes. Her credits include East West Players: A Home on Stage. She holds a Master’s in Music Composition for the Screen from Columbia College Chicago and a Bachelor’s in Chinese Music from the National Taiwan University of Arts.
Justine Ellen Chen is a genderqueer Chinese-American production designer and member of the Art Director’s Guild (Local 800). Chen is primarily interested in the way that environments can act as temporal archives, holding memory, texture, and emotion. Chen’s work has been screened at festivals such as Tribeca Film Festival, Palm Springs ShortFest, Outfest, and Frameline. Their design work on The Roof and Maxine can also be found in the Disney Launchpad Season 2 collection, streaming on Disney+. Most recently, the first feature they designed, SURRENDER, premiered at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. They are a lover of Taiwan New Wave films, Trinh T. Minh-ha, Elena Ferrante, and all things Kiarostami.
Brianna Murphy is a Production Designer and Art Director working toward membership in the Art Directors Guild, with over 15 years of experience in commercial film and branded content. A union Set Decorator, she specializes in crafting immersive environments that blend practical techniques with digital tools. While her background is rooted in commercial work, she is eager to expand further into narrative storytelling. Brianna is committed to workforce development across the industry and remains active in her home region through collaborations with the state film office, local training programs, and as Chair of the Local 488 mentorship committee.
Wenjing Cheryl Xia is a Los Angeles-based Production Designer with a passion for crafting immersive, detail-driven sets. A graduate of ArtCenter College of Design, she brings a unique blend of artistry and practicality to her work, excelling in hand-building props and designing award-winning visuals for commercials and short films. Cheryl’s creative journey started with painting, graphic design, and editing, skills that shape her storytelling today. Beyond the set, she explores ceramics and printmaking, fueling her hands-on approach to design. Committed to empowering women in film, Cheryl strives to foster inclusivity and mentor emerging talent, building a future where bold ideas and diverse voices take center stage.