2025 Filmmaker Q&As

Ben, a Filipino-Cantonese-German director from the Bay Area, earned his BFA at NYU Tisch. He co-directed Delicates with Kyle Petersen, screening at this year’s Bushwick Film Festival.

Claire McClain is a queer bi-coastal actor, multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker, based in Los Angeles. Claire is the writer/producer of Riis, which is screening at the Bushwick Film Festival this year

Mekhai Lee, Charlotte-born filmmaker and HBO Succession Fellow, created For the Boys and NAACP-winning short Them That’s Not.

LA-based animator Ashley Sengstaken blends analog and digital techniques; her work spans Atlanta, The People’s Joker, The Eric Andre Show, and more.

Berlin filmmaker Oliver Moser, a dffb graduate, debuts with The Color of Air after award-nominated screenplays and festival-screened shorts.

French Caribbean-born filmmaker Shareina, also an award-winning copywriter, blends global perspective, wit, and humor in her storytelling across mediums.

Max Scherr, Russian-born director and Harvard graduate, creates films, music videos, and screenplays, drawing on seven years of production experience.

Kelli Miller, creative director of And/Or Studio, debuts with Is That All There Is?. Her design credits include films by Reichardt and Hittman.

Carlos Cardona, Colombian-American filmmaker from New York, directed Sundance standout Chiqui and creates narrative and documentary work exploring identity.

Delia Mayer, Swiss director, producer, and actor, debuted with $HARE’s pilot. Known for Netflix’s Unorthodox, she’s performed worldwide.

Brooklyn filmmaker Sofia Dobrushin, Ars Nova CAMP resident, directs and performs comedy-driven work uplifting queer, BIPOC, and female-centered stories.

NYC filmmaker Mark Reyes, acclaimed for The Nightwalker at Fantasia, crafts surreal, mixed-media films screening at festivals worldwide.

Miski Omar is a Somali-Australian filmmaker and writer exploring communication, identity, and culture, weaving clinical insight into compelling creative narratives.

Brooklyn filmmaker Camila Grimaldi, co-founder of Ser Nocturna, has award-winning shorts at Sundance, SXSW, and HollyShorts; 2023 Film Independent Fellow.

Emma Josephson, queer filmmaker and AFI DWW+ finalist, creates surrealist stories like Bury Your Fish, screening at top festivals.

Lillie Wojcik Foster, Brooklyn-based director, writer, and editor, crafts character-driven films exploring vulnerability, autonomy, and authentic human transformation.

Brooklyn filmmaker Madison Bolatto debuted with The Being (2024). Her surreal, spiritual films blend grief, absurdity, and subconscious exploration.

Jordan Aaron Hall, Harlem-born actor and creator, debuts Graduation Day as writer-director-producer after credits in POSE, Rustin, and more.

Morgan Gruer is a Writer/Director creating sharp, female-driven stories. Her short Fire at Will premiered Tribeca 2025, winning acclaim.

Iranian filmmaker Sheida Makaremi debuts Tie Your Hair, blending suspense and emotion after years acting and assisting in film and theater.

Nana Duffuor is a New York-based Ghanaian filmmaker whose award-winning, heartfelt work explores personal and political themes with humor.

Anjini Taneja Azhar, LA-based filmmaker and former Star Trek actor, directs award-winning shorts including 2025 Shore Scripts Grand Jury winner Nanu.

Patrick is an LA-based actor, writer, and director crafting intimate, true-story films that inspire social change with humor and heart.

Serena Dykman is a NY-based “culture-clasher” filmmaker whose award-winning work—including Nana and Babka—explores humor, heart, and human connection worldwide.

Tom Bentey is a Jersey-born filmmaker, actor, and educator, founder of Suburbanite Productions, with credits in film, TV, and theater.

Samantha is a NYC-born filmmaker and actor; her award-winning work includes Tales of a Shadowboxer and Saint Vegas, showcasing dynamic storytelling.

Usman Ally is a filmmaker and actor; his award-winning short Emigre/Americana and acclaimed script Mimi and Saad garnered critical praise.

Micah Khan is a filmmaker behind 30+ shorts, acclaimed Meetcute on Danceworld, and feature The Zombie Wedding.