2023 Lake Placid Film Festival

Barbara DeFina made her start in the film industry working as a production assistant and worked her way up through various production capacities, eventually acting as a production coordinator on over 15 films, including Paul Mazursky’s AN UNMARRIED WOMAN, THE GAMBLER, THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123, THE VALACHI PAPERS and Woody Allen’s INTERIORS.

Ms. DeFina then became associate producer for Rupert Hitzig and Alan King’s company King/Hitzig Productions.  There she developed feature film properties including CATTLE ANNIE AND LITTLE BRITCHES, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GEMINI and WOLFEN as well as a number of television movies and TV pilots.

She worked as unit manager/associate producer with Jay Presson Allen on Sidney Lumet’s highly acclaimed PRINCE OF THE CITY and as unit manager for a number of Universal and Spelling/Goldberg television productions, including PAPER DOLLS and THE EQUALIZER.  She was also unit manager on the film THE CHOSEN.

Ms. DeFina then became associated with filmmaker Sean Cunningham, working as associate producer on SPRING BREAK and THE NEW KIDS.

She began her association with Martin Scorsese on THE KING OF COMEDY where she worked as unit manager during post production.  She then produced with Irving Axelrad, THE COLOR OF MONEY and then served as producer on BAD, Scorsese’s music video with Michael Jackson.

She produced the following films with Scorsese directing: THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, the LIFE LESSONS segment of NEW YORK STORIES, CAPE FEAR, THE AGE OF INNOCENCE, CASINO, KUNDUN, BRINGING OUT THE DEAD as well as his documentaries MY VOYAGE TO ITALY and MADE IN MILAN and DANGEROUS EDGE a documentary about Graham Green. She executive produced Scorsese’s films GOODFELLAS and HUGO.

Ms. DeFina also worked with the director Stephen Frears, executive producing THE GRIFTERS, and producing THE HI LO COUNTRY.  She produced KICKED IN THE HEAD with Matthew Harrison directing and YOU CAN COUNT ON ME with Kenneth Lonergan directing as well as THE MESMERIST with Gil Cates, Jr. directing, BRIDES with Pantelis Voulgaris directing and LYMELIFE with Derick Martini directing.  

She is currently developing ME THE MOB AND THE MUSIC based on the book of the same title by Tommy James and Martin Fitzpatrick and CASSINO IN ISCHIA directed by Frank Ciota and written by Joe Ciota to be shot in Italy.

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Paul Hardart (Moderator): Paul Hardart is the Director of the Entertainment, Media and Technology Program at New York University (NYU). Paul is also a partner in the online storytelling platform Witnify, which captures and curates first-person accounts of important world events. He has produced a number of critically acclaimed feature films and documentaries, including MARY AND MAX, ANNIE LEIBOVITZ: LIFE THROUGH A LENS and BEFORE THE RAINS. He is an active speaker at conferences and panels related to media and technology.

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Before joining NYU Stern, Paul was the founding director of the Graduate Program in Media Management at The New School. He has guest lectured at the University of California Los Angeles, The American Film Institute, Columbia University, Temple University and the University of California at San Diego. He founded and ran Universal Focus, the independent film label of Universal Pictures. During his tenure there, he oversaw the release of such films as BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, PITCH BLACK, NURSE BETTY and BILLY ELLIOT. He also created Universal Pictures’ library management program, overseeing the restoration and re-issue of Alfred Hitchcock’s REAR WINDOW and the re-edit of Orson Welles’s TOUCH OF EVIL. Prior to Universal Focus, he oversaw strategic planning for Universal Pictures, which included launching new businesses and helping shape the Studio’s long-term strategy. He has also held senior positions at Warner Brothers and Turner Broadcasting and began his career at ABC Sports, CNBC and The Newark Star-Ledger.

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A trailblazing and prolific American film producer who has left her mark on the film industry. Ms. DeFina’s films have entertained and inspired audiences around the world, and her commitment to education, diversity, and inclusion has made a real difference.  

Among her major credits are such winning films as Goodfellas, Casino, Hugo, Cape Fear, The Color of Money, Age of Innocence, and Last Temptation of Christ – to name a few.

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Ms. DeFina will be featured in casual conversation with Paul Hardart, clinical professor of Marketing at the Stern School of Business at NYU.  Paul has produced and collaborated on a number of feature films including Max and Mary, Billy Elliott, and Being John Malkovich.

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Order of Event:

5:30 - 6:30 Welcome cocktails, open bar, light hors d’oeuvres in the High Peaks Lobby Bar

6:30 - 7:00 Cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres served in the High Peaks Ballroom

7:00 - 7:30 Conversation with Barbara DeFina and Paul Hardart

7:30 - 8:00 Red Carpet photos and more food and drinks in the Lobby Bar.

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Gary Smith (Moderator) - Chairman Adirondack Film

Eric Granger has been telling stories and entertaining since 1982. First with his songs, then on stage; performing and directing more than 20 live productions. By 1991, he began writing while Technical Directing the Lake Placid Center for the Arts and wrote Four Murder Mysteries and a Full Length Musical. He recently released a book of short adventures on KINDLE:  One Baby Boomer's Journey.

Eric’s written 20 songs including the Empire State Winter Games new anthem and has won two Grand Prizes in Nashville's Paramount Song songwriting Competition. 

He’s worked on many TV and Film productions. In 2015 as a Location Production Manager for a Feature shot in Costa Rica and recently appointed as a Film Festival Judge at the BERLIN International Cinefest, The Lake Placid Film Festival, and the NYC Independent Film Festivals. Founder of Aracari Films. Currently directors of the Adirondack Film Commission and the Lake Placid Film Festival shorts competition.

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https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm9421475/?

https://www.aracarifilms.com/

https://www.ericpgranger.com/

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Jerry Stoeffhaas served as the Deputy Director of the New York State Governor’s Office for Motion Picture and Television Development for over 20 years before retiring last year. He worked with film and TV productions across the state and helped launch the state’s highly successful Film Production Tax Credits, and continues to serve as Senior Advisor. Prior to that he was the founder and Director of the Rochester/Finger Lakes Film and Video Office, the first dedicated film office in Upstate New York.

 After receiving his MFA in Film from Syracuse University he worked as an independent Location Manager covering Central and Western New York.

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With his creative partner Jeff Ureles, Stoeffhaas co-wrote, produced and directed the feature film Cheap Shots, filmed in Batavia, which had a limited US theatrical run via Hemdale and played at festivals around the world, including Sundance, London, Tel Aviv, and Tokyo.  After receiving his MFA in Film from Syracuse University he worked as an independent Location Manager covering Central and Western New York.

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Stoeffhaas is a member of the Writers Guild of America, East since 1980 and has taught screenwriting, film production and criticism at various Upstate institutions including Syracuse University, Writers & Books and Rochester Institute of Technology.

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He was recently honored by the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival with its Local Service Award, in recognition of his significant contributions to the Western New York film industry.

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During her 30 year career in film, theater, and live events, Pamela Cederquist has produced, directed, and written multiple projects. In 2020, she was nominated for a WGA award, Dramatic Series, for her Charles Manson episode of MINDHUNTER, directed by David Fincher for Netflix. She is currently residing in France and developing a feature film franchise based on a series of books.

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Kris Lefcoe is a multi-award-winning director-writer whose work has screened at SXSW, TIFF, NBC, IFC, and the Sundance Channel. Her half-hour pilot, GIVING UP, Executive Produced by David Wain and developed with Imagine Television, won top prizes at Seriesfest and New York Television Festival. Kris made her network directing debut on the NBC comedy SUPERSTORE.

Her award-winning feature film, “PUBLIC DOMAIN”, premiered at SXSW and was installed at Art Basel Miami. Kris teaches on the faculty of the MFA Film and TV program at Stony Brook University, SUNY, and is currently developing her second feature film as well as a new series with Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

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Kris Lefcoe is a multi-award-winning director-writer whose work has screened at SXSW, TIFF, NBC, IFC, and the Sundance Channel. Her half-hour pilot, GIVING UP, Executive Produced by David Wain and developed with Imagine Television, won top prizes at Seriesfest and New York Television Festival. Kris made her network directing debut on the NBC comedy SUPERSTORE. 

Her award-winning feature film, “PUBLIC DOMAIN”, premiered at SXSW and was installed at Art Basel Miami. Kris teaches on the faculty of the MFA Film and TV program at Stony Brook University, SUNY, and is currently developing her second feature film as well as a new series with Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

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During her 30 year career in film, theater, and live events, Pamela Cederquist has produced, directed, and written multiple projects. In 2020, she was nominated for a WGA award, Dramatic Series, for her Charles Manson episode of MINDHUNTER, directed by David Fincher for Netflix. She is currently residing in France and developing a feature film franchise based on a series of books.

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Yoni Bokser, Executive Director, NYS Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & Television Development (Moderator)

As Executive Director of MPTV, Yoni works with government and industry partners to facilitate film and TV production across New York State. MPTV serves as the primary liaison between NYS and entertainment production industry, coordinating with state agencies and marketing New York's amazing talent, locations, and incentives. In addition to managing MPTV, he focuses on New Media and the economic recovery of Broadway and theater. Mr. Bokser has been with Empire State Development since 2015, working to grow jobs and opportunities across NYS through industry outreach and education and the creation and implementation of targeted recovery programs. He has worked with unions, universities, media companies, local government, and legislators to craft programs and policies to ensure that New York has a highly trained workforce that represents New York’s diversity and is ready to meet the demands of the state's ever-changing and growing arts and media industry. Yoni Bokser is a lifelong New Yorker, with over a decade of experience working in government, politics, policy and economic development at the city, state, federal, and international levels.

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Tim Clark was named Director of the Buffalo Niagara Film Office in 2006. He serves as Film Commissioner for the Western Region of New York State. In that role he is responsible for marketing the region to the worldwide film, television and commercial production industry.

He has assisted in bringing some of the biggest movie studios to the area including film productions from Universal Pictures, Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney and many others. In addition, he has helped to draw numerous independent feature movies with stars such as Bradley Cooper, Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Keanu Reeves, Kate Hudson, Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon, and the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

Clark has also aided in bringing hundreds of television shows to Western New York including NBC’s “The Office,” History Channel’s “Top Gear” and ABC Television’s “Mega-stunt” program featuring Nik Wallenda walking live over Niagara Falls to a global TV audience.

In January 2020, he was elected Chairman of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) a worldwide organization representing over 300 film offices on 6 different continents. In that role he served two years and worked closely with movie studio executives, screen sector professionals and colleagues around the world to develop global policy used in the making of motion pictures. He also helped lead the AFCI and the motion picture industry through the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Clark holds a BA in Communications from Canisius College, and he graduated from Canisius High School in Buffalo. He was awarded the degree of “Certified Film Commissioner” from AFCI University signifying achievement of the highest level of accomplishment in the profession. He is also a board member of Mercy Flight of Western New York and life member of the National Eagle Scout Association, Boy Scouts of America. As a life-long Western New Yorker, Tim Clark relies on a deep network of contacts to assist in servicing the numerous productions that shoot in our region.

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Debby Goedeke is currently the Albany County Film Commissioner for Film Albany, a division of Discover Albany, and Destination Services Manager of Discover Albany. Debby has been in that role for over 19 years. Since 2000 Debby has also worked as Vice-President of Meetings & Conventions for Empire Meeting Solutions, Guilderland, NY, and a Corporate Sales Manager for the Crowne Plaza Albany hotel. Debby assists all of her clients by matching up the right "Albany" resource for their film shoots, conferences, conference needs, sporting tournaments, and corporate meetings. Debby continues to work with the motion picture industry, and independent film community and assists documentaries, commercials, and television projects. Debby has worked with SALT, The Other Guys, Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight, Fourth Man Out, As You Are, The Pretenders, Then Came You, The Punisher, HBO Successions, Amazon's Modem Love, Mother's Milk, HBO White House Plumbers, Gilded Age, Showtime's 3 Women, The Good Mother, and other feature film/television productions.

Debby is a member of Film USA, one of the founding members of the Capital Region & Adirondack Film Alliance, Advisory Member of Upstate Women in Film and Television, Regional Film Commission Member of the New York Production Alliance, Capital Region Chamber Member, Destinations International Member, Professional Convention Management Association Member and Past President of the Northeast Chapter of Meeting Professionals International.

Debby is a native of Keene, NY in the High Peaks region. Debby, in her spare time, enjoys running and participating in triathlons and marathons. Debby and her husband Art live in Delmar, NY with their fur babies Echo and Nova.

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Kirk Sullivan is a filmmaker based in the Adirondacks. He graduated from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, worked on various Hollywood film productions (Sherlock Holmes, The Losers), is a member of the Writer’s Guild of America, has written screenplays for a handful of major studios (Lionsgate, New Line Cinema, and Sony Pictures), and has produced and directed commercials for Disney, Olay, Instacart, Expensify, and the Joe Biden Presidential Campaign.

Alex Abramovich wrote the New Yorker recent profile of Paul Schrader. He writes regularly for the London Review of Books and teaches at NYU

Mitch Teich has served as the station manager at North Country Public Radio since 2019, capping nearly three decades of work as a public radio journalist.  His career has included 14 years as executive producer and co-host of a daily interview show in Milwaukee, and reporting work in Arizona, Minnesota, and Iowa.  Today, he also produces and hosts NCPR’s interview podcast and radio show, “North Words,” and writes a weekly humor column with the same name.  He lives in Potsdam with his wife and two children and spends his free time trying to find his reading glasses.

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Philip's creative career began at a young age making short family films on VCR tapes while growing up in the suburbs of Boston, MA. In college, he started to explore the theatre & film world while earning his Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics from Boston College.

Philip moved to Los Angeles and learned the business side of the industry during his time as a Business Affairs Analyst at HBO where he worked with on financial components of major series such as “The Sopranos”, “Sex and the City”, Six Feet Under”, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “The Wire”. It was during his time in Los Angeles that Philip met the original founders of Catalyst (then called ITVFest) and developed a deeper understanding of the need to better connect independent story artists with the larger industry companies. In 2012, Philip was brought on board as Catalyst's Executive Director.

Philip has also served on the Board of Governors of the Boston/New England Chapter of the National Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences, and currently sits on the Duluth, MN Public Arts Commission.

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Philip's creative career began at a young age making short family films on VCR tapes while growing up in the suburbs of Boston, MA. In college, he started to explore the theatre & film world while earning his Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics from Boston College.

Philip moved to Los Angeles and learned the business side of the industry during his time as a Business Affairs Analyst at HBO where he worked with on financial components of major series such as “The Sopranos”, “Sex and the City”, Six Feet Under”, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “The Wire”. It was during his time in Los Angeles that Philip met the original founders of Catalyst (then called ITVFest) and developed a deeper understanding of the need to better connect independent story artists with the larger industry companies. In 2012, Philip was brought on board as Catalyst's Executive Director.

Philip has also served on the Board of Governors of the Boston/New England Chapter of the National Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences, and currently sits on the Duluth, MN Public Arts Commission.

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Philip's creative career began at a young age making short family films on VCR tapes while growing up in the suburbs of Boston, MA. In college, he started to explore the theatre & film world while earning his Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics from Boston College.

Philip moved to Los Angeles and learned the business side of the industry during his time as a Business Affairs Analyst at HBO where he worked with on financial components of major series such as “The Sopranos”, “Sex and the City”, Six Feet Under”, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “The Wire”. It was during his time in Los Angeles that Philip met the original founders of Catalyst (then called ITVFest) and developed a deeper understanding of the need to better connect independent story artists with the larger industry companies. In 2012, Philip was brought on board as Catalyst's Executive Director.

Philip has also served on the Board of Governors of the Boston/New England Chapter of the National Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences, and currently sits on the Duluth, MN Public Arts Commission.

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A native of Chicago, Jeff Bass worked more than a decade in the film, television, and video production industries.  His television work was for local stations and cable systems, as well as national networks including the Family Channel and the Discovery Channel.  Corporate clients included Borg-Warner, Raytheon, General Electric, and the Chicago International Auto Show.

Jeff began teaching part-time in 1998, and taught communication classes at several Chicago-area campuses.  In 1999, he created the Television and Video Production concentration within the communication major at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Between 2003 and 2005, Jeff taught English and western culture for three semesters in China.

Since coming to Marist in 2005, Jeff has produced numerous videos with student crews. Internal clients include the School of Computer Science and Mathematics, the Institute for Data Center Professionals, Student Financial Services, and Marist International Programs.  Among the off-campus clients are the Walkway Over the Hudson, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Home and Library, and the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department.

Jeff has been certified to teach Avid Media Composer since 2008.  Media Composer is the industry standard for film and video editing.  Jeff has guided hundreds of students to professional certification in Media Composer.  Jeff also certifies students in Adobe applications.

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Candice "Candy" Cain is an award-winning writer and director, not to mention owner of the independent production company Gemelli Films. With 16 feature films and three television series under her belt, Candice is best known for her heartwarming Christmas films and wholesome content. By the end of 2023, she and Gemelli Films will have released four new holiday titles with at least one more feature "in the can" with an expected 2024 release.

Christina Raia is a New York based Writer/Director who focuses on character-driven and socially conscious horror and comedy, using genre as a lens to represent, discuss and dissect social issues, otherness and real world anxieties. Her work, consisting of a dozen short films, a web series, and two feature films, has screened at regional festivals all across the country, most recently at Sidewalk Film Festival and Chattanooga Film Festival, and has been covered on various press outlets, such as Indiewire and BuzzFeed. Her mixed race background and particularly her mother's Indo-Trinidadian culture play a major role in Christina's interest in portraying underrepresented perspectives across diverse spectrums of identity in her writing and directing. In 2021, Christina was selected for film incubator Breaking Light Studio, where Lilly Wachowski serves as head of creative development. Through them, Christina has begun development of her next feature, a horror-comedy titled Silent Night, the first draft of which was a 2016 quarter finalist in Slamdance’s Screenplay Competition. Learn more about Christina and her work at christinaraia.com.

Jonathan Burkhart A little too early in his youth, 13, Jonathan worked at a television station on Nantucket Island where he operated camera for the 5:30pm news, then he was promoted to technical director at age 15, then director of news. After college Jonathan worked on dozens of television shows and feature films. Some feature film credits include Spike Lee's “Do the Right Thing” and “Mo' Better Blues,” “Mountain View” for John Sayles, “A Better Tomorrow” for John Woo, “Dazed and Confused” for Richard Linklater, “Roommates” for Peter Yates, and “Reversal  of Fortune” for Barbet Schroeder. 

Having his fill in the camera department, Jonathan went on to produce independent film, television, and theater. He produced the award-winning film “Baby Steps” starring Kathy Bates, written and directed by Geoffrey Nauffts. Jonathan has also produced several other feature films: “Higher Ground,” directed by Vera Farmiga, starring Vera, John Hawkes, Josh Leonard, Norbert Leo Butz. “Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding,” directed by Bruce Beresford, starring Jane  Fonda, Catherine Keener, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Elizabeth Olsen, “The Last Keepers”  directed by Maggie Greenwald, starring Aiden Quinn, Virginia Madsen, and Olympia Dukakis,  and “Rhymes with Banana” directed by Joe Muszynski and Peter Hutchings. Starring Zosia  Mamet and Jee Young Han. Jonathan also produced “I Dream Too Much”, starring Eden Brolin,  and License Plates, starring Robert Gorrie, “The Independent” by Greg Naughton, and “Little”  Faith by Milena Lurie. Most recently Jonathan produced Keith Bearden’s “Antarctica” starring  Kimie Muroya and Chloe Levine. 

Television projects include the scripted episodic series “Almost There”, starring Steven Pasquale, and Christopher Fitzgerald, "Ivy Dreams," a feature documentary for AZN, “Must Do Disney” for  Disney, The Super Bowl Half Time Show for the NFL, “Away We Go” by Jonathan Larson, and the  “Tomorrow is Tonight Show” starring Ben Stiller for Comedy Central. Jonathan has also produced  commercials for Time Warner, NY1, Honda, HGTV, The Walt Disney Company, Bionorica  Pharmaceutical, Chase Bank, Nintendo, American Express, Prudential Life, Verizon, and the Ford  Motor Company. Jonathan prefers producing so that he’s closer to spread sheets and the  accounting office. 

In theater, Jonathan produced the Tony nominated Broadway production of Mario Cantone’s  “Laugh Whore,” which he also produced as television special for The Showtime Networks. He  also produced the award-winning play “Avow” with Bill C. Davis, and the 10^th anniversary  production of “RENT” on Broadway with the original cast. And there was “In Search of Cleo”  written by and starring Gina Gershon performed at The Box, where drinks were free at the bar! 

After losing his dear friend Jenifer Estess to ALS, Jonathan joined the stunningly successful Project  ALS where he is most proud of his duties as event producer. 

But wait, there’s more: Jonathan is the co-founder and president of the Nantucket Film Festival,  dedicated to honoring screenwriters and their craft. The Festival launched in 1996 and has  honored writers including Ring Lardner Jr., Walter Bernstein, Charlie Kaufman, Jay Presson Allan,  James Schamus, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Jim Taylor, Alexander Payne, Paul Schrader, Steve  Martin, Judd Apatow, Harold Ramis, Barry Levinson, and David O. Russell. The film festival is  Jonathan’s only source of fun. 

Lastly, Jonathan is certified as an advanced trimix scuba diver and has dived all over the world  to depths as deep as 250’. When he can, he spends as much time underwater as possible.  Though this has nothing to do with producing, Jonathan has learned to breath efficiently under  water, which in turn tends to help during long shoot days.

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Karen Walton is a Canadian screenwriter and creative executive-producer whose critically-acclaimed work includes a modern cult horror classic, episodes/staff writing popular television series, and true-story Made For TV Movies. A celebrated graduate of the prestigious Canadian Film Centre’s Norman Jewison Film Program, Karen was born and raised in Nova Scotia, spent her teens and twenties in Alberta, where she earned a Bachelor of Honours in Drama. Karen's credits include penning her debut original screenplay for the independent Canadian feature film, Ginger Snaps (2000), episodes of the original US adaptation of Queer As Folk, as well as Flashpoint, The Listener, and Bell Media/BBC America’s sci-fi sensation, Orphan Black — starring Tatiana Maslany. Karen’s work as a screenwriter has been recognized with awards and honours from the Writers Guild of Canada, The Canadian Comedy Awards, The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists, the Toronto International Film Festival’s sole Special Jury Citation for Screenplay, a Women In Film and Television - Toronto’s Crystal Award for Mentorship, The Banff World Media Festival, and the Canadian Academy of Cinema & Television. Her career highlights include winning two Canadian Screen Awards for Best Dramatic Series as Co-EP of Orphan Black, Best Writing in a Movie or Mini-Series, and the Canadian Academy’s Margaret Collier Award for her contributions to the profession of screenwriting in Canada. Karen has lived and worked in the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples (now called Toronto), since 1994.

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Sol Miranda (she, her) was born & raised in Puerto Rico and is widely known for her roles as "mole woman" Donna Maria Nuñez on 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. Last year, Sol co-wrote a short film with Daniel titled Asynchronous which he directed, starring Adam LeFevre, Reed Birney & Sol. With a career that spans more than thirty years, she has performed in regional theaters, Off-Broadway, Puerto Rico & Europe.

Christina Raia is a New York based Writer/Director who focuses on character-driven and socially conscious horror and comedy, using genre as a lens to represent, discuss and dissect social issues, otherness and real world anxieties. Her work, consisting of a dozen short films, a web series, and two feature films, has screened at regional festivals all across the country, most recently at Sidewalk Film Festival and Chattanooga Film Festival, and has been covered on various press outlets, such as Indiewire and BuzzFeed. Her mixed race background and particularly her mother's Indo-Trinidadian culture play a major role in Christina's interest in portraying underrepresented perspectives across diverse spectrums of identity in her writing and directing. In 2021, Christina was selected for film incubator Breaking Light Studio, where Lilly Wachowski serves as head of creative development. Through them, Christina has begun development of her next feature, a horror-comedy titled Silent Night, the first draft of which was a 2016 quarter finalist in Slamdance’s Screenplay Competition. Learn more about Christina and her work at christinaraia.com.

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