Karen Hayes holds an M.F.A. in Film and TV Production from UCLA. Her production company, Ubuntu Motion Pictures, is devoted to telling stories that spark dialog about and promote equity, justice and healing. In AFI's Directing Workshop for Women she wrote, produced, and directed the short film An Incident in the Life of a Slave Girl, based on the autobiography of abolitionist Harriet Jacobs. Her recent feature documentary, A Better Way: James Lawson, Architect of Nonviolence, provides a fresh lens on the inner workings of the Nonviolence Movement of America through the untold story of Rev. James Lawson, the man Martin Luther King, Jr. called, 'the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world.” A Better Way has been featured at festivals such as: DOC NYC, African Diaspora International Film Festival and the Pan African Film Festival, among others.

Rana Kazkaz is an award-winning filmmaker and Associate Professor in Residence at Northwestern University Qatar, where she teaches narrative filmmaking. Her films have been recognized at the world’s leading film festivals, including Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Tallinn, Tribeca, and Abu Dhabi. She received her MFA from Carnegie Mellon University/Moscow Art Theater, and BA from Oberlin College. She is a member of the Académie des César, and was awarded fellowships with the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs, the American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop for Women, Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative and MacDowell. With a focus on Syrian stories, her producing, screenwriting, and directing portfolio includes The Translator (2020), Mare Nostrum (2016), Searching for the Translator (2016), Deaf Day (2011), and Kemo Sabe (2007).​ Her current film projects include The Foolishness of God: A Forgiveness Journey with Desmond Tutu, The Hakawati’s Daughter, and Honest Politics.

Sandra J. Evers-Manly is a visionary leader whose influence spans corporate leadership, film, philanthropy, and civil rights advocacy. An Emmy Award winning producer and the founder and President of the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center (BHERC), she has dedicated her life to advancing equity, preserving Black history, advocating for diversity and inclusion in Hollywood, and beyond. She is a founding donor of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. A graduate of the University of Southern California and a Wharton’s Executive Management Program. Evers-Manly began her professional career at Northrop Grumman, as a summer intern which evolved into a distinguished 40-year career.

Steve Williams is a Story Teller, building on his multi-faceted history in the entertainment industry, producing projects that touch the human spirit. As a Producer, Steven developed a vehicle to carry his creative vision in Kite Flyer Productions which he founded in 2017 after a decade long career as an executive at NBC Universal. Steven’s diverse background includes multimedia experience— radio production, music recording and producing, film and television sound design, and sound supervision. His awards as a producer include the Grammy and IDA’s Best Documentary Series Award for The Defiant Ones.

Treva Etienne is an established stage and screen actor, writer, producer and director. He has just finished shooting The Kennedy’s, an upcoming 8 part drama series that uncovers the intimate truths at the heart of one of America’s most notorious dynasties, airing in 2027. He guest starred as Jacques Avril in season 6 of the Amazon Prime crime drama Bosch after his introduction in season 5.  He is also featured in the horror movie WitchHunt and starred in the indie comedy Acts of Desperation. His other TV credits include Black Earth Rising, a Netflix/BBC 8 part political drama, Criminal Minds-Beyond Borders, SuperNatural, Death in Paradise, Undercovers, The Philanthropist, 24, Criminal Minds, Medium, Charmed, Angel & Threat Matrix.

Jesseca Ynez Simmons is an accomplished filmmaker who employs a sensorial approach exploring ways for form to be an extension of content. Recurring themes in her work include music, social justice, the environment, gender, and female perspectives.  Her achievements include the Director’s Award for Artistic Merit from the Santa Cruz Film Festival for her documentary, I CAN ONLY BE MARY LANE, and recognition from the American Society of Cinematographers for her work on EMERALD ICE, a short 'docufantasy' exploring the life of American Poet Diane Wakoski. She is the Founder of the Dayton Independent Film Festival and served as its Director from 2019 to 2022. She is currently finishing her feature debut MEDUSA, which explores this liminal figure in a modern context.

João Queiroga is a Portuguese director, performer, and educator whose practice moves between documentary and performance. His work explores erasure, resilience, identity, and belonging, often centring marginalized voices and stories that are too often overlooked. His films have screened at festivals including IDFA, Hot Docs, BFI Flare, and DocLisboa, and are known for their hybrid forms and attention to underrepresented perspectives. His professional work spans filmmaking, curation, and education. He has collaborated with Cinema/Chicago, the Chicago International Film Festival, and Chicago Filmmakers, worked on assignments for WGN-TV, the Beijing International Movie Festival, and the Cannes Film Festival, and served as an editor and cinematographer for Fortune 500 companies. Formerly a Department Chair at the New York Film Academy, he is now Associate Professor and Chair of the Film + Design Minor at Northwestern University in Qatar.