2025 FLOW PANELISTS
Sawyer Spielberg is a NY-based actor and was most recently seen on Apple TV+’s series, Masters of the Air and Celine Songs film Materialists. He has starred in the films: Honeydew, Merry Good Enough, Christmas Eve In Miller's Point (which premiered at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight) and won Best Actor at Golden Door International Film Festival for his performance in Martyr of Gowanus. Additionally, he played Officer Brent Sherman in On The End opposite Tim Blake Nelson and will star in the new WW2 survival drama Turret along side Billy Howle. Spielberg is repped by Swiontek Entertainment; Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman; and Narrative PR.
Wendy Lobel is a director and Emmy Award-winning producer whose work explores the complexities of the human experience. With three decades of experience, her projects have been featured on networks such as PBS, A&E, VH1, MSNBC, Nickelodeon and more. Wendy produced over 25 episodes of the acclaimed children’s series Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, including Worried Sick: Living with Anxiety. Other notable projects include Inside TV Land: Primetime Politics, MSNBC Investigates: The Mating Game (doc specials), the PBS documentary shorts Women in Science & Technology and Mothers and Sons, and the short film The Power of Positivity. ANXIETY CLUB (2024 DOC NYC Film Festival) marks Wendy’s debut as a feature director. Drawing on her personal experiences with anxiety, she brought a heartfelt authenticity and profound understanding of its themes to this film. Wendy is a member of the Producers Guild of America and the Television Academy. She also serves as Vice President of Angelight Films, a nonprofit that empowers children with brain tumors to create their own short films.
Martin A. Gottlieb (AKA Martin Grey) is from Brooklyn, NY and now lives in Los Angeles. A graduate of the University of Colorado - Boulder, he’s an award-winning actor/writer/producer and photographer. As an actor he’s worked in films as diverse as Ghost World, The Natural, The Odd Couple, The Cherokee Kid and About Fifty. On stage, he was honored with a Los Angeles Drama-Logue award for best actor in Friends. Marty also had starring roles on television shows like Bones, Life, Cold Case, CSI: Miami, X-Files, Desperate Housewives, ER and NYPD Blue. He made his writing, producing and directorial debut with the original half hour comedy On and On. About Fifty, his first film (as co-writer/producer/actor) was bought and distributed by Screen Media after winning several festival awards including Audience Favorite at the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival. The Addiction of Hope marks his feature film directorial debut. His goal as a filmmaker is to move people.
Paul Nevison is an Australian writer/director known for his honest and evocativestorytelling. With experiencefilming in over 40 countries, he creates intimate cinematicportraits that blur the lines between fact andfiction.His latest shortfilm,InAbsence, starring Christopher James Baker and Jack LaTorre, wonBest Drama at the UK’s Ignite Film Festival and has screened at Oscar and BAFTAqualifying festivals.Paul also directed the true crime feature documentaryEvilGood, which follows PhoenixVice Detective Victor Escoto as he confronts his family entangled with Mexican drugcartels in 2000s Arizona.Paul is a member of Nicky Weinstock’s ‘CraftServices’,a select group of writer/directorsmentored by the seasoned Hollywood producer behind hit projects likeSeveranceandEscapefromDannemora.Paul is developing a slate of featurefilms and a documentary series in collaboration withindustry partners in Australia and the UK. His work has been recognised at Cannes LionsYoung Director Award, Ciclope, 1.4 Awards, Kinsale Sharks and GZDOC.
Brian Meere is a producer, writer and director who, for over 20 years, has created content for some of television’s most prestigious networks. He’s produced documentaries and series for brands such as NETFLIX, HISTORY, DISCOVERY, A&E, VH1, TRAVEL, MSNBC, H2, ID & MTV. His television work has been executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson. Also, his work on History’s The World Wars helped the series earn an EMMY nomination for Best Unscripted Mini-Series. His extensive work in unscripted television helped prepare Brian for his first narrative feature, Martyr of Gowanus, which is both a passion project and a personal story based on real life events.
Nick Maccarone is an actor, writer, filmmaker, and educator, currently serving as Co-Director of the BFA Acting Program at Florida State University. His acting credits include Scandal, Law & Order: SVU, Unforgettable, Eye Candy, Elementary, Girls Against Boys, and Americana, with stage performances at the Guthrie Theatre, Ally Theatre, and La MaMa.
As a writer, Nick contributed to Backstage and has worked as a casting reader for Broadway. He has delivered two TEDx Talks, including one on empowering actors and artists, titled "6 Ways Actors and Artists Can Empower Themselves."
Nick’s latest project, the feature film Sonny Boy, is currently screening at film festivals nationwide.
Daniel Klein is a two-time Student Academy Award-winning writer for the short films It’s Just A Gun (2016) and Esta Es Tu Cuba (2018), the latter featured on HBO/MAX. Klein previously wrote and directed the short AB-, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and screened at festivals worldwide. Klein co-wrote the feature screenplay “91 Miles”, which was selected for The Sundance Screenwriters Lab. Klein is a tenured professor at DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts, where he chairs the MFA in Film and Television Directing. Taste The Revolution is Klein’s first feature film.
With nearly twenty years of experience in film and television production, Jackie Krichevsky has successfully produced projects across various budget levels and formats, including immersive media, short film, new media, independent film, and documentary. She has also managed production for both studio feature films and television shows, including Pretty Little Liars, Dollface, and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. Currently, Jackie serves as the Manager of Production Innovation for Disney Entertainment Television, where she oversees the use of virtual production and other innovative technologies across the Disney television slate. Jackie’s projects have been shown at festivals worldwide, distributed on StudioCanal’s former digital platform, Studio+, and one of her new media projects, Twentyfiveish, being named Indiewire’s crowdfunding project of the year and being shown at the Tribeca Creator’s Market. Jackie also serves as one of four physical production committee co-chairs for the Producers Guild of America.
Alysha Haran’s career began in theater before transitioning to LA, where she produced commercials and music videos for several years. After a change in travel plans saved her from the events of 9/11, she spent seventeen years serving globally in the US Navy. She is passionate about blending her artistic and military experiences into a unique narrative. Her short films have screened at festivals worldwide and have collected numerous awards, including the Archer Award Best of Festival and Best Director Short Film for "Stone Garden" at Idyllwild Festival of Cinema, and Best Director Short Film for "Homeward Dawn" at Pasadena International Film Festival. From 2020 to 2025, Alysha worked for Disney Television Studios as Senior Manager of Health and Safety, facilitating Covid-19 protocols as well as supporting environmental sustainability efforts across shows. Currently, she is Chief Operating Officer for the Chula Vista Entertainment Complex, overseeing development and production operations as the facility is launched.
Rebekah Wiggins is a director whose work often centers on bold, female-driven narratives that explore themes of isolation, fraught family bonds, and transformation through grief. With 18 years of experience in the industry as a SAG-AFTRA actor, screenwriter, director, Chubbuck Acting Technique Teacher, and intimacy coordinator, she has developed a deep appreciation for how story, performance, and collaboration intersect to create impactful work. Her recent credits include Love Lies Bleeding (A24), OPUS (A24) and Netflix’s American Primeval, where she worked as an intimacy coordinator alongside directors Rose Glass and Peter Berg, and actors such as Kristen Stewart, John Malkovich, and Ayo Edebiri. She’s also directed award-winning shorts, and her female-driven gothic western, Vicious Kin, is currently in development.
David Arrow (Writer/Director) wrote and directed the award-winning short film Five Questions, which premiered at the 2023 New York Shorts International Film Festival and has gone on to win over 100 awards at film festivals and IMDb-qualified awards events. David also wrote the screenplay for the award-winning short film Rules of Love, which he starred in opposite Judy Greer. He wrote and starred in the Off-Broadway play Kennedy: Bobby's Last Crusade, which was filmed and distributed by Broadway on Demand. David has appeared in several feature films, including; Joseph’s Gift, Igby Goes Down, Hostage, Moon Creek Cemetery, Deadly Secrets of a Cam Girl, and the starring role in The Dot Man, directed by Bruno Coppola. His television credits include: Jon Benjamin Has a Van, Days of Our Lives, Growing Pains, Passions, the HBO series 12 Miles of Bad Road, Comedy Central’s Broad City and as Captain Andrew Sutherland on AMC’s TURN. David trained as an actor at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
James Mottern is an award-winning screenwriter and director. A recipient of the Academy Nicholl Award for Screenwriting, Mottern began his career in television documentaries for Discovery and BBC. He later wrote and directed the acclaimed film TRUCKER starring Michelle Monaghan about a female long-haul truck driver's search for identity and personal freedom. His film BY THE GUN starring Harvey Keitel and Ben Barnes tells the story of a young mob hitman who seeks to find the truth in a system of lies and corruption. Mottern's documentary film MARK, WHAT'S THE PLAN? is an unflinching look at social media and the man who controls the minds of billions including children, all for profit. Mottern's film company American Stories is now producing the feature documentary A BEAST TOUCH THE MOUNTAIN: Mountain Valley Pipeline and the Fight for Appalachia which he also directs.
Melody Roscher premiered her short film WHITE WEDDING at Sundance Film Festival; it played at dozens of festivals around the world including Aspen Shorts Fest and Stockholm Int’l Festival. Starring Nabiya Be (DAISY JONES & THE SIX), J. Smith Cameron (HBO’s SUCCESSION), and Curtiss Cook (Showtime’s THE CHI). As a producer, Melody’s work with Borderline Films’ directors Antonio Campos, Sean Durkin, and Josh Mond garnered her many accolades, including a Piaget Producer's Independent Spirit Award nomination. Her credits include CHRISTINE, JAMES WHITE, SIMON KILLER, and Sundance winner MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, and documentaries such as HBO’s THE JINX and Netflix's THREE MILE ISLAND by Oscar-nominated director Kief Davidson. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Melody splits her time between Brooklyn and Richmond, Virginia.
Edward Tyndall’s award-winning documentaries have screened at top international film festivals including the Tribeca and BFI London film festivals. His films have aired on television in the US and Canada and been distributed internationally. His fiction has been published nationally in anthology and through literary journals. Originally from Durham, North Carolina he now calls Denver, Colorado home.
Dustin Whitehead is filmmaker and theatre artist based in Columbia SC. Dustin can be seen in numerous independent films as well as the nationally televised shows Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, and Your Worst Nightmare. He has produced multiple feature films including his directorial debut, Hero, which has played festivals worldwide and is now streaming on Amazon. Dustin teaches acting at The University of South Carolina. He received his BFA in Performance from Jacksonville University and MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. He also studied filmmaking in Singapore at NYU Tisch Asia.
Sandra Luckow (Producer - Director - Editor) is a Mexican-American filmmaker who founded Ojeda Films, Inc. in 2000 to bring a bi-cultural voice to independent film. She is known for Sharp Edges, Belly Talkers (1996 Sundance US competition) and the multiple award-winning, That Way Madness Lies… Sandra has worked at Warner Bros., and Universal in casting, network and cable news programs and daytime dramas. She taught documentary film production at Yale University, School of Art for 22 years as well as producing, screenwriting, camera, editing and acting for the camera at Columbia University, Barnard College, Wesleyan University, and Sarah Lawrence College. Her pedagogy includes democratizing accessibility to modes of filmmaking by using smart phone technologies and teaching all aspects of production. She has traveled and worked internationally giving workshops, most notably with the US State Department’s cultural exchange: Lines and Spaces. She is a member of the Director’s Guild of America and holds an MFA from NYU’s TIsch School of the Arts.
David Fritzson is a Richmond, VA–based filmmaker and photographer whose work blends storytelling with visual impact. His award-winning short film ‘Wireless’ has reached audiences worldwide, streaming in four languages with more than 400,000 views. He also captures Richmond’s music scene through photography, and produces short films in international 48-Hour Film Project competitions. Most recently, David consults on video content for social media platforms, bringing his storytelling expertise to both creative and commercial projects.
Barry Hite has developed projects for Sacha Baron Cohen's Four by Two Productions, Tim and Eric's Abso Lutely Productions, and Archie comics. He has screened short films at the Los Angeles Film Festival, Austin Comedy Film Festival & NYTVF. In another life, he did sketch comedy w/ the Second City National Touring Company, Just For Laughs, iO Chicago, UCB, & Not Parent Approved.
Deborah Craig is an award-winning documentary director and producer whose films use compelling personal stories to raise awareness about the challenges and strengths of underrepresented communities. Her work has played at LGBTQ+, women’s and documentary film festivals in the U.S. and internationally. Deborah’s most recent short, “A Great Ride,” a 33-minute documentary about lesbians and aging, premiered at the Frameline LGBTQ+ Film Festival in San Francisco in 2018, was picked up for distribution by Frameline, has screened at over 50 film festivals around the globe, and has won multiple awards. “Sally” will be her first feature-length documentary. Deborah has a BA in history from Columbia University, did undergraduate work in photography at California College of the Arts, and has a Master of Public Health from San Francisco State University, where she currently teaches in the Public Health Department.
Bennett Krishock is an editor, producer, and first-time feature film director based in Austin, TX. His work as producer/editor has screened internationally and earned recognition at top genre festivals. Ravage (2019) won Best Feature at both the New York City Horror Film Festival and GenreBlast Film Festival following selections at Austin Film Festival, Cucalorus, and LA ScreamFest. Wicked Games (2022) screened at Terror Molins, LA ScreamFest, the New York City Horror Film Festival, and won Best Thriller at the Atlanta Horror Film Festival. His upcoming feature, Catch a Killer (slated for 2026 release), has already garnered major accolades, including the Audience Award at the Nashville Film Festival and Best Feature prizes at Phoenix FearCon, Albuquerque Film Festival, and Night Fright LA. His editing work on The Reckoning won Best Editing at Horror Hound Film Festival among other nominations.
In addition to his creative work, Krishock served as Programming Manager at the Sun Valley Film Festival (2018–2023), working alongside Sundance programmer Ana Souza. He has also produced commercial and branded content for clients including Gibson Guitars and Imagination Playground. His filmmaking has taken him from the North Pole to the Japanese countryside.
Luke Lowder was born and raised in rural North Carolina, just 100 yards from the family farm where he spent his summers working and saving to support his passion for filmmaking. After high school, he studied Directing at the University of North Carolina: School of the Arts. Luke is dedicated to telling socially conscious stories rooted in the communities and experiences that shaped him.
Bjorn Amundsen is an IATSE 600 DP local to LA and Chicago. The projects he’sfilmedhave won a variety of awards including the Cannes Young Directors Awards and Ciclopeand taken him to over 30 countries. Client list includes: Apple, Google, Nike, Intel, LandRover, as well as non-profit organizations like Compassion International, and WorldVision.
Nick Manley is a documentary director and teaches film at Emerson College in Boston and Harvard Extension School.
Christopher Carter is a 25 Year Award Winning Journalist and Producer. MTV, CNN, FOX, OAN, RAV etc. Reporter, and Correspondent for Breaking News and Developing Stories from all branches of Congress. 4X Peabody Award. Winner for Significant and Meritorious Achievement in Cable and Broadcasting.
Keith Wood — Magnolia Pictures
Carlos Chafin is a Virginia native and has been involved in the music entertainment business ever since he was age eight. He grew up in Richmond and was a first call session keyboard and electronic music composer, traveling along the east coast. At age 19 he settled down working primarily at Alpha Audio, Virginia’s first 16 & 24 track music studio as an electronics technician, music engineer, composer, producer, and eventually, studio manager.
In the summer of 1990, Carlos & songwriter Robbin Thompson formed In Your Ear Music and Recording Services. With a focus on composition for film and television, their team enjoyed immediate success.
Carlos’ credits include co-composer and arranger of the musical “The Red Badge of Courage” the theme music for The 20th Century Fox release “Gleaming The Cube” , sound designer, composer and remixer for “The Good Road” TV series which airs nationally on PBS and as co-writer of Virginia’s , North Carolina’s and Florida Tourism’s musical theme signatures. He also composed and produced music for an exclusive list of advertisers including Miller Lite, Purina and Holiday Inn (Fallon McElligott, NY and MN), Colgate (Y&R New York), Sprint (McCann Erikson New York), Seiko, Saab, Wrangler, Walmart (The Martin Agency), Coca Cola (Weiden & Kennedy) and the signature theme for Sesame Workshops.
In 2022, he co-founded Shockoe Records L.L.C. with partners Craig Martin and others. Shockoe Record’s focus is on helping Virginia artists grow professionally and reaching a wider audience. Shockoe Records is an innovative take on the record company model seeking to teach and empower its artists as opposed to the tight contractual oversight found in most artist-label agreements.
6 Days of Films, Live Music & Events.
PAST FLOW PANELISTS
PAST PANELISTS
FLOW COLLECTIVE CONFERENCE
CO-PRESENTED BY RIFF & THE RIFF ARTS INSTITUTE (RAI)
Full Week’s Schedule TBA Early August
All Access VIP Badges grant entry into all FLOW panel events for free, however, rsvps are required. FLOW is also open to the general public. A pass can be purchased here.
FLOW COLLECTIVE SERIES
PAST SPEAKERS
In 2010, Waters founded the Richmond International Film Festival (RIFF). RIFF brings 120+ international film screenings, industry panels, Q&As, live musical performances, red carpet awards, the FLOW Collective, and entertainment mixers that bring the spirit of Hollywood to Richmond at Bow Tie Movieland Criterion Cinemas, and the historic Byrd Theatre.
As a writer, producer, and director, Heather has been instrumental in such film projects as The People v. God; Sleep to Dream; Stillwater Lake; Trading Ages; Strive; and The Youth Roundtable Project, and more. She serves as the President of the Virginia Production Alliance (VPA), the leading advocacy organization responsible for bolstering film and developing crew and talent across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Heather Waters
A multiple award winning writer/director and a Paul Verhoeven scholarship winner when he was in his early teens, Mark Cartier, was a Creative Executive at Paramount Pictures for over 14 years.
He founded North of Two because he believes that filmmakers deserve good partners. Being from northern Minnesota – north of the 2 freeway – where it’s colder, harder, and further from civilization so people must have a substantial work ethic simply to survive. “North of Two” defines the spirit and determination and grit that Mark and his filmmakers have.
Mark Cartier
Andy Edmunds, Director of the Virginia Film Office, is a Virginia native and an accomplished musician and songwriter. After studying music at VCU in the mid 80s, Edmunds produced a music video of one of his songs that was broadcast on MTV. This experience introduced him to the film production industry where he ultimately settled in as a location scout until landing a job at the Virginia Film Office in 1997.
“I found myself in a non-traditional area of economic development that seemed to be perfectly suited to my experience and interests. Every day I look forward to continuing to give back to the state I know and love through an enthusiastic approach to attracting clients and delivering creative solutions,” says Edmunds.
During his time with the Film Office, Andy has worked with the most notable filmmakers of our time including Terrence Malick, Ridley Scott, Clint Eastwood and Steven Spielberg to name a few.
Andy Edmunds
Jazz pianist and Richmond native Lonnie Liston Smith spent much of the 1960s and early 1970s working with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, saxophonist Pharoah Sanders and the iconic Miles Davis before forming his own group, the Cosmic Echoes, in 1973. With his albums "Astral Traveling," "Expansions" and "Visions of a New World," Smith has helped pioneer the Spiritual Jazz and Fusion genres. In the 1990s, he was hailed as one of the godfathers of the Acid Jazz movement, and he became a household name in Hip Hop when he collaborated with Gang Starr's Guru on his famed Jazzmatazz project. To this day, Smith's music are considered the gold standard of 1970s jazz and his songs cannot only be heard in countless Hip Hop hits in form of samples, but also in video games like "Grand Theft Auto."
Lonnie Liston Smith
Natives of Wichita, KS Rudy Love & The Love Family have been bringing their signature soulful music to audiences in the Midwest and around the world for the last four decades. Coming from a family of 17 brothers and sisters influenced by their father Robert Love, who had an extensive career touring the country as a performing musician with noted gospel and R&B artist, it was only natural to form a band. During the 60’s and 70’s Rudy Love & The Love Family worked with an array of Motown artist and even gained famed with Sly & The Family Stone. As a soloist Rudy Love toured in Europe and Asia and received several accolades including a platinum record. Rudy Love & The Love Family was also featured on Jay Z’s American Gangster album. As of late the highly regarded documentary This Is Love has been making waves on the film festival circuit. The film is culmination of experiences capturing the ups and downs of Rudy Love & The Love Family’s music career.
Rudy Love
Debbie obtained her undergraduate degree from the New York University Stern School of Business and founded her own consulting business. Her love for children drove her to complete a Master’s Degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Education. She then taught elementary school for a few years until she returned to the business world. Like many people, Debbie was vaguely aware of slavery around the world, and the gap between the prevalence of sex trafficking and the public’s awareness led Debbie to decide to leave her career and reconnect with her journalism roots and her passion to eradicate sex trafficking.
Debbie Wright
Mark Lambert has been a VFX/DFX/CG Supervisor on multiple tentpole feature films as well as a director, editor and software developer. Heading up teams that created Harry Potter's first Quidditch field and the visual development of Polar Express at Sony Pictures, he has been at the leading edge of visual effects technology. After work on 14 features, Mark left LA and returned to Richmond, Virginia and in 2015 started VArtisans to pursue VR and 360 video filmmaking. VArtisans' projects range from a series on endangered species to documentary and narrative pieces in this emerging media format.
She has spoken at the American Pavilion at Cannes Film Festival as Guest Spotlight Speaker, SAG Foundation, IFP, Digital Hollywood and at museums and universities
Mark Lambert
Sound of Music founder, John Morand, has worked with bands and filmmakers through out his 30+ year career in recording that has brought him platinum records and a reputation as Richmond's premiere sound engineer. John brings a rare degree of precision and incredible diversity to the art of tracking and mixing music, and has worked artists such as Amos Lee, Hanson, Cracker, Black Crowes, Carbon Leaf, many RVA based bands and artists, including Lamb of God and Susan Greenbaum.
John Morand
In Richmond, DJ Pari has made a name for himself slinging rare Soul and Funk 45s at his popular Soulpower dance parties and as the host of Midnight Soulstice on W-RIR 97.3 fm. But his credentials extend around the world — as a DJ, he has been behind the decks at clubs and festivals all across the U.S., Europe, Japan and Australia, and he has worked with legends like James Brown, Roy Ayers, Mandrill and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings and has managed the R'n'B group the Impressions of Curtis Mayfield fame. As a producer, he is the creative force behind funk singers Marva Whitney, Lyn Collins and Martha High, and his film documentary "The Power of Soul" made its global rounds from the Cannes Film Festival to Netflix. Pari is also a passionate collector of rare jazz vinyl and will be happy to talk to you for hours about Coltrane’s Circle of Fifths.
DJ Pari
Jai Jamison
Jared Head
Cheryl Miller, CBS 6 Anchor & RIFF Emcee
David Lindinger was born and raised in Vienna, Austria. At the age of 18, he took the Trans-Siberian Railway to Beijing, where he continued to live for three years. There, he discovered the video-camcorder as a tool to observe and reflect on what is around him. Working as a sound engineer for international television, he spent his spare time cycling around the suburbs of Beijing, studying and photographing the fast-pace modernization of the city. After his return to Europe, he took classes on cinematography and photography in Vienna, Bratislava, and Lodz. He currently works as a freelance cameraman and has released his first short film Man Stands Still in 2018, which he directed and produced in Morocco.
David Lindenger
Sharad Kant Patel has written and directed films which have screened at many festivals including SXSW and Raindance. He also wrote and directed an arthouse horror feature, “Somebody’s Darling” (2016), winning awards at Houston’s Comicpalooza and the Mexican horror/fantasy festival Feratum. He has served in many key roles supporting fellow independent filmmakers: Screening at RIFF are two different projects: “The Rock Star of Real Estate” a feature doc by Michigan filmmakers (animator), and the short Texas shot drama “Acid Test” (producer, cinematographer, editor, and VFX artist). Sharad studied and graduated from the RTF program at The University of Texas at Austin.
Sharad Kant Patel
Trey Pollard is an arranger, composer, producer and instrumentalist based in Richmond, VA. After growing up in a musical household in the Tidewater area of Virginia, Trey relocated to Richmond to study Jazz Performance at Virginia Commonwealth University under the tutelage of master arranger/educator Doug Richards. He continued on to become an arranger in his own right writing/recording hundreds of arrangements for recording artists. As a jazz guitarist he’s performed and/or recorded with artists like Rex Richardson, Steve Wilson, John D’earth, Joe Locke, Jon Faddis, and Doug Richards’ Great American Music Ensemble. As an arranger/orchestrator he’s written for artists like Bedouine, Natalie Prass, Love Canon, The Waterboys, Foxygen, Darren Jessee (of Ben Folds Five) and Helado Negro and recorded/conducted his arrangements in studios located in Richmond, New York, Los Angeles, Nashville and London. Trey also released his first solo album of classical chamber music compositions called Antiphone in November of 2018.
Trey Pollard
Dave Guenette is a Toronto based music producer, musician, and founder/owner of production company District Six Music and label company Pirates Blend. Guenette has a proven history of identifying and developing a diverse, original, talented and successful artist roster which over the years has included K’Naan, Tumi & The Volume, Bedouin Soundclash, A Tribe Called Red, DJ Loqenz, Saul Williams and The Very Best, among others. Most recently he was label manager for A Tribe Called Red’s 'We Are the Halluci Nation' LP. He is creative business partner & manager to acclaimed artist Saul Williams. He is currently producing Saul Williams' feature length film Neptune Frost & is co-producing and music supervising Jihan Kikhia's feature length documentary Searching for Kikhia. www.piratesblend.com / www.mansurkikhia.org / www.saulwilliams.com
Dave Guenette
Walid Chaya is a Los Angeles based actor/director known for "Madam Secretary" (CBS), "The Blacklist: Redemption" (NBC) and "Driving Ms. Saudi" (MWP). He is also a director and associate member of the Stage Directors Choreographer Society. He has a B.F.A. in Theatre Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University, rated #1 School of the Arts by US News & World Report, and is an alumni of SpringBoardNYC directors program by The American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony® Awards.
Walid Chaya
Greg McQuade, CBS 6 Anchor & RIFF Emcee
Dawn Blacksten Schick is an experienced Location Manager who comes to the Virginia Film Office with a long list of film credits from major film and television projects including Hearts in Atlantis, Hannibal, Gods and Generals, Big Fish, Walk the Line, John Adams, Lincoln and Killing Lincoln. Dawn is a Maryland native and graduated from Towson University. Dawn assists productions working in the Commonwealth and manages the Virginia Film Office’s incentive program.
Dawn Blacksten Schick
David Mallin is a cinematographer, filmmaker, and the Director of Old Dominion University's Film Program. He has a MFA in Cinematography from AFI in Los Angeles and a BA from American University in Washington D.C. David focuses his work with students on the production of collaborative group and faculty-led projects run like real-world movie sets, with the belief filmmaking can only be learned experientially.
David Mallin
CinemAerial Visual’s owner Scott Strimple is a director and Emmy award winning filmmaker who is most recently known for his diverse expertise and effective style of teaching within the aerial photography and filmmaking arena. He is a Captain and check airman for a major airline with over 27000 hours of flight time and more than 40 years of radio controlled aircraft experience. Scott founded The Drone Flight School where he facilitates Remote Pilot Certification training and aerial cinema / photography workshops introducing visual artists to the operational needs of “drone” photography and filmmaking. Additionally, Scott facilitates an aerial photo/cinema drone workshop at Maine Media Workshops and college and is a frequent speaker at many industry events and conferences.
Scott Strimple
Born 1971 in Kansas City, Missouri. After completing a B.A in Communications between UMKC and San Diego State University in 1990, Matt worked on various commercial and independent film productions as production manager and writer. In 1995 he moved to Berlin, Germany, continuing his career as a writer and editor with the agency Verlag der Autoren (The Writer's Agency). His documentaries include "Homemade Hillbilly Jam" [co-writer and editor] in 2006 and “Forgetting Dad” [co-director and editor] for ZDF (German TV) which won Special Jury Award at IDFA. Currently the winner of 2009 Dokuwettbewerb (Documentary Funding Award) with BR and Global Screen for "Beerland" which he wrote and directed. The film toured in the festivals, German cinemas 2013, and plays frequently on television. His new documentary feature "The Beer Jesus from America" was completed in 2019. Over the years Matt has also written, directed, and produced several commercial, educational, and independent films with his company Sweetwood Films (UG) based in Potsdam, Germany.
Matt Sweetwood
Joel Guelzo
Rob Cardwell, CBS 6 Anchor & RIFF Emcee
Todd Schall-Vess has spent his entire life working in entertainment and presentation work. His first job at the age of 16 was projectionist-trainee at West Tower Cinemas, where he eventually became head projectionist. He is part of the adjunct faculty at St. Catherine’s and is a sought-after consultant in design, lighting, audio-visual, magic, makeup and special effects and is a state and federally licensed pyrotechnician. He has performed and designed for many local theaters, including Barksdale, Virginia Rep, Dogwood Dell and CAT. He reads for the VA Voice for the Print Handicapped, and eats fire. Todd has been at the Byrd for 21 years.
Todd Schall-Vess
Marcus Tenney is a multi-instrumentalist, lyricist and producer from Richmond, Virginia. He is a full-time member of Butcher Brown and No BS! Brass, and is the leader of several of his own projects, including: The Marcus Tenney Quartet, The Marcus Tenney Trio, and, Tennishu, the self-produced and self-recorded hip-hop arm of his Tennishu Music collection.
Marcus Tenney
Roberto Carmona is a Venezuelan-born, award-winning Writer/Director/Producer based in Washington, DC. His works include the award-winning short film HIGHBALL and his recent award-winning feature film debut, DAKOTA, starring Phoebe Ryan. Roberto is the owner and founder of Tag Cinema, a film production company that creates video for a variety of creative and corporate clients across all industries. Roberto received his BA in Film and Video Studies from George Mason University in 2012.
Roberto Carmona
Tim Albaugh is a writer/producer, and a graduate of the UCLA M.F.A. screenwriting program. Albaugh has taught screenwriting at UCLA, UC Irvine, Hollins University, Pixar Animation Studios, and Walt Disney Feature Animation. His students have sold features to all the major studios and have had multiple features produced including the recent film ALL EYEZ ON ME and the Christian Bale film THE MACHINST. Their work in TV includes, but is not limited to, BLACKISH, INSECURE, STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, HAWAII FIVE-O, WYNNONA EARP, IZOMBIE, THE MAGICIANS and many others. In addition to his writing and teaching, Mr. Albaugh is co-founder of PROPATH SCREENWRITING, a film and television writing consultation company. Mr. Albaugh consults and speaks at film festivals throughout the world.
Tim Albaugh
Bill Fitzgerald, CBS 6 Anchor & RIFF Emcee
As the Film Office Location Manager, Lori supports filmmakers with a broad range of location needs throughout Virginia, maintains the office’s location library and coordinates the internship program. She joined the team after ten years as a Key Assistant Location Manager and Scout for the film and television industry in Los Angeles, California. She has worked on many projects including Rush Hour 3, Taken 3, Interstellar, Westworld and Loving. As a Virginia native and George Mason University graduate, she was excited to return home and start a new chapter here in the Commonwealth. During free time you can find her with her toes in the sand at the beach, stand-up paddle boarding, enjoying time with friends at new restaurants, watching the Pittsburgh Steelers and adventuring around the world with camera in hand.
Lori Russell