philip cook
Philip Cook is an independent filmmaker, writer, and producer behind nine original science fiction, fantasy, and horror films through his company, Eagle Films. Known for high-concept storytelling that blends genres despite modest budgets, his work includes the cult dark fantasy Despiser, the supernatural series Malice, the Virginia folklore-inspired Pungo – A Witch’s Tale, Ghost Planet, and his current production Echoes of Dread. His films have been screened on HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, SyFy, Hulu, Netflix, TubiTV, and Amazon Prime, earning a dedicated following among fans of indie genre cinema.
jay saunders
Jay has acted professionally since 2007. He has a classically trained background, performing as Hamlet for the Globeworks Theater Company in several theaters across North Carolina. On film he has starred in multiple feature films including the cult favorite NINJAS VERSUS movies, ADMINS, EISIS, and Eduardo Sanchez’ segment in VHS 2: A ride in the Park. He has been seen in several Military suicide prevention Advertisements and training films for the ARMY, NAVY and AIR FORCE. Jay brings an empathetic connection to the audience with a wide range of emotions, dancing between a subtle intensity, to a dynamic explosiveness, to an accessible vulnerability. He has a deep passion for working with Combat Veterans in all forms of media.
michael C. Ivey
Michael C. Ivey is an award-winning filmmaker who believes every movie belongs in the ‘thriller’ genre. Michael started his career working in the art department of two feature films before graduating from VCU in advertising. A five-time participant in the 48 Hour Film Challenge and five-time official selection of the Richmond International Film Festival, Michael leverages his experience screenwriting, directing, producing and editing. Based in Richmond, Va., he’s a two-time president of the Virginia Production Alliance, a professional organization that seeks to boost the state’s film incentives, as well as a member of the Virginia Screenwriters Forum. His comeback film, “Custody”, is currently being submitted to festivals.
david fritzson
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.
johnny k.
Johnny K. is an award-winning independent filmmaker and owner of Kaotica Studios. His debut short, "The Killer of Grassy Ridge", toured more than 50 festivals worldwide and streamed on Amazon Prime. Johnny wrote and directed "The Oath", a critically-acclaimed Batman fan production and unofficial prequel to the 1989 classic, Batman. “The Oath” won several festival awards and achieved viral success with more than one million views on YouTube. Johnny then co-wrote and directed "Farragut Forward", one of the largest Star Trek fan productions ever made, and he is currently in pre-production on several new original projects.
lindsey paulette
Lindsey Paulette is a writer, director, and visual artist born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. She got her start in entertainment at age seven as a stage actor and has been in love with creating and crafting narratives ever since. She studied filmmaking at Brightpoint Community College, Savannah College of Art and Design, and Virginia Commonwealth University. One month after graduating with her BA in Cinema from VCU, she began principal photography on her first feature film, The Trip, of which she was the writer, director, and co-producer. The film was shot over the course of twenty days, and after a year of post-production, it had its theatrical premiere in February of 2024. So far in her career, Lindsey has written and directed thirteen films and published two one-act plays, two novels, and three children’s books, making her an experienced storyteller across mediums
will sidaros
Will Sidaros is a filmmaker whose passion for storytelling began at a young age, creating short films with friends and family before pursuing his studies in film at George Mason University. He has gone on to work professionally in television with credits on acclaimed series including The Walking Dead: World Beyond on AMC and Swagger on Apple TV+, while also producing independent features such as Dear Luke, Love, Me and Written By Mike and directing over 11 short films that showcase his ability to lead creative teams and bring bold stories to life. As the director of Humanity, a short film uniquely shot across all seven continents in just 48 hours, he continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in filmmaking, using his work to connect audiences across cultures and highlight shared human experiences with the goal of sparking empathy, hope, and positive change.
lisa giles
Lisa Giles a film festival founder (VHSL Film Festival, RFN Indie Fest), director, and arts leader with ten years experience in festival programming and two decades of experience in festival management. She is the founder and director of the Richmond Film Network and its programs including RFN Online, RFN Indie Fest, RFN Screenwriters’ Lab, and the RFN Podcast. Since 2017, she’s also been the City Producer for the Richmond 48 Hour Film Project and launched its Horror edition a year later, which is currently in its recruitment phase. A former English teacher and nonprofit director, Lisa brings a unique blend of education, organization, and creative vision to her work. She is committed to fostering inclusive communities that champion storytelling and support independent filmmakers.
nathan d. ludwig
Nathan D. Ludwig is the founder and director of the GenreBlast Film Festival at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, VA. GenreBlast started in 2016 and is the premier independent international genre film fest in the region. Moviemaker Magazine named it one of the top 50 genre fests in the world in 2021. Nathan is also an award-winning screenwriter and published author. He is the producer and writer of such feature films as WORST LAID PLANS, TRUCKSQUATCH, DEAD FORMAT, and TERRORS AT THE DRIVE-IN.
jesse robinson
Jesse Robinson is an actor, producer and arts educator from Northern Virginia. As a SAG-AFTRA actor, Jesse’s on-screen credits include principal roles for Netflix, ABC/ESPN, Apple TV+, CBS and Discovery. His national commercial credits include Geico, Buffalo Wild Wings, Bethesda Games and US Cellular. Jesse also served as Christian Bale’s body double during his Academy Award-nominated portrayal of Dick Cheney in Adam McKay’s Vice. Having spent the better part of the last decade working in television in Los Angeles, Jesse has story-produced an ARTAS-nominated series for Crackle, and served as a writer-producer for two lifestyle series that aired weekly on CBS affiliates. Jesse has also written and produced several short/feature length projects in partnership with the Los Angeles Young Actors Camp program.
ty cooper
Ty Cooper is an award-winning filmmaker, cultural producer, and strategic marketing professional with more than 30 years of experience amplifying diverse voices and building community through media. Born in Harlem, New York, Cooper earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing from Norfolk State University and pursued graduate studies at Averett University. In 1993, he founded Lifeview Marketing & Visuals, a leading marketing and branding company that has produced over 1,700 events, campaigns, and projects for nonprofits, municipalities, corporations, and political candidates. As a filmmaker, Cooper has written, directed, and produced Amanda and Mingle, and produced Runaway, directed by Eric Hurt and starring McKinley Belcher (Ozark) and others. He also wrote, directed, and produced The Price of Resistance: Sala Udin, An American Agitator, a civil rights documentary currently expanding into a feature-length film. His body of work blends artistry with social impact, often centering narratives that illuminate equity, history, and health in underrepresented communities.
ulysses e. campbell
Ulysses E. Campbell is an independent producer, actor, illustrator and voice over talent based in the District of Columbia. He began his career as a teenager collaborating with friends on the production of a series of comedic short films that screened at fan conventions in New York City. These films gained notoriety and led to Ulysses’ appearance on the BBC-TV documentary program, Arena, and a screening for DC Comics executives and Superman creator’s Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster at the 40th birthday party of the legendary comic book character. Ulysses is an advocate for community media and has served on the Board of Directors for Arlington Independent Media, Montgomery Community Media and Fairfax Public Access. He has produced a variety of television programming including Fantastic Forum, a talk/variety show on comics, sci-fi, fantasy, horror and their related multimedia. Ulysses produced and hosted Arlington in the Morning the drive time radio show on WERA 96.7 FM in Arlington, VA. He also produces and hosts a radio version of Fantastic Forum which is currently airing on Radio Fairfax.
kazy tauginas
Tauginas has appeared in numerous theatre, film and television roles. His television credits include “Person of Interest,” “Blindspot,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” and “Sneaky Pete.” Tauginas’ film work includes “John Wick,” “Dolemite is My Name”, “Recruiter” and “Sheer.” Most recently, he was seen as Ari in the box office smash “The Equalizer 2,” starring Denzel Washington. After writing several short films (and starring in over 20 of them), Tauginas drew inspiration from his mother who’d been diagnosed with Lupus and his own boxing experience, and decided to write “Standing Eight,” a short about a boxer who is forced to retire and contend with life outside of the ring after being diagnosed with systemic lupus. Since its completion, “Standing Eight” has won ten festival awards including Trinity International Film Festival’s Best Short Film, and is currently nominated for another four. He hopes to release the film later this year on Amazon, with proceeds going to various Lupus charities.
timothy parsons
Timothy Parsons is a Virginian filmmaker whose immersive, anxiety-inducing short films bend genre to create visceral, atmospheric experiences. His most recent work, Memory Project (2024), earned top honors including Best Narrative Short at the DC Independent Film Festival, the Grand Jury Prize at the Fredericksburg Film Festival, and Best in Show at the Awesome Con Short Film Fest. Earlier films such as Waiting For April (2024) and Heal Thyself (2020) trace his evolving range from intimate drama to psychological thriller, building a body of work defined by escalating tension and an immersive atmosphere. Beyond his own films, Parsons has collaborated with a wide range of organizations—from NASA to the New York City Ballet—bringing his visual intuition and narrative instincts to projects across disciplines.
todd a. raviotta
Todd A. Raviotta is a multimedia many discipline artist. Todd spent his childhood years in the eclectic carnival culture of 1980’s New Orleans relocating to Northern Virginia for high school in the 1990’s. Todd was among the first graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) newly accredited undergrad Film program completing his undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts Design degree May 2001, specializing in Photo/Film, with an emphasis on Film. He completed graduate school with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Film from VCU in 2004. Todd served as Dean of Students for the Southern Mystique Film Camp, a summer program between New Millennium Studios and the Central Virginia Film Office from 2001-06.
ted hogeman
Ted Hogeman is a freelance filmmaker, sound designer, and editor based in the DC area. For over a decade, he’s captured sound for documentaries found on HBO, Netflix, Apple TV, and more. He’s also edited and sound-mixed over two dozen short indie films. Ted is the founder of the mixed-media storytelling project laughing with the storm, as well as Orange Line Sound Design, a provider of location sound and editing services.
dylan cuesta
A Marylander of 31 years, Dylan has dabbled in filmmaking, music, comedy and criticism. All of these interests collide on his YouTube channel, Lanooski, where he discusses all sorts of media through a unique lens of dry humor and neo-Boomer absurdity. A recent affinity for zines has also allowed him to tap further into the DMV's rich cultural history..
julie haberstick
Julie Haberstick's film and television credits include 'Homeland' (Showtime), 'Chicago Fire' (NBC-Universal), 'Lincoln' (DreamWorks), 'Bones' (Fox), and various commercials and independent productions. She is the founder of creative service Citric Focus Consulting and runs streaming platform Mason Arts Amplified for George Mason University. Her first book, 'Coyote Gratitude,' was published in 2022. She is currently in development for her feature directorial debut, 'Pinned.'.
chris farmer
Chris Farmer Maryland-born filmmaker who works primarily in Washington, D.C. His films often mix everyday realism with surreal or unexpected elements, using modest budgets to tell stories that feel both grounded and imaginative. Chris’s work highlights the voices and neighborhoods that shaped him while pushing the boundaries of what can be done with limited resources. His previous film, Camera, was showcased on the horror block for the 2024 DC shorts festival.
ryan cudahy
Ryan Cudahy is an award-winning producer, writer, and director. His feature film, Written by Mike, was shot entirely in Virginia, and is now streaming on Tubi.
seyla hossaini
is a longtime writer and budding filmmaker from Richmond, VA. She has a background in directing and editing music videos, promotional videos for local businesses, and doing public relations work with a Richmond recording studio. She also fronts garage rock band Toward Space (as a vocalist/bassist) who have been touring nationally for the last 10 years. She is obsessed with the New French Extremity movement, as well as existential literature from the 1940’s and 30’s.
jon firman
Jon Firman is a Baltimore-based filmmaker, cinematographer, and editor. His commercial work includes projects for major brands like the Baltimore Ravens, AstraZeneca, McCormick, and Tanqueray Gin, while his creative film partnership with his brother, Matt Firman, has been featured at the Maryland Film Festival. He is also the co-founder of Story Prism, an AI-powered creation hub for complex world-building and narrative development, bridging the gap between traditional cinematic arts and the future of creative technology.
vivian owen
Vivian Owen is an award-winning producer, writer, and script supervisor based in Richmond, VA whose work includes commercials, branded content, short films, and features. With a background in communications and advertising, Vivian started as a Copywriter penning ads for clients such as The Ritz-Carlton, Aflac, and Expedia. From there, she taught at Ringling College of Art and Design, in both the Advertising Design and Film Departments. In 2023, she wrote the post-apocalyptic horror film The Drove, which won Best Film in the Richmond 48 HR Horror Film Project, along with 8 other awards, including Best Writing. In 2024, Vivian served as producer on the independent horror feature film Saturnalia, which premiered at the Raindance Film Festival in June 2025. She also teaches in the Cinema department at VCU’s School of the Arts.
cat mayes
Cat is a freelance producer, director, casting lead, writer and voice actor. In addition, she's also a passionate gamer and content creator whose intentions are to occupy space unapologetically and transfer good energy into every arena she enters. Cat oversees productions that take place both in-studio and online locally and abroad. She's worked with brands such as TED Courses, PBS KIDS, Corsair, Elgato, Total Mayhem Games, Xbox, Capital One, and more. Outside of freelancing and content creation, she also loves anime, tech, traveling, plants, phenomenal food, and learning languages! Next stop on the list, Japan!
meredithe ettrich
Meredithe Ettrich is a DC- based filmmaker. She began her career photographing musicians in Washington, DC, and has since launched Living Room Concerts (LRC) a live music series spotlighting rising stars in the DMV. Her work often explores themes of identity, relationships, and nostalgia.
