AUTHOR & FILMMAKER

Nick Brooks is an award-winning author and filmmaker from Washington, DC. In 2022 he published his first middle grade novel, NOTHING INTERESTING EVER HAPPENS TO ETHAN FAIRMONT, the first book in a three book series. The last book in the series, His debut YA novel, PROMISE BOYS released January 2023 and has received critical acclaim, including being a 2023 Boston Globe–Horn Book award honoree and a 2024 Odyssey Award winner. Truly a multi-hyphenate, Nick is also a rapper known by stage name, Ben Kenobe, and has composed music for films such as NETFLIX's, THEY CLONED TYRONE, and HBO's, THE CYPHER. Nick has written for TV, film and even video games. As a storyteller he strives to tell stories that are timely and timeless. 

WRITER, ACTRESS, DIRECTOR

A first-generation Caribbean-American, Alesia Etinoff was a writer on THE GAME Reboot on Paramount +. In 2022, Alesia sold and developed AVANT-GUARDIANS with Paramount+, CBS TV Studios and Trevor Noah's Day Zero Productions as Executive Producers, based on her award-winning webseries. Her 2017 web series AVANT-GUARDIANS won Best Short Form Dramedy at the New York Television Festival, was nominated for best web series at ABFF, and was an official selection for the ‘18 LA Film Festival and Downtown LA Film Festival. She is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University's school of Drama where she received a BFA in Dramaturgy in 2014.

WRITER & PRODUCER

TIAN JUN GU is a first-generation Chinese-American writer born in Shanghai and raised in small-town Michigan. A formative freshman year experience at the University of Michigan pushed him to forgo his future in biomedical engineering and thwart his Tiger Mom for a degree in screenwriting, a leap of faith that landed him a Hopwood Award and a Naomi Saferstein Literary Award. He is an alum of the WGAE Showrunner’s Training program, the Almanack Screenwriters Episodic Drama residency, and the University of Michigan. His credits include Y: THE LAST MAN (FX), INTERROGATION (Paramount+), and HOUSE OF CARDS (Netflix).

CREATOR SUCCESS, SEED & SPARK

Gabriella Bottoni is the Senior Manager of Creator Success at Seed&Spark, a platform dedicated to empowering creators to build sustainable careers through successful crowdfunding. With over four years of experience giving feedback to thousands of campaigns, Gab's truly seen it all, and is here to share the truth about what it takes (hint: a LOT of emails). A multi-hyphenate creator herself—a filmmaker, improviser at the UCB Theater, and singer—she's passionate about holding her fellow artists' hands as they achieve their goals and fund their projects without losing their damn minds. 

CALIFORNIA FILM COMISSION

Award-winning playwright, actor, producer, and educator, Fanshen Cox is the DEIA Manager for the California Film Commission’s Tax Credit Program. She is also the Founder of TruJuLo Productions. Fanshen served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cape Verde, West Africa, and holds a BA in Spanish & Education, an MA in TESOL, and an MFA in TV, Film & Theatre. She has been honored with Distinguished Alumni Awards from CSULA and from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an honorary MFA in producing from New York Film Academy. Fanshen is also a co-author of the Inclusion Rider which was announced at the 2018 Oscar awards by Frances McDormand and the co-creator, producer and host of the Webby nominated podcast Sista Brunch. She is a highly sought after speaker on narrative for impact, and on diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging.

CEO & FOUNDER, KWELI TV

DeShuna Spencer is a social impact executive who is the founder & CEO of kweliTV, a global streaming service that curates the largest library of indie Black films & docs from across the globe. As a former journalist & radio host, DeShuna’s work focuses on the intersection of media images and implicit bias. She speaks frequently on media representation, diversity in the streaming & the OTT space, social entrepreneurship, the effects of Black trauma content, challenges & opportunities in the media landscape, starting a media tech venture, women in media & tech, and her journey as a Black founder.

HEAD OF MARKETING, KINEMA

Ami Vora is Head of Marketing at Kinema, a global film distribution platform. She also co-founded and currently advises GOLD Comedy, a comedy school and professional network for women. Previously, Ami led growth at the media company The Juggernaut and spent a decade as a strategy consultant at Deloitte Digital, building and marketing products for Fortune 100 companies. Ami holds an MBA from The Wharton School and is a mom of two living in Los Angeles.