Kelly Stables: Host
Kelly Stables is an American actress most known for her comedic work on Superstore, Two and a Half Men, Romantically Challenged, The Exes, and No Tomorrow. Her numerous other credits include Mom, Get Shorty, Baby Daddy, Greek,'Til Death, Bones, Hung, Mad Love, Life, Cavemen, The Ring 2 and Horrible Bosses 2. She recently made a special appearance on NBC's Extended Family and starred in the feature film Holiday Twist, now available on Amazon.
Kelly's unique voice an be heard on Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, Adventures in Odyssey, W.I.T.C.H., and Tom & Jerry: The Lost Dragon, for which she was nominated for the BTVA Best Female Vocal Performance in a Theatrical Short. Kelly is active in local Los Angeles theatre, having performed in over two dozen plays and musical productions. She portrayed “Marion ‘Daisy’ Davies” in the world premiere musical W.R. & Daisy, “Wendy” in Peter Pan, “Tip Toes” in Tip Toes and “Cindy Brady” in A Very Brady Musical, which she also choreographed. Before moving to Los Angeles, Kelly graduated magna cum laude from the University of Missouri, earning a BA in Theatre and Communications.
Kelly is honored to be hosting tonight's awards gala and congratulates all filmmakers on their hard work and achievement.
.jpg)
Paul Feig: Honoree
Paul Feig is a DGA-winning and Emmy-nominated multi-faceted creator, filmmaker, writer, producer, and author, known for his signature style and discerning eye for talent. His versatile work spans a variety of formats and genres, and his films alone have grossed over one billion dollars at the worldwide box office.
Up next, Feig directed and produced the highly anticipated Amazon Studios action-comedy film Jackpot!, starring John Cena, Awkwafina, and Simu Liu. The film will be released on August 15, 2024. Additionally, he recently wrapped production on A Simple Favor 2, a sequel to the 2018 thriller of the same name.
Feig recently created and launched his own award-winning gin brand, Artingstall’s in the U.S. and U.K., which won Best Gin and Double Gold at the 2019 WSWA competition. While in lockdown in 2020, he hosted a nightly Quarantine Cocktail Time on his Instagram, inspiring a cocktail book that was released fall 2022.
Feig serves as a founder of Feigco Entertainment, which currently has an overall deal with Lionsgate TV. Feigco specializes in developing edgy and commercial comedies with an emphasis on complex female lead characters. Through Feigco, Feig produced the comedy Snatched, which starred Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn, the Netflix romantic comedy Someone Great, and Fox’s Peanuts. Feig also counts the series Love Life starring William Jackson Harper and Jessica Williams for HBO Max, the Emmy nominated series Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, and Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas, and Welcome to Flatch for Lionsgate TV among his vast slate.
Feig also launched Powderkeg, a digital content company that aims to champion new voices with a commitment to female, LGBTQIA+ creators and filmmakers of color. Their first projects include the Muslim-American digital shortform series East of La Brea and the Powderkeg: Fuse program, which produced six short films written and directed by diverse female filmmakers.
Feig previously directed and produced the Emma Thompson-scribed holiday film Last Christmas for Universal, starring Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding. He also directed the stylish thriller A Simple Favor for Lionsgate, which stars Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively and Henry Golding.
In 2016, Feig directed and co-wrote the critically acclaimed reboot of Ghostbusters, starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. Feig directed from a script he co-wrote with Katie Dippold. The film, beloved by audiences worldwide, won the favorite movie award at the 2017 Nickelodeon’s Kid’s Choice Awards and was nominated for a Hugo Award.
Feig wrote, directed and produced the comedy Spy, starring Melissa McCarthy, Jude Law, Jason Statham and Rose Byrne. This third collaboration between Feig and McCarthy earned over $230 million worldwide and garnered two Golden Globes nominations for Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical and Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy. Feig’s other films include the buddy cop comedy The Heat, starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy, which grossed over $220 million globally and the hit comedy Bridesmaids starring Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy and Jon Hamm, that grossed over $283 million worldwide. The film also earned Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Screenplay along with Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
Feig is renowned for creating the beloved and critically acclaimed series Freaks and Geeks, for which he was nominated for two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in both 2001 and 2000. He has also served as director and co-executive producer of The Office, for which he was nominated for two additional Emmy Awards in Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing and won the 2009 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Comedy Series. Feig’s original series Other Space premiered in the spring of 2015 to rave reviews and is now available on DUST.
Feig was selected as the Distinguished Artist for the American Film Institute Conservatory’s Directing Workshop for Women and won the first ever Artemis Action Rebel Award in 2016. That same year he was also awarded the inaugural Athena Leading Man award at Athena Film Festival in celebration of his extraordinary body of work, support and outspoken stance for women throughout his career. Feig is the first male to ever be honored by the festival. In 2019, he was honored with the second annual Spirit of the Industry Award by the National Alliance of Theater Owners.
Previously, he wrote, directed, and produced the hit Netflix film The School for Good and Evil, which debuted as the #1 film globally on Netflix its week of release. In television, he served as an executive producer on the series Minx for Starz.
Scott Feinberg: The Hollywood Reporter
Scott Feinberg is The Hollywood Reporter's executive editor of awards coverage. He has worked at THR since 2011, having previously covered awards for the Los Angeles Times beginning in 2008. He is best known for his “Feinberg Forecast,” his regular assessment of the standings of various showbiz awards races, and for Awards Chatter, the interview-centric podcast for which he has conducted career-retrospective interviews with more than 500 of showbiz’s biggest names.
Born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, and an alumnus of Brandeis University, he is also a trustee professor at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, serves on the board of the Los Angeles Press Club and is a voting member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the Critics Choice Association.
Mayor Nick Schultz: Presenter
In November 2020, Mayor Nick Schultz was elected to the Burbank City Council after receiving the second highest number of votes cast in the city's history (at that time) for a city council race. He is the first person in his working-class family to attend and graduate from college. Mayor Schultz was raised by a single mother, with help from his maternal grandparents, who worked tirelessly to give him every available opportunity to succeed. From an early age, Mayor Schultz decided to dedicate his life to public service by doing what he can to help others to gain access to those same opportunities.
Mayor Schultz attended and graduated from the Robert D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon earning a Bachelor of Arts with majors in both History and Political Science. Next, he enrolled at the University of Oregon School of Law where he graduated earning a Juris Doctor.
Mayor Schultz has spent his entire professional career in public service where he has worked to protect the public from various threats. Nick currently serves as a Deputy Attorney General with the Special Prosecutions Section of the Attorney General’s Office with the California Department of Justice. In this role, Mayor Schultz works with local, state, and federal law enforcement officials to investigate and prosecute criminal cases primarily related to public corruption, officer involved shootings, human trafficking, mortgage fraud, tax evasion, and other forms of financial fraud.
Mayor Schultz currently serves as a City Council liaison to the Burbank Police Commission and the Transportation Commission. Mayor Schultz also serves in the following capacities for the City Council: Airport Ad Hoc Committee; Burbank Unified School District/City Council Committee; Economic Development Subcommittee; Public Information Office Advisory Committee; and the Disaster Council; Mayor Schultz also represents the City of Burbank as a voting member of the: Southern California Association of Governments; League of California Cities; San Fernando Valley Council of Governments; Arroyo Verdugo Communities Subregion Joint Powers Authority; and the American Public Power Association, Policymakers Council.
Mayor Schultz and his wife Allie, an attorney working in the entertainment industry, reside in the historic Rancho neighborhood of Burbank with their daughter, Ella, their son, Aiden, and their two cats: Liam and Lily.
Emily Tosta: Presenter
Emily Tosta is a Dominican-Venezuelan actress who has swiftly become one of Hollywood’s most dynamic young stars. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Emily discovered her passion for acting at the age of seven, with a fervent interest in dancing and singing. Her journey took a pivotal turn at twelve when she moved to Miami, FL, with her mother to pursue her dreams of becoming a successful entertainer.
After a few years of landing various acting gigs, Emily and her mother set their sights on Hollywood. Their move proved fruitful, as Emily quickly made a mark with guest roles on popular shows such as “The Last Ship,” “The Resident,” “Rosewood,” and “NCIS: Los Angeles.” Her breakthrough came with her captivating portrayal on FX’s hit series “Mayans M.C.,” where her character, Leticia Cruz, became a fan favorite across all five seasons.
Emily further showcased her range as the female lead in the Freeform reboot of “Party of Five,” created by Amy Lippman and Christopher Keyser. Her film career soared with a starring role opposite Oscar winner Nicolas Cage in the genre thriller “Willy’s Wonderland.” More recently, she starred in the Christmas movie “How The Gringo Stole Christmas,” alongside George Lopez and Mariana Treviño.
Beyond her acting career, Emily is deeply committed to philanthropy. She is the founder of Karttos International, an organization dedicated to providing food, necessities, and medical supplies to the people of Venezuela. Additionally, she co-founded “DIFF EDUCATION,” a non profit focused on building schools in Africa to enhance educational opportunities for underserved children. Emily is also an ambassador and on the board of several organizations, including REWILD, Teen Cancer America, Thirst Project, and Feeding America.
Emily’s entrepreneurial spirit also shines through in her business ventures. Alongside her sister Gaby, she co-owns Gaia Room, a vegan leather purse brand known for its stylish and sustainable designs. Additionally, she is also an owner of Aguas Locas, a beverage brand developed with her business partners Pablo and Morris. Aguas Locas promotes wellness while celebrating Latin roots and culture, ensuring a vibrant representation of their heritage on the shelves.
When not working, Emily remains passionately involved in various charitable activities, supporting causes related to the Latin community, wildlife conservation, and environmental.
Clint Howard: Presenter
From his acting debut at age two on "The Andy Griffith Show" to his first lead role in the TV series "Gentle Ben," including roles throughout so many blockbuster films, art-house films, ever-popular cult horror films, and valued comedies, with a rare voice adding life to multiple characters of Disney, Clint Howard is an iconic Hollywood Legend who is ever solid, energetic, and always readily prepared to contribute his talents.
He is one of very few if any who has had a unique five-generation Star Trek run, including episodes in "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds", "Star Trek: Discovery," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Star Trek: Enterprise," all the way to "Star Trek: The Original Series."
Clint has played a variety of characters over the years in several classic films including "Frost/Nixon," "Apollo 13," the Austin Powers trilogy, "The Waterboy," "The Rocketeer," "Tango and Cash," and Disney's "The Jungle Book," along with hundreds of other titles through his 60 years of acting.
Clint Howard has played such a variety of roles ready to take on any acting challenge. He is the ultimate chameleon of television and film. He has consistently worked well alongside Hollywood's fellow top actors throughout the decades, and has fully committed himself to every character in parts large and small. He has carried unique roles echoing through the generations in some of Hollywood's most memorable roles, still driving forth full steam ahead, ready to take on his next acting persona.
Jes Macallan: Presenter
Jes Macallan's acting career is extensive, including upwards of 130 episodes as a lead in different episodic series and films. Before her series regular role in the superhero show, DC's Legends of Tomorrow (Netflix), Macallan starred in ABC's hit drama series, Mistresses (Hulu). A few of her other numerous television credits include The Company You Keep, Shameless, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS: LA, and Justified. She also starred in the pilot Crash and Burn, executive produced by Tony Hawk as well as the miniseries Relationship Status, executive Produced by Milo Ventimiglia which screened at the Tribeca Film Festival with critical accolades.
As an episodic director she has directed while simultaneously acting in episodes of the VFX/SPFX packed DC's Legends of Tomorrow. She has also gone on to direct on the legal drama All Rise for OWN, as well as multiple episodes of All American and the spinoff show All American: Homecoming for Netflix. In the fall she is slated to direct an episode of the hit NBC show, Found.
Early on in her acting career she was inclined to pursue her ever-present passion for directing and she began shadowing veteran directors she admired. In 2016, with a non-existent budget, she wrote, produced, and directed her short film Self, E as a directorial sample piece. Upon submission to a few select festivals, the film was accepted and well received. The Dances with Films Festival held a screening of the short at the famous TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood. The film, as well a cohesive application, secured Macallan's admittance to the highly competitive Warner Bros. Television Directors Workshop. She is a proud graduate of the class of 2019.
Macallan's passion for storytelling as a director (and actor) thrives with a deep and meaningful character driven script. Her performance background affords her a profound understanding of character exploration on screen which is reflective in her process as a filmmaker. Her extensive experience in television, in front and behind the camera, has also afforded her the understanding and importance of communication, budget comprehension, and effective time management.
Macallan's artistic journey in the performing arts started early as she began dancing at the age of three. She studied classically into her 20's, with a rigorous syllabus including modern, jazz, ballet, pointe, tap and musical theater, with a well rounded focus on all forms of dance and expression. Throughout her decades of classical training she participated in master classes with legends such as Luigi, Mia Michaels, and Eddy Toussaint. She studied endless variations of dance techniques including Fosse, Graham, Ailey, Tharpe, Cunningham, and Balanchine to name a few. While her artistic expression and performance goals were fulfilled on stage though movement, the rigorous training caused early injuries. She made the difficult decision to continue dancing while in college, but not to pursue dance professionally.
She earned a bachelors degree in Business Administration, with a focus on International Marketing from the University of Florida. During her studies she traveled to Europe often, immersing herself in her passions for European culture and language, especially Italian. Her degree includes a study abroad term at the prestigious Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. Although it wasn't a grand passion, while on her academic path she was grateful to be able to take the opportunity she was offered to model in Miami, New York, and Milan. She later studied acting in Los Angeles, but yearned for a more comprehensive drama program. She relocated to New York City to attend the highly regarded, Meisner intensive acting program, at the conservatory-based Maggie Flanigan Studio.
Nic Bishop: Presenter
Australian actor NIC BISHOP has enjoyed an almost 30 year career that has spanned Television, Film, and Theater.
He is perhaps best known to International audiences for his starring role in the ABC network crime drama BODY OF PROOF, as a medical investigator, opposite Dana Delaney, for three seasons, and also his starring role in the USA network original international spy drama COVERT AFFAIRS, playing an ex navy seal turned private contractor. He had a recurring role on season one of the Apple drama series TRUTH BE TOLD, opposite Octavia Spencer, Aaron Paul, Lizzy Caplan, and more, and a recurring role on the FX network drama series SNOWFALL.
His last feature film, THE JESUS REVOLUTION (Lionsgate) with Joel Courtney and Kelsey Grammer, opened in 2023 to great box office success.
Another recent film THE ROYAL, in which he plays Baseball Hall of Fame legend, George Brett, is now streaming after a limited cinema release in the US.
Other film credits include THE LEARS, which premiered at the Nashville International Film Festival, and had much festival acclaim. He stars alongside Anthony Michael Hall, Sean Astin and Bruce Dern, and, WOODLAWN, in which he was the lead opposite Jon Voight, Sean Astin, and C.Thomas Howell.
His Television credits include S.W.A.T. (CBS), DC LEGENDS OF TOMORROW (CW/NETFLIX), TRUTH BE TOLD (Apple Tv+), SNOWFALL (FX), SCALPED (WGN), DOMINION (SCI-FI), COVERT AFFAIRS (USA), CASTLE (ABC), CSI (CBS), NCIS: LOS ANGELES (CBS), HOT IN CLEVELAND (TV LAND), THE GLADES (A+E), BODY OF PROOF (ABC), NECESSARY ROUGHNESS (USA), PAST LIFE (FOX)
Prior to his US success, Nic had an extensive career in Australia spanning 10+ years, starring in a broad range of Theatre, Film, and Television.
His other Film credits include STAY THEN GO, THE MENTOR, BLACK LIMOUSINE, PUNISHMENT, WALKING ON WATER, MY MOTHER FRANK, POWDERBURN, OCCASIONAL COARSE LANGUAGE, THE SUGAR FACTORY.
He is attached to a variety of projects in various stages of development.
Nic is also a graduate of the most prestigious drama school in Australia, The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), where he obtained a Bachelor of Dramatic Art.
He has also been a sought after Screen Acting teacher, for the past 15 years. He has taught workshops and masterclasses at colleges and studios all over Australia, in New Zealand, South Africa, Vancouver, and Los Angeles.
Isabella Blake-Thomas: Presenter
​Isabella Blake-Thomas is a multifaceted talent with nearly 20 years in the entertainment industry, known for her roles as a producer, actor, and writer. Her creative imprint is evident in projects such as Disney Plus' "Secret Society of Second Born Royals", ABC’s “Once Upon a Time”, Pluto's "Just Swipe", and Amazon Prime's "Maybe I'm Fine". Isabella recently wrote, starred in, and produced the compelling film "Karma: Death at Latigo Springs", featuring a stellar cast including Tony Todd (Candy Man), Natasha Henstridge (Species), Matt Cornett (High School Musical: The Series), and Pearce Joza and Terry Hu (Disney's Zombies).
Sarah Baker: Presenter
Sarah Baker is a skillful actor and comedian who brings a memorable flair to the variety of characters she brings to life on screen.
Most recently, Baker was seen in the Golden Globe Award-winning Netflix series THE KOMINSKY METHOD, starring opposite Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin. The series followed Sandy Kominsky (Douglas), a respected Hollywood acting coach. Baker played Mindy Kominsky, Sandy’s daughter who helps run the acting studio with him. The series received nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards for “Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series” for each of its three seasons. Baker was also nominated individually for the 4th Annual Critics’ Choice Television Awards for her acclaimed performance in FX’s LOUIE. Additional notable television roles include: NBC’s THE OFFICE, NBC’s GO ON, HBO’s BIG LITTLE LIES, Fox’s BROOKLYN NINE-NINE, FX’s BETTER THINGS, CBS’s YOUNG SHELDON and ABC’s MODERN FAMILY. Baker has also appeared in sketch and variety shows like Comedy Central’s KEY & PEELE, HBO’s LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER, and IFC’s COMEDY BANG BANG.
​
On the film side, Baker has been seen in a variety of projects, including Warner Bros’ THE CAMPAIGN, opposite Zach Galifianakis and Will Ferrell; A24’s THE DEATH OF DICK LONG, directed by Oscar-winner Daniel Schienert of the Daniels; Netflix’s MASCOTS directed by Christopher Guest; Lionsgate’s A SIMPLE FAVOR, directed by Paul Feig; Warner Bros’ TAMMY, opposite Melissa McCarthy; Warner Bros’ THE GOOD LIE, opposite Reese Witherspoon; and Sony Pictures Classics’ THE MEDDLER opposite Susan Sarandon and Rose Byrne.
Additionally, Baker has worked extensively in animated projects. She recurs on Fox’s BOB’S BURGERS as Ms. Selbo and Rena, as well as Fox’s THE GREAT NORTH as Chief Edna, among other characters. She has also lent her voice to television shows like Apple’s CENTRAL PARK, Fox’s BLESS THE HARTS, Netflix’s CAPTAIN FALL, as well as movies like Warner Bros’ SMALLFOOT.
A native to Washington, D.C. and a graduate from James Madison University in Theatre and English, Baker started out doing theatre and improv in Atlanta, Georgia where she helped build the Whole World Improv Theatre. After moving to Los Angeles, she honed her craft, working with the well-known Groundlings Theatre. Baker currently resides in Los Angeles.
Tony Muscio: Presenter
Tony Muscio helps BIFF with industry outreach and details related to the gala. Film credits
include producer on ALL I WISH (Sharon Stone and Tony Goldwyn) and theater credits include, WORDS, produced at Actor’s Co-Op Hollywood and published in the United Kingdom by ThePlaywrights Publishing Company. Tony is a graduate of Cornell University where he studied hotel administration and playwriting.
Keesha Sharp: Presenter
Keesha Sharp is a seasoned actress, director and writer with decades of experience in the arts. Though sometimes difficult, she takes pride in balancing working as both an actress and director. Often she has had to turn down acting work because of her directing commitments and vice versa, but she prides herself in being an artist with integrity, passion and a fierce work ethic.
She just returned to the acclaimed series “Bel Air” (PEACOCK) to direct two episodes including the premiere of the 3rd season and also returned to direct for the 2nd season of “Found”(NBC). She directed a 1st season episode of the drama series “Our Kind Of People” (FOX), two episodes of “The Last O.G.” (TBS) with Tracy Morgan, and season 4 episodes of “Charmed” (CW) and DC Comics “Black Lightning” exploring her skills in SFX. Although her Television directorial debut was the multi camera sitcom “Are We There Yet”(TBS), she made her statement as a director with the Panama episode of “Lethal Weapon” (FOX). The action packed episode allowed her to show her versatility of balancing drama, comedy, heart, and action with several breathtaking stunt sequences and compelling character development.
Paras Patel: Presenter
After completing his schooling in finance, Paras decided to do a complete 180 and follow his heart to pursue a career in acting. After several years of training, Paras made his acting debut in the Freeform TV Movie "Teen Spirit" playing the lead role of Raj Kukuri. With a career spanning over a decade, Paras has made several TV appearances that include ABC's Nashville, Fresh Off The Boat, Disney's KC Undercover, and Showtime's Ray Donovan. On the feature front, he can be seen in supporting roles in Lionsgate's THE DUFF, as well as sci fi thriller THE SHIFT, and a cameo in JESUS REVOLUTION.
Paras just completed filming season five of the global hit series, THE CHOSEN. Portraying the role of Matthew, who is neurodivergent in THE CHOSEN, has inspired Paras to get involved with raising awareness for the neurodivergent community, and as a proud Indian American, to help amplify voices from underrepresented communities in any way he can.
In his free time, Paras enjoys spending time with his family and friends, the outdoors, hitting his daily goal of 10,000 steps a day, cooking (sometimes terribly), bingeing reality TV, watching films (especially Bollywood), traveling, and connecting with all his Chosen supporters from across the globe!
Yi Zhou: Presenter
​Yi Zhou is a visionary artist, Filmmaker, and founder of Into The Sun Entertainment, a dynamic company that pushes the boundaries of art, cinema, music and technology. Known for her avant-garde approach to storytelling, Yi seamlessly blends traditional filmmaking with cutting-edge technology, including AI, to create immersive and thought-provoking works. Her films and visual art pieces have captivated global audiences, showcasing her unique talent for bridging cultural divides and reimagining the future of entertainment. Under her leadership, Into The Sun Entertainment has become a hub for innovative content that resonates across mediums, from film and music to art installations and fashion. She has just released her sound track album In Between Stars and Scars: Masters of Cinema in collaboration with Cameron Crowe and Bryan Ferry.
David Del Rio: Presenter
David Del Rio is a Latinx actor, director, producer, and writer. He has appeared in and developed several well-known film, television and theatre productions. David can soon be seen as series regular ‘Billy,’ a charismatic young associate a few years out of law school and assigned to work on one of the firm’s biggest cases, alongside Kathy Bates in the new CBS drama “Matlock”. The first episode will be released for viewers on September 22, with the season premiere following soon after on October 17.
Del Rio's professional career began after graduating from the New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts when he landed the part of ‘Felix Garcia’ on Nickelodeon’s “The Troop.” In between seasons, he made his Broadway debut in Lin Manuel Miranda’s hit musical “In the Heights.” His acting career continued from there with hit films such as Universal’s “Pitch Perfect,” Blumhouse’s “The Belko Experiment,” and Netflix’s “A California Christmas” and “A California Christmas: City Lights.” Critically-acclaimed television events such as Fox’s “Grease Live!,” and starring in ABC’s rom-com “The Baker and The Beauty” also grace his resume. David’s most recent television work was in Hulu’s “Maggie” as co-lead ‘Ben’ with Rebecca Rittenhouse.
When not in front of the camera, Del Rio digs deep behind the camera, directing feature films. His films, “Sick for Toys” and “Road Head” are currently available on Amazon Prime. He’s co-founder of production company Theatre Row Productions along with his producing partner and wife, Katherine Del Rio. The production company’s first feature film, “The Big Feed,” is currently in post-production.
Del Rio has a passion for helping the younger generation. He is currently part of the mentoring program, iCouldBe, where they provide high school students with an online community of professional mentors, empowering teens to thrive in school and plan for future careers. In his spare time he also directs demo reels for students at his alma mater. He has a newly discovered passion for travel, road tripping across the United States with his wife and backpacking across Europe. When he’s not busy working, David gives all his time and energy to fatherhood.
A native Colombian-Cuban of Miami, FL., Del Rio now lives in Austin, TX. with dreams of spending more time again in New York City.
.jpg)
Dina Lipton: Presenter
Dina Lipton is a Motion Picture and Television Production Designer based in Los Angeles. Throughout her 38 year career she has designed a variety of projects from serious period dramas to dark comedies along with family friendly television comedy series. Some of her credits include such feature films as, the critically acclaimed, Mr. Holland’s Opus, Ice Cube’s Next Friday, Kevin Smith’s Mallrats,and Albert Brooke’s The Muse.
Some of Dina’s television credits are Hulu’s comedy series This Fool, Not Dead Yet starring Gina Rodriguez for ABC TV, and the groundbreaking family comedy The Real O’Neals. Lipton was nominated for Excellence in Production Design for a Single Camera Television Series from the Art Directors Guild for her work on the series drama, Jack and Bobby. She is a member of the Television Academy and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and is currently serving as the President of The Art Directors Guild, I.A.T.S.E. Local 800.
Mark Worthington: Presenter
With over 30 years of experience in design for film, television and theater, Mark Worthington started his career in film on while still a graduate student at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama working with production designer Cletus Anderson on George Romero and Dario Argento’s film Two Evil Eyes, an adaptation of two Edgar Allan Poe short stories. This early experience in the horror genre was foundational to Worthington’s later work on the acclaimed FX series American Horror Story for which he designed the first five seasons.
​
Worthington’s designs for television include - in addition to American Horror Story – the pilot of Lost, four seasons of Ugly Betty, and the pilot for Once Upon a Time, all for ABC; Political Animals for TNT, the pilot for Star Trek: Discovery - the return of the franchise to it’s original home on television; the pilot for The Umbrella Academy for Netflix, Rob McElhenney’s Mythic Quest for Apple, the pilot for Damon Lindelof’s adaptation of Watchmen for HBO, the first season of the Paramount+ series Why Women Kill, and the Marvel streaming series WandaVision directed by Matt Shakman, a long-time collaborator.
Work in feature film as an art director includes such projects as the classic western Tombstone, Posse, The Chamber, Wag the Dog, Hearts in Atlantis, Austin Powers 3, and Legally Blonde 2. Worthington recently designed the film Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, based the beloved children’s book The House on East 88th Street, and Lisa Frankenstein for Focus Features written by Diablo Cody.
​
A recipient of 13 nominations for the Art Director’s Guild award for outstanding production design Worthington and his teams have won the award six times, he has also been nominated for nine Emmys, with a win for the design of the streaming series WandaVision.
​
Worthington helped establish the MFA program in Production Design at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television and continues to teach the advanced production design course as well as the master’s thesis class.
​
A member of the Art Directors Guild for over thirty years, Worthington was the Art Directors Craft Council Chair for five years and currently holds a seat on the ADG Board of Directors.
​
Worthington holds a BA in Theatre from Reed College and an MFA in Scene Design from the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama.
Aryè Campos: Presenter
Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Aryè has been working on television since the age of 4, and by 8 years old was a series regular on one of the most popular networks in Brazil, SBT, alongside Silvio Santos. She moved to the US at the age of 11 and has since garnished an international career. Multilingual, Aryè speaks- native Portuguese, fluent Spanish and English with a perfect American Accent.
Aryè stars as the female lead in SONY's limited series RIO CONNECTION, currently available to stream on TUBI and internationally on SONY AXN. She can also be seen as a series regular in SONY’s PASSPORT TO FREEDOM, on AMAZON PRIME. Her TV credits include S.W.A.T., BEYOND BELIEF, WORKAHOLICS, LA'S FINEST, and FAMILY TIME. Film credits include DEATH VALLEY ABDUCTION , SHE'S OBSESSED WITH MY HUSBAND, SQUEAKY CLEAN MYSTERIES - HAZARDOUS DUTY, and the YA comedy TWO IS A CROWD IN ORLANDO- produced by UNIVERSAL & Globo Films which marks her return to acting in her mother tongue of Portuguese.
.jpeg)
Sandy Hernandez: Presenter
Sandy Hernández is a Dominican-American actress based in Los Angeles, best known for playing Minerva Mirabal in the Disney Production for Star+ ''The Roar of the Butterflies'', Elisabeth Serra in ''The Calling'' (Peacock), and Milly Quezada in the upcoming musical biopic about the Queen of Merengue ''Milly''.
Michelle Alexandria: Presenter
An LA native, Michelle Alexandria, began her career working in finance with high-net-worth individuals and major banks. After many years as a finance director, she began studying at the prestigious Beverly Hills Playhouse where she remained for several years. Within time she naturally gravitated towards the business side of the film industry. She has been a regular attendee at the major film festivals and markets since 2002, including the Cannes, AFM, Berlin, and Paris working in distribution and acquisitions for established film distribution companies. Michelle continues to represent film investors and filmmakers, working with them to obtain strong content according to the current market. Michelle's producing credits include feature family film First Dog starring Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight) and Priscilla Barnes (Three’s Company, Jane the Virgin), successfully remaining #1 on Redbox for several weeks. More recently she produced romantic comedy, Ask Me To Dance starring Briana Evigan of STEP UP 2.
Tony Piantedosi: Presenter
Tony Piantedosi is the Senior Vice President of Acquisitions at Vertical. With over a decade of experience in acquisitions, he is responsible for hundreds of independent films securing distribution. Recent acquisitions and releases include EMILY THE CRIMINALwith Aubrey Plaza, TO CATCH A KILLER with Shailene Woodley and Ben Mendelsohn, THE POD GENERATION with Emilia Clarke and Chiwetel Ejiofor, THE FORGIVEN with Ralph Fiennes and Jessica Chastain, SHE CAME TO ME with Peter Dinklage and Anne Hathaway, JEANNE DU BARRY with Johnny Depp, and PRISONER’S DAUGHTER with Kate Beckinsale and Brian Cox. He graduated cum laude from Northeastern University, with a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Studies and Communications.