24th AAWIC FF Festival Programs March 22nd
3:30-4:45pm(EST.) "Independent Film Producing" Keynote Panel
Moderator: Francesca Francois-Grimaldi
Crystal Ship Artists Agency CEO & Senior Agent
Ms. Francois-Grimaldi joined the prominent representation company International Creative Management. After going through the famed agent training program at ICM she spent several years in Motion Pictures.
Francesca is the founding partner of Crystal Ship Artists Agency. She continues to support diversity at all levels in the entertainment industry and especially at the highly coveted showrunner levels. She is the Dance Theatre of Harlem alum, a member of African American Women in Cinema (AAWIC) and the New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT).
Independent Film Producing Keynote Panel
Independent film producing takes center stage, embodying resilience, creativity, and empowerment. As panelists delve into their experiences, they illuminate the dynamic landscape of independent film producing, showcasing the tenacity required to navigate its challenges. From securing financing to fostering artistic vision, each producer's journey is a testament to the transformative power of storytelling. Through collaboration and innovation, they defy industry norms, championing diverse voices and narratives. In this forum, independent producers inspire emerging talents to embrace their unique voices, fostering a community dedicated to forging new pathways in cinema. The panel will take place at the LaGuardia Community College located at 31-10 Thomson avenue, Queens NY 11101 (please enter on Van Dam Street between Thomson Ave and 47th avenue).
*Please note, the event will take place at the LaGuardia Community College Room E111 on the First Floor.
Keynote Panelist
Keynote Panelist: Robyn Greene Arrington
Storyteller. Filmmaker. Content Creator. Advisor. Executive. Robyn Greene Arrington is a multifaceted and multi-hyphenate creative.
Currently, she is directing an indie feature film. Her short film “#exercises/in/fertility” is streaming at https://www.mansa.com?title=movie-848 on Mansa.com
Robyn recently was a scripted Executive Producer at Paramount’s MTVE Studios and the consulting producer of the Tubi hit film, “The Caregiver.”
While Head of Programming & Production at TV One & Cleo TV, she was an integral part of the team that shaped the networks’ creative vision for scripted, documentary, non-fiction, lifestyle, and digital content. Robyn was a driving force behind the networks’ most acclaimed content, including the multi-award-winning music documentary series, “Unsung;” the
investigative crime & justice limited series “Two Sides of the Truth,” which Viola Davis narrated and executive produced; the top-rated movies “Bobbi Kristina,” When Love Kills,” and “Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story.”
Robyn worked in creative services at HBO, Lifetime, A&E, and BET.
A highlight of her career is producing the Miramax nationally-distributed, theatrically-released indie film, “Hav Plenty.”
Keynote Panelist
Keynote Panelist: Monda Raquel Webb
Monda Raquel Webb is an award-winning author, filmmaker and performing artist. She is an independent storyteller dedicated to telling little known stories hidden in the crevices of history's pages through her production company, Little Known Stories. Monda was voted Filmmaker of the Year in 2020 by the National Black Movie Association. She has written, directed and produced two short films that deeply impact the human experience. Zoo (Volkerschau) and Pooch Sitter are a visual retrospective for societal dregs, racism and homelessness To date, Monda has received international recognition and over 40 awards for her films. Monda served as Executive Vice President for Women in Film and Video, Washington, DC (WIFV-DC) from 2021-2023, and is the Executive Vice President and Festival Programming Coordinator for the Chesapeake Film Festival. Monda's current project is a Documentary entitled "Portraits in Black: Honoring Our National Treasures" which tells the stories of eight African-Americans who've lived through watershed moments that changed the trajectory of this country's history.
Additionally, Monda has written and published four books entitled "Life is Like a Soul Train Line, A Peek Into My Soul, 7:33 am and Red Clay Dirt & Mountains.
Keynote Panelist
Keynote Panelist: Samia Khan-Bambrah
Samia Khan-Bambrah is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, and thought leader. She is a 2024 Sundance x Doris Duke Fellow and was recently named by Forbes Magazine and the World Economic Forum as one of the top filmmakers creating compelling character-driven films on climate change. She partners with brands, celebrities, political agencies, production studios, and publications to create films that inspire, entertain, and inform. Recently, she directed two episodes of the series "Future Forward", now streaming on Amazon Prime. Her short film “Year One”, for the White House, was featured on MSNBC, CNN, Fox, and ABC. For five years, she directed the WSJ. Magazine's signature film series, ""The Innovators"", a suite of content that has been critical to the Magazine's success. Her first independent film, "The Accidental Activist" was recognized by media around the world and premiered at DOC NYC. Samia has had the pleasure of interviewing and filming with many global leaders and celebrities, including President Biden, former First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Ai Weiwei, Reese Witherspoon, Kim Kardashian, and Lil Nas X. Samia began her filmmaking career at the Emmy-award-winning studio, MediaStorm, where she also served as the Independent Film Project’s Expert in Residence.
"Independent Film Producing" Keynote Panel
Fee: $20.00 (USD)
To purchase ticket click link below:
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Sponsored by Crystal Ship Artists Agency
In collaboration with LPAC's Rough Cut Festival
The panel will take place at the LaGuardia Community College located at 31-10 Thomson avenue, Queens NY 11101 (please enter on Van Dam Street between Thomson Ave and 47th avenue).
*Please note, the event will take place at the LaGuardia Community College Room E111 on the First Floor.
5:00pm-6:00pm (EST.) NBCUNIVERSAL SPECIAL PRESENTATION
NBCU LAUNCH Talks: Career Conversations with Jaunice Sills
Overview: Talk Back with Jaunice Sills, Sr. Director of DEI Production and Creative Partnerships at NBCUniversal Launch, Moderated by Terra Renee, President of AAWIC.
Please join us for an intimate conversation and Q&A with Jaunice Sills, the Sr. Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Production and Creative Partnerships for NBCU LAUNCH, the umbrella brand that houses the comprehensive inclusion efforts across NBCUniversal’s entertainment television portfolio. Learn how NBCU LAUNCH bolsters the company’s commitment to authentic storytelling through its talent development programs and impactful partnerships with various organizations and advocacy groups. This is your chance to glean valuable insights from a television executive who has spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives that aim to elevate and empower the next generation of storytellers and ultimately reshape the television landscape.
*For Festival All Access Pass Holders Only
FILM SCREENING PROGRAM March 22nd-23rd
Film Screening Programs
24th AAWIC FF FILM SCREENING PROGRAM features Independent film made by women of color. The film screening program consist of Narratives, Dramas, Documentaries and Foreign Films.
To view the Film Screening Program
click here www.aawic.org/Film
Viewers get to vote for the film that they enjoyed. The filmmaker who receives the most votes will be the winner of the 24th AAWIC Film Festival Audience Award!!
The panel will take place at the LaGuardia Community College located at 31-10 Thomson avenue, Queens NY 11101 (please enter on Van Dam Street between Thomson Ave and 47th avenue).
*Please note, the event will take place at the LaGuardia Community College Room E111 on the First Floor.