10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

The Invisible Language of Choice: Connecting Production to Story

Presented by Southern Methodist University
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Theater 23

Description: This hands-on workshop explores how production choices, not just the words on the page, shape the way an audience feels a story. Using real-world examples like The Social Network and Lady Bird, students will see how decisions such as shot distance, camera movement, and editing pace can turn a simple scene into tension, intimacy, or alienation before a single line of dialogue lands. The workshop then turns to directing actors, introducing the "Verb Approach" to performance: since actors can't act an emotion, only an action, students will learn to swap vague results ("be more aggressive") for active verbs ("to command," "to trap," "to charm") that give performers something real to play. Students will put this into practice with a directing exercise built around a two-word screenplay, working only with active verbs to direct the scene and discovering firsthand how a single word choice can completely transform a performance.

Presented by: Kesleigh Dougherty — Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice, Film & Media Arts, SMU Meadows School of the Arts

Kesleigh Dougherty is a Clio Award-winning video editor, creative producer, and educator known for a "sound-first" editorial philosophy that prioritizes narrative pacing and emotional clarity. Based in Dallas, Texas, she brings over a decade of experience to the cutting room, specializing in high-impact social media campaigns for the world's leading studios and streaming platforms.

Kesleigh regularly partners with Unfold Creative, where she crafts sophisticated social campaigns for titles such as Dead Man's Wire, Shelter, In The Grey, and Tuner for Black Bear. Her background also includes pivotal roles at agencies like Ammo Creative, where she edited major campaigns for global blockbusters including Avatar: The Way of Water, The Woman King, Hocus Pocus 2, Prey, and The Beatles: Get Back. Her extensive resume also features work for Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Sony Pictures, WB, and Mattel, alongside assistant editing roles at Netflix and Snapchat.

Kesleigh brings her entertainment-grade editorial craft to the brand world as a senior video editor partnering with The Infinite Agency in Dallas, where she shapes major commercial and social media campaigns for national brands including Six Flags, Taco Bueno, and Smoothie King. Applying the same cinematic pacing and sound-first sensibility that defines her studio work, she transforms brand briefs into fast-moving, emotionally resonant spots engineered for today's platforms; proving that blockbuster storytelling instincts translate directly into brand equity and audience engagement.

In addition to her work in the industry, Kesleigh is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice at the SMU Meadows School of the Arts in Film & Media Arts. There, she helps shape the next generation of filmmakers by teaching post-production, intro to production, sound design, and media career prep.

A passionate advocate for women in film, she has been featured on platforms like Edit Girls and was recently interviewed by the Dallas Film Podcast to share her insights on navigating a successful career in post-production.

Kesleigh's technical and creative excellence earned her a 2022 Clio Award for her work on The King's Man, and her editorial work on the short film Sugar was selected for the 2023 Dances With Films NYC festival. She holds a B.F.A. in Film Editing and Sound Design from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and resides in Dallas with her husband and two daughters.

Person, Place & Prop: An On Camera Acting Workshop

Presented by AMDA College of the Performing Arts
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Theater 24

Description: Every screenplay opens with a place. Then it establishes and reveals details about that place, but more importantly about WHO is in it.

All of the actors in this workshop will work on the craft of building a character. They will choose WHO that character is, WHERE they are, and WHY they are there. They will determine WHAT it is that the character wants and WHAT the character needs. They will explore HOW those two things may not align and HOW they will go about trying to get them. Each actor will select a Prop (a personal item), and then use their imagination to build a new history with it. Or substitute some actual history of their own with that Prop. They will add the specificity of WHEN this Prop first entered their character's life, and WHERE they were when it did. Does it have a function? Was it a gift? Was it something that they earned? Or won? They will build a backstory and a history with it. And then they will add a memory to it. A memory that includes another person. And finally, they will determine with their scene partner, WHAT their relationship is to the other character in the scene, who has their own conflicting needs and wants, motivations and memories.

Presented by:

Cain DeVore — Chair of Film & Television Arts, AMDA College of the Performing Arts

Cain DeVore is the Chair of Film & Television Arts at AMDA, which includes On Camera Acting. He co-wrote and Executive Produced the award winning feature film Cold Brook, streaming on Apple+ and Showtime, with Director/Actor and best friend William Fichtner. Filmmaker and AMDA Associate Chair of On Camera Acting Jaymes Camery and Cain won the Canon Shootout with their film HOME. Mitzi & Joe (Director & Co-Writer with Angela Lubbock) was the first short film to open the Leeds International Film Festival in the UK. Fox Searchlight screened it before the US premiere of The Full Monty. Other film projects include the features I-5 (Producer & Lead Actor) and Sand Trap — HBO (Associate Producer), the short form doc Pablo Ferro - Untitled about Stanley Kubrick's Title Artist (Co-Director with Richard Goldgewicht) and music videos for The Black Windmill (Director & Editor) and The Swedish Jam Factory (Co-Director & Editor with Doriana Sanchez). Dance films include Nicole Berger's Holes (Co-Cinematographer with Camery) and Kyle McHargh's Just Like You (Cinematographer & Editor).

Cain has taught on both sides of the camera, from On-Camera Acting to Screenwriting and all aspects of Filmmaking & Editing. Institutions include Columbia College — Hollywood, CSARTS and Master Classes in Acting and Directing at The Catholic University. As an actor his Off-Broadway and regional credits include the world premieres of Mowgli — Directed by Tom O'Horgan; You've Gotta Sing for Your Supper — Ensemble Studio Theatre and the Beverly Hills Playhouse (NY & Dramalogue Awards for Acting); and Lynn Manning's Visitations at the Mark Taper New Playwrights Lab. Other credits include starring in the primetime series Dreams (CBS), the international festival film Ramona, and three seasons of rotating rep at Missouri Repertory Theatre. Plays include Romeo and Juliet, The Learned Ladies, Our Town, Antony and Cleopatra, The Hasty Heart, Macbeth, Room Service, Charley's Aunt, I Never Saw Another Butterfly and Hamlet.

The Writers' Room Workshop

Presented by Chapman University
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Theater 25

Description: Ever wondered what it's like to be in the room where it happens? Step inside the Writers' Room, where stories come to life and every line counts. How does it all work? Who is the Showrunner, and what kind of creative genius do they possess to shape an entire show? Now's your chance to find out! Take a seat at the table, bring your ideas, create unforgettable characters, and craft your own scene alongside a veteran comedy writer. Are you ready to dive into the action? The Writers' Room is waiting for you!

Presented by: Jill Condon

A 20-year veteran of television comedy, Condon started her career as an intern on The Cosby Show while attending New York University. Her writing credits include Ned & Stacey, Friends, Grounded for Life and Raising Hope. Her Friends episode "The One With the Embryos" is ranked No. 1 in Vanity Fair's 25 Perfect TV Episodes From the Last 25 Years. Pilots include The Glamorous Life, the scripted spin-off of America's Next Top Model for Tyra Banks. Feature film credits include Malcolm in the Middle, The Movie.

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

The Secrets to Reaching Your Audience

Presented by Drexel University
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM | Theater 23

Description: There's a question you've probably heard which most of us can't stand. It's the age-old query, "Who is your audience?" You know you're not supposed to say "everyone" but between "everyone" and "my family and friends", what is the right answer? And even more importantly, once you figure it out how do you find them? As the old distribution models and pipelines crumble and algorithms dominate the path has never seemed more murky, but the fact is you already know exactly what to do.

In this workshop we'll talk about new tactics filmmakers and creators are using to reinvent the relationship between themselves and their audiences by breaking free from the gatekeepers of festivals, distributors, broadcasters and streamers. Because building authentic and strong connections with your fans doesn't require mediation or approval. You may be young, and "making it" may seem daunting but the reality is that as digital natives you're in a great position.

We'll explore examples of films and filmmakers that have found success in this new world of distribution and you'll walk away with the confidence and inspiration you need to get out there and do it yourself.

Presented by: Ben Kalina — Associate Professor, Department of Film and Television, Drexel University

Ben is a director and producer whose work centers on the collision between humanity, technology and the force of nature. His 2014 film Shored Up explored rising sea levels and the politics of climate change in the U.S. in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, winning the Sundance Institute LightStay Sustainability Award and airing on DirecTV. His 2020 PBS NOVA film Can We Cool the Planet? surveyed the landscape of emergent climate solutions around the world. His current documentary, Plan C for Civilization, premiered at DocNYC in 2025 and will be released globally in the Spring of 2027.

The 2-Minute Test: Decoding the College Film Prompt

Presented by Walnut Hill School for the Arts
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM | Theater 24

Description: Curious or nervous about how to approach a college application film prompt? This workshop walks students through breaking down an application prompt and understanding the story it asks you to tell. Together, we will explore how the prompt shapes your creative choices, and why it is important to understand who is watching your film and what they are looking for. We will then take a closer look at a college-accepted film and break down the choices that helped it stand out. Students will walk away with a stronger understanding of how to approach their own application films with clarity and confidence.

Presented by: Matthew Seifert — Co-director, Writing, Film & Media Arts Department, Walnut Hill School for the Arts

Matthew Seifert is a Co-director of the Writing, Film & Media Arts Department at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, where he has spent the past nine years teaching film and media arts. His work focuses on Unreal Engine and virtual production, areas that merge filmmaking with gaming and interactive storytelling. As an educator, he believes curiosity is the foundation of both artistry and leadership, and he strives to create a classroom environment where students feel encouraged to take risks, explore new tools, and discover their own creative voices. Whether through traditional film projects or cutting-edge virtual production techniques, he aims to help young artists see how technology can expand their storytelling potential.

Phenakistoscope Workshop

Presented by Temple University
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM | Theater 25

Description: This workshop will dive into the history of animation through the 19th century optical toy and earliest instance of animation: the phenakistoscope. Students will learn how phenakistoscopes work (both historically and digitally); explore the fundamentals to create their own phenakistoscope with loop cycles—an important technique that's still important to animator's today—and even try their hand at making their own with time remaining.

Presented by: Zachary Tyler Vickers — Assistant Professor of Animation, Director of Animation Concentration, Temple University

Zachary Tyler Vickers' independent "DIY" animation practice explores and reimagines historical techniques. His animated films have been screened internationally and have won awards, such as a Gold Remi at WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival and "Best Animation" at the Trenton Film Festival. He is deeply invested in the art of storytelling, both visually and on the page. He is the author of the short story collection Congratulations on Your Martyrdom! His fiction has won numerous awards, like the Kurt Vonnegut Prize, and his screenwriting won Grand Prize at the Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival, as well as garnered recognition from various prominent festivals. He holds two MFAs: one from the Iowa Writers' Workshop in fiction and another from Temple University's Film & Media Arts program.

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Directing for the Edit

Presented by Savannah College of Art and Design
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Theater 23

Description: "Write the film you want, shoot the film you can, edit the film you have," is a legendary filmmaking ethos. In order to close the gap between the film they shoot and the film they edit, directors must develop skills in anticipating the challenges and opportunities that will arise in the edit suite. During this session, Chair of Film & Television at SCAD Atlanta and Emmy Award winning filmmaker Quinlan Orear will guide students through a variety of tips and tricks to consider when directing to make "the film you have" closer to "the film you want."

**Presented by:**Quinlan Orear — Chair of Film & Television, SCAD Atlanta

Quinlan Orear is Chair of Film & Television at SCAD Atlanta, and is an Emmy Award-winning producer and director of TV and film. As an independent filmmaker for over twenty years (beginning with a feature film that he wrote and directed as a teenager), Quinn's films have screened at over 50 film festivals internationally. He holds a BFA in Theatre Studies from the University of Illinois and an MFA in Film from Columbia University, where he received Faculty Honors in Screenwriting.

The Creator Economy Meets Independent Film

Presented by the All American High School Film Festival
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Theater 24

Description: The traditional boundaries between filmmaker, content creator, producer, and entrepreneur are becoming increasingly blurred. Explore how emerging filmmakers can use short-form video, social platforms, personal branding, and online audiences to develop careers—and potentially finance and find audiences for larger projects.

Panelists:

Patrick Alexander — Department Head of Film, Ringling College of Art and Design

Patrick Alexander is an award-winning screenwriter, producer, and director who serves as Department Head of Film at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. Patrick is also the co-director of The John Alexander Project, a 501c3 nonprofit that produces international stories for NPR worldwide.

Tunji Akinsehinwa — Associate Professor of the Practice, Department of Film and Television; Associate Dean, College of Communication, Boston University

Professor Tunji Akinsehinwa's expertise lies in African cinema, with a particular focus on Nigerian cinema. For three years, he worked as a cinematographer in Nollywood, where he shot feature films, documentaries, and television series. He likes to work in the independent, low-budget film scene, where less is more, and has completed several British films. As a cinematographer, he has supported inclusivity behind the camera by encouraging and training women and people from marginalized communities to get involved in cinematography, and in front of the camera, he has championed representation by teaching lighting techniques specifically designed to honor darker skin tones—ensuring that stories are told with authenticity, care, and respect. Tunji earned his master's and Ph.D. in film production from Northern Film School at Leeds Beckett University in the UK.

Dr. Meredith C. Ward — Director of the Film and Media Studies Program, Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Meredith C. Ward is Director of the Film and Media Studies Program at Johns Hopkins University and was Dean's Fellow for Mentorship in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. The winner of the 2016 Dissertation Award from the Society for Cinema and Media Studies, she is the author of Static in the System: Noise and the Soundscape of American Cinema Culture, published in 2019 by University of California Press. That book was a finalist for the Marshall McLuhan Award for Outstanding Book in the Field of Media Ecology. Her work has been published in Nineteenth Century Film and Literature, Music and the Moving Image, Screen Bodies Journal, and the Oxford Handbook of Cinematic Listening, among other publications, and multiple pieces from her current project are due out soon. She is the founder of the student-run film production company at Johns Hopkins, Studio North, and was the founding director of the Johns Hopkins Television Writers Room. She also founded and ran the Saul Zaentz Film Festival for high school students, as well as the Johns Hopkins Film Festival.

George P. Nicholas — Associate Professor of Radio, Television, Film, Hofstra University

George Nicholas is an award-winning New York-based filmmaker and director of photography. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to first-generation Greek immigrants, picked up his father's love for photography at age 7, and wrote and directed his first play at 11. He studied drama at the University of Texas, Arlington and was a founding cast member of the Dallas chapter of ComedySportz.

He moved to NYC in 1998, worked as a sound technician for Off-Broadway Theater and as a roadie, working with bands like the Rolling Stones, before moving a bit north to attend the Conservatory of Film at the State University of New York at Purchase, where he graduated with a BFA in Film Production. He has worked as a cinematographer professionally since 1992, and his work has been shown worldwide in festivals and on the air.

George has produced and directed music videos, including Elizabeth Cook's "Sunday Morning," which aired on VH-1, GAC, and CMT. His 2004 short film, Exact Fare, won the CINE Golden Eagle Award, and his experimental documentary film, Antigone, won the Nostimon Imar Award (for films of the Greek/Cypriot diaspora) at its premiere at the 2017 Cyprus International Film Festival and was nominated for Best Documentary at the Kerry International Film Festival in Killarney, Ireland, and Best Experimental at the West Chester Film Festival. His next film, an animated short, Smoke n Suds, recently completed a successful festival run, including two screenings at the Raindance International Film Festival, as well as winning a Bronze Remy at the Houston International Film Festival. His most recent film, NOSTOS, which he directed and produced, has just started its festival run, and will be premiering at the Tacoma Film Festival on October 11th. George briefly returned to theater in 2021, designing the lighting and sound for Onassis, Anthony Skordi's one-man show about Aristotle Onassis, which ran Off Broadway at New York's historic American Theatre of Actors after previewing in Atlanta, Georgia. He then designed the lighting for Nicholas Kennedy's Jean Jackets and Red Pandas at Trinity Theater.

He is currently an Associate Professor of Radio, Television, Film at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, and prior to that taught at and was the Technical Director of Film and New Media at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. He resides in Mamaroneck, New York with his wife, Marie, their son Peter, and three lovely cats. He is a bassist and vocalist for The Quarter Moon and occasionally performs stand-up comedy.

Navigating the Industry as an Emerging Filmmaker

Presented by Florida State University
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Theater 25

Description: Breaking into the film industry can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to figure it out alone. Join a panel of emerging filmmakers as they share their experiences navigating film school, festivals, networking, finding collaborators, building a career, and creating opportunities for themselves.

Hear firsthand what it's really like to take the leap from student filmmaker to working professional, including the challenges, unexpected opportunities, lessons learned, and advice. Bring your questions and learn how you can begin building your own path in the film industry.

Panelists:

Grace Evans

Grace Evans is a recent graduate of Florida State University's College of Motion Picture Arts, where she earned a BFA in Motion Picture Production. Originally focused on editing, Grace discovered her passion for assistant directing and has since worked on narrative film and commercial productions. During her final semester at FSU, she served as First Assistant Director on three thesis films and went on to work as a Second Assistant Director on a SAG feature in Tallahassee.

Now based in New York City, Grace is pursuing a career in assistant directing while continuing to work in post-production and narrative filmmaking. She is particularly interested in the path from film school into the professional industry and hopes to eventually work as a First Assistant Director in New York.

Barkın Öztürk

Barkın Öztürk is a gaffer and key grip based in Brooklyn. He graduated from Florida State University's College of Motion Picture Arts with his Bachelor of Fine Arts, specializing in cinematography. His work has been featured across the country and was a Jury Selection for the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY).

When asked what he'd do for a living if the film industry didn't exist, his answer is simple: Work for a company that decorates the city with Christmas lights. His passion lies in designing memorable lighting that people will remember.

Peyton Burton

Peyton Burton is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker and casting professional. Peyton graduated summa cum laude from Florida State University's College of Motion Picture Arts in May 2026 with a BFA in Film Production, earning National Merit and Benacquisto Scholar honors along the way. While still a student, Peyton was a Creative Content intern for FSU Football, producing sports content for the team and featured by ESPN, ACC Network, and Bleacher Report. Peyton now works as a casting assistant, where he helps coordinate casting operations for SAG-AFTRA feature films and high profile commercials.

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM

Your Voice, Your Film: Exploring European Perspectives on Filmmaking, Film Culture and Creative Collaboration

Presented by MetFilm School
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM | Theater 23

Description: What changes when you make films in a different film culture? And what might you discover about your own voice along the way?

This workshop invites young filmmakers to look beyond Hollywood and explore some of the ideas, traditions and production models that shape filmmaking in Europe and the UK. From auteur cinema and arthouse traditions to collaborative ways of working, public film funding and international co-productions, we'll explore how different systems influence not only how films are made, but which stories get told.

Through examples, conversation and questions to the audience, we'll compare American and European approaches to filmmaking and consider what studying film abroad can offer: exposure to different perspectives, creative cultures and ways of thinking about authorship and collaboration.

Most importantly, the workshop asks a question every emerging filmmaker eventually has to answer: What do you want to say?

Learning the craft is only part of becoming a filmmaker. Finding your own perspective, taking a creative position and understanding the impact your stories can have are just as important. Studying and making films in another culture can challenge what you already know—and help you discover the filmmaker you want to become.

Presented by:

Prof. Robert Lehniger — Head of School and Professor of Directing, MetFilm School Berlin

Robert Lehniger is a theatre director, filmmaker, educator and higher education leader working at the intersection of theatre, film and digital media. He is Head of School at MetFilm School Berlin and Professor of Directing.

Over the past two decades, he has directed more than seventy productions for leading theatres, opera houses and international festivals across Europe. His work spans theatre, film, opera, documentary, immersive media and transmedia storytelling. Robert is a member of the European Film Academy and Artistic Director of the European Film Awards Show—celebrating the diversity, creativity and collaborative spirit of European cinema.

As an educator, he is particularly interested in connecting creative education with professional practice and helping emerging filmmakers find their individual artistic voice within an increasingly international and interdisciplinary screen industry.

Creative Development for Young Filmmakers: How to Go from an Idea to an Original Visual Storytelling Style

Presented by Idyllwild Arts Academy
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM | Theater 24

Description: How can young filmmakers move from formulating an idea and begin developing a visual language that is truly their own? This workshop explores creative development as the bridge between what a student wants to say and how they choose to show it on screen.

Drawing from classroom practices at Idyllwild Arts Academy — Film and Digital Media Department, Catalina Alcaraz-Guzman will share approaches for helping young filmmakers identify the core of their story and translate it into intentional choices in genre, space, character, blocking, camera, color, sound, and visual style. The workshop will look at how educators can guide students without imposing an aesthetic on them, giving them a process for experimentation, discovery, and decision-making, while equipping students with the tools to discover and make creative choices, take charge of the creative development of their projects, and ultimately develop a visual storytelling language that feels original and personal.

Presented by:

Catalina Alcaraz-Guzman — Film & Digital Media Chair, Idyllwild Arts Academy

Filmmaker, educator and activist Catalina Alcaraz-Guzman opened her own professional photography studio in her hometown of Medellin, Colombia, at the age of sixteen. As an active young leader, community organizer and cultural developer, Catalina participated in youth congresses, conferences, master classes, artistic events and performances, focusing on the power of film, theater, and mass media to offset the tumultuous social and political unrest in her country in the 1990s. After completing various degrees in photography, television production and journalism, in 2002, she relocated to the United States in pursuit of an education and career in filmmaking. Specializing in history and popular culture, she received her BFA in Communication from Castleton State University, followed by her MFA in Film & Television from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2013.

While working as a development producer for 22 Whitestone in New York, Catalina was Artist-in-Residence at Reel Works, which mentors and empowers underserved NYC youth. In 2014, she joined Poverty Row Entertainment, working closely with Jennifer DeLia and Julie Pacino while producing various commercial and music video projects, and leading the creative team on the upcoming independent feature film about the life of Hollywood legend Mary Pickford.

Catalina returned to Savannah, Georgia in 2017, to raise her daughter and accept the position of Film Commission Manager for the Savannah Regional Film Commission, supporting large studio productions, independent films, television series, and commercials filmed in Savannah. In late 2019, Catalina joined the Film & Digital Media faculty at Idyllwild Arts Academy in Idyllwild, California, and was promoted to department chair in 2022. She was also appointed as chair of the academy's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) Collaborative.

Recently, Catalina was invited to direct the cinematic filming of iconic theater plays with recognized troupes in her city of origin, Medellin, and presented in masterclasses in South America for her contributions to several documentaries and short films, including Birdsong & Coffee: A Wake Up Call. Catalina's debut feature film #Medellin1995 is currently in development.

Why the Option Agreement Is the Creative Producer's Most Powerful Tool

Presented by Emerson College
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM | Theater 25

Description: At Emerson the Producer is considered the Lead Storyteller. Our producing courses treat the producing student not as a functionary to the directors and writers but as a storyteller who facilitates collaboration amongst the various creatives toward a specific narrative goal. In this talk, Producer Mike S. Ryan shows why the creative producer's journey starts with an Option agreement.

Presented by:

Mike S. Ryan — Associate Professor of Producing, School of Film, Emerson College

Mike S. Ryan is the bold independent producer behind such remarkable and ground-breaking art-house films as Todd Solondz's Palindromes and Life During Wartime, Bela Tarr's Turin Horse, Phil Morrison's Junebug, Kelly Reichardt's Old Joy and Meek's Cutoff, Rick Alverson's The Comedy and Jake Mahaffy's Free in Deed.

Mike is president of Greyshack Films and a veteran of the independent film community, who started out as a Location Manager in the industry's 1990s heyday with films like Ang Lee's The Ice Storm and Todd Haynes' Far from Heaven. As a producer and executive producer, he has helped realize many ground-breaking films in the last fifteen years, most made under $3 million. He has won and been twice nominated for the Independent Spirit "Producer of the Year" Award, and was one of Variety's 2007 "10 Producers to Watch." His films have garnered nominations and prizes from the Academy Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, Gotham Awards and many more.

He has taught workshops and given lectures at universities and festivals including Columbia, Yale, NYU, Bard, Sacred Heart, the Atlantic Film Festival, VIFF, Indie Memphis, Rotterdam, the San Francisco Film Society, and for the past decade has mentored as a Producer Leader at the Venice Biennale College and participated as a producer/mentor at EAVE PLUS in Luxembourg. He is currently a full time professor at Emerson College. Mike also writes criticism for the online site Hammer to Nail, which he cofounded with Ted Hope, and is a regular contributor to Filmmaker Magazine.