Halle Hazzard

Halle Hazzard is a writer and documentary filmmaker driven to inspire, inform, and spark meaningful change. As a first-generation Caribbean American, they’ve grown up navigating multiple cultures—a perspective that deeply shapes their storytelling. Their curiosity about the world and commitment to finding and refining their voice fuels her work as a documentarian.

Jia Rizvi

Jia Rizvi is an independent documentary filmmaker pursuing stories that explore wrongful convictions in the name of protecting the social order. She is currently investigating the vagaries and inconsistencies of the American Criminal Justice system through the story of Jeffrey Deskovic and other exonerees who have had their freedom restored at the cost of irreparable damage to their minds, relationships and families.

Ziyne Abbas Abdo

Ziyne Abbas Abdo is a journalist, filmmaker, and future anthropologist based in Brooklyn, New York. Her work explores community empowerment and human connection. Ziyne's work focuses on informative visual storytelling. Through her work, she aims to challenge viewers to critique the society they live in and inspire them to reflect on their perspectives and actions to achieve a fair and liberated world. As a producer at Paramount's Inside Edition Digital, she intentionally seeks out stories of individuals who have been failed by the powers meant to protect them.

Ashanté Mallet

Haitian-Jamaican photographer and writer, currently based between the U.S. and Canada. With a deep passion for storytelling, she is exploring the art of directing Caribbean narratives that reflect the rich, complex identities and histories of her heritage. Her work spans visual and written mediums, often capturing intimate moments that highlight the nuances of Caribbean life.

Through her lens and words, she seeks to elevate underrepresented voices and bring the vibrant, multifaceted stories of the Caribbean to the forefront of contemporary media. Driven by a commitment to authenticity and cultural representation, Ashanté is dedicated to shaping a new wave of Caribbean storytelling that resonates globally.

Reina Akamatsu

Reina Akamatsu is a Japanese documentary storyteller based in LA, committed to bridging divides and fostering understanding through their work. Having grown up in Japan and later migrated to the U.S., they’ve personally experienced how embracing different cultures and ways of life can offer freedom, openness, and a deeper sense of peace.

Nakisa Glover

Nakisa Glover is a multi-hyphenate climate and environmental justice practitioner, tech advocate, cultural consultant, thought leader, and community engagement expert. She develops strategies across activism, films, music, and podcasts that engage millennials, Gen Z, artists, entertainers, community leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians, and other stakeholders to create more equitable, sustainable, and regenerative communities.

Carolina (Carla) Magdalena Borrás

Carla Borrás is a two-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and journalist. For 15 years, she worked for the PBS series FRONTLINE, where she oversaw and produced short documentaries and special projects, expanding the footprint of the series’ journalism. In addition to working for FRONTLINE, she has collaborated on projects with The New Yorker, The Marshall Project, Nova, StoryCorps and The GroundTruth Project. Some of her award-winning documentary journalism includes: Un(re)solved (Emmy, Edward R. Murrow, SXSW Innovation Award), The Last Generation (Emmy, Scripps Howard, World Press Photo Interactive of the Year), Crime Scene Bucha (Emmy Nominee), Tutwiler (Emmy Nominee), The Last Call (Online Journalism Award), Death is Our Business (Official selection Blackstar), Two Strikes (Official selection Florida Film Fest), and Greenland Melting (SXSW Grand Jury Prize VR, Online Journalism Award).