Engages, Educates, and Empowers Student Filmmakers
Film industry professionals mentor students to step out of their comfort zone and tell their stories. We unleash untapped creativity and encourage the next generation of working filmmakers to transform the culture of the industry.
YUSEF MAYES
Yucef is a graduate ot The New School University NYC, and a former writing fellow of Center of Black Literature of Medgar Evers College of Brooklyn. Co-Founder of Shine Black Art & Film, a film company that aims to broaden the narrative for underrepresented people of color. Yucef's 2nd short film ZAHRA AND THE OIL MAN was an OFFICIAL SELECTION of American Black Film Festival, BlackStar Film Festival, and Pan African-Film Festival. ZAOM was nominated for Outstanding Short Film in Black Reel Awards. ZAOM can be viewed on kweli.tv , Muslim Content Streaming Site https://www.alchemiya.com/ and Tim Reid's own streaming site, LegacyTV. ZAOM premiered on CBS Channel 2 NY as part of African-American Short Films collection. Yucef's next film The Patient, about a sickly mother who escapes the hospital for the most heartbreaking reason is Produced by Cinereach and Wavelength Productions. It is scheduled to be released in late 2021.
LINDA BECK
Linda has served as an animation juror at the Woodstock, Indie Memphis, and Dusty Film Festivals, and the RiverRun Film Festival where she is honoured to also be on the Advisory Board. Additionally, she has moderated animation panels at The Ottawa International Animation Festival and Atlanta Film Festival. When she is not watching films or series, she is an Artist Development Specialist who works closely with development teams to land the perfect looks for new properties and rebrands. Her current clients include Sesame Workshop, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nick Jr. U.K., DreamWorks TV, and SpinMaster. Wearing her producer hat, she has produced content for children (Nickelodeon, Disney) and grown ups (History Channel, A&E, PBS). Linda, sews, builds props, writes, directs, animates, and draws. She is a SAG-AFTRA voiceover artist who employs her nonsensical voices on her husband and two kids, very large Rex rabbit, and in shouting encouraging words at the San Francisco Giants and the Texas Rangers.
JUNE SMITH
June is the first woman of color to hold the Executive Director title for the culturally and economically diverse ValleyArts Inc. Tasked with overseeing day-to-day activities, improving performance, developing organizational culture, reporting on revenue, and directing organizational strategy, she brings a level of experience and a clear vision to this arts organization that straddles Orange and West Orange, NJ in the 15-block radius known as the ValleyArts district. June is a natural born artist, entrepreneur, writer and editor. She also works in event production and has worked with a variety of celebrities in the film and music industry. June is a graduate of Rutgers University where she holds a mini-MPA, and a double degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. Moreover, she has additionally acquired a certification in Business Incubation Management from the International Business Innovation Association and is a Certified Financial Counselor for the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs. June believes that cementing the issue of self-sufficiency is critical while engaging in robust efforts to break the vicious cycle of poverty and dependency. She is driven and committed to her dreams and aspirations of making a meaningful impact in the world.