Film Forum

Brittany Shyne is an independent filmmaker based in Dayton, Ohio. Working in the narrative and non-fiction artform, her work seeks to depict the complexity of everyday life by examining themes such as personal histories, alienation, and cultural modernization. Her films lyrically weave together frameworks of race, class, culture, identity, and family lineage. She has worked as a cinematographer on films such as THE DEBUTANTES (Tribeca,’24) and Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar’s academy award-winning film AMERICAN FACTORY 美国 工厂. Shyne was the recipient of the 2021 Artist Disruptor Award from the Center of Cultural Power. Her film SEEDS is her first feature documentary. The film has received institutional support from Sundance, Black Public Media, Cinereach, ITVS, IDA, Doc Society’s Threshold Fund, Just Films | Ford Foundation, BAVC, The Flies Collective, The Puffin Foundation, The Points North Institute and SFFILM. The film has also participated in the inaugural PROGRESSIO lab in conjunction with ICA London and Cineteca Madrid, True/False’s PRISM program, and Open City’s Assembly Development Lab. She is an alumni of the Chicken & (Egg)celerator Lab and was a Firelight Media Documentary Fellow (2020-2022). Shyne received her MFA in Documentary Media from Northwestern University and a BFA in Motion Pictures from Wright State University.

Danielle Varga is an award-winning nonfiction producer who has been working in documentary film for the past decade. Through her production company, Walking Productions, and collaborations, she focuses on bold and boundary pushing films. Her producing credits include Brett Story’s critically acclaimed THE HOTTEST AUGUST (True/False 2019, Grasshopper Film, PBS Independent Lens), Todd Chandler’s BULLETPROOF (SXSW 2020, Winner of Hot Docs Best International Filmmaker Award), Vicky Du’s LIGHT OF THE SETTING SUN (Full Frame and IDFA 2024, PBS Independent Lens), and Rachel Elizabeth Seed’s A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY (True/False 2024, Winner of Film Independent’s Emerging Filmmaker Award). Varga was also co-producer on Zackary Drucker and Kristen Lovell’s Peabody winning THE STROLL (Sundance 2023) and Kirsten Johnson’s Oscar®-shortlisted film, CAMERAPERSON (Sundance 2016). She has also produced a number of programs for television, including a recent hour-long episode for PBS’s series Art in the Twenty-First Century. Varga was a 2016-2017 Sundance Creative Producing Fellow and was selected in DOC NYC’s inaugural “40 under 40” class. She’s been an advisor for Sundance, a mentor for emerging filmmakers, and a consultant.

Sabrina Schmidt Gordon is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and impact strategist from New York City. Since her Emmy-winning editing debut, Sabrina has distinguished herself as a leading voice in the field as a producer, editor and director. She is a Women at Sundance Fellow, recipient of the Dear Producer Award recognizing excellence in independent filmmaking, the Reel Sisters Trailblazer Award, and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Through her production company, Vespertine Films, her work continues to amplify marginalized and unique voices, push creative boundaries, and illuminate issues that impact our global society. Sabrina is the producer of many critically-acclaimed films, including the Sundance films QUEST, TO THE END, and 2024 Emmy winner VICTIM/SUSPECT. Sabrina’s feature directing debut, which she also co-produced and edited, is the Emmy nominated BADDDDD SONIA SANCHEZ, for which she won the ADFF Best Director Award. Sabrina is the producer and editor of both HIP-HOP: BEYOND BEATS& RHYMES, a Sundance premiere named on MSNBC’s 10 Most Important Black Films of the Decade, and DOCUMENTED, which had record-breaking viewership on CNN. Other credits include Peabody Award winner BELLY OF THE BEAST, CUSP, and BLACK GIRLS which was also in competition at Sundance this year in the BrandStorytelling section. Sabrina is a sought after panelist, consultant, mentor, film juror, and is a recognized fieldbuilder as president of the Black Documentary Collective and member of Brown Girls Doc Mafia.

 Lakisha May is an actor, producer, and advocate. Her work as an artist is informed by her service in the community. Her service/work history includes Chair of the James Beard Leadership Awards committee, vice-chair of the board at SPACE on Ryder Farm, member of the Rodale Institute ambassador network, field marketing with Everytable LA, member of LA Food Policy Council's good food working group and volunteer with FCBC’s Breakfast before Books. Last summer, she was the host and lead organizer of SÜPRMARKT’s grand opening block party, shutting down Slauson Ave in South Central, LA. SÜPRMARKT is a low cost organic vegan grocery store. Lakisha currently serves on the board at SÜPRSEED, the nonprofit that supports SÜPRMARKT. Lakisha is an assistant producer with the Tony Award winning LaChanze Productions and with her company (CCC) has produced films with Nikyatu Jusu, Rashad Frett (Ricky, Sundance 2025 directing award), Saheem Ali and other artists. Lakisha’s acting credits include Jaja’s African Hair Braiding (original broadway cast), Wine in the Wilderness (CSC), Skeleton Crew (Broadway), Ginger Twinsies (The Orpheum), The Miser (Molière in the Park), Law and Order: SVU, City on a Hill, Blue Bloods, Historias del Canal, and others. She is currently developing SINEATER, a multimedia project that she will star in and produce. She performed an excerpt of SINEATER at WNYC-NPR for Food Tank’s climate week in 2025. Lakisha is a proud alumna of Spelman College and holds an MFA in acting from The American Conservatory Theater. Stay tuned @farmerkisha on IG + kishamay.com

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