Mya-Breyana Morton, is an award-winning writer, director, and cinematographer from Lithonia, GA, employs film to amplify marginalized voices and defy conventions. Recognized as a Seriesfest Collegiate Spotlight fellow, with a multicultural upbringing in Kuwait, Morton's storytelling passion was sparked by diverse perspectives. Armed with a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design, her portfolio includes the Webby Award-winning and Emmy-nominated short film, "Because, I Love You" and award-winning student films like "What Remains of Emily," "Proud," and "The Traveler."  Her thesis film, "The Traveler," earned widespread acclaim and secured a place on WABE/PBS's Atlanta on Film. Acknowledged with the Independent Film Trailblazer Award, Morton's influence extends to collaborations with Canva, Target, Always, iHeartMedia, and Paramount.

Recently recognized in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2024 in the Media category and Forbes 30 Under 30: Atlanta, she is steadfast in her commitment to drive innovation through compelling storytelling.

Olivia Toussaint is a cinematographer of Caribbean heritage, who utilizes the lens to bring to life the emotional connections of heritage, womanhood, spirituality and intergenerational complexities. Her work includes traces of Black art as a photographer and multifaceted creator. As a recent graduate of Howard University, and as an artist, Olivia plans on continuing to be a voice for the Caribbean diaspora in a medium that lasts for generations to come. Creating stories that reject the system is how she creates new ones, ones that represent those without voices for their identities.

Oreoluwa "Ifamodupe Sangosemilore" Akinyode weaves storytelling and sharing into the archive. Their work exists as a living prayer, a portal that acts as a catalyst for change. As a priest of traditional African spirituality, specifically of the Ifa and Orisa Isese practice, Oreoluwa is in constant conversation and reflection with their ancestors and spirit guides. With their practice, they work to un-demonize indigenous African spiritual traditions and remind the world that our practices are sacred and are a guide to remembering one's self and destiny. Oreoluwa is a 2024 Semi-Finalist: New Voices x Netflix Filmmaker, 2023 Gotham EDU Film and Media Career Development filmmaker fellow, and a 2023 Queer|Art Barbara Hammer Lesbian Experimental Filmmaking Grant Finalist.

Head Image Credits: Andrew Copeland

Nadia Wolff is a Haitian-american queer interdisciplinary artist born and raised in Miami. They work with film, installation, textiles, performance, mixed media, and poetry to process connections to place, memory, and embodied knowledge. Wolff’s artistic process spans across disciplines, thus demonstrating the syncretic nature of the themes they explore. Wolff’s practice investigates how mourning, ancestral connection, cultural loss, and self-making intersect and inform our understanding of home, landscape, and identity. Their process is informed by Black feminist and diasporic theory, with a focus on Black Caribbean aesthetics and spirituality approached through a lens of intimacy. Their work is grounded in ancestor Audre Lorde’s understanding that poetry is not a luxury but rather an art form through which marginalized people forge survival, hope, and resilience. Wolff is a 2024 Locust Projects Wavemaker Fellow; a 2024 Third Horizon Forward Film Fellow; and a 2023 ChaNorth Young Artist Fellow. They are also a recipient of the Miami-Dade Individual Artist Grant; the Ellie’s Creators Grant; the Innovate Art Grant; the Little Haiti Local Love Letters film grant; the Rhode Island State Council of the Arts grant; and the Preston Gurney Prize for Cultural Criticism. Wolff studied Textile Design and Literary Arts/Africana Studies in the Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design Dual Degree Program.

Jasmine Marie (she/they) is a Haitian-Memphian who is using cameras, language, and archives across artistic mediums to both preserve Black cultural traditions and create space to imagine new ways of being. Jasmine's work centers stories of Black southern heritage, spirituality, and queerness through the mediums of photography, film, and poetry/prose in order to explore intimacy, agency, and what it takes to live freely. Drawing from legacies of queer black artists, documentarians, and dreamers before them, Jasmine is interested in how art can be used as a vessel for community building and resistance. Jasmine is a 2024 ArtsMemphis grantee and has received project support and recognition from organizations such as Art Noir, Urban Arts Commission, and Indie Memphis.

Maia Helvy is an Atlanta-based filmmaker, mixed media artist, and creative director whose work centers on the vibrant narratives of Black Queer women and Non-Binary individuals. With a foundation in film photography and videography, Maia’s storytelling combines a textured, nostalgic aesthetic with a commitment to authenticity. Through film, Maia captures the intimate realities of their subjects, drawing from personal connections within Atlanta’s underground music and art scenes.

Jamaica Kalika is an independent filmmaker and farmer of Ndebele and Jewish heritage, from the Bay Area and based in Washington, DC. Her work is exalted at the intersection of filmmaking, farming, and food preparation. It showcases the belief and narrative that food and film are fundamental elements of culture, essential for creating and disseminating shared experiences across generations. Through her artistry, she aspires to build a future where nourishment and storytelling go hand in hand, cultivating spaces of connection, empowerment, and cultural preservation. Jamaica is a Land Steward with the Farm to Food Sovereignty Academy and Soul Fire Farm Immersion participant.

Yasi R. Durant is an emerging filmmaker, screenwriter, and composer based on the East Coast. At just 25 years old, Yasi has developed a unique voice, blending thought-provoking themes with a bold, experimental aesthetic. Currently, they are working on their debut short film, which explores the intersection of the trans-masc lesbian identity and the tensions created by cultural and societal stagnation, as well as the weight of familial expectations. This deeply personal project showcases Yasi's commitment to telling stories that challenge traditional narratives and shed light on marginalized perspectives. Yasi's artistic approach is multidisciplinary, seamlessly integrating music, narrative, and visual storytelling to create immersive worlds that resonate on both an emotional and intellectual level.