THY TRAN - WRITER + DIRECTOR

Having experienced displacement at an early age - immigrating to the US from Vietnam at 10 years old - Thy becomes drawn to the politics of social and sexual identity. He sees film as not just entertainment but a reflection of society and humanity. Growing up, main stream media depictions of Asian men as effeminate, physically unappealing, socially inept, left him, like many others, feeling ashamed of his body and ethnicity. Over time, that shame turned into frustration—then purpose. Film became his way to process, protest, and reclaim.

Thy holds a BA in Film Theory and History from the University of California, Irvine. He is now developing a voice as an independent writer-director, telling emotionally grounded stories that center LGBTQ+ Asian experiences. His feature screenplay SummerWinterSummer is a recipient of the SFFILM Rainin Grant and the Doan Foundation Grant, while Be Tu was a semifinalist for the Sundance Screenwriters Lab. Meanwhile, Thy works in advertising for shows like Big Brother, The Late Late Show with James Corden.

JOSEPH LOEFFLER - DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Born in Stillwater, a small town north of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Joseph earned his BFA at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Mentored by two 8x10 Photographers Katherine Turczan and David Goldes, Joseph applied his education of Large Format Photography and Bookmaking to the art of Cinematography. This approach has gained Joseph a unique reputation for remarkably raw and beautiful imagery. Joseph currently works at Amiri, a global luxury fashion brand, as a content creator.

CHARLES DERENNE - COMPOSER

An Indie Rock musician and multi-media artist from Paris, Charles has composed for Maison Margiela x Reebok. His work was featured in the Mannerheim Gallery and the Galerie du Jour Agnes B. Charles also directed the music video Vault of Heaven for the Pixies

GIOVANNI LABADESSA - PRODUCER

An award-winning producer and member of the European Film Academy based in Los Angeles and New York. Working at the intersection of European and US independent cinema Gio began his career as a screenwriter and transitioned into production with Lee Farber’s debut feature The Lonely Italian in 2016, distributed by Hulu. Since then he has produced eleven features and several shorts building a track record of critically acclaimed international films. Recent credits include Fishgirl (PÖFF Critics’ Pick Special Mention), Dog of God (2026 Academy Awards Latvia’s entry for Best International Feature, two 2026 European Film Academy nominations and 30+ selections), and Isabel (Berlinale Panorama), produced alongside of Oscar winning producer Rodrigo Texeira.

AN TRAN - PRODUCER

An is an award-winning producer and director based in California and Vietnam. She is known as a creative producer committed to making ethical and collaborative content for impactful change. She is especially interested in amplifying the voices of independent filmmakers of the Global South on an international scale.

Producing credits include "The Summer People" for director Todd Louiso, indie feature "Marjoun and the Flying Headscarf” written/directed by Susan Youssef and episodes of the ground-breaking PBS sci-fi anthology “Futurestates.” She formerly helmed the ARRI Emerging Filmmaker Grant program, where she championed award-winning films like “Beasts of the Southern Wild” by director Behn Zeitlin, “Fruitvale Station” for writer/director Ryan Coogler, “Beach Rats” for Eliza Hittman and the documentaries “The Donut King” for director Alice Gu and Elizabeth Lo's "Stray." Her feature documentary directing work includes the award-winning "For Tomorrow" (narrated by Daisy Ridley of Star Wars) and "Filmmakers and the Art of Cinematography" with Francis Ford Coppola, Ang Lee, Wim Wenders, Roger Deakins, Ellen Kuras and more.

CHRISTIAN BUSTAMENTE - CASTING DIRECTOR

A Los Angeles–based casting director working across independent film, television, and international co-productions. Known for grounded, human-centered casting, their work emphasizes naturalism, cultural specificity, and bold new voices. Bustamante collaborates closely with filmmakers to build ensembles that feel lived-in and emotionally palpable. They studied Sociology and Political Science at UCLA and have spent over a decade working full-time in casting, partnering with directors and producers to shape character-driven stories through thoughtful, collaborative ensemble building.