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2026 Sundance Film Festival Panel: From First Break to Lasting Impact: Building Creative Pipelines in Film & Media
Panelists will also share insights into mentorship models, funding opportunities, community-building, and access to opportunity, while examining how aligned ecosystems can better serve filmmakers and storytellers over the span of a career. Designed for artists, executives, and advocates alike, this discussion offers a holistic look at how the industry can invest not just in projects, but in people—at every stage of their creative journey.
Panelists:
● Gianfranco Fernández-Ruiz | Alumni Filmmaker & Ambassador, NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA)
Gianfranco Fernández-Ruiz is an award-winning writer-director. His short When Big People Lie premiered at Telluride, screened at Cannes, and was profiled in Deadline. Named 2024 Best New Filmmaker by NFMLA. His debut feature Summer of Mercedes is currently in development. He earned his MFA in Directing from the AFI Conservatory.
About NFMLA:
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization that champions emerging and independent filmmakers and storytellers from around the world and provides a forum where filmmakers can be recognized for their contributions, have open audience discussions about their work and connect with industry professionals for insight on distribution, production and representation.
In an effort to showcase, support, educate and build relationships for next-gen filmmakers, NFMLA has rapidly expanded beyond the NFMLA Monthly Film Festival to host an array of workshops, panels, competitions and networking programs, including the InFocus initiative which combats the lack of representation in media by celebrating underrepresented voices.
● Kylie Eaton | Executive Director, Alliance of Women Directors (AWD)
Kylie Eaton is Executive Director of the Alliance of Women Directors, leading strategic growth, fundraising, and membership expansion. As a director and writer, her genre-driven storytelling centers on women’s lived experiences. Her narrative work includes the short STARBORN and the award-winning short film DISPEL, starring Gina Torres.
About AWD:
Founded in 1997, Alliance of Women Directors (AWD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to achieving gender parity in the entertainment industry by substantially increasing the number of working women and gender-diverse directors. Through craft enrichment, mentorship, and industry partnerships, AWD provides vital support to its over 650 directing and ally members, who range from emerging filmmakers to award-winning veterans. AWD believes representation matters and works to ensure stories are told from all perspectives.
● Alexandra Blaney | Co-CEO & Creative Director, Shine Global
Alexandra Blaney is Co-CEO and Creative Director of Shine Global, leading content development and impact storytelling to advance children’s rights. Her many film credits include most recently as a producer of the Oscar®-nominated Anuja. She also created and leads Shine Global’s Resilience Awards Initiative supporting filmmakers centering children’s stories worldwide.
About Shine Global:
Shine Global is a nonprofit media company that improves the lives of children by telling powerful stories to raise awareness, promote action, and inspire change. We produce and support inspiring films and compelling campaigns about underserved children. Since our founding in 2005, Shine Global films have won more than 100 major awards, including an Academy Award® for Best Documentary Short Subject for Inocente, an Academy Award® nomination for Best Live Action Short for Anuja, and an Academy Award® nomination and two Emmys® for War/Dance. Shine Global also supports filmmaker through the Resilience Awards Program which recognizes and celebrates the films and filmmakers that highlight the resilience and strength of children in the face of adversity,
● Jessica Just | CEO & Co-Founder, Creating Creators
Jessica Just, is an actress, producer, and editor. She graduated from NYU-Tisch School of the Arts, with a degree in Film and TV Production and producing. Previously, Jessica worked for Miramax in post-production and Apostle Films for pre-production and development. She is currently a Partner at Open Perspective Media LLC and is a member of SAG-AFTRA.
About Creating Creators:
Creating Creators supports and aligns lessons in the classroom, with the entrepreneurial, creative, and collaborative rigor of film production and 21st century skills of working professionals.
Moderator:
● Sola Fasehun | Founder, The Distribution Collective, Fasehun Films, and the Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival