Taylor is a first-year doctoral candidate in media studies in the Department of Radio-Television-Film at The University of Texas at Austin. She is interested in studying Hollywood history and ephemeral media such as trade magazines and pressbooks. She received her BA in Communication at Manhattan College and her MA in Cinema Studies at NYU's Martin Scorsese Department of Cinema Studies. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, she worked as a social media manager across the theater, television and film industries. She most recently worked for Letterboxd on their social team.

April M. Sánchez was born and raised in El Paso, TX. Growing up in a bicultural city has inspired her stories which often reflect the beauty, wonder and traditional elements of the border town Mexican American culture and beyond. Her scripts have made their way to the finalist round in competitions such as the Sundance Screenwriters AND Episodic Labs, the Universal Writers Lab, as a Semi-Finalist in The Academy Nicholl Fellowship and many others. She has participated in the NALIP Screenwriting Lab, the Stowe Story Labs, the NHMC TV Series Screenwriting Program, the Netflix Animation Writing Masterclass and the Stowe Story Labs LAUNCH development program. In 2022 April had a television pilot in development with a company that has an overall deal with Netflix. She has worked with Sundance Collab as a Course Advisor for introductory screenwriting classes led by Trey Ellis and is often hired as a story analyst and consultant by writers looking to elevate their scripts. She is represented by Aaron Kogan Management.

Khiry Duffey is a writer and photographer. Born and raised in Waco, Texas, he became captivated by the immersive power of film and TV at a young age. Seeking a career change after the COVID shutdown, he moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas at Austin, where he received his BS in Radio-Television-Film and is completing his MFA with a specialization in Screenwriting. When he's not at the nearest comic convention, he's writing, traveling, or on a lifelong quest to find the world's best pizza spot.

Zhang Xiao-an is a Chinese-born writer and director whose work blends restrained aesthetics with emotionally grounded storytelling. Educated at SUNY Buffalo and the University of Melbourne, he draws on cross-cultural perspectives to explore disconnection, longing, and social pressure across realist and speculative genres. His films have screened at international festivals across North America, Europe, and Australia.

Kevin Talley is a screenwriter and playwright originally from the Texas Panhandle. Drawing on his playwriting background, he writes contained, character-driven comedies populated with the salt-of-the-earth Texans he knew in his childhood. Kevin won the Austin Film Festival Short Screenplay Award for his script, Did You Have a Good Time?, and his feature comedy Snake Oil was a quarterfinalist in the Academy Nicholl Fellowships. As a playwright, he was awarded the Ken Ludwig Playwriting Scholarship and was runner-up for the National Student Playwriting Award at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. When he’s not writing, Kevin enjoys bar trivia, retro gaming, and spending time with his wife and their daughters.

Bailey Grady is a director, writer, producer, and gaffer hailing from New Mexico. She earned her B.S. in Digital Filmmaking from Eastern New Mexico University. Originally beginning her film career as a prospective union Grip/Electrician, Bailey quickly fell in love with the art of writing and directing, becoming heavily involved in Albuquerque’s independent film scene. Her work often features strong interpersonal dynamics between characters with an unusual edge. She is heavily inspired by horror, and often blends elements of the genre with others to create something unique (and often bloody). Bailey also draws heavily from her surroundings, featuring elements of alternative subculture, womanhood, queerness, and the realities of being a filmmaker in day to day life. She has directed three short films; Long Night (2024), Yes Ma’m (2026), and Molly Makes A Snuff Film (2026). Areas of Focus: Horror, Genre Film, Womanhood & Feminism, Queerness, Subculture & Fandom

Frank Parkinson is a filmmaker whose passion for filmmaking was shaped by his battle with cancer and a lifelong devotion to storytelling. After falling in love with the art of making documentaries in high school, he produced his first film, “The Journey of a Lifetime”, which received a nomination for a Student Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences - Michigan Chapter and Best of Show at the Digital Arts, Film and Television Film Festival (DAFT). To advance his craft, Parkinson earned a B.A. in Film, Television, and Media from the University of Michigan. With a background in documentary, Parkinson honed his craft through years of filmmaking and internships at Michigan Athletics, Michigan Football, and NBC Sports in their creative video departments, producing powerfully driven narratives. His film “Walking on the Moon” tackled his years-long battle with leukemia. It was awarded 2nd Place in College Documentary by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) and was an official selection at the Capital City Film Festival (CCFF), Detroit Free Press Film Festival (FREEP), and the Trinity Film Festival. Following the success of that documentary, Parkinson directed “Go Down River”, an introspective investigation into local PFAS contamination in the Huron River. This was awarded 1st Place College Documentary by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) and was an official selection for the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY). In his senior year, Parkinson directed “48217”, which explored the environmental and human cost of unchecked pollution in Detroit’s 48217 ZIP code, one of the most polluted areas in the country. The film highlights the stories of residents suffering from severe health issues due to industrial pollution, exposing systemic neglect and environmental racism. Through an observational approach, the documentary amplifies the voices of activists and affected individuals while holding corporations and policymakers accountable. Parkinson received the Barbara Preston and Alice Webber Glover Scholarship Awards two consecutive years in a row (2024, 2025) for his work. He draws inspiration from his mentor, John J. Valadez, a two-time Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker who served as executive producer on his undergraduate films and remains a close advisor. Parkinson brings a unique vision to his projects, guided by his own experiences. Area of Focus: environmental/social/investigative documentary, narrative, and sports filmmaking