WFF2026 - February 18-22 2026
Mike has been teaching improv since 2011. Before the pandemic, he taught at The People’s Improv Theater for 3 years before going on tour with BeerProv, a Short Form Improv show (much like ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway’) performing shows nightly aboard the MSC Meraviglia Cruise Ship. He developed his own signature style of improvisation…
Oryan Landa (pronounced “O’Ryan”) has worked in the entertainment industry for over 15 years as an actor, casting assistant, acting coach, production assistant, and on-set teacher. Working primarily in television, his recent acting credits include Chicago Fire (NBC), The Blacklist (NBC), Walker (CW), Bull (CBS), East New York (CBS), and The Walking Dead: World Beyond (AMC). Behind the scenes, Oryan has worked as a casting…
Nicole Sylvester is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, and educator known for creating bold, emotionally rich stories rooted in authenticity, identity, and resilience. Her debut feature film, Maya & Her Lover, marked her arrival as a writer-director with a distinct voice. The film premiered at American Black Film Festival and went on to win Best Director…
Richard Jordan has been in the business for 25+ years, casting for the last 15 for a wide variety of projects from independent film, commercials, music videos, voice over, print and live events. Most recent features include THE BLACK CHAPEL by KY Woo. POP POP, Romas Zabarauskus’s THE WRITER which secured European distribution, POUNDCAKE by Onur…
Lauren Elizabeth Harris is an award-winning actor, producer and founder of Pathway Pictures. She has starred in numerous roles on film, television and on the stage. Pathway’s projects include Family Tree (starring William Shatner and Tom Bergeron), Pink Moon (directed by SXSW alum Carol Brandt and starring Blu Del Barrio of Star Trek), Bat Sheva Guez’s Babies…
Dr. Rebekah Louisa Smith, The Film Festival Doctor, is a change agent. Her focus on film festivals and mental health is the first of its kind within the film industry. She creates new ways to approach festival strategies and redefine how to look after one’s mental health within the intense & rewarding world of the…
Dan is the founder of Soundview Media Partners. He entered the film distribution industry in 1984. He started in advertising, moved into sales in 1986 and by the mid-90’s came in from the cold entering into senior management for companies that included Fox Lorber Associates, The Disinformation Company and Koch Entertainment/Entertainment One where, for 7…
Vaughn Murphy has over a decade of combined experience in the media (video and film) and technologies (I.T.) industries working with industry top players. His passion for I.T. and media are evident in his hobbies, which include music production and engineering, website design, general editing, photography and special effects creation. On any given day you…
Lesley Sigall is a Managing Director at a major Swiss bank located New York City. She is the Chief Operating Officer in their Corporate Real Estate & Services department, where she is responsible for cost management,operational risk and controls, internal communications, performance management, and human capital strategy. Lesley was awarded as a 2017 Women Worth…
Aerial Acrobat Entertainment, founded by Guinevere DiPiazza is an innovative and imaginative cirque entertainment company that provides luxurious aerial, ground and specialty acts to create a one of a kind experience for you and your guests. Based in New York City and New Jersey, we are an ensemble of aerial artists, ground performers, costume designers,…
Julia Sexton is an aspiring documentary filmmaker and recent graduate of NYU. She is based in New York City.
Multimedia Producer, Sound Engineer, and Performance Artist.
Anthony Alvarez was born in NYC of parents from the Dominican Republic. He grew up in DR with Latin music as an essential part of his life. Anthony is a well known Latin actor who has worked with the biggest companies in Latin entertainment, including Televisa/Univision, NB/Telemundo. He has appeared in more than 25 Latin…
Joanna Rudolph is a producer of several short films and is an executive producer of the indie feature film “Burning Annie,” which was acquired by Lightyear Entertainment for distribution, and later self-released on TVOD platforms via Sundance Institute’s Creative Distribution Initiative. A member of New York Women in Film and Television and The D-Word, Joanna…
Gina Jun is a practicing litigation attorney, music/theater journalist, host and educator who has reconnected to her childhood roots in acting and modeling. She has appeared in a wide array of TV shows, as well as an eclectic assortment of independent, studio and feature films. In addition, Gina has starred or been highlighted in numerous…