Mariah Hanson is a storyteller and filmmaker who uses screenwriting, cinematography, and editing to forge meaningful connections with her collaborators. Based in downtown Minneapolis, she dreams of working with local musicians to create lush and distinctive music videos. With an eye for design and a spirit of playfulness, Mariah strives to build film and music video sets that spark creativity and result in work that feels profoundly personal and genuinely unique.

Ryan Stopera is an award winning writer, director, photographer, and producer based in Minneapolis.  A self taught artist, he began his career working with individuals experiencing homelessness, children and families, and foster care youth, as well as in program development and affordable housing development.  He began documenting protests after the recession in 2008.  Ryan’s photos and films helped elevate narratives not seen in the mainstream media, and catalyzed his passion for documentary and narrative storytelling.  His background in social work and community organizing, and his relationships across communities make collaboration essential to his work, whether in creative projects such as filmmaking, or making space for connection, such as producing community events or program development.  Ryan’s latest short film serenity won the Audience Award at Twin Cities Film Fest and Best Short Film at Portugal Indie Film Festival in 2023.

Olu Famule is a Nigerian American visual artist and filmmaker dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices. He is the Co-Founder and Festival Director of Cinefilmu, a QTBIPOC film festival focused on decolonizing the film industry, and co-founder of TDM5, a visual arts incubator supporting Black artists in the Twin Cities by bridging gaps in resources and opportunities. Influenced by his Yoruba upbringing, Olumide actively sees every project as an opportunity to carry the torch passed down from his ancestors.

Medina’s poetic visions preserve and recognize tender living migrant memories, fragmented identities due to displacement, and the haunting revelations of our dreams, grounded in reverence for migrant mothers who flee violence towards safety and care. His films were presented at Palm Springs International Short Film Festival, Reykjavik International Film Festival, Provincetown International Film Festival, and many more. Beyond the traditional means of distribution, Medina intentionally screens at accessible communal spaces, parking lots, and gardens for community. Recognitions include The Apichatpong Weerasethakul Playlab, The UFO Film Lab supported by BAM, The Jerome Fellowship, The Jerome Media Production Grant, and The McKnight Fellowship among others. His documentary projects are available on PBS.