Our Team
Carolyn A. Butts
FOUNDER/FESTIVAL DIRECTOR Carolyn A. Butts is the publisher/founder of African Voices, a leading arts magazine devoted to publishing fine art and literature by artists of color. Spelman College will house African […]
Sandra Proto
FILM FESTIVAL COORDINATOR Sandra Proto is the founder of Girls Read to Write, LLC, a Valley Stream book and writing club for young girls ages 8 to 16 years old. Sandra’s debut poem […]
Shaye James
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Sandrine Dupiton
REEL SISTERS WRITERS LAB COORDINATOR Sandrine’s work has been at the intersections of arts, culture, and wellness – always through the lens of liberation, empowerment and being the catalyst or […]
Michele Avery
CURATOR Michele Avery is the Co-Founder of ReRooted Productions, a media producer and curator of Black cultural stories with over 15 years in the entertainment industry. Her work includes collaborations […]
Lívia Campos de Menezes
CURATOR Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, Lívia holds a BA in International Relations, an MA in History, and an MFA in Creative Producing. She has worked and programmed for […]
Lailani Gibson
PRODUCTION TEAM Lailani Gibson is a New York–based artist, curator, and community organizer. She is the founder of the Brooklyn Art Meetup, a grassroots series that creates space for underrepresented […]
Katrina Montgomery
FESTIVAL PROGRAMMER Katrina Montgomery is an NYC-based filmmaker and the co-founder of Cool S Films. She holds an MFA in Film from Brooklyn College, where her graduate thesis film,Two of Diamonds, […]
Kristin Pintauro
GRAPHIC AND WEB DESIGNER Kristin Pintauro is a freelance graphic designer who holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design from Colorado State University where she […]