The Fellows

Cashmere Jasmine

Industry Role(s): Director/Writer
Position: Fellow

Director/ Writer and producer of award-winning shorts Bombs Bursting in Air (L.A. Intl. Film Fest, 2020) and Weenie (Buffer Film Fest, 2019) in post-production on Oreo (2021) and directing Sia (2022).Currently writing queer disability-inclusive dramas with dark humor and surrealist imagery. www.cashmerejasmine.com

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Cashmere Jasmine

Faith Strongheart

Industry Role(s): Writer/Director
Position: Fellow

Writer/Director specializing in female-driven dramas. Santa Fe bred. Los Angeles based. MFA in directing – UCLA. Written, Produced, Directed over a dozen award-winning short films. Currently making feature doc about getting severely burned as an infant. In 2020: Screencraft TV Pilot Quarterfinalist, Respectability Lab Fellow

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Faith Strongheart

WRITER/DIRECTOR

Juliet Romeo

Writer/Director. Documentary/Comedy / Romance / Sci-Fi. Born in Trinidad. News journalist turned filmmaker. Co-founder of Slamdance Film Festival UNSTOPPABLE Program. Recipient of the 2019 Firelight Media Groundwork Lab. Recent festival projects: J.U.L.E.S (Urban Film Fest, Everybody Digital, American Black Film Festival, Doc Without Borders) Series contributor PBS Film-Maker. Latest doc, Art Of Warrior tv debut late 2021. In pre-production of dramedy Best Laid Plans. Screen Daily, Deadline

Juliet Romeo

WRITER/DIRECTOR

Lesley Hennen

Writer/Producer. Half-hour, single-cam comedy. Graduate of NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, and The Second City’s Harold Ramis Film School. “Best of Fest” at the 2020 Women in Comedy Festival’s “Pitch Your First Five Pages” competition, presented by HBO. Finalist in WeScreenplay’s Diverse Voices Lab, and TV Pilot Contest. Semifinalist in ScreenCraft’s TV Pilot Contest. Currently working on a new half-hour dark comedy pilot, Miss Ability following a group of disabled teenagers as they take on the beauty pageant world, exploring themes of savior complexes and beauty standards. www.lesleyhennen.com

Lesley Hennen

WRITER/PRODUCER

Nico Pinzon

Writer/Director, Colombian-American, UCLA MFA Screenwriter, won Final Draft’s Big Break Diversity Category in 2018, Nicholl Fellowship Semifinalist, specializes in dramedy and sci-fi tv and features about underdogs and the marginalized.

Nico Pinzon

WRITER/DIRECTOR

Rachel Handler

Writer/Producer/Actor. Single-cam comedy, dramedy, disability-inclusive. Written/produced 6 award-winning short films screened at notable festivals including Slamdance and Hollyshorts and praised by NJ.com, NJmonthly.com, and outside critics. AT&T Underrepresented Filmmaker Award, Sundance Co//ab Monthly Challenge Winner, Reelabilities 27 Second Film Competition Winner. Co-Star/Guest stars on Law & Order: SVU, Bull, New Amsterdam, Goliath, NCIS: New Orleans. Developing feature script “Hope for the Holidays” and comedy pilot “LAME.” Most recent film.

Rachel Handler

WRITER/PRODUCER

Shannon DeVido

Writer/Actor/Comedian. Single & multicam comedy/dramedy. Written over 50 comedy sketches amassing over 1 million views. BAFTA Breakthrough actress, ViacomCBS Showcase 2021 participant. Guest stars/Co-stars include: Hulu’s Difficult People, Netflix’s Insatiable, Comedy Central’s Delco Proper, Law and Order: SVU. Dedicated following on her disability-focused comedy YouTube channel Stare at Shannon. Feature film lead in SXSW 2021 film Best Summer Ever. www.shannondevido.com

Shannon DeVido

WRITER/ACTOR

“This initiative has not only created new opportunities for me to learn and grow as a disabled writer/producer/actor, but it has also introduced me to lifelong friends and talented creatives with disabilities. This cohort of remarkable writers/directors inspires me, motivates me, and challenges me to continually, learn, adapt, and mature as an artist.” – Rachel Handler, Writer/Producer/Actor

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