The Fellows
Benjamin-Shalom Rodriguez
Title(s): Writer/Director/Comedian
Film Your Feature Initiative Director
Benjamin-Shalom Rodriguez is a Queer Mexican-Israeli-American Jew (Free Palestine!) writer/director/comedian, Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation Development Grant recipient, alumnus of Sundance Screenwriters Intensive, Ryan Murphy’s HALF, NHMC TV Workshop, and CBS Showcase; Ben’s had 20+ comedic shorts/webisodes produced, and 2 dramatic, award nominated/winning shorts produced. In a past life, he was a talent manager for telenovela stars (…¼ life crisis) and development exec for the Lionsgate-backed, 3Pas Studios.
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Erin Li
Title(s): Director
Erin Li is a second-gen Taiwanese American woman director raised in New Jersey. She dives into fantastical worlds that fuse drama, sci-fi, and fantasy. Her work has been praised by Upworthy, Gizmodo, Vimeo Staff Pick, Mitú, Angry Asian Man, and curated by LACMA, Killer Films, Comic-Con, Slamdance, and Refinery 29. Erin has also held directing fellowships with FOX, Film Independent, and AFI DWW. Her Citi #StopAsianHate commercial recently garnered 6.8MM+ views.
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Jeannette Godoy
Title(s): Director/Writer
Jeannette Godoy is a first generation, Mexican American director/writer. She started her career as a choreographer where she worked in film, television and commercials. She is most widely known for having choreographed the celebrated music video, Baby Got Back, by Sir Mix A Lot. She also choreographed the film, CB4, starring Chris Rock. She just wrapped directing her first episode of television. The Garcias, a family comedy for HBO Max, shooting in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico, with Executive Producer, Jeff Valdez.
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Natalie Simpkins
Title(s): Director/Writer
Natalie Simpkins is a British/French award-winning writer and director who uses her instincts for human connection and diverse visual storytelling to bring to life sharp comedies, complex thrillers and character-driven dramas: she carries her love of engrossing stories into her work in advertising, educational content and narrative films.
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Sergio Monserrate
Title(s): Director/Producer
Sergio Monserrate, is a director/producer with over a decade of experience in the film industry. He has directed multiple shorts and web series and is currently developing his first feature film and looking for distribution for his series “LA 143”. He has produced the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival and other major live events in Los Angeles. Monserrate is an accomplished public speaker and winner at the 2003 Phi Rho Pi National Speech and Debate Tournament.
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Soma Helmi
Title(s): Director
Soma Helmi is a director of Drama/Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Action. Born in Bali, mixed Indonesian. Web programmer/designer turned commercial director turned filmmaker. Directed 17 short films and multiple web series. Directed 2 seasons of Snapchat Original’s DEAD GIRLS DETECTIVE AGENCY. She is attached to direct a thriller feature.
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