ATTENDING THE 2025 FESTIVAL
Special Guests
Marié Botha is a South African actress based in New York City. She has built a reputation on the stage, appearing Off-Broadway in BLKS by Aziza Barnes, directed by Robert O’Hara, and peerless by Jiehae Park, directed by Margot Bordelon. She also co-produced and starred in a sold-out run of Sarah Kane’s Blasted at the DUO Theater Off-Off Broadway. On screen, Marié has guest-starred in Dickinson (Apple TV+) opposite Ella Hunt, The Penguin (HBO) opposite Cristin Milioti, and most recently High Potential (ABC/Disney+) opposite Kaitlin Olson and Daniel Sunjata. Her film credits include leading roles in Highway One, directed by Emmy nominee Jaclyn Bethany, and Manic(quin), directed by Lauren Ebner. She also appeared in HBO’s documentary Slave Play. Not a Movie. A Play., directed by Jeremy O’Harris. Her upcoming work includes the feature film Almost Grace, starring opposite Mickey Sumner and Josh Hamilton, set for release in 2026. Marié holds a BFA in Acting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and an MFA in Acting from the Yale School of Drama.
Marié Botha
FESTIVAL JURY
Mariel Hemingway is an accomplished actress, author, and mental health advocate whose diverse career has inspired many to embrace authenticity and well-being. Renowned for her roles in films like Manhattan and Star 80, Mariel has also made significant contributions as an author and advocate. She has written six books, including Healthy Living from the Inside Out, a guide to holistic wellness, and her powerful memoir Out Came the Sun, which openly addresses her family’s struggles with addiction and mental health. Mariel is dedicated to empowering others through her programs on self-embodiment. By helping individuals let go of limiting roles and survival habits, she guides them toward discovering their true selves and living with purpose, abundance, and love. Her work embodies a profound commitment to fostering mindfulness, kindness, and self-acceptance, inspiring others to become who they were meant to be.
Mariel Hemingway
Marc Klein is a Los Angeles-based screenwriter, director, and author known for his romantic storytelling. He gained recognition with Serendipity (2001) and has adapted works including A Good Year and several Nicholas Sparks films, such as Dear John, Safe Haven, and The Best of Me. Klein also co-wrote Mirror, Mirror and created The In Between, a Paramount+ hit with a YA novel tie-in. He continues to develop new film and television projects, bringing heartfelt and engaging stories to audiences worldwide.
Marc Klein
Meryl Poster is an award-winning producer and media executive with a career spanning film, television, and digital media. She served as co-president of production at Miramax, overseeing films like Chicago, Chocolat, and Good Will Hunting. she founded Superb Entertainment, developing projects including Las Hermanas and The Mosquito Supper Club Cookbook. She has produced TV shows such as Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce and Project Runway All Stars, as well as the Ambie-nominated podcast Call Your Grandmother. Known for her collaborative leadership, she continues to create innovative content across platforms.
Meryl Poster
Leslie Zemeckis is a best-selling author, actress, and award-winning documentarian whose acclaimed films include Behind the Burly Q and Bound by Flesh. She has written three best-selling books on burlesque and iconic showgirls and has acted opposite stars like Tom Hanks, Colin Firth, and Mickey Rourke. A writer and speaker dedicated to preserving women’s stories, she founded the mentorship program “Stories Matter” and delivered the TEDx talk Forgotten to Forever. In 2023, she was honored with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for her work celebrating women’s independence and agency.
Leslie Zemeckis
Since 2010, Ali Nichols has been on staff at the Texas Film Commission working to promote, encourage and assist the creative industries in Texas. As Production Team Lead, she works closely with writers, directors, producers, and studio executives, promoting Texas as a premier destination for their productions. Her travels have taken her to the far corners of the state and her efforts have been put forth on recent projects such as CBS’s Walker (2021- 2024), the feature film Spy Kids 5 (2023), Taylor Sheridan’s Landman (2023), and HBO’s Love and Death (2022), among many others.
Ali Nichols (Texas Film Commission) | Moderator
Industry Guests
Michelle began her career in the Entertainment Industry working primarily for Sony Music Entertainment in both New York and Los Angeles. She also has experience working in fashion retail, wholesale, sales, and marketing. In 2012, Michelle relocated to Austin, Texas and joined the incentives team working at the Texas Film Commission. Her responsibilities expanded to include facilitating engagement opportunities for industry partners, including education and outreach opportunities for a variety of stakeholder groups. Michelle currently manages the Film Friendly Texas Program, a statewide program that connects media industry professionals with skilled community liaisons to provide local expertise and production support.
Michelle Habecker (Texas Film Commission)
Lens on the Lone Star State:
Filmmaking in Texas
Lens on the Lone Star State: Filmmaking in Texas
Texas is full of cinematic potential, but making a film here comes with its own set of challenges. Industry experts will share real-world advice and the practical realities of shooting in Texas, from navigating locations and tax incentives to building the right team and ensuring authentic local representation.
Duncan Montgomery is an independent film producer and co-founder of High Frequency Entertainment. He has produced over 20 independent films that have premiered at festivals such as Sundance, Toronto, Venice and Berlin. His films have been nominated for Golden Globes, Gotham Awards and Independent Spirit Awards. In 2020, Mr. Montgomery co-founded High Frequency Holdings to provide financing for director driven independent films. In 2021, he produced the fund’s debut project Windfall, starring Jesse Plemons, Jason Segal, and Lily Collins. More recently Mr. Montgomery produced Michel Franco’s Memory, starring Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard, Azazel Jacob’s Robert Altman Award winning film, His Three Daughters starring Elizabeth Olsen, Carrie Coon and Natasha Lyonne, The Summer Book directed by Charlie McDowell and starring Glenn Close, and Alex Russell's debut film Lurker starring Archie Madekwe and Théodore Pellerin. Mr. Montgomery recently wrapped production on Derek Cianfrance's Roofman starring Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst. The film was released on 3,000 screens across the country on October 10, 2025. Additional credits include Richard Linklater's Bernie, the marriage equality film Freeheld, the true crime drama Silk Road, Gia Coppola's The Last Showgirl, and Eva Victor's Sorry, baby.
Duncan Montgomery (High Frequency Entertainment)
BIO COMING SOON.
Chase Musselwhite (Media For Texas)
Him (2025)
Costume Designer
Origin (2023)
Costume Designer
Swarm (2023)
costume design
Dominique Dawson
Righteous Gemstones (2023-2025)
Costume Designer
Fresh (2022)
Costume Designer
Them that Follow (2019)
Costume Designer
Christina Flannery
Lights, Camera, Couture!: The Influence of
Fashion & Film
Lights, Camera, Couture!: The Influence of Fashion & Film
Costume design is storytelling- shaping characters, setting tone, and reflecting the world around us. This panel explores how on-screen looks inspire real-world trends, reflects cultural shifts, and evolve with new technologies.
Baby Driver (2017)
Costume Designer
Captain Fantastic (2016)
Costume Designer
The Hateful
Eight (2015)
Costume Designer
Courtney Hoffman
Hit Man (2023)
costume designer
12 mighty orphans (2021)
costume designer
emancipation (2022)
costume department
Juliana Hoffpauir
Bridgerton (2020)
Costume Designer
The Greatest Showman (2017)
Costume Designer
Oppenheimer (2023)
Costume Designer
Ellen Mirojnick
"Still Rolling": A State of the Film Industry Conversation
"Still Rolling": A State of the Film Industry Conversation
- Jonathan Lipnicki (Buffalo 8/Bondit Capital)
- Stephen Mastrocola (Buffalo 8/Bondit Capital)
- Brian Kavanaugh-Jones (Range Media Partners)
- Marc Klein, screenwriter
- Julie Candelaria (Gravitas Ventures)
Hollywood is going through big changes, with fresh voices, innovative ideas, and evolving ways of making and sharing stories. We’ll talk about the ripple effects of recent industry strikes, changing audience habits, and the push for more diverse stories- but also opportunities to thrive in a rapidly evolving production landscape.
From Combat to Camera: Honoring Veteran Voices in Film
From Combat to Camera: Honoring Veteran Voices in Film
- RJ Casey
- Jim Wilkey
- Vincent Vargas
- Kevin Kent
This powerful panel explores the journey of military veterans who have transitioned from active service to active storytelling- finding purpose, expression, and community in a new kind of mission. From the battlefield to the backlot, the shared values of discipline, trust, and teamwork create a natural bridge, and sense of camaraderie, between military units and film crews. Hear from veteran filmmakers, writers, and actors who are redefining the narrative by not just telling war stories, but telling their stories. This conversation will explore how the film industry can become a meaningful next chapter for veterans, the challenges and triumphs of translating military experience into creative careers, and why honoring these voices matters now more than ever. Moderated by 2024 RTFF Maverick Stunt award recipient RJ Casey.
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