Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
2026 Official Sundance Film Festival Panel | From First Break to Lasting Impact: Building Creative Pipelines in Film & Media
Presented by NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) in partnership with Shine Global, Alliance of Women Directors (AWD), and Creating Creators.
Panelists discuss the ways in which intentional career pipeline programs fuel long-term success in the entertainment industry. Bringing together leaders from each organization, this conversation spotlights how professional development initiatives support creatives at critical moments — from early-career discovery and skill building, to mid-career expansion and leadership, to late-career sustainability and legacy building.
Panelists share insights into mentorship models, funding opportunities, community building, and access to opportunity, while examining how aligned ecosystems can better serve filmmakers and storytellers over the span of a career. Designed for artists, executives, and advocates alike, this discussion offers a holistic look at how the industry can invest not just in projects, but in people — at every stage of their creative journey.
Moderated by: Sola Fasehun, Founder, Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival (DIFF)
Sola worked with Oscar-winning producer Michael Phillips. She was a sales agent and distribution consultant at Submarine Entertainment/Deluxe. While at UTA, Sola launched the diversity initiative. She repped talent as an MP/TV Lit agent. Sola is the founder of The Distribution Collective, Fasehun Films, and the Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival.
Featuring:
Gianfranco Fernández-Ruiz, Alumni Filmmaker & Ambassador, NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA)
Gianfranco Fernández-Ruiz is an award-winning writer-director. His short When Big People Lie premiered at Telluride, screened at Cannes, and was profiled in Deadline. Named 2024 Best New Filmmaker by NFMLA, his debut feature Summer of Mercedes is currently in development. He earned his MFA in directing from the AFI Conservatory.
Kylie Eaton, Executive Director, Alliance of Women Directors (AWD)
Kylie Eaton is executive director of the Alliance of Women Directors, leading strategic growth, fundraising, and membership expansion. As a director and writer, her genre-driven storytelling centers on women’s lived experiences. Her narrative work includes the short Starborn and the award-winning short film Dispel, starring Gina Torres.
Alexandra Blaney, Co-CEO & Creative Director, Shine Global
Alexandra Blaney is co-CEO and creative director of Shine Global, leading content development and impact storytelling to advance children’s rights. She recently served as a producer on the Oscar-nominated film Anuja. She also created and leads Shine Global’s Resilience Awards Initiative, supporting filmmakers centering children’s stories worldwide.
Jessica Just, CEO & Co-Founder, Creating Creators
Jessica Just is an actress, producer, and editor. She graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in film and TV production and producing. Previously, Jessica worked for Miramax in post-production and Apostle Films for pre-production and development. She is currently a partner at Open Perspective Media and is a member of SAG-AFTRA.
Participate in our programs! Find more information at nfmla.org
More of NFMLA
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/nfmla
X - @NFMLA
Facebook - facebook.com/NFMLA
Instagram - @NFMLA
Submit your film today! - newfilmmakersla.com/film-submissions
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization that champions emerging and independent filmmakers and storytellers from around the world and provides a forum where filmmakers can be recognized for their contributions, have open audience discussions about their work and connect with industry professionals for insight on distribution, production and representation.
In an effort to showcase, support, educate and build relationships for next-gen filmmakers, NFMLA has rapidly expanded beyond the NFMLA Monthly Film Festival to host an array of workshops, panels, competitions and networking programs, including the InFocus initiative which combats the lack of representation in media by celebrating underrepresented voices.
2026 Official Sundance Film Festival Panel | From First Break to Lasting Impact: Building Creative Pipelines in Film & Media
Presented by NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) in partnership with Shine Global, Alliance of Women Directors (AWD), and Creating Creators.
Panelists discuss the ways in which intentional career pipeline programs fuel long-term success in the entertainment industry. Bringing together leaders from each organization, this conversation spotlights how professional development initiatives support creatives at critical moments — from early-career discovery and skill building, to mid-career expansion and leadership, to late-career sustainability and legacy building.
Panelists share insights into mentorship models, funding opportunities, community building, and access to opportunity, while examining how aligned ecosystems can better serve filmmakers and storytellers over the span of a career. Designed for artists, executives, and advocates alike, this discussion offers a holistic look at how the industry can invest not just in projects, but in people — at every stage of their creative journey.
Moderated by: Sola Fasehun, Founder, Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival (DIFF)
Sola worked with Oscar-winning producer Michael Phillips. She was a sales agent and distribution consultant at Submarine Entertainment/Deluxe. While at UTA, Sola launched the diversity initiative. She repped talent as an MP/TV Lit agent. Sola is the founder of The Distribution Collective, Fasehun Films, and the Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival.
Featuring:
Gianfranco Fernández-Ruiz, Alumni Filmmaker & Ambassador, NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA)
Gianfranco Fernández-Ruiz is an award-winning writer-director. His short When Big People Lie premiered at Telluride, screened at Cannes, and was profiled in Deadline. Named 2024 Best New Filmmaker by NFMLA, his debut feature Summer of Mercedes is currently in development. He earned his MFA in directing from the AFI Conservatory.
Kylie Eaton, Executive Director, Alliance of Women Directors (AWD)
Kylie Eaton is executive director of the Alliance of Women Directors, leading strategic growth, fundraising, and membership expansion. As a director and writer, her genre-driven storytelling centers on women’s lived experiences. Her narrative work includes the short Starborn and the award-winning short film Dispel, starring Gina Torres.
Alexandra Blaney, Co-CEO & Creative Director, Shine Global
Alexandra Blaney is co-CEO and creative director of Shine Global, leading content development and impact storytelling to advance children’s rights. She recently served as a producer on the Oscar-nominated film Anuja. She also created and leads Shine Global’s Resilience Awards Initiative, supporting filmmakers centering children’s stories worldwide.
Jessica Just, CEO & Co-Founder, Creating Creators
Jessica Just is an actress, producer, and editor. She graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in film and TV production and producing. Previously, Jessica worked for Miramax in post-production and Apostle Films for pre-production and development. She is currently a partner at Open Perspective Media and is a member of SAG-AFTRA.
Participate in our programs! Find more information at nfmla.org
More of NFMLA
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/nfmla
X - @NFMLA
Facebook - facebook.com/NFMLA
Instagram - @NFMLA
Submit your film today! - newfilmmakersla.com/film-submissions
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization that champions emerging and independent filmmakers and storytellers from around the world and provides a forum where filmmakers can be recognized for their contributions, have open audience discussions about their work and connect with industry professionals for insight on distribution, production and representation.
In an effort to showcase, support, educate and build relationships for next-gen filmmakers, NFMLA has rapidly expanded beyond the NFMLA Monthly Film Festival to host an array of workshops, panels, competitions and networking programs, including the InFocus initiative which combats the lack of representation in media by celebrating underrepresented voices.
