Grammy award-winning, diamond-selling music producer Kahri “Needlz” Cain has been dominating the music charts for over 19 years. Needlz has produced over 40 million records, three number-one singles including Bruno Mars’s “Just the Way You Are,” and five number-one albums including Cardi B’s Rap Album of the Year, Invasion of Privacy, in 2019.  As a young boy growing up in Lansing, MI, Needlz fell in love with music from listening to his father’s extensive jazz collection. While earning his graduate degree in Music Business at NYU, he landed an internship at Bad Boy Entertainment. Once the A&R team heard his brilliant beats, he started making music for Hip Hop’s most notable labels and artists such as 50 Cent, Drake, Fabolous, Jeremih, K. Michelle, Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, and many more. Join Needlz in a live Q&A via Zoom following the screening of Makayla's Voice, part of Shorts Block 1, on Friday, September 6.

Executive producer Mañana Cain is the founder and owner of Bridge Boutique and Bridge Home, two lifestyle brands that “connect your unique sense of style to the place you call your home.” Mañana fell in love with chic, classic style and influence as a child growing up in Naples, Italy. She began her fashion career in the “Bridge” department at Macy’s in the bright lights of New York City. She met the love of her life, Khari Cain, in 2000 while he attended NYU for his Master’s in music. Join Mañana in a live Q&A via Zoom following the screening of Makayla's Voice, part of Shorts Block 1, on Friday, September 6.

Danny Kurtzman is a physically disabled actor, model, entrepreneur, and advocate for the disabled community. Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at a young age, Danny never let his disability stop him from doing anything he put his mind to. Danny uses his platform to spread his disability pride and tell the world that despite being physically disabled, he says, “There's nothing wrong with my body. It is perfect." He recently launched his foundation, All We Have Is Now, to continue to spread this message. Good Bad Things is his first feature film. Join Danny in a live Q&A via Zoom following the screening of Good Bad Things on Saturday, September 7.

Julio Palacio is an award-winning director renowned for his ability to evoke deep emotions through compelling storytelling. Proud of his Colombian roots, he infuses every project with vibrant energy and cultural diversity. Julio's recent work has earned accolades at prestigious festivals such as Tribeca, Cleveland, Slamdance, and Atlanta, among many others, with films qualifying for Oscar consideration. An advocate of indie cinema with a commercial sensibility, Julio excels in crafting narratives that engage audiences while maintaining artistic integrity. His background in documentaries enables him to navigate projects swiftly without compromising on cinematic quality or storytelling depth. Join Julio in a live Q&A via Zoom following the screening of Makayla's Voice, part of Shorts Block 1, on Friday, September 6.

Two-time Pro Bowl NFL Linebacker Ryan Shazier was selected 15th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014. Known for his positivity and toughness on and off the field, Ryan’s resilience is inspiring as he continues to make progress after suffering a spinal injury during a game versus the Bengals in December 2017. After announcing his retirement in 2020, Ryan founded the Ryan Shazier Fund for Spinal Rehabilitation dedicated to giving those with spinal cord injuries and their caregivers the support, resources, and funding they need to live independent and meaningful lives. Since its founding, The Ryan Shazier Fund has granted more than 80 stipends, totaling nearly $830,000, bringing much-needed resources to those recovering from spinal cord injuries. Join Ryan as he introduces the film Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story on Thursday, September 5.

A Southern California native, Shane Stanger is a filmmaker and entrepreneur whose career began in 2009 in the ICM mailroom before spending two years as an assistant to an agent in the motion picture department. Shane went on to associate produce Bernie, directed by Richard Linklater, starring Jack Black and Matthew McConaughey. The success of Bernie paved the way for Shane's role as the lead producer for the independent feature Pretty Perfect. Shane enrolled in the prestigious Peter Stark Producing Program at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and received his MFA in May 2023. Good Bad Things is Stanger’s writing and directing debut. Join Shane in a live Q&A via Zoom following the screening of Good Bad Things on Saturday, September 7.