ABOUT THE COHORT PROGRAM:
Our Community Filmmaker Cohort Program is designed to help new and emerging filmmakers collaboratively develop a film. Under the guidance of our professional filmmaker mentors, all of the Cohort participants learn about their skillset in depth, with a collective emphasis on learning about general production. In addition to the production of their short films, each Cohort member has free access to all of our independent filmmaker workshops.
AWARD-WINNING PROGRAM:
At the 2022 New Orleans Film Festival, our Cohort, Jill Campbell, took home the award for Best Louisiana Short Documentary for “Ode to Oda Benga.”
At the 2023 New Orleans Film Festival, our Cohort team of Luke Harris (Director), Jay Falice (Director of Photography) and Lauren Messina (Editor) took home the Audience Award Best Louisiana Short Documentary for “SOUTH BODY.
At the 2024 New Orleans Film Festival, our cohort team of Maaliyah Papillion (Director and Culture-Bearer), Mo Grizzly (Co-Director), Ryan Marrero (Cinematographer), and Jay Evans (Editor)” won the Audience Award for Best Louisiana Short Documentary for “ISHAK”, and our cohort team of Carl Harrison Jr. (Co-Director and Culture-Bearer), Patrice Jones (Co-Director), Avery Scott (Cinematographer), and Alena Cover (Editor) won the Runner Up for the Audience Award Best Louisiana Short Documentary for “The Buzz of St. Roch.”
2024-2025 COMMUNITY FILMMAKER COHORT
MENTORS AND FILMMAKING TEAM
INDIA KING ROBINS, CREATIVE PRODUCER
India King Robins is a writer, arts administrator, theater artist, and educator committed to affirming black women and youth through arts and advocacy. She is the Executive Director of a media-based nonprofit, New Orleans Video Access Center, and she worked as a teacher and administrator in New Orleans public schools for almost ten years. As a black, queer woman raised with limited resources in the south, India values equity and shares a vulnerable and authentic perspective on issues that impact people that live in marginalized intersections. India holds a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from the University of New Orleans and a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where she majored in Journalism and Electronic Media and minored in Theater.
ANGELA TUCKER, PRODUCER MENTOR
Angela Tucker is an Emmy and Webby winning filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist based in New Orleans, LA. She has crafted a career of deeply humanistic, bold, and varied projects. Her work has screened at festivals globally and has broadcast on NBC, Showtime, PBS, Netflix and Lifetime. Her holiday film, “A New Orleans Noel“ starring Keisha Knight Pulliam and Patti LaBelle aired on Lifetime and she had her first solo art exhibition at The Diboll Gallery. She has an upcoming installation at True/False Film Festival and her documentary, “The Inquisitor,” about political icon Barbara Jordan will be broadcast on PBS. Angela is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and has received fellowships from Film Independent, Sundance Institute, Firelight Media, and Chicken & Egg. She received her BA in Theater and African-American Studies from Wesleyan University and her MFA in Film from Columbia University.
NAILAH JEFFERSON, DIRECTOR MENTOR
Nailah Jefferson is a New Orleans born filmmaker intrigued and inspired by the enduring human spirit, whose work spans fiction and nonfiction. Her most recent film, “Commuted,” premiered at the 2023 New Orleans film festival where it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary and Best Louisiana Documentary. “Commuted” told the story of Danielle Metz, a woman whose triple life drug sentence was commuted by President Obama after serving 23 years. The film is available on PBS. 2023 also saw the debut of Nailah’s acclaimed HBO Original documentary, “Donyale Luna: Supermodel” about the first Black supermodel to grace the covers of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, but whose legacy was lost to history. The film was nominated for a 2024 Grierson Trust Award for Best Arts Documentary.
MISTY TALLEY, EDITOR MENTOR
Misty Talley is an accomplished Director, Editor, and Cinephile with over fifteen years of experience in the film industry. She began her career in 2009 as an Assistant Editor, quickly rising in the ranks to become a sought-after Editor on feature films and documentaries. In 2013 she made history as the first woman to direct a Syfy Channel original film, Zombie Shark. She went on to direct three more Syfy films while continuing her editing work on notable projects like Jeepers Creepers 3. With over 30 feature films edited, and many more completed as post supervisor, and VFX editor, contributing to projects like AMC’s Mayfair Witches, her knowledge extends throughout post production. Known for her work ethic, speed, and attention to detail, Misty is a resourceful and innovative filmmaker, valued for both her creative work and production management.
ALEJANDRO DE LOS RIOS, CINEMATOGRAPHY MENTOR
Alejandro de los Rios is an award-winning Cuban-Venezuelan writer and filmmaker based in New Orleans who has worked with the New Orleans Saints & Pelicans, to name just a few. One of his first projects with NOVAC was the Audience Award-Winning “Ode to Ota Benga“ (2022 New Orleans Film Festival) as Director of Photography & Editor. While his documentary works have ranged from climate change to New Orleans community storytelling, his narrative works focus mostly on dark comedies. His blue heeler mix, Lt. Aldo Raine, is named after Brad Pitt’s iconic character in “Inglorious Basterds.“
ZANA WASHINGTON, COMMUNITY LIAISON
Zana Washington is a mother, doula, mentor, and midwifery student in New Orleans, Louisiana, known as “The Doulas’ Doula” for her holistic approach and mentorship. She founded the “Doulas Empowering The Powerful” Cohort Mentorship program in 2020 and owns Zion Doula Services, LLC. A birth worker since 2017, her passion for maternal health began in childhood, leading her to train as a Medical Assistant and later transition into professional birth work. She became an SMP Doula, a Louisiana Healthy Birth Ambassador, and a certified breastfeeding specialist, perinatal health worker, and childbirth educator. Her midwifery journey began in 2018 under the mentorship of LaMonica Hollins, and she is now in phase two of her studies. Zana has worked with organizations such as Birthmark Doula Collective and Crescent City Family Services and was selected for Louisiana’s first doula pilot program. In 2024, she became a R.E.S.T. Fellow with Sista Midwife Productions, continuing her mission to support, educate, and advocate for families, particularly in underserved communities.
KELSEY SCULT, CREATIVE SERVICES PROGRAM MANAGER
Kelsey Scult is a New Orleans-based filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist. Her work explores the femme processing of inherited memory, the psychic untangling of intimate partner violence and the physical intersection of desire and decay. She most recently produced the ‘21 Sundance Audience Award-winning feature film, Ma Belle, My Beauty (dir. Marion Hill) which was acquired for theatrical release by Good Deed Entertainment. She is an alumna of the New Orleans Film Society Southern Producers Lab and The Gotham’s Narrative Lab.
2022-2023 COMMUNITY FILMMAKER COHORT
“The Intersection of Local Cultural Practices and Matters of Social Justice.”
INDIA KING ROBINS, CREATIVE PRODUCER
India King Robins is a writer, arts administrator, theater artist, and educator committed to affirming black women and youth through arts and advocacy. She is the Executive Director of a media-based nonprofit, New Orleans Video Access Center, and she worked as a teacher and administrator in New Orleans public schools for almost ten years. As a black, queer woman raised with limited resources in the south, India values equity and shares a vulnerable and authentic perspective on issues that impact people that live in marginalized intersections. India holds a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from the University of New Orleans and a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where she majored in Journalism and Electronic Media and minored in Theater.
ANGELA TUCKER, PRODUCER MENTOR
Angela Tucker is an Emmy and Webby winning filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist based in New Orleans, LA. She has crafted a career of deeply humanistic, bold, and varied projects. Her work has screened at festivals globally and has broadcast on NBC, Showtime, PBS, Netflix and Lifetime. Her holiday film, “A New Orleans Noel“ starring Keisha Knight Pulliam and Patti LaBelle aired on Lifetime and she had her first solo art exhibition at The Diboll Gallery. She has an upcoming installation at True/False Film Festival and her documentary, “The Inquisitor,” about political icon Barbara Jordan will be broadcast on PBS. Angela is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and has received fellowships from Film Independent, Sundance Institute, Firelight Media, and Chicken & Egg. She received her BA in Theater and African-American Studies from Wesleyan University and her MFA in Film from Columbia University.
NAILAH JEFFERSON, DIRECTOR MENTOR
Nailah Jefferson is a New Orleans born filmmaker intrigued and inspired by the enduring human spirit, whose work spans fiction and nonfiction. Her most recent film, “Commuted,” premiered at the 2023 New Orleans film festival where it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary and Best Louisiana Documentary. “Commuted” told the story of Danielle Metz, a woman whose triple life drug sentence was commuted by President Obama after serving 23 years. The film is available on PBS. 2023 also saw the debut of Nailah’s acclaimed HBO Original documentary, “Donyale Luna: Supermodel” about the first Black supermodel to grace the covers of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, but whose legacy was lost to history. The film was nominated for a 2024 Grierson Trust Award for Best Arts Documentary.
MISTY TALLEY, EDITOR MENTOR
Misty Talley is an accomplished Director, Editor, and Cinephile with over fifteen years of experience in the film industry. She began her career in 2009 as an Assistant Editor, quickly rising in the ranks to become a sought-after Editor on feature films and documentaries. In 2013 she made history as the first woman to direct a Syfy Channel original film, Zombie Shark. She went on to direct three more Syfy films while continuing her editing work on notable projects like Jeepers Creepers 3. With over 30 feature films edited, and many more completed as post supervisor, and VFX editor, contributing to projects like AMC’s Mayfair Witches, her knowledge extends throughout post production. Known for her work ethic, speed, and attention to detail, Misty is a resourceful and innovative filmmaker, valued for both her creative work and production management.
ALEJANDRO DE LOS RIOS, CINEMATOGRAPHY MENTOR
Alejandro de los Rios is an award-winning Cuban-Venezuelan writer and filmmaker based in New Orleans who has worked with the New Orleans Saints & Pelicans, to name just a few. One of his first projects with NOVAC was the Audience Award-Winning “Ode to Ota Benga“ (2022 New Orleans Film Festival) as Director of Photography & Editor. While his documentary works have ranged from climate change to New Orleans community storytelling, his narrative works focus mostly on dark comedies. His blue heeler mix, Lt. Aldo Raine, is named after Brad Pitt’s iconic character in “Inglorious Basterds.“
ZANA WASHINGTON, COMMUNITY LIAISON
Zana Washington is a mother, doula, mentor, and midwifery student in New Orleans, Louisiana, known as “The Doulas’ Doula” for her holistic approach and mentorship. She founded the “Doulas Empowering The Powerful” Cohort Mentorship program in 2020 and owns Zion Doula Services, LLC. A birth worker since 2017, her passion for maternal health began in childhood, leading her to train as a Medical Assistant and later transition into professional birth work. She became an SMP Doula, a Louisiana Healthy Birth Ambassador, and a certified breastfeeding specialist, perinatal health worker, and childbirth educator. Her midwifery journey began in 2018 under the mentorship of LaMonica Hollins, and she is now in phase two of her studies. Zana has worked with organizations such as Birthmark Doula Collective and Crescent City Family Services and was selected for Louisiana’s first doula pilot program. In 2024, she became a R.E.S.T. Fellow with Sista Midwife Productions, continuing her mission to support, educate, and advocate for families, particularly in underserved communities.
KELSEY SCULT, CREATIVE SERVICES PROGRAM MANAGER
Kelsey Scult is a New Orleans-based filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist. Her work explores the femme processing of inherited memory, the psychic untangling of intimate partner violence and the physical intersection of desire and decay. She most recently produced the ‘21 Sundance Audience Award-winning feature film, Ma Belle, My Beauty (dir. Marion Hill) which was acquired for theatrical release by Good Deed Entertainment. She is an alumna of the New Orleans Film Society Southern Producers Lab and The Gotham’s Narrative Lab.