WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 20TH AT 630PM
KATRA Film Series continues celebrating its 10th Anniversary at AMC Theatres in Times Square with our FREE Alumni Spotlight Event in partnership with the City Artist Corps. We are honored to highlight some of our top alums from the past 10 years who are now producing and directing for NETFLIX, HBO, CNN, SONY, HULU, BET, PARAMOUNT+, TBS, and more including debuting new films at some of the top festivals in the world such as Venice, Tribeca, and Sundance Film Festival.
Join us for an evening of short screenings and talkback as our alums discuss their careers, navigating the industry, challenges, successes, failures and everything in between.
*This program is made possible by the New York City Artist Corps*
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 20 – 630PM
(Screening + Talkback)
JUDD EHRLICH is a Grand Clio, Cannes Lion and Emmy® Award-winning director and producer who “clearly knows his craft” (The New York Times) and “has mastered the art of exposing compelling and honest stories” (AOL). He has premiered five films at the Tribeca Film Festival including THE PRICE OF FREEDOM, which was acquired by CNN Films and is now streaming on HBO Max. Ehrlich’s work has aired on ABC, The CW, ESPN, PBS, Paramount+, and CNN. He directs for brands including New Balance, Bose, Van Cleef & Arpels, US Cellular, and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Ehrlich helms Flatbush Pictures, an award-winning Brooklyn-based film, television, and content studio.
ELLI FOUMBI is an actor/writer/director from Cameroon. She holds an MFA from Columbia University’s School of the Arts in Directing. Her films have screened at several prestigious film festivals, including the Venice Film Festival, HollyShorts and Santa Barbara International Film Festival. In addition to participating in New York Film Festival’s Artist Academy, her projects have been supported by the Venice Biennale Cinema College, SFFILM and the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, The Gotham’s No Borders Project Forum, the Film Independent Screenwriting Lab, and the Tribeca Film Institute. Her short film ‘Home’ was funded by Netflix and premiered on their Youtube platform.
MATTHEW BONIFACIO is an award-winning director/writer/producer and Film Independent Spirit Award Nominee. His work includes numerous short films, commercials, music videos, and the feature films Lbs. (Sundance Film Festival), Amexicano (Tribeca Film Festival), and The Quitter (Gunpowder & Sky). All three feature films were theatrically released and critically acclaimed by The New York Times and others. Matthew’s most recent short film, Master Maggie, starring Lorraine Bracco, Brian Dennehy, and Kenan Thompson, screened at over 20 film festivals and Oscar-Qualified for the 92nd Academy Awards. Matthew was a writer of the MyCareer story mode for NBA 2K 21 video game, which starred Michael K. Williams, Jesse Williams, Mireille Enos, Djimon Hounsou, Cameron Britton, and others.
JULIANNA GELINAS BONIFACIO is an award-winning producer and screenwriter. Producing credits include short films: ‘Migraine’ (Tribeca), ‘Fortune House’ (Tribeca), ‘The Contenders: Bethany Zummo – Libero (Free)’ (ESPN), and ‘Last Pick-Up’ (Outfest). Julianna co-wrote and produced ‘Master Maggie,’ starring Lorraine Bracco, Brian Dennehy, and Kenan Thompson (Tribeca). ‘Master Maggie’ won Best Short Film at the American Pavilion’s Emerging Filmmakers Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival and Audience Awards at the Katra Film Series and Nantucket Film Festival. Most recently, Julianna produced ‘Show Pony’ (in post). Feature film producing credits include ‘Delivering the Goods’ and ‘The Quitter’ (PBS/Hulu/Amazon/Tubi), in which she also acted in the leading role. Julianna won Best Short Screenplay at the 2021 BlueCat Screenwriting Competition.
JEFF PINILLA is a 4-time Emmy award winning writer, producer, director, and editor. He is co-founder of Astronada, a New York production company, and has been nominated for 12 Emmy awards, has won 5 Promax Gold Awards, 6 Telly Awards for best directing, and was awarded the “Ron Scalera Rocket Award” at the PromaxBDA 2012 Awards and Grand Prize Award at the 2013 Katra Film Series Grand Finale.
AMIR ARISON is best known for his work on the NBC/Sony/Netflix hit series The Blacklist now with their 9th season premiering October 21st on NBC at 8pm. Other TV credits include recurring & guest appearances on Law & Order: SVU, American Horror Story, Ramy, Billions, Bull, Homeland, Girls, as well as many others including the upcoming HULU limited series THE DROPOUT starring Amanda Seyfriend. He also starred in the indie drama ’20 Weeks’ now streaming on HULU.Currently Amir can be seen starring in the satirical Butterfinger commercial campaign running worldwide. On stage, he’s performed all over with world premieres at NYTW, The Public Theatre, the Signature, MCC, Waterwell, Yale Rep, Huntington, the RSC & more.He is the recipient of the Mendez Award from MIFF, given to an individual in the entertainment industry who uses their platform to give back.
Amir is also the award winning director of Angelight Films’ ‘Tati’s Fashion Show’ as well as ‘Fortress’ which had its premiere at Katra Film Series in 2016. Currently Amir is directing a documentary about working with 8 year old Cancer survivor Tatianna Bernard on the making of Tati’s Fashion Show and its impact on her health and family life, demonstrating his heartfelt belief on the creative process & its power to help & heal.