Katra Film Series and Raindance Presents
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
A Special Free Evening of Film, Conversation, and Networking with some of Katra Film Series Top Alums since its inception in 2012.
Join us for this inaugural event of special screenings, Q&A, candid talk with filmmakers, including excerpts/scenes from their latest work, and learn about the industry from the talented alums IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
MANDI RIGGI is currently in development as sole creator with the Showtime Network on her TV pilot, “Peace x Piece.” She is also in development on her vampire saga, “Eidolon,” which she will direct in Europe January 2016. Mandi’s short film Spade starring Jorge Garcia (Lost, Hawaii 5-0) premiered at the Katra Film Series and graced the screens at Cannes Film Festival’s Short Film Corner. Her last film, Parallel Passage, was nominated Best Short at the Deauville Festival of American Cinema by a jury presided by Roman Polanski. It was honored with an Award for Best Original Dramatic Short at Worldfest Houston and went on to travel the international film festival circuit screening at the Hamptons, São Paulo, Cinequest, San Diego, and Huesca Festivals, amongst others. It premiered on the Independent Film Channel (IFC) where Mandi was a featured director on the IFC Media Lab series. Her animated script, “Shoe In” was a finalist at the Fantastic Planet festival in Australia and her screenplay, “Before You Say Goodbye,” was selected into the 2010 FIND Producers Lab. Her feature script “Five Stories Underground” was a finalist at the 2014 Sundance Producers Fellowship. In addition to filmmaking, Mandi is also a playwright and directs for the stage. Her produced plays include “Chicken Soup”, “A Baby’s Arm Holding An Apple”, “Heaven and Hell”, “Piaf”, “White Hot Fusion”, “The Tale End,” “Patienceʼ” and soon to be “Mercy,” which has also been adapted for the screen. Her play “Piaf,” a one-woman musical based on the life of Edith Piaf continues to tour the globe with productions in the US, Italy, Lebanon, Bulgaria, Turkey and Luxemburg. Mandi is a member of the very selective Playwright Directors Unit at the Actors Studio. In the summer of 2013, Mandi was selected as a playwright into LAByrinth Theatre’s highly competitive program, the Ensemble Intensive mentored by famed playwright, Stephen Adly Guirgis. Mandi is represented in the US by 3 Arts Entertainment and CAA.
KEVIN COMER is a producer and member of the PGA and DGA. He most recently produced the feature film “BREAKABLE YOU” starring Holly Hunter, Tony Shalhoub and Alfred Molina, currently in post. The second season of his TV Show “DOLL & EM” starring Emily Mortimer and Dolly Wells recently premiered on HBO to rave reviews. He produced the film “EXPECTING” starring Michelle Monaghan and Radha Mitchell, which premiered at SXSW in Austin and was theatrically released by Tribeca Films. He co-produced “THE TIME BEING” starring Frank Langella, which screened at the Toronto Film Festival 2012 and was released by Tribeca Films. Kevin is also a FIND alumni and a producing fellow with his film, BEFORE YOU SAY GOODBYE. He is currently in development on a trilogy “EIDOLON,” which begins shooting in January 2016. Additionally he has produced a number of short films that have traveled theinternational film festival circuit. Kevin has produced Off-Broadway and is in development on the play “MERCY” written by Mandi Riggi. Kevin and his company were invited to the Cannes Marche Du Film Producers Network in its inaugural year 2004 and continue participation. His company, Psychonaut, continues toproduce high-end commercials, music videos and TV promos. www.psychonautfilms.com
RANDY WILKINS is a two time Emmy-Award winning director, cinematographer and editor from the Bronx, NY. Randy is a graduate of NYU’s esteemed Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Film Program where he earned a chair’s fellowship and a Master of Fine Arts in 2009. Randy’s NYU thesis short film, “Osvaldo’s,” earned an exclusive license agreement with HBO for broadcast as well as numerous awards and festival screenings including Best Short Film at the Colorado Film Festival. Professionally, Randy has been raised through the legendary Forty Acres and A Mule Filmworks. Beginning as an editorial intern on “Inside Man,” Randy has worked on several Lee projects including “When the Levees Broke,” “Miracle at St. Anna,” “If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise,” as well as various commercials. Mr. Wilkins’ latest work, “Docket 32357 The Web Series,” based on the award winning short, is available now. The short enjoyed success on the festival circuit with numerous selections including Newport Beach, Phoenix, Hollyshorts, Urbanworld, Katra Film Series while winning the inaugural Huffington Post Black Voices Breakthrough Theater Series Grand Jury Prize along with the Audience Choice Award at the International Black Film Festival of Nashville and a Best Short Film at the Florence Short Film Showcase. Randy earned two Emmys for his cinematography on the FOX 59 Promo “Indiana Made” and PIX 11 Promo “Lionel.” He is currently developing his first feature script “Pray for A Little More Spring” and preparing for Season Two of “Docket 32357 The Web Series,” while serving as Editor on Lee’s recent joints “Da Sweet Blood of Jesus,” “Jesus Shuttlesworth” for ESPN, “The Greatest Catch” for ESPN, “Katt Williams Priceless” for HBO, “What Is The Triangle? A Spike Lee Orange and Blue Skies Joint” for the MSG Network and the new Andra Day music video “Forever Mine.”
FELIX THOMPSON is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. His previous short films have been in competition at festivals such as SXSW, Tribeca and the BFI’s London Film Festival. His first feature film “King Jack” was selected for the Sundance Creative Producing Labs and won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2015. Felix received his MA in Screenwriting from the Royal Holloway University of London and currently lives in New York City.
DONARI BRAXTON is an award-winning filmmaker. He’s directed commercially for such companies as Mercedes Benz and GQ and has written and produced content for HBO and Cinemax. Most recently, his narrative featurette “T-FAR” premiered at Switzerland’s Lucerne International Film Festival, while the narrative feature that he wrote and produced, “Out of My Hand,” premiered at the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival and later won the Los Angeles Film Film Festival’s top prize (Grand Jury Competition U.S Fiction Award). The film is set to be released as the first title under Ava DuVernay’s new distribution company ARRAY in Fall 2015. He lives with his wife in Brooklyn.
JOHN T. TRIGONIS is a behind-the-scenes consulting machine, he has mentored hundreds of filmmakers and content creators worldwide to create compelling crowdfunding experiences that not only reach, but often exceed their goals. An indie filmmaker and successful crowdfunder himself, Trigonis has literally written the book on Crowdfunding for Filmmakers (and is currently rewriting it as a second edition), and after spending a few years as a private consultant, he puts his prowess to its ultimate use as Indiegogo’s head Film Campaign Strategist.
Katra Film Series IN THE SPOTLIGHT – Co–Presented by RAINDANCE
katrafilmseries.com
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Sat. Sep 26th – 5p-1030p
217 Bowery St. between Rivington & Prince St.
New York, NY 10002
FREE ADMISSION – MUST REGISTER ONLINE