The Latest Industry News for the Exciting World of Production.

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Top Entertainment CEOs & Industry Titans Join Forces for Innovative New Media Film Festival®

The 16th New Media Film Festival® is thrilled to welcome an exceptional lineup of industry pioneers and visionary artists, making this year's event an unmissable celebration of cutting-edge storytelling. www.newmediafilmfestival.com

Oscar Winner Jonathan Kitzen

Jonathan Kitzen is an accomplished filmmaker, producer, and director known for his innovative contributions to the film industry. He has been involved in various aspects of filmmaking, from building cameras and optics to directing and producing award-winning films. Jonathan co-produced the Academy Award-winning short documentary "The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life". As of 2015, he became a partner in Last Studio Standing, the largest hand-drawn animation studio in the Western Hemisphere, where he leads English language development and production. Jonathan's work spans multiple genres, including science fiction, and he continues to push the boundaries of creative storytelling.

EMMY Nominee David Ari Leon

David Ari Leon is an award-winning and Emmy-nominated composer and music supervisor and CEO Sound Mind Music, with screen credits on hundreds of movies, television shows, and interactive projects. He earned his first screen credit working on music for a film with Danny Elfman while obtaining a B.A. in music from UCLA.

At 22, David began his professional career as the Director of Music at NBC for "Days of Our Lives," where he selected music for nearly 1,000 episodes and placed songs by iconic artists like Jimi Hendrix, The Supremes, and Chris Isaak. He later served as Vice President of Music at Fox for six years, supervising major titles like Power Rangers, Les Misérables, and Incredible Hulk.

David then founded Sound Mind Music, a full-service music house with clients including Marvel, Warner Brothers, Disney, Netflix, NBC/Universal, Starz, EA, and Lionsgate. He has helped create the signature sound of recognizable brands such as X-Men, Woody Woodpecker, Captain America, Peanuts, and Superman. His movie credits include music supervising titles for Marvel like Invincible Iron Man, Ultimate Avengers, and Thor: Tales of Asgard. Currently, David is working on music for the next season of Real Housewives and other TV series in development for Bravo Network.

Award Winner Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings

Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, Founder, President, and CEO of Global Policy Solutions LLC is an award-winning thought leader, strategist & advocate. She successfully directed the strategy to elevate the racial wealth gap on the national policy agenda and led a multi-million-dollar leadership initiative to reverse childhood obesity and promote healthy communities. Her quotes and articles have appeared in publications such as the Washington Post and New York Times, and she has been featured on MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS, Fox News, and NPR, among many other outlets.

Dr. Rockeymoore Cummings is the recipient of numerous honors & awards, including the Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellowship & the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Congressional Fellowship. Her latest book, RAGEISM: Racism, Ageism & the Quest for Liberation Democracy, is being released by Routledge in the summer of 2025.

Newton Lee B.S. M.S.

Newton Lee is an accomplished computer scientist, author, educator, and futurist. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in computer science from Virginia Tech and an honorary doctorate from Vincennes University. Newton founded the Disney Online Technology Forum and created AT&T Bell Labs' first commercial AI tool. He also invented the first annotated multimedia OPAC for the U.S. National Agricultural Library.

Newton has served as an adjunct professor of Media Technology at Woodbury University and held prestigious positions at The Walt Disney Company. He currently edits and curates several Springer publications and is the Chairman of the California Transhumanist Party and President of the nonprofit Institute for Education, Research, and Scholarships (IFERS). He has authored and edited numerous publications, including the Total Information Awareness trilogy: Facebook Nation, Google It, and Counterterrorism and Cybersecurity. Newton continues to inspire and innovate in computer science and education.

Founding Publisher Creative Handbook - Dave Shapiro

Dave Shapiro created THE CREATIVE HANDBOOK in 1988 for movie, TV, commercial, and live event productions. Building relationships with all major movie studios, production companies, and their sources nationwide, Dave has been in sales all his life. He is highly driven to connect his clients with production companies and provide them with free information.

THE CREATIVE HANDBOOK distributes 10,000 free copies annually and is now available online. Over the last 37 years, Dave has established relationships with major movie studios and production companies in California, Nevada, New York, Georgia, Louisiana, nationally, and internationally.

Chris Barkley is the celebrated creator and co-host of the 5-star Make It Podcast.

Chris's highly engaging and thoughtful interviewing style has enabled him to turn conversations into lasting relationships with creatives across the film industry. Most recently, he has co-founded the film development company FictionKit.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science from the Middle Tennessee State University, majoring in Journalism.

Nicholas Buggs is an Executive Producer, Producer, and Podcast Host specializing in the independent film community.

Nicholas is credited on several award-winning feature films as well as a handful of short films that he is grateful to have helped bring to life. These days he is the proud co-host of the 5-star MAKE IT podcast that has been rated as high as 20th in the US, Canada, and Germany on Apple Podcasts.

Founder/Director New Media Film Festival® - Susan Johnston

Susan Johnston is the Founder and Director of the New Media Film Festival®, a pioneering event that celebrates the convergence of technology and storytelling. Additionally, she serves as the President of Select Services Films Inc., an award-winning film studio. Her career spans various roles, including performing, producing, and casting.

Susan's contributions have been widely recognized. She was knighted in 2017 for her impact on the arts and humanity. Since 2010 she has been a judge for the blue-ribbon panel for the EMMYS and a SAG/AFTRA affiliate since 1990, Susan has played a significant role in shaping the entertainment industry.

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Telly, Emmy, Peabody & WGA Winners and more are Nominees at Innovative New Media Film Festival®

The 16th New Media Film Festival® is proud to showcase an extraordinary lineup of talented creators whose works exemplify the festival's dedication to groundbreaking storytelling and innovation. From Telly, Peabody & Emmy® Award winners to celebrated actors and filmmakers, this year's nominees continue to push boundaries across film, TV, games, digital comics, and more. www.newmediafilmfestival.com

Their creativity and unique voices have led to the nominations of projects that span a variety of genres, themes, and formats. Whether exploring historical narratives, thrilling adventures, or cutting-edge game design, these individuals are an integral part of what makes the New Media Film Festival® a true haven for creativity.

Kids Choice Award Winner & Days of Our Lives Heartthrob Louis Tomeo is an American actor from Orlando, Florida and most known for his series regular role as Robbie Miller on Nickelodeon's Every Witch Way. The middle of three kids, he was passionate about performing from a young age. He started working in commercials at age 9, and it wasn't long until he began booking television and film roles. Louis stars in The Crest nominated for Best TV

Damien C. Haas (Beyblade X, Sky of Tides, Date Everything!) was age 15 when he got his first movie role in The Marc Pease Experience (2009), alongside Ben Stiller and Jason Schwartzman. Damien is in Sky of Tides nominated for Best Game

4 X Telly Winner Natalie Schwan is an award-winning director, writer and producer. She is constantly drawn to historical narratives and adventure stories. Natalie's slate includes a Montana-based Western, a period-era Ellis Island narrative series, a stylized high-action dramatic thriller feature, a Holocaust-era story of the Jewish Resistance, and a female-driven scripted global anthology series. Her heart is in travel and exploring, and you can often find her planning her next international adventure. The Last Stand at Butte City is nominated for Best Script.

Todd Haberkorn (Sakamoto Days, Sky of Tides, Megamind) is an American voice actor and voice director who is known for his English-language dubs of anime and video games. He voiced Natsu Dragneel from Fairy Tail, Android 19 from Dragon Ball Z Kai, Ebony Maw from Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, Grey Matter, Tetrax, and Slapback from Ben 10 and Hiroshi Tameda from My Hero Academia. Todd is in Sky of Tides nominated for Best Game.

Jackson Rathbone (Hybrid, The Island, Twilight) As an actor, Jackson has appeared in over twenty motion pictures, including two international franchises, and appeared in multiple television shows as leads, guest stars, and in recurring roles. Jackson has produced several indie films (such as Gotham award winning "Girlfriend"), as well as Warner Brothers backed Webseries ("Aim High"). Jackson stars in Hybrid nominated for Best Short.

Peabody Award-winning film producer and five-time Canadian Screen Award nominee, Jason Loftus' (Sky of Tides, To Kill a Tiger, Storyville) work spans documentary, docuseries, virtual reality, narrative games, and animation. Jason is Executive Producer on Sky of Tides: Alta nominated for Best Web Series.

EMMY Winner Ricard T Wilson to date, he has had over 70 of his plays and films produced and seen some of this same work featured on ABC World News Tonight, National Public Radio, PBS and The Independent Film Channel. Aside from his 'Halloween Girl' related projects, Wilson is probably best known for creating the Emmy® Award Winning teen drama series, 'Maple Ave'. Richard's Halloween Girl is nominated for Best Digital Comic.

• Allan Wasserman (Nobody Wants This, Disability in Focus, Hunters) Allan's Disability in Focus is nominated for Best Short.

• 2 X WGA Nominee Jonathan G Haller writer of The Scorpion Dance nominated for Best Script.

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Watch the films, Watch who wins

With $45,000 in awards at stake, including Best of Category, Top 3 Scripts, and the Grand Prize, the festival honors creators of all ages, cultures, and media who craft stories worth telling. This is more than a showcase-it's a celebration of excellence and innovation, uniting a global community of visionary storytellers and audiences. Be there.

Watch as we announce the awards June 5th.

Tickets www.newmediafilmfestival.com

Attending the New Media Film Festival® is more than just experiencing a film festival-it's an immersion into a world where creativity, technology, and storytelling collide. From captivating narratives to groundbreaking innovations, the festival provides a platform for voices that redefine the boundaries of media and entertainment. With over 80 titles, including 55 premieres from 14 countries, this year's event offers a rare opportunity to explore diverse perspectives and discover cutting-edge projects across multiple formats.

As an attendee, you'll be part of a vibrant community of creators, industry professionals, and enthusiasts who are passionate about championing quality and originality in storytelling. Whether you're networking with award-winning filmmakers, participating in live Q&A sessions, or simply being inspired by the range of imaginative work on display, the New Media Film Festival® promises an unforgettable experience that celebrates the power of creative expression.

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Submit for 2026

Submitting to the New Media Film Festival® offers numerous benefits for creators and storytellers:

Exposure and Recognition

• Industry Leaders: Your work will be reviewed by judges from esteemed organizations such as Marvel, HBO, PBS, Rolling Stone, and the BBC.

• Significant Visibility: The festival has a reach of 20 million across social media and 80,000 newsletter subscribers, providing substantial exposure.

Opportunities and Perks

• Grand Prize: Compete for a grand prize, priceless, which includes meetings with HBO and Marvel, studio time in Los Angeles, and various production services.

• Awards and Packages: Best of Category, Top 3 Scripts & Gran Prize Winners receive custom hand-painted wood film slates, Filmustage packages, and other valuable perks. www.newmediafilmfestival.com/submit

Networking and Collaboration

• Networking Events: Engage in networking opportunities with industry professionals, attend screenings, and participate in Q&A sessions.

• Collaborations: The festival opens doors to potential collaborations with industry leaders and other opportunities that have been very successful.

Innovation and Creativity

• Celebrating Innovation: The festival honors stories worth telling and encourages creators to push the boundaries of traditional storytelling.

• Diverse Categories: Accepts submissions in all formats and genres, including classic and technology categories.

Philanthropy and Community

• Empowering Creators: The festival creates platforms to empower people and supports creators, writers, and CEOs through interviews and recognition.

Submitting to the New Media Film Festival® is an excellent opportunity to showcase your work, gain recognition, and connect with industry professionals.

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Founder/Director, New Media Film Festival®

Susan Johnston

The entertainment business is both incredibly challenging & exhilarating. It's an industry that demands creativity, perseverance & adaptability. Just being in this business is a success upon itself. Longevity even more so.

Find ways to keep your progress so you can remind yourself in those moments you may not feel productive, that you are.

Susan Johnston is a pioneering figure in the world of media and technology. She is the Founder and Director of the New Media Film Festival®, an event that celebrates innovative storytelling and the convergence of technology and media. With over 20 years of experience, Susan has been recognized for her contributions to bridging the gap between technology and storytelling, art and humanities.

At the age of 24, Susan sat on the prosecution team against a mass murderer. She has also sat before a Senate Committee hearing, where she successfully garnered funds for a national non-profit organization. In addition to her work with the New Media Film Festival®, Susan is the President of Select Services Films Inc., an award-winning film studio. She has had a successful career both in front of and behind the camera, and has been involved in various aspects of the entertainment industry, including performing, producing, and casting.

Susan has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including being knighted in 2017 for her contributions to the arts and humanity. Since 2010, Susan has judged for the blue-ribbon panel for the EMMYS, and has been affiliated with SAG/AFTRA since 1990. As a BMI songwriter, Susan has over 15 years of experience performing live and opening for major acts.

Susan's life-long experience in the media and entertainment sector has been shared through her articles for Rolling Stone. She created platforms for creators, writers, and CEOs to be interviewed by Authority Magazine. Many note that her philanthropic work started in her youth, as she donated time to various charities. This commitment to giving back carries over into her career, as she is known to give more than she offers and creates numerous platforms to empower people. Her work knows no borders.

Thanks co-pilot for the words above.