Ray Maiello is an award-winning film producer and former Netflix and Paramount Pictures executive. He founded Moontower Productions to champion independent voices and produce bold films. In just three years, Ray has produced five films, including My Dead Friend Zoe, winner of the 2024 SXSW Audience Award and Chasing Summer, which is premiering at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.Other recent projects include "Are We Good?" starring Marc Maron and documentary films Jean-Michel Basquiat and The Trial of Alec Baldwin. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and based in Venice, California, Maiello’s producing career builds on an earlier chapter in music, where he founded Moontower Entertainment to develop artists from New York’s indie rock scene, including Wheatus, whose global hit "Teenage Dirtbag" topped one billion streams on Spotify.

Nicholas Bruckman is an Emmy-nominated director and founder of People’s Television, a NYC- and DC-based storytelling studio producing award-winning independent films as well as creative campaigns for the world's leading brands, foundations, and social movements. His feature documentary Not Going Quietly, about healthcare activist Ady Barkan, won both the Audience and Jury Awards at SXSW and was released to critical acclaim in theaters nationwide and on Hulu. His follow-up, Minted: The Rise (and Fall?) of the NFT, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was released on Netflix in 2025. Most recently, his docuseries The Price of Milk—which uncovers the hidden story behind the iconic “Got Milk?” campaign—had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.

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🎬 BRAVEMAKER PODCAST — 2026 SELECTED PILOT SPOTLIGHTWe’re excited to feature Freelance, a 2026 selected pilot, on the BraveMaker Podcast!Joining us is cinematographer Tyler Clark, who brings a grounded, cinematic eye to the project and shares what it takes to visually shape a pilot from concept to screen.Hosted by Tony Gapastione (@tonygapastione) and Priscilla Lam (@mspriscillalam)In this episode, we dive into creative collaboration, visual storytelling, and the real-world process of bringing an independent pilot to life—what works, what’s challenging, and why story always comes first.🎙️ Tune in for behind-the-scenes insight, practical wisdom, and an honest conversation about making bold, beautiful work outside the studio system.

Join Tony Gapastione in conversation with 2026 Sundance selected film: TAKE ME HOME. Written/directed by Liz Sargent. https://takemehomefilm.com/Liz Sargent is a Korean-American adoptee and award-winning filmmaker whose work delves into adoption, disability, and family dynamics. With a background in choreography, she brings emotional depth to her storytelling, shaped by her experience as the middle child of eleven in an intersectionalfamily.A two-time NY EMMY winner (2020 & 2021), Sargent is also a HALF Initiative Mentee (2022 & 2023), an MSSNG PCES AICP Mentee (2023), and NBCU's Launch Director (2024-2026). Her debut narrative short,Strangers' Reunion, (2019), was a personal adoptee film produced by Ritz- Carlton and Hearst under the mentorship of Mike Figgis, released in six languages worldwide.Her proof of concept, Take Me Home, premiered at Sundance (2023), won the Grand Jury Prize at American Cinematheque's PROOF FF (2024), and was the centerpiece at the White House to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Olmstead Act, where Sargent and her sister, the film’s star, shared theirstories with key officials.The feature pitch won the largest production award in the world at AT&T Untold Stories at Tribeca FF (2025) and will world premiere at Sundance in U.S. Dramatic Competition 2026.

Go with us for the LAST TIME in Park City Utah---with filmmaker Tony Gapastione who has been attending for 14 years and Naee Anderson who volunteers at the Library theater and has been for 7 years!Tony Gapastione is a writer/director/actor and the founder of BraveMaker. With three feature films he's written and produced, 2 he's directed and many more to come, Tony is passionate about community development and elevating the arts to create change. From the SF Bay to L.A., Tony hosts monthly mixers, weekly podcasts and classes as well as the BraveMaker film festival every July. Tony recently started his feature filmmaker club---a year long coaching co-hort for filmmakers who want to take action and bring a feature film to life. Natalie “Naee” Anderson is a Richmond-born film director, producer, visual storyteller and festival programmerwith a multidisciplinary approach to filmmaking and crafts stories that explore themes of identity, transformation, and authenticity. Naee embodies a cinematic style that blends emotional depth and visual intention. Her footprint has reached to prominent festivals including Sundance, Tribeca, BraveMaker, and the Morehouse Human Rights Film Festival, reflecting her commitment to bold storytelling that resonates on and off screen. Whether behind the camera or leading a production, she brings a clear vision that centers truth and connection in every frame.

Join BraveMaker founder, Tony Gapastione--  / tonygapastione  a filmmaker who has produced three feature films and founded a film festival--in conversation with actress/Youtuber Belgica Rodriguez---an actress and Youtube content creator based in Los Angeles and San Francisco. She is known for her many commercials and short films such as Land of Opportunity which premiered at the SF Latino Film Festival and Creature Comforter that will be premiering at the 2024 BraveMaker Film Festival. On TV, she played Ted Bundy’s wife, Carole Ann Boone on Reelz in Ted Bundy: Serial Monster. To learn more about how she has broken into acting and continues to learn about the industry, you can subscribe to her youtube channel!    / belgicapaola    / belgica.rodriguez.professional  also on the podcast will be actress/comedian: Leah KnauerAn extremely gifted improviser, actress, and singer, Leah's performances are a captivating blend of sass, wit, and charm that leave audiences in stitches. Leah's impressive resumé includes collaborations with some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Wayne Brady, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Mary J. Blige, Jimmy Kimmel, Meghan Trainor, and Jack Black. She has also made her mark on the big screen, appearing in films such as JAY AND SILENT BOB REBOOT, PINK SKIES AHEAD, and DOGNAPPED: HOUND FOR THE HOLIDAYS. As a co-star on Comedy Central's CORPORATE and NOT SAFE WITH NIKKI GLASER, Leah has proven herself to be a versatile performer capable of entertaining audiences on every medium and stage. Leah is the Gemini co-host of the popular spiritual-comedy "BASIC WITCHES" podcast, which was recorded in the haunted basement of The World Famous Comedy Store in Hollywood.   / leahknauer  

Start the year with filmmaker Tony Gapastione and grab some strategies for a fulfilling creative year!

Get ready for an inspiring convo with filmmaker Diane Bell — Sundance award-winning screenwriter/director and bestselling author of Shoot From the Heart.⁠  / shootfromtheheart1  ⁠Diane’s debut feature OBSELIDIA premiered at Sundance (winning two awards + two Indie Spirit noms), followed by BLEEDING HEART starring Jessica Biel & Zosia Mamet. She’s penned screenplays for legendary director John McTiernan (Die Hard, Predator) and is currently in post on her first documentary filmed in Ukraine.⁠⁠She’s on a mission to demystify filmmaking and empower new voices, and we can’t wait to dive in.⁠

BraveMaker Podcast 311 — LIVE on YouTubeFeaturing the creative team behind Two Weeks, One FoolLogline:When a man grows suspicious that the girl he’s seeing is a stripper, his investigation takes a shocking turn when he crashes one of her performances.Join us for a lively conversation with four dynamic filmmakers bringing Two Weeks, One Fool to life:• Airric Qualls – Actor, producer, screenwriter, and director from Sacramento, CA. Airric is the co-creator of AK Film Group and producing partner of 11th Hour Creatives, where he develops bold, character-driven stories across film and digital media.• Hugo F. Martínez – A Bay Area first-generation Mexican-American filmmaker whose multidisciplinary expertise spans Production Design, Art Direction, Set Design, Prop Fabrication, Carpentry, and Practical FX. His creative fingerprints can be seen in projects like the horror thriller “Blood Wine” (starring Amanda Detmer of Empire) and Hogar HGTV’s “El Sabor de Aaron,” a competition cooking show featuring celebrity chef Aaron Sánchez with guest judge Oscar De La Hoya.• Michaela P. Shelton – Bay Area filmmaker, actress, and writer best known as the creator and producer of Reckless Behavior: The Series, the hit dramedy about millennial life in the Bay Area—now streaming on Tubi and Amazon Prime. She also produces short films and centers underrepresented voices with authentic, relatable storytelling.• Derrick Hogan Jr. – Born and raised in the Bay Area, Derrick brings a rich background in sports and theatre to his work in film and television. His mission: climb as far as he can in the industry while staying grounded in the community that shaped him.

Masha Ellsworth is a Ukrainian-American storyteller, independent filmmaker, and leader in the animation industry. As a Lead Technical Director in the Characters Department at a top animation studio, she has spent over two decades bringing iconic characters to life in some of the most celebrated animated films.Beyond studio animation, she is deeply committed to independent filmmaking—using her craft to explore untold stories and cultural narratives. Born and raised in northern Ukraine, Masha brings a unique perspective to her work, blending technical expertise with a passion for art and storytelling. She holds dual degrees in Computer Science and Visual Art from Brigham Young University.