
MARTINS SAMUEL
CO-FOUNDER
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
A bilingual, Nigerian Filmmaker based in Los Angeles, Martins Samuel is a natural storyteller, an award-winning writer, and a published author with a background and decade of experience in teaching Foreign Languages. He is also the founder of Martins Samuel Studios, a fast-rising L.A. film production company and director of the feature film 'Victoria', Martins received his training in writing and directing from the New York Film Academy.

OTU JACOB
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
(INTERNATIONAL)
A highly driven and motivated digital transformation geek, Otu Jacob has in-depth technical knowledge on product development, customer engagement, and operational process improvement. He is also the Director of Operations Unit of House on the Rock in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, a certified SCRUM Master, and Professional Business Analyst with an impeccable analytical mind for critical thinking, planning, and implementing projects.

DEBBY GERBER
BRAND AMBASSADOR
A Stella Adler trained and award-winning actress, Debby Gerber is known for her memorable work in dozens of film and TV roles spanning over a decade. Debby was born and raised in Switzerland, where she earned a degree in Social Work. A short vacation to American turned into a permant residency, as she discovered acting and graduated from the Stella Adler Academy of Acting. Today, Debby is a dedicated full-time SAG actor with over a hundred IMDb film and TV roles to her name.

RYON THOMAS
CO-FOUNDER
FESTIVAL PROGRAMMER
A Meisner trained, award-winning actor with dozens of film/TV credits, Ryon Thomas is a multi-faceted creative artist with a business mind to boot. A graduate of the Ruskin School of Acting, Ryon previously had a 20 year Marketing career and was co-owner of the popular travel product brand ‘Cabeau’, He is now a full-time working actor, owns a Marketing and Design business called SOTU Creative, and loves to write songs and perform live music around L.A.

ALBERT SIMPSON
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
A full-time working actor and founder of Tru Diamond Entertainment, Albert Simpson has merged his creative and business mind into a successful partnership. He spent his early years in the corporate world, carving his path from Engineering to Sr. Program Officer over the course of nearly two decades. Today, Albert has branched out in the film industry, serving as Executive Producer in the feature film ‘Dimensional Shift’ -- a psychological thriller in which the lines of fatherhood blur on the altar of crime.

STELLA DAMASUS
BRAND AMBASSADOR
An award-winning Nigeran-born actress, Stella Damasus is an erudite scholar, acting coach, gifted singer, and film producer. She currently presides over the Stella Damasus Arts Foundation, a humanitarian organization committed to providing economic, intellectual, and emotional support to people with vulnerabilities. Stella also serves as ambassador to Globally Igniting Africa (GIA), is CEO of ADIVA Networks, and prolific author of the critically-acclaimed book ‘Mama, It’s A Girl.’