Patrick Rea is a prolific, award-winning independent filmmaker recognized for his innovative storytelling and creative directing style in horror and suspense. His feature film, "Nailbiter", won Best Director and/or Best Feature Film awards in several film festivals in 2012, "Nailbiter" was released on May 28, 2013 through Lionsgate Home Entertainment on DVD/VOD, Redbox and Digital Downloads. It has since aired on FearNet, the Chiller Network and The Horror Channel in the UK. Rea's stylized short films have screened in over a hundred film festivals around the world. In the summer of 2008, Rea's short film "Woman's Intuition" won a Heartland Emmy Award. In 2009, Rea was co-director on the "Jake Johanssen, I Love You" comedy special, which aired on Showtime throughout 2010. Rea won his second Heartland Emmy Award with the short "Get Off My Porch". He has also been nominated for two Mid-America Emmy Awards.

Patrick Janssen is a sound designer and mixer with experience in all corners of the entertainment industry. He has worked on everything from award winning feature films to Cirque du Soleil, from TV cartoons to museums and theme parks. His film and TV credits include Steven Universe (2013), Discarded (2013) and The Powerpuff Girls (2016). He now works as Lead Audio Designer for Netflix. Patrick grew up here in Emporia, Kansas and now resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his family.

A major film lover who adores the films of her 1980s and 90s girlhood, Lonita grew up to be a film critic and is a member of the Critics Choice Association (CCA), a voting member of the Black Reel Awards, member of Alliance of Women Film Journalists as well as board member at Kansas City Film Critics Circle. She contributes to KCTV5 (CBS), KS Women’s Lifestyle Magazine, awfj.org, Everyday Northwest (Portland) and blackbeebuzz.com

She also cohosts flix + mix, an internet-based show festivising food, film and friendship.

As a filmmaker and artist supporter she is the East Central KS Field Rep for Kansas Department of Commerce Creative Arts Industries Commission, Board President of the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Museum Foundation and she’s volunteered at festivals around the world, including 13 years at Sundance Film Festival.

Sav Rodgers is a filmmaker and screenwriter from Kansas City. His work often centers on telling highly specific, surprising comedies and documentaries involving LGBTQ+ characters. He is the director of Chasing Chasing Amy (2022/23), an upcoming feature documentary about the cultural impact of Chasing Amy (1997) on the greater LGBTQ+ community and the profound, lasting impression on his own life. Sav also delivered a TED Talk on the subject titled, “The rom-com that saved my life.” In addition to his work as a director/writer, Sav is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Transgender Film Center, a nonprofit aiming to help trans creators bring finished films to audiences around the world.

Stephen is a midwest-based editor with nearly two decades of experience.

Stephen has edited four narrative features, including JAYHAWKERS, directed by Academy Award-winner Kevin Willmott (BLACKKKLANSMAN, DA 5 BLOODS), as well as the christian horror film LAST BREATH, and dramas THE DOME OF HEAVEN and WHAT WE’VE BECOME.

He has also edited dozens of short films and two Emmy-nominated web series: the revenge western RED BIRD and emotional kaleidoscope THE SQUARE ROOT. He recently won Best Editing at the Indie Series Awards for his work on the latter. Stephen is also a colorist on many feature films, documentaries, and music videos. These include Sundance selections THE ONLY GOOD INDIAN and CRUDE OIL, creature feature NAILBITER, and celebrity bio doc ON YOUR MARC.

He recently completed his fourth documentary feature, GARDEN CITY, about an American small town that chose to embrace immigration, and the forces that tried to destroy it. Stephen previously teamed up with the same director on the suicide hotline documentary, THE LISTENERS. Stephen has edited two films about education in America: SPIRAL BOUND and NATURE MATTERS. He also provided additional editing on the capital punishment analysis THERE WILL BE NO STAY and the cryptozoology love letter BIG FUR.

Amy Sage Webb-Baza is Professor of English and Director of the Creative Writing Program at Emporia State University, where she was named Roe R. Cross Distinguished Professor and directs the Donald Reichardt Center for Publishing and Literary Arts. She is managing editor for Bluestem Press and Flint Hills Review, and has served as reviewer for the Kansas Arts Commission and Ohio Arts Council. She specializes in short-form storytelling and publishes fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, and is author of Save Your Own Life (Woodley Press, 2012).

Jessi Bukette is a Kansas City Actor and Producer best known for her roles in Charlotte, Renovations of the Heart, and more. She currently works as a producer for Real Media and has produced over 600 projects including short films, features, commercials, music videos and is a former Kansas City 48 Hour Film Project City Producer. When not lounging with her cat she co-hosts the paranormal/true crime podcast Supposedly. She has a soft spot for ancient civilizations and sea monkeys. You can follow here on Facebook Jessi B, or Instagram @JessiBurkette

Christian Papierniak is best known as the writer/director/producer of the award winning indie feature, "Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town" as well as the Director of NBA2K's "My Career" story mode.

"Izzy" world premiered "in-competition" at the 2017 Los Angeles Film Festival. It was the Jury winner of the 2017 Tacoma Film Festival for Best Narrative Feature and Best Actor (Mackenzie Davis). Mackenzie Davis was also Jury awarded "Best Breakout Performance" at the 2017 Napa Valley Film Festival. Other Nominations: 2017 American Film Festival, Best Narrative Feature (Christian Papierniak); 2017 Napa Valley Film Festival, Best Supporting Actress (Carrie Coon), Best Supporting Actor (Haley Joel Osment); 2017 Miami Film Festival, Best Original Screenplay (Christian Papierniak); 2017 Lone Star Film Festival, Closing Night Film; 2018 Guild of Music Supervisors Award, Best Music Supervision for a Film Budgeted Under 5 Million Dollars. "Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town" was released in theaters across the US on June 22, 2018

With a background in both Film Production and Business, Tony Ontiveros has worked on several film/television productions in the Lawrence/Kansas City Area. Having years of production experience under his belt, Tony has served as Cinematographer, Gaffer, Grip, Camera Assistant and Unit Production Manager on several films that have been shown at the Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals. Notable films include: The Only Good Indian, Nailbiter, Black Friday, The Donald Gordon Story, Mahi, and Sublime and Beautiful. Some of his work in television include: History Channel's Full Metal Corset, WGN's Home Team and Discovery Channel's Big Ideas for a Small Planet.