VAFF Connection Point
Connection Point matches leading industry talent with students and the local filmmaking community for one-on-one conversations that offer artistic and career guidance.
Virginia Film Festival industry guests are matched with local students and filmmakers to offer career and artistic guidance, as well as insights into the inner workings of the entertainment industry through one-on-one, 30 minute sessions.
Students and VA-based filmmakers interested in signing up for a session should fill out a brief application form, linked below. Deadline to apply is Wednesday, October 8, 5pm ET.
VAFF staff will be in touch shortly after the application deadline with additional info.
See below for current roster of VAFF filmmaker/industry guests participating in the 2025 Connection Point, as well their expected availabilities.
GUEST AVAILABILITY
The participant list may expand and will be updated. Specific availability is subject to change.
All film and industry guest bios can be found here.
Cara Brower, Production Designer (Hedda)
Friday, October 24
Melody C. Roscher, Director (Bird in Hand), Panelist: Making It – Film Industry Career Panel
Friday, October 24 | Saturday, October 25
Tyler Coates, National Media (Filmmaker Magazine), VAFF Board
Thursday, October 23 | Saturday, October 25
Roxana Hadadi, National Media (Vulture)
Thursday, October 23 | Friday, October 24 | Saturday, October 25
Jai Jamison, Writer/Director (CW’s Superman & Lois), VAFF Board
Thursday, October 23 | Saturday, October 25
Alexa L. Fogel, Panelist: Casting is Everything (Casting Director for Atlanta, Ozark, The Wire)
Saturday, October 25
Clay Tweel, Director (Andy Kaufman is Me), VAFF Board
Thursday, October 23
Genevieve Villaflor, Executive Director of Sag Harbor Cinema, VAFF Board
Friday, October 24
Ernie Bustamante, Director (Street Smart: Lessons from a TV Icon)
Friday, October 24 | Saturday, October 25
Scott Feinberg, National Media (The Hollywood Reporter)
Friday, October 24 | Saturday, October 25
Charles Haine, Director (Multiple Choice)
Thursday, October 23
Gina M. Angelone, Director (Sitting Still)
Thursday, October 23 | Friday, October 24
Kevin Jerome Everson, Filmmaker/Artist (A Suite of Short Films by Kevin Jerome Everson)
Saturday, October 25
Bill Platt, Panelist: AI & Filmmaking (Creative Lead for AI, Warner Bros. Discovery)
Friday, October 24 | Saturday, October 25
Bilal Qureshi, National Media (NPR)
Thursday, October 23 | Friday, October 24 | Saturday, October 25
Robert Daniels, National Media (RogerEbert.com)
Thursday, October 23 | Friday, October 24 | Saturday, October 25
Marya E. Gates, National Media (RogerEbert.com)
Thursday, October 23 | Friday, October 24 | Saturday, October 25
Lisa Kennedy, National Media (Denver Post, New York Times)
Thursday, October 23 | Friday, October 24 | Saturday, October 25
Mineko Mori, Producer (Dear Sobriety: You’re Killing Me)
Friday, October 24 | Saturday, October 25
Rob Spera, Panelist: The Unspoken Language of Film Directing (Supernatural, Criminal Minds)
Thursday, October 23 | Friday, October 24 | Saturday, October 25
David Usui, Director (Been Here Stay Here), Panelist: Making It – Film Industry Career Panel
Saturday, October 25
Morgan Evans, Director (Micro Budget)
Saturday, October 25
Jeff Wadlow, Producer (Truth or Dare), Director (Kick-Ass 2), VAFF Board
Friday, October 24 | Saturday, October 25
Brian Truitt, National Media (USA Today)
Friday, October 24 | Saturday, October 25