DIRECTOR
Hayley Bensmiller is a queer female filmmaker, known for directing artistic award-winning narrative films. She is a graduate of Chapman University with a BFA in Film Production Directing and a BA in French. Hayley began her career as a child actor and has been working in the film industry since the age of 10. Since moving behind the camera, she has garnered hundreds of hours of experience in physical production work as well as at the Gersh Agency, MGM Studios, and the Cannes Marché du Film.
WRITER
Tom Hartig is a disabled writer of genre-bending features & TV about the power of community and healing. In 2021, he was hired to adapt a sci-fi novel for Voyage Media, and in 2023, his poem “Ode to An Assistant” was published by Good Printed Things. He has been a finalist in the ScreenCraft Fellowship & WeScreenplay TV Pilot contests, an Austin Second-Rounder (2x), and was selected for The Dead List in 2024. Tom joined the ISA Development Slate in 2024 and was named a Top 25 Screenwriters to Watch in 2025. As a survivor of intimate partner violence, Tom is active in violence prevention work and fosters kittens in his free time.
PRODUCER
Robert Brogden is a director and producer from Kansas City, working in Los Angeles. Be it guiding performances as a director or empowering the voices of others as a producer, Robert is thoroughly enamored with the inherently collaborative nature of filmmaking. His goal is to use unique perspective to create character-driven stories and bring attention to people and places not typically seen in film. His work has been selected and awarded by several prestigious festivals and institutions, including the Tribeca Film Festival, the Austin Film Festival, and the Student Academy Awards.
PRODUCER
Harrison Perkins is a Los Angeles-based producer originally from Dallas, Texas. Harrison is drawn to stories led by dedicated directors, writers, and actors, and is known for putting all he can into a project in order to help a team achieve their dreams. Harrison loves the communal nature and teamwork needed in order to make a wonderful film, and he is always excited by the opportunity to be on set. Harrison’s recent credits include Line Producer on Grief Retreat, a 2025 HollyShorts Selection, and Producer on Everybody Wins.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Based in Orange County, CA, Ivan Williams is a recognized Producer specializing in impactful documentaries and narrative features that pair strong storytelling with cultural and social resonance. His acclaimed films have premiered at prestigious festivals worldwide, including SXSW, the Toronto International Film Festival, and Berlinale, and have even been recognized at events like COP28 in Dubai. A recent career highlight is his involvement with the narrative film Köln 75, which premiered at Berlinale and went on to receive four German Film Academy Award nominations. Ivan's portfolio also includes executive producing the box office sensation Secret Mall Apartment with Jesse Eisenberg, the Academy Museum-recognized This Changes Everything, and producing the George Clooney and Grant Heslov-executive produced documentary How to Build a Truth Engine. He is dedicated to the collaborative process of bringing a project from development to distribution, passionate about crafting stories that not only entertain but also spark meaningful conversation.
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Dice began studying darkroom photography in 1999 in the Colorado Rockies. She is a queer Cinematographer who received her MFA in Film from UCLA. Dice is a sexual assault survivor and outspoken activist for womens' rights. Her work has often focused on representing marginalized people and exploring beauty in the mundane.
Her work has been exhibited at SXSW, Tribeca, Palm Springs, Cinequest, Nowness and many other film festivals. She has received several awards from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the MPAA, The Wasserman Foundation, and the Jack Nicholson Distinguished Student Director Award.