Special Guests

Check back often for announcements on which filmmakers will be attending the Festival!
Please note that guest appearances are subject to change.

Program 8: The Garden Left Behind
Tamara Williams | Actor

Tamara M. Williams is a NY based Actor/Dancer/Writer. She is best known for her roles in FX’s “Pose” as Summer, she has also appeared in “Eve’s Song” at the Public Theatre. She choreographed for New York Times Critics pick play “Street Children”. She Studied Performance as a child at Harlem School of The Arts.

 

 

Program 8: The Garden Left Behind
Kristen P. Lovell | Producer

Kristen P. Lovell is an actress and producer who has always had a passion for film and dramatic arts. A resident of Brooklyn NY, Kristen was featured in HBO’S Random Acts of Flyness and co-produced The Garden Left Behind (winner of the SXSW  2019 Audience Award). A fierce trans advocate who has spoken out against media misrepresentation of trans women, Kristen also produced the documentary, Trans in Media, which has been featured at the International Center For Photography, Aperture and Cornell’s Ivy Q. Kristen recently attended Lincoln Center’s artist academy for NYFF 57.

 

Program 19: From Zero To I Love You
Doug Spearman | Writer/Producer/Director

Doug has enjoyed a long and successful career as a television creative director, writer, and twice-Emmy nominated producer and commercial director. As a producer and director he’s worked for NBC, ABC, and CBS, BET, and UPN, the Disney Channel, and E! Entertainment Television. He’s launched several networks including UPN, SoapNet, and LOGO. His awards include a BPME silver medal and a New England Ad Age Best of Award. As a promotions and commercial director he’s had the opportunity to direct such talented actors as William Shatner, Morgan Freeman, Halle Berry, Dixie Carter, Martin Sheen, and Candice Bergen to name a few. On television Doug starred as Professor Chance Counter in the ground breaking television series Noah’s Arc on LOGO and the feature film of the same name. His career highlights also include work on such television shows as StarTrek Voyager, The Drew Carey Show, Charmed, The Hughleys, America’s Most Wanted, Gideon’s Crossing, MAD TV, Girlfriends, and the motion picture Cradle 2 The Grave with Jet Li and DMX, and Any Day Now, which won Best of the Fest at Tribeca starring opposite Alan Cumming.

Program 21: Bathroom Troll (part of the shorts program Something’s Comin’ Over Me)
Aaron Immediato | Writer/Director

Aaron is an award-winning independent filmmaker whose work has screened throughout the U.S. and internationally. His short horror-comedy Eaters (2017) was an Official Selection in a dozen film festivals, including qFLIX Philadelphia, New Filmmakers New York, and Wicked Queer Boston, and was awarded Best Short Film at the Tea Dance Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. More recently, his short horror film Bathroom Troll (2018) is currently enjoying its festival run, screening at more than a dozen festivals in North and South America and the U.K., including Fantastic Fest, Inside Out Toronto, Out on Film Atlanta, Fringe! Queer Film and Arts Fest London, and the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival. In addition to narrative film work and screenwriting, Aaron works professionally in video production for leading non-profit and performing arts organizations in Philadelphia. He holds a Master’s degree in Film and Media Arts from Temple University.

Program 21: The Office Is Mine (part of the shorts program Something’s Comin’ Over Me)
Ben Baur | Writer/Actor

Ben Baur grew up in a small town in Oregon, where he began performing at the age of seven in a community theater production of Pippin. Ben pursued acting ever since, and moved to Los Angeles after high school. There he attended a conservatory theater program and found his way onto big screens (Something Like Summer), small screens (The Following, General Hospital, Famous in Love), and everything-in-between screens (Hunting Season, These People). Eventually Ben decided to tell stories of his own. He wrote, produced, and starred in the web series #Adulting and the award winning short film Something New. Currently residing in New York City, Ben continues to create work that he can’t wait to share with the world!

Program 23: Trick
Jim Fall | Director

Jim’s feature film career started with the acclaimed independent feature “Trick” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival in Dramatic Competition. Released in 1999, it became  Fine Line’s highest-grossing film of that year. Jim’s studio directing debut, “The Lizzie McGuire Movie”, starring Hilary Duff, was a big box office success for Disney, opening at number two below “X-men 2” its opening week.  His TV series credits include episodes of “So NoTORIous”, VH1’s scripted comedy starring Tori Spelling and Zachary Quinto, and “Grosse Pointe”, the Darren Star-produced comedy series that has become a cult favorite. Jim also directed the A&E gay marriage TV movie “Wedding Wars”, starring John Stamos and James Brolin, produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. He directed and co-wrote “Holiday Engagement” (Hallmark’s highest rated Sunday night movie, 2011), starring Shelley Long, Bonnie Somerville, and Jordan Bridges, “Holly’s Holiday” (Lifetime, 2012) starring Claire Coffee and Ryan McPartlin, and “Kristin’s Christmas Past” (Lifetime, 2013) starring Shiri Appleby and Elizabeth Mitchell.  All three Christmas films continue to return every year, playing in rotation during the holiday season. Currently, Jim has written and will be directing “Trick 2”, a sequel to “Trick” that will bring the entire original cast back together for more comic and romantic misadventures.