2025 Presenters & Honoree
Kelly Stables: Host
Kelly Stables is an American actress most known for her comedic work on Superstore, Two and a Half Men, Romantically Challenged, The Exes, and No Tomorrow. Her numerous other credits include Mom, Get Shorty, Baby Daddy, Greek,'Til Death, Bones, Hung, Mad Love, Life, Cavemen, The Ring 2 and Horrible Bosses 2. She recently made a special appearance on NBC's Extended Family and starred in the feature film Holiday Twist, now available on Amazon.
Kelly's unique voice an be heard on Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, Adventures in Odyssey, W.I.T.C.H., and Tom & Jerry: The Lost Dragon, for which she was nominated for the BTVA Best Female Vocal Performance in a Theatrical Short. Kelly is active in local Los Angeles theatre, having performed in over two dozen plays and musical productions. She portrayed “Marion ‘Daisy’ Davies” in the world premiere musical W.R. & Daisy, “Wendy” in Peter Pan, “Tip Toes” in Tip Toes and “Cindy Brady” in A Very Brady Musical, which she also choreographed. Before moving to Los Angeles, Kelly graduated magna cum laude from the University of Missouri, earning a BA in Theatre and Communications.
Kelly is honored to be hosting tonight's awards gala and congratulates all filmmakers on their hard work and achievement.
Quentin Tarantino: Honoree
With his vibrant imagination and dedication to richly layered storytelling QUENTIN TARANTINO is one of the most celebrated filmmakers of his generation. He made his directorial debut in 1992 with RESERVOIR DOGS, and then co-wrote, directed and starred in one of his most beloved films, PULP FICTION, which won his first Oscar® for Best Screenplay. Followed by the highly acclaimed films JACKIE BROWN, KILL BILL VOL. 1 and VOL. 2, and DEATH PROOF, Tarantino then released his World War II epic, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, DJANGO UNCHAINED (which won his second Oscar® for Best Screenplay), and the HATEFUL EIGHT. Tarantino’s most recent film, ONCE UPON A TIME...IN HOLLYWOOD, was nominated for five Golden Globes, ten BAFTAS, and ten Academy Award nominations. Tarantino released his first novel, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, in 2021. It has been published in 31 languages and became an instant number one seller on the New York Times Best Seller lists. In 2022 Tarantino published his highly acclaimed follow up, Cinema Speculation which also debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list.
Scott Feinberg: The Hollywood Reporter
Scott Feinberg is The Hollywood Reporter's executive editor of awards coverage. He has worked at THR since 2011, having previously covered awards for the Los Angeles Times beginning in 2008. He is best known for his “Feinberg Forecast,” his regular assessment of the standings of various showbiz awards races, and for Awards Chatter, the interview-centric podcast for which he has conducted career-retrospective interviews with more than 500 of showbiz’s biggest names.
Born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, and an alumnus of Brandeis University, he is also a trustee professor at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, serves on the board of the Los Angeles Press Club and is a voting member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the Critics Choice Association.
Gianni Decenzo: Presenter
Gianni DeCenzo is an actor best known for his role as Demetri in Netflix’s Cobra Kai. His credits also include 100 Things to Do Before High School (Nickelodeon), Coop and Cami Ask the World (Disney Channel), Gortimer Gibbons’ Life on Normal Street (Amazon), Liv and Maddie (Disney Channel), Eagleheart (Adult Swim), and the indie film Black Spines. Raised in the Los Angeles area, Gianni began acting professionally at age eight after asking his parents, "When can I be on TV?" Offscreen, he enjoys sewing, writing, costume building, and electronics. Close with his family, he is a proud supporter of the Special Needs community.
Desirée Mitchell: Presenter
Raised in both Broward and Miami-Dade County, Florida, Desirée got her start in music at the age of 11 years old in the singing duo, Girls 3000. After making a name for themselves locally, Desirée went on to release her solo songs "Wish We Were Grown" and "Crush On You" in her teen years. This marked the catalyst for the start of her acting career in 2012 when she booked Lifetime's "America's Most Wanted". At the age of 18, Desirée moved to Los Angeles to advance her career in acting and music. Since then, she has written, directed, and produced the TV show, "Loyalty", in addition to starring in multiple films and TV shows. Desirée has also released her biggest original songs to date: "Nobody Else" and "One Time Feat. Bounty Killer". Desirée is in the pre-production phase of her upcoming independent crime drama film "Blue-Blooded", which she wrote and will produce alongside Miguel A. Nunez Jr, Shawntrel Knight, and O'Shea Jackson Jr. Bill Duke is set to direct.
Natalie Burn: Presenter
Natalie Burn is an actress of Ukrainian heritage who now holds American citizenship. She is a lifetime member of The Actors Studio, a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the Producers Guild of America.
Natalie recently wrapped principal photography on the action thriller Foster, in which she portrays an addicted mother and stripper with a dark past, starring opposite Academy Award–nominee James Franco and Ron Perlman.
Other recent roles include "Eyes In The Trees," a reimagining of "The Island of Dr. Moreau," where she appears alongside Academy Award Winner Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Ashley Greene, Thomas Kretschmann, and Harry Lennix. She is also working with action director J.J. Perry on the feature film Toxic.
Her latest project, “The Last Redemption,” a medieval film released worldwide, has received widespread recognition. Natalie won the Eastern Europe Film Festival’s
Best Actress Award for her role as Diana, a fearless outlaw and rebel determined to defeat an evil lord and restore peace to the kingdom. In the feature, "Til Death Do Us Part,"
which was released in AMC theaters nationwide, Natalie received critical acclaim for her portrayal as a runaway bride in danger. Several reviewers and articles like Hollywood
Reporter, CBS News and LA Times praised Burn's ability to do her own stunts as well as her dramatic performance alongside esteemed actors Cam Gigandet and Jason Patric.
Her new upcoming film, "The Movers," features Academy Award nominee Terence Howard and Jena Malone.Her recent credits encompass a range of notable productions,
including Theatrically Released Movies, Warner Bros.’ DC Comic film "Black Adam," starring Dwayne Johnson, and "The Enforcer," opposite Antonio Banderas and Kate
Bosworth.“The Comeback Trail” movie starring Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones, and Morgan Freeman. She shone in "The Expendables 3" alongside Sylvester Stallone,
Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Mel Gibson.
Natalie's television work includes co-starring roles in the Amazon Prime Emmy Award-winning Limited Drama Series "Studio City," which earned her an Indie Series Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and the Lifetime Original movie "Vanished: Searching for My Sister.
Also recognized for her abilities to work in any genre and exceptional skills in martial arts, Natalie has starred in several action movies across industry legends like
Bruce Willis and Jason Statham. Recently, she commanded the screen as the lead in the action-packed thriller "Acceleration," alongside Dolph Lundgren and Sean Patrick
Flanery.
In addition to her acting prowess, Natalie is a classically trained ballet dancer, having graduated from The Royal Ballet School in London and Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Fluent in four languages, she brings a global perspective to her artistic endeavors.
As a producer, Natalie owns two production companies, 7Heaven Productions and Born To Burn Films, with a track record of producing a dozen successful films to
date and several more in pre-production. Driven by a desire to inspire and empower women in the entertainment industry worldwide, Natalie Burn sets a high standard as a role model for artistic excellence
and professionalism.
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Dina Lipton: Presenter
Dina Lipton is a Motion Picture and Television Production Designer based in Los Angeles. Throughout her 38 year career she has designed a variety of projects from serious period dramas to dark comedies along with family friendly television comedy series. Some of her credits include such feature films as, the critically acclaimed, Mr. Holland’s Opus, Ice Cube’s Next Friday, Kevin Smith’s Mallrats,and Albert Brooke’s The Muse.
Some of Dina’s television credits are Hulu’s comedy series This Fool, Not Dead Yet starring Gina Rodriguez for ABC TV, and the groundbreaking family comedy The Real O’Neals. Lipton was nominated for Excellence in Production Design for a Single Camera Television Series from the Art Directors Guild for her work on the series drama, Jack and Bobby. She is a member of the Television Academy and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and is currently serving as the President of The Art Directors Guild, I.A.T.S.E. Local 800.
Scott Chambliss: Presenter
Scott Chambliss is a production designer for feature motion pictures and streaming series in the US and internationally. His latest feature is the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman (2025), adapted from the Broadway musical and directed by Bill Condon. Other credits include Citadel (2023), Voyagers (2021), Godzilla King of the Monsters (2019), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Tomorrowland (2015), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), Cowboys & Aliens (2011), Salt (2010), Star Trek (2009), Mission Impossible:3 (2006) and the television series Alias (2001-2004). Chambliss won an Emmy Award and an Art Directors Guild Award for his work on Alias. He was nominated for the Art Directors Guild Award for Tomorrowland, Star Trek Into Darkness, Cowboys & Aliens and Star Trek.
Stephanie Garvin: Presenter
Stephanie Garvin, our Founder and CEO, is an international filmmaker based in Los Angeles and Chicago. She transitioned from a career in finance and entrepreneurship to fulfill her lifelong dream of creating movies in 2013. While studying at UCLA, UCB, and the Margie Haber School, she gained hands-on experience in acting and filmmaking, eventually founding ETM Pictures Inc. and ETM Distribution LLC.
Currently, Ms. Garvin is an executive producer on Maserati; The Brothers, and developed a strategic affiliation between the Maserati production and HEC.
Ms. Garvin wrote, directed, and executive produced Holiday Twist, an independent feature film set for a national theatrical release on December 1, 2023, with a sequel planned for 2024. She previously co-executive produced the award-winning The Trial of the Chicago 7 and co-produced the documentary Mr. Nelson on the North Side.
A passionate advocate for family-oriented storytelling, Ms. Garvin’s mission is to create meaningful films that resonate with audiences of all ages.
Zulay Henao : Presenter
A Colombian native, Zulay Henao studied at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts after a tour of duty in the U.S. Army. Her many credits include Doug Ellin's series Ramble On, ABC's Stumptown, Sony’s The Oath, Netflix’s True Memoirs of an International Assassin opposite Kevin James, the thriller Grand Isle opposite Nicolas Cage and Kelsey Grammer, Screen Gems’ Takers, and her breakout role in Fighting opposite Channing Tatum.
Beyond her career in film and television, Zulay is the Founder and CEO of Modern Muze, a Latina-owned and certified lifestyle media brand that empowers women everywhere through storytelling, community, and culture. Under her leadership, Modern Muze has evolved into a multi-platform ecosystem spanning editorial, events, podcasts, and digital products. The company was also recognized as a semi-finalist in the Wharton School Entrepreneurial Acceleration Program, further cementing its impact and growth potential.
Zulay is also a thought leader and speaker, using her platform to inspire women by sharing her journey from military service to Hollywood to building a brand that celebrates resilience, confidence, and authenticity.
Sandy Hernández : Presenter
Sandy Hernández is a Dominican-American actress based in Los Angeles, best known for playing Minerva Mirabal in the Disney Production for Star+ ''The Roar of the Butterflies'', Elisabeth Serra in ''The Calling'' (Peacock), and Milly Quezada in the upcoming musical biopic about the Queen of Merengue ''Milly''.
Katie Keane: Presenter
Katie Amanda Keane received her BFA and MFA in Acting, appearing regularly with Shakespeare Orange County. A working actor for over twenty years, she was a series regular on ABC Family’s, Ruby and the Rockits, created by and starring music icons Shaun and David Cassidy. Katie has recurred and guest starred on over thirty TV shows including How I Met Your Mother, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Prison Break. She appeared in the global hit film My Name is Khan, starring Shah
Rukh Khan, and co-starred in the Blumhouse/Amazon thriller The Manor, opposite Oscar-nominee Barbara Hershey.
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Katie was encouraged to write her first TV spec script by Tom Lennon and Ben Garant (Reno 911!, A Night At The Museum). That sample led to her next project, Step Girlfriends - about the nightmare of raising her boyfriend’s kids - which was optioned for development by CBS Studios, with Katie attached as EP, alongside Eric Tannenbaum (Two and a Half Men). She then wrote the dark comedy pilot Kanserous about a woman in small town Kansas dealing with breast
cancer, under the supervision of EPs Linda Wallem (Nurse Jackie) and rock music legend Melissa Etheridge.
Katie’s first feature, Rosé All Day, starring Grammy-nominee Jenna Ushkowitz (Glee), Briana Cuoco (Dead Boy Detectives), and directed by Marla Sokoloff, won Best Comedy at the Sunscreen Film Festival, and was distributed by Vertical Entertainment. In 2023, she wrote the feature Family Tree for Village Roadshow. The dysfunctional family dramedy is based on an original idea by film and TV legends William Shatner and Tom Bergeron, who serve as EPs. Currently with Pathway Pictures, it’s scheduled to shoot in the spring of 2026. She recently
wrote an adult action comedy for Scary Movie and White Chicks producer Rick Alvarez. And she has several other projects in development including a pilot and a feature script with Down Home, Tim McGraw’s Production Company.
Cerina Vincent: Presenter
CERINA VINCENT is an actress, writer and published author working in film and television since 1998. World renown as a “scream queen” for her Saturn Award nominated performance in Lions Gate’s horror sensation CABIN FEVER, and Warner Bros. RETURN TO HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL. Cerina is beloved for her role as MAYA the Yellow Power Ranger in POWER RANGERS LOST GALAXY, and her memorable, comedic role in NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE. Cerina’s comedy and drama has been seen on dozens of hit TV shows, including TWO AND A HALF MEN, MIKE AND MOLLY, NCIS, CSI, CALIFONICATION, WORKAHOLICS, and dozens more. She’s starred in movies for HALLMARK and LIFETIME, and many popular genre horrors and thrillers. Cerina was a series regular in Disney Channel’s #1 comedy, STUCK IN THE MIDDLE, where she played “Suzy Diaz” the quirky mother of 7 children. Cerina co-wrote the best-selling book series How to Eat Like a Hot Chick, How to Love Like a Hot Chick and Live Like a Hot Chick from Harper Collins and her first book for babies and toddlers, Everybody has a Belly Button, was published at Skyhorse Publishing. Cerina is currently working on her second children’s book, developing a preschool series she co-created with her sister, and producing a horror/psychological thriller she co-wrote. Cerina has six films in post-production set to release in 2026, and when she’s not busy acting, Cerina travels the world meeting her fans at horror and comic cons, and enjoys yoga, pilates, and the most important role in her life… “mother” to her beloved six-year-old son, Nico.
Haley Orrantia: Presenter
Hayley Orrantia is an actress and producer best known for her decade-long portrayal of Erica Goldberg on ABC’s hit sitcom The Goldbergs. In addition to her success on screen, Hayley has cultivated a dynamic career in music, having written and released original music as an indie pop artist, toured nationally, performed in musical Kinky Boots at The Hollywood Bowl, placed as runner-up on Season 6 of FOX’s The Masked Singer, and written and performed songs for films she’s starred in, including Lionsgate rom-com Christmas Is Canceled and the Pureflix feature God’s Not Dead 2.
Her experience on stage and screen has only informed what’s necessary behind it. With a creative versatility extending beyond performing, Hayley has gone on to produce music videos, documentary shorts and multi-award-winning narrative short films such as All Four Won (dir. Nick Galarza) taking home Best Crime Short at Independent Shorts Awards and JOE (dir. Greg Furman) landing Best Comedy Short at Burbank International Film Festival.
Driven by a passion for authentic storytelling and belief in the importance of supporting artists, Hayley continues to develop and champion original projects in the independent film space.
Gino Gaudio: Presenter
Born in Burbank and raised in North Hollywood, Gino holds a degree in Political Science from Whittier College and a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge. Gino began his career in municipal government working with the City Manager’s offices of Newport Beach and Seal Beach, California, and later, as the Project and Real Estate Manager with the Redevelopment Agency in Burbank, California. He is currently a commercial real estate broker with Stevenson Real Estate Services in Glendale, CA.
Gino’s family has contributed extensively to the entertainment industry and the arts. His grandfather, Eugene Gaudio, and great-uncle, Tony Gaudio, were important figures in the film industry from the silent era to the late 1940’s, and were founding members of the American Society of Cinematographers. Eugene was the cinematographer for the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916) in which he pioneered techniques of underwater photography. Gino’s great-uncle Tony won an Academy Award in 1936 for
cinematography in Anthony Adverse, and was nominated for the Academy Award five additional times. Gino’s father was an operatic tenor who studied at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verde in Milan. He made regular appearances on television programs including the James Melton Ford Festival and the Ken Murray Show. Gino’s mother, meanwhile, was an esteemed pianist who performed throughout the state.
Gino has worked professionally as a singer and musical comedy artist, appearing on the Broadway stage in “Seven Brides For Seven Brothers”. He currently serves on the Board of the Italy America Chamber of Commerce West. Gino is a past board member of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, and the Burbank Community YMCA. He has two daughters and two grandsons.
Nancy Cartwright: Presenter
Nancy Cartwright has often been arrested for truancy and vandalism, yet she
maintains a spotless criminal record. She has repeated the fourth-grade dozens
of times in spite of earning her college degree. And finally, despite being a
grown woman, she has given voice to a certain spikey-headed 10-year-old boy
for 36+ years. And how, you may ask, has she managed to live this double life?
Read on, dude.
As the voice of Bart Simpson, Emmy-Award-winning actress Nancy Cartwright
quite literally breathes life into one of the most memorable characters in
entertainment history. But she is also responsible for an array of other
characters on The Simpsons, too, making her a versatile performer who’s proved
invaluable to the longest-running scripted show of all time. Not that her career
begins and ends in Springfield—far from it. Nancy has lent her voice
to a myriad of other animated touchstones, from Richie Rich to Rugrats, as well
as live-action films, video games, audio books and commercials. And now, with
the new podcast Simpsons Declassified, Nancy pulls back the curtain on the
show’s wildest fan theories, behind-the-scenes stories, and untold moments
from over 800 episodes—offering fans an all-access pass to Springfield like
never before. She’s at once a cultural icon and a face in the crowd—a
megastar who walks the streets without being mobbed. Not too shabby for a
kid from Kettering, Ohio.
Ben DeJesus: Presenter
Ben DeJesus is an Emmy and Tony-nominated director, producer, writer, and three-time Imagen Award winner with over 15 years of experience in the U.S. multicultural, Latinx, and youth markets. Alongside his longtime partner, award-winning actor, writer, and social activist John Leguizamo, Ben co-founded their production company Casa NoHo Studios, carving out a unique niche with a diverse slate of television, documentary, non-fiction, film, and digital content.
With over 200 hours of programming to his credit including docs, non-fiction, episodic series, music videos, and branded content— Ben’s vision and creativity shine brightly. His most recent project, he co-created, directed and executive produced 12 episodes of the hit series Leguizamo Does America for MSNBC/Peacock. Prior to that he exec produced and directed American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos (PBS), a 3-part limited series hosted by Leguizamo, that takes viewers on a captivating journey through the rich and often overlooked contributions of Latinos in America.
Ben's journey began as a stage actor before he transitioned to MTV Networks, becoming one of the original producer/writers for several seasons of MTV Cribs. He further honed his talents producing and writing for MTV News, VH1, mun2, Nick @ Nite, and various on-air VJs. As a music video veteran, DeJesus has directed landmark videos for pioneering artists such as Don Omar, N.O.R.E., Fat Joe, Aventura and more, amassing over 1 billion views on YouTube.
His television credits also include American Masters’ Raul Julia: The World’s a Stage, which received an Emmy nomination in the Non-Fiction Series category. He also directed Great Performances: John Leguizamo’s Road to Broadway, winning his first Imagen Award for Best Documentary. Ben also directed and exec-produced American Masters: Lights, Camera, Acción (PBS), Essential Heroes: Momento Latino (CBS), executive-produced and hosted by Eva Longoria, The Latino Presidential Inauguration Special (Peacock), as well as multiple episodes of BUNK’D, the hit Disney multi-cam sitcom. His previous feature doc, Tales from a Ghetto Klown (PBS), was produced by Academy Award-winner Fisher Stevens.
In the theater world, Ben’s work includes John Leguizamo’s Latin History for Morons, the acclaimed Broadway show for which he received a Tony nomination as a producer, followed by a record-breaking national tour.
Fueled by a passion for pop culture, music, and theater, Ben DeJesus continues to push boundaries in the industry. He is represented by Kaplan-Stahler Agency and Espada PR & Entertainment.
Clint Howard: Presenter
From his acting debut at age two on "The Andy Griffith Show" to his first lead role in the TV series "Gentle Ben," including roles throughout so many blockbuster films, art-house films, ever-popular cult horror films, and valued comedies, with a rare voice adding life to multiple characters of Disney, Clint Howard is an iconic Hollywood Legend who is ever solid, energetic, and always readily prepared to contribute his talents.
He is one of very few if any who has had a unique five-generation Star Trek run, including episodes in "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds", "Star Trek: Discovery," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Star Trek: Enterprise," all the way to "Star Trek: The Original Series."
Clint has played a variety of characters over the years in several classic films including "Frost/Nixon," "Apollo 13," the Austin Powers trilogy, "The Waterboy," "The Rocketeer," "Tango and Cash," and Disney's "The Jungle Book," along with hundreds of other titles through his 60 years of acting.
Clint Howard has played such a variety of roles ready to take on any acting challenge. He is the ultimate chameleon of television and film. He has consistently worked well alongside Hollywood's fellow top actors throughout the decades, and has fully committed himself to every character in parts large and small. He has carried unique roles echoing through the generations in some of Hollywood's most memorable roles, still driving forth full steam ahead, ready to take on his next acting persona.
Mauro Borelli: Presenter
Mauro Borrelli is a visionary director and screenwriter with a background in fine art, blending cinematic storytelling with visual artistry.
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His creative expertise has led him to collaborate with some of the most renowned filmmakers in the industry, including Francis Ford Coppola, Bernardo Bertolucci, Tim Burton, Quentin Tarantino, M. Night Shyamalan, Ang Lee, Gus Van Sant, Roland Emmerich, and Terry Gilliam.
The films he has worked on have garnered immense success, collectively receiving nine Academy Awards. Mauro's creative contributions also played a significant role in some of the most profitable cinematic franchises in history, including Star Wars (earning $10.3 billion), Avengers ($7.7 billion), Batman ($6 billion), and Pirates of the Caribbean ($4.5 billion).
Beyond filmmaking, Mauro’s artistic work has been featured in prestigious exhibitions, including Tim Burton’s retrospectives at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and LACMA in Los Angeles.
In 2014, Mauro wrote and directed “White Shoe”, a biographical tribute to Salvatore Ferragamo, which was showcased at Ferragamo’s Museum in Florence. The film received critical acclaim, winning Best Director and Best Film in European Museums.
Following its success, Mauro directed “The Recall” (2018), starring Wesley Snipes, which received the Golden Dragon Award for Best Director.
Shortly after, he directed the fantasy thriller “Warhunt”, featuring Mickey Rourke and Jackson Rathbone.
In 2023, Lionsgate released Mauro’s psychological thriller “Mindcage”, starring John Malkovich, Martin Lawrence, and Melissa Roxburgh. In January 2024, the film became a global hit on Netflix, ranking among the top #5 movies worldwide and reaching #1 in Latin America, attracting 9.1 million viewers and accumulating 14.7 million hours of viewing time in its first week.
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Most recently, Mauro wrote and directed The Last Supper, starring James Faulkner and Robert Knepper. The film was released theatrically in 2025 across 1,575 theaters in the United States, distributed by Pinnacle Peak Pictures and Pure Flix. It received an A– CinemaScore and holds an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Tommy Fields: Presenter
Tommy Fields is an award-winning composer, songwriter, and vocalist, known for his compelling scores in film, television, and advertising. With a versatile musical voice and a gift for storytelling through music, Tommy’s work spans genres and platforms, earning both critical acclaim and wide audience recognition.
In 2025, Tommy won Best Score at the LA Film Awards for his work on A Biltmore Christmas, a film that also earned him a nomination for Best Score – TV/Streamed Movie from the Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) and was named the #1 Hallmark movie of all time by Forbes. He received an additional HMMA nomination for scoring Crown Media’s first-ever adventure film, The Christmas Quest, and two nominations from the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival.
Most recently, Tommy composed the score for the upcoming period Western feature Long Shadows, directed by William Shockley and starring Dermot Mulroney, Jacqueline Bisset, Chris Mulkey, and Grainger Hines. The film is set for theatrical release on September 26, 2025. He also scored the hit AMC holiday comedy Christmas with the Campbells, produced by Vince Vaughn and Peter Billingsley (Wild West Picture Show), starring Brittany Snow, Justin Long, and Alex Moffat.
A frequent collaborator with Crown Media, Tommy has scored several of their top-rated original films, including Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story (watched by 9 million viewers during its premiere), A Holiday Spectacular (featuring the 1950s Rockettes), Haul Out the Holly, Next Stop, Christmas (starring Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson of Back to the Future), and One December Night (with Peter Gallagher and Bruce Campbell).
In addition to scoring, Tommy has been honored with “Song of the Year” accolades for his original works “Only God Knows” and “Under the Rainbow.”
His songs have also been featured in acclaimed television series including Grey’s Anatomy, Rescue Me, and Iliza Shlesinger’s Netflix comedy series, for which he created the theme song. Beyond the screen, Tommy’s music has resonated in the commercial world through campaigns for Disney/ABC (Mary Poppins 50th Anniversary Special and The Golden Bachelorette), A&E, Warner Bros., and SoulPancake. He has also produced and performed original work for major brands such as Toyota, Purina, Sonic, JCPenney, Target, and Yahoo—seamlessly blending artistry with commercial appeal.
Hailing from Indiana, Tommy began his musical journey singing and playing guitar in local cover bands. After relocating to Los Angeles and graduating from the Grove School of Music, he fronted several hard rock bands, collaborating with legends such as Slash and Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses. He also led Rock Island Orchestra, formerly known as Alcatrazz.
Jacqueline Rosenthal: Presenter
Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal is a DGA Grand Prize & Student-Emmy winning Writer/Director/Activist. She is known for BACKLOG (Cannes Official Selection), announced in Deadline as the Winner of Catalyst Studios/Stage 32 Empowering Women Screenplay Competition, receiving an option agreement and currently in development. The short film screened at 85 film festivals internationally, 10 impact screenings, and brought home awards from 25 film festivals, including the Limelight Award for Social Justice at Ojai Film Festival and an Anthem Award for Film/Media in Social Justice. The film is currently streaming on Kanopy, Mometu, and Samansa.
Most recently, she was named "one of the Top Voices in Virtual Production" by the CTO of Paramount's SXSW Keynote for her sci-fi epic, Europa, a film she wrote and directed on SONY’s Culver City backlot. With two months of pre-production Jacqueline helmed a +1,500 crew for 42 days on SONY's Stage 7 LED Volume, as the first Narrative Virtual Production on the stage, co-owned and operated by Oscar-winning VFX company Pixomondo. The film was the inaugural recipient of the NFMLA NewNarratives Grant, with an additional endorsement by Hollywood Climate Summit, as the film warns about privatized space missions and calls to protect our own planet before turning to colonize the resources of Jupiter's moon, Europa.
Jacqueline's participated in the following fellowships: Creator’s Playlab (mentored by Palme d'or winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul), Fox Fellowship, Athena Writer’s Lab, Stowe Story Labs,
Athena List (Semi Finalist), Hallmark Make Her Mark (Finalist), ETC@USC R&D Innovation Grant, NFMLA NewNarratives. Jacqueline is a recent graduate of USC's School of Cinematic Arts with an MFA in Film & TV Production, where she assisted Jason Michael Berman, Nancy Forner, and Robert Townsend, where she attended as the John Huston Scholar for Outstanding Director. She is represented by 3 Arts and Culture Creative. She is dedicated to helping the next generation of auteurs stay true to their voice and find footing in the ever shifting landscape of the entertainment industry.
Yasmine Al-Bustami: Presenter
Yasmine Al-Bustami is an American actress. Born in Abu Dhabi, UAE and raised in Dallas, TX, she began her acting career with recurring roles on The CW's "The Originals" and "I Ship It" along with television guest roles such as "Nashville" and "Switched at Birth."
Along with shooting "The Chosen," Al-Bustami starred in “NCIS: Hawai'i” as fan-favorite ‘Agent Lucy Tara.' She has also appeared in films such as "You Get Me" on Netflix and "Lucky" on AMC+ and has starred in John Legend's music video "Surefire."
Go Cowboys & Hook ‘Em!
Melora Hardin: Presenter
Melora Hardin is well known for her portrayal of ‘Jan Levinson,’ Steve Carell’s rigid, former corporate boss and love interest, on the critically acclaimed NBC series “The Office.” Additionally, Hardin was Emmy nominated in 2016 for her recurring role of ‘Tammy Cashman’ on Amazon’s Golden Globe-winning comedy “Transparent.” In 2021, she wrapped the fifth and final season of the Freeform series “The Bold Type” as well as competed in the 30th Season of ABC’s long running “Dancing With The Stars” series making it to the Semi-Finals with her professional dance partner Artem Chigvintsev. She also recurred on the ABC series “A Million Little Things.”
Hardin starred in back-to-back No. 1 weekend theatrical box office features as the adult female lead and love interest to Billy Ray Cyrus in “Hannah Montana: The Movie," as well as the film “17 Again” opposite Zac Efron. Her other feature film box office successes include “Thank You for Smoking,” “Absolute Power” opposite Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman and “27 Dresses” with Katherine Heigl.
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Most recently, Melora reprised her role of ‘Trudy Monk’ in “Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie” which is streaming on Peacock.
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​In addition to acting, Hardin has been singing and dancing since childhood. She has sung in films including Disney’s “The Rocketeer” and “Tower of Terror,” and has released three records of original songs all on Spotify.
Tim Woodward Jr.: Presenter
Timothy Woodward Jr is an Emmy-winning director, producer, and showrunner based in Hollywood, California.Originally from Georgetown, South Carolina, Timothy has established himself as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. With a string of successful films under his belt, he has garnered acclaim for his distinctive storytelling and captivating
visuals.
Timothy's directorial portfolio includes the critically acclaimed bio-pics "Hickok" and "Gangster Land," both of which delve into the complex lives of historical figures against the backdrop of compelling narratives. "Hickok" offers a vivid portrayal of the legendary Wild West figure Wild Bill Hickok, while "Gangster Land" immerses audiences in the gritty underworld of Al Capone and his notorious enforcer, Machine Gun Jack McGurn.
In addition to his filmography, Timothy has made significant contributions to television, notably as the director and showrunner of the hit series "Studio City," on Amazon Prime, which not only earned him an Emmy award but also garnered four nominations, solidifying his reputation as a creative force in the industry.
In 2020, Timothy demonstrated his resilience and adaptability as a filmmaker with the nationwide theatrical release of the gripping thriller "Call," which resonated with audiences across the United States and Mexico. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, "Call" emerged as a testament to Timothy's ability to craft compelling narratives that captivate audiences.
Continuing to push boundaries and redefine cinematic experiences, Timothy helmed "Til Death Do Us Part," a riveting feature that premiered exclusively in theaters nationwide through AMC Theaters in 2023.
Timothy recently directed Academy Award–winner Anthony Hopkins in a highly anticipated reimagining of The Island of Dr. Moreau, showcasing his ability to collaborate with industry icons and bring visionary projects to life. He also recently completed principal photography on the action thriller Foster, directing Academy Award nominee James Franco and Ron Perlman.
George Mooradian: Presenter
George Mooradian is a Cinematographer and an Emmy winner and nine-time Emmy nominee. George is a member of the ASC, AMPAS and The Television Academy.