Women In Film - Panel #2

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 24, 2025 - 10:00am - 1:00pm

(10-11am mixer) Food and drink provided by Republik Coffee.

Location: Hollywood Production Center, 300 N. Third Street, Rooftop, Burbank, CA 91502

Please note: NO high heels on the rooftop.

Join us for an exclusive morning gathering to launch the festival in style. Women industry professionals will share their journey in the film business and creative process. This is your chance to connect with the minds behind the scenes, gain insights, and start the festival with inspiring conversations. Perfect for those looking to network and get an insider's view of what’s to come.

-PANELISTS-

(WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER)

LESLEY POWERS

Lesley Powers is a writer/director/producer based in Los Angeles. Powers tells stories about everyday characters who find themselves in extraordinary situations. The everyday characters are inspired by growing up in an Indiana town so small that she had a ‘drive your tractor to school’ day every year. She was a Top 10 competitor for the SheDirected competition helmed by Kate Bosworth, she’s directed six short films and a ten episode web series that have screened at Oscar Qualifying festivals worldwide, and has worked with talent such as John Michael Higgins and Dot-Marie Jones.  Powers has written several features and TV pilots which I'm currently submitting for writing contests across the country.

She also worked as an indie film Producer - producing countless shorts and three feature films; a casting assistant on several projects; and an actor/on camera interviewer. 

A  graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington, board member of the Alliance of Women Directors (AWD) where she chairs several committees and the Rising Director Fellowship. Powers lives in Burbank with her son Luca.

(DIRECTOR, WRITER, COMEDIAN)

ROBIN CLOUD

Robin Cloud, a multifaceted artist, is a distinguished director, writer, and comedian making waves in both television and film. A recent alumna of the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women, Cloud has garnered acclaim for her creative prowess. Her films have screened at esteemed festivals such as BFI, Tribeca Film Festival, TIFF, and NewFest Film Festival, and have left an indelible mark on audiences worldwide. Robin was a 2023 Blacklist x WIF Feature Residency Writer, where she honed her feature film About Face.

Her film "This Old House" is currently captivating audiences on Hulu, while her compelling docu-series, "Passing: A Family in Black & White," produced by Topic Studios, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and is now available on Amazon. Cloud's directorial talent caught the attention of Warner Brothers, leading to her selection as one of six directors tasked with commemorating the studio's 100th anniversary by reimagining classic films. Robin breathed new life into "Calamity Jane" which is currently streaming on MAX.

Cloud graduated cum laude from Howard University's School of Communications and has earned a Master’s degree from Columbia University’s School of Architecture.

Robin is represented by MetaMorphic Entertainment.

(IMAGE OPTICS)

WENDY ALTMAN COHEN

For more than three decades, Wendy Altman Cohen has been Hollywood’s go-to eyewear stylist, defining the signature looks of iconic characters in film and television. Prominent directors regularly collaborate with Wendy to refine the visual tone of their projects—relying on her to source, design, and deliver eyewear that elevates both character and story. She was honored to work on Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, where she helped craft the film’s look and feel by sourcing and restoring original vintage frames. The looks became part of the character building and as a result, her work is immortalized on the silver screen. 

Wendy launched Image Optics in 1994 as a woman-owned business built to meet the fast-paced needs of film and television production. Today, Image Optics houses a rental archive of over 20,000 camera-ready glasses, with styles spanning virtually every cinematic period, along with top brands of new eyewear ready to be put on the right face. The company also offers in-house lens cutting, anti-reflective coatings, and global shipping. 

Wendy’s extensive experience in eyewear and fashion is what sets her apart, and has helped to forge and pioneer trends that are still prominent in today’s fashion world. As a bona-fide trendsetter, she has deep ties with designers, manufacturers, and shops worldwide, gaining early access to new frames, exclusive designs, and rare archival pieces. She's recognized as a creative force in the optical industry, bringing Hollywood visibility to eyewear brands and elevating their role in storytelling. 

Wendy’s work appears in a multitude of projects including Oppenheimer, The Big Lebowski, Heat,Get Shorty, Wayne’s World, The Hangover, Hidden Figures, Ford v Ferrari, Westworld, Modern Family, The Blacklist and A Wrinkle in Time. Whether she’s outfitting a historical figure or a sci-fi renegade, she uses eyewear to help directors make visual choices that resonate on screen. She got her start in a Long Island optical shop, studied at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, and built a business in Los Angeles that continues to shape how Hollywood tells its stories—one frame at a time.

-MODERATOR-

(FILM PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, ACTRESS)

REGINA  CV. BANALI

Regina’s cinematic journey began at the tender age of 3 when she watched "2001: A Space Odyssey" as her inaugural theater experience. Enthralled by the movie and its music, she chatted endlessly about it, prompting her parents to purchase the soundtrack LP, which became her soundtrack during their moments of solitude. Growing up, she became a self-made individual, nurturing herself with a blend of books, music, magazines, art, TV, and movies. Her passion for cinema, particularly films accompanied by remarkable music, took root early on.

Embarking on a teenage odyssey, she traversed the globe alongside rockstars after initially venturing into modeling and fine art painting. Notably, her artistic prowess garnered attention, with luminaries like Francis Ford Coppola becoming collectors of her paintings. Regina Banali, like many directors, initiated her career in front of the lens, accumulating over 40 film and television roles across both modest and blockbuster productions. Her debut role included portraying a mermaid in Steven Spielberg's "Hook." Concurrently, she opened a boutique called "Celebrity Closet Raiders," a clothing store on Sunset Blvd, and made appearances as a fashion correspondent.

In 2008, she transitioned to the role of a director, crafting PSAs for The Humane Society of the United States, rallying celebrities for animal rights causes. Her directorial debut came in the form of "QUIET RIOT: Well Now You’re Here, There’s No Way Back," a documentary on the 80s metal band Quiet Riot. Acquired by Showtime in 2015, the film marked her directorial breakthrough. Regina directed music videos for Quiet Riot and "In The Blood," her first narrative short, a playful homage to spaghetti westerns from the '60s and '70s, her preferred era for films and music.

A passionate advocate for actor safety, she frequently addresses festivals and acting schools on combating sexual harassment and promoting mental health in the industry. The narrative took a poignant turn in 2019 when her husband, Frankie Banali, was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Assuming leadership of Quiet Riot while being his primary caregiver, Regina managed the band's affairs after his passing, restructuring operations, and revitalizing the business side. She orchestrated the return of original member Rudy Sarzo, secured a new booking agent, and oversees the band's busy schedule of 60 shows annually. Regina also navigated merchandise rights, initiating the production and sale of Quiet Riot merchandise.

Beyond her artistic pursuits, Regina is a dedicated philanthropist, throwing her support behind cherished causes like "Musicares," "Pancreatic Cancer Action Network," and the "Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund." Currently residing in Los Angeles, she is immersed in developing a narrative feature film for her directorial endeavors.