Board of directors gallery
President | Founder
Accomplished producer and award-winning director, Julia Verdin, has established herself as one of Hollywood’s leading independent filmmakers with over 33 critically acclaimed feature films produced to date, including THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, 2 JACKS, and STANDER.
Treasurer
A businessman, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, Sean Michael Acosta has been mentioned in such publications as THE WALL STREET JOURNAL and LA TIMES for his astute business acumen in brokerage and real estate. More recently, Sean has begun supporting motion pictures that shed light on significant social issues.
Board Member | Secretary
Halil Sevis is a producer at Rough Diamond Productions, a major independent film company in Los Angeles. Passionate about films that effect social change, Halil has worked on development, production and marketing for such films as 2 JACKS, LOST GIRLS (short), and THE UNWILLING, directed by Oscar-nominated Jonathan Heap.
Director
Longtime director and chairman of BAFTA-LA, Gary Dartnall holds a track record as a top executive in the entertainment industry. He is well-known and respected for both his business acumen and his philanthropic work.
Director
Deborah Kolar is Managing Partner of Kean & Kolar Communications, a company formed in 2008 and specializing in strategic guidance for the global screen industry. As a strategist and film festival and media consultant, her credits include FENCES, THE BIG SHORT, SELMA, HUGO and TRUE GRIT.
Director
An industry veteran, Jason Piette is a prolific producer and film financier who currently runs Disrupting Influence, a company that assesses and structures commercially unique content for the domestic and international marketplace. He’s produced such films as THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, HEADS IN THE CLOUD, and IRON SKY.
Director
One of Hollywood’s most successful immigration attorneys, Lorraine D’Alessio was recently named the 2016 Century City Bar Association Lawyer of the Year and is widely regarded as an industry expert.