Rise Flix showcase and panel
Saturday, April 25 at 4pm
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panelists
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Mackenzie Maguire - Film Distributor
Mackenzie Maguire is a film distribution executive and alum of Gravitas Ventures, where she worked in acquisitions helping independent films find audiences across digital and VOD platforms. She now leads Persimmon, a label under Narrative Distribution focused on emotionally resonant films for streaming and television.
Amy Gossels - Casting Director
During Amy's 25+ years in the industry, she has cast more than 1500 commercials and has been the casting director, and in many cases a producer, for more than 120 film and television productions. Feature film credits include Nancy Meyers’ Something’s Gotta Give, Godfrey Reggio’s Visitors and Joe Maggio’s Sundance darling Milk & Honey and NY Times Critics' Pick, Love Hunter. Short films she has cast and/or produced include Student Academy Award winner and Sundance Honoree Zen and the Art of Landscaping -- and she currently has more than a half dozen film projects in preproduction and postproduction. Her television credits include The Daily Show with Jon Steward and Trevor Noah, HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Comedy Central’s Night of Too Many Stars. She’s also a passionate, highly sought after educator who regularly teaches sold out Masterclasses for prestigious organizations including the SAG-AFTRA Foundation and Conservatory and NYWIFT, as well as her own Signature On-Camera Intensive Series, which she offers a couple of time a year by invitation. For a more in-depth overview of her work, please visit her website: amygosselscasting.com,
Novika Ishar - Entertainment Attorney
Novika Ishar is a partner and chair of Entertainment Law in the New York City office of Romano Law PLLC. She is a member of the Entertainment Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association. Ms. Ishar oversees the entertainment group practice at Romano Law and has over a decade of experience in corporate, intellectual property, and financing transactions. She advises clients in the film, television, new media, gaming, publishing, podcast, and music industries on a wide variety of entertainment, intellectual property, and corporate matters. She represents professionals from all sectors of the entertainment and advertising business, including production companies, television studios, financiers, writers, directors, and talent.
Brooke Biederman - Producer
The Founder and President of Forby Entertainment Partners, where she develops and produces original film, television, theatre, and publishing projects designed for both cultural and commercial impact. Her work focuses on building distinctive IP that travels across formats and audiences. She began her career working with producer Michael Bederman and director Marc Webb before earning her MBA from Harvard Business School, where she co-authored a case study on Participant Media. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in English Literature.