DIRECTOR

Yongding “Philip” Sun is a LA-based writer, director, actor from China. He graduated from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film and Media (Dean’s Honor List). He also studied at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, studying screenwriting and producing for film in Summer 2020. He is a filmmaker drawn to the unseen and often overlooked sides of human nature. As a director, he embraces creative risks and constantly challenges himself to explore different genres, from intimate drama to dark comedy and psychological storytelling. No matter the form, he strives to bring a distinct personal voice to his work, using cinema to uncover what people often feel but rarely say.

PRODUCER

Sihan “Lisa” Chen is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker and producer. She graduated from Emerson College with a B.A. in Media Arts Production and a minor in Psychology, and is currently pursuing an M.F.A. in Producing at the American Film Institute Conservatory. Her experience across production, film sales and distribution, and casting has given her a perspective on both the creative and business sides of filmmaking. Drawing from her background in psychology, Lisa is particularly drawn to character-driven stories that explore human nature and contemporary social issues. She hopes to use film and media to communicate ideas and emotions, tell stories that matter, and invite audiences to see the world from different perspectives.

CINEMATOGRAPHER

Chris Gruber is a cinematographer whose journey into filmmaking was anything but conventional. Having grown up surrounded by fantastical stories from his grandfather and a passion for understanding human behavior. Drawing from a diverse background that includes experiences in theater, travel, and a deep personal journey, Chris approaches cinematography with a focus on collaboration, purpose, and emotional resonance. He believes in serving the story above all, keeping ego in check, and understanding the deeper narrative within each scene. With a dedication to constant growth and a belief that every challenge is an opportunity, Chris is passionate about using his craft to contribute to stories that matter, always with wonder and a dream to inspire through visual storytelling.

In addition to all these endeavors, Chris passionately pursues his job as fulltime idiot.

STORY & SCREENPLAY BY

Cal Kusiak is an LA-based filmmaker who likes to lift rocks and see what’s underneath. Cal has written screenplays since childhood and directed short films, commercials, documentary, podcasts, and short-form social media content with a feature currently in development. Cal comes from a career in digital marketing for a variety of clients and campaigns, including LA Metro, California High Speed Rail, Historic South LA Black Cultural District, LA28 Olympic outreach projects, and Encircle: LGBTQ+ Resource Centers. Cal is currently completing an MFA in Screenwriting at the American Film Institute Conservatory and was a Blacklist referral for the 2026 Nicholls Fellowship for his feature screenplay, Ode to Joy.

SCREENPLAY BY

Meshari Al-Ghamdi is an LA-based, equal-opportunist filmmaker interested in telling stories about bad things happening to everybody. A graduate of the University of Kent at Canterbury, he earned a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) while studying European Political Cinema. In 2018, he was named Media Student of the Year at St. Christopher’s School, Bahrain, in recognition of his early writing and directing. Al-Ghamdi has experience in legal and community outreach through the Kent Law Clinic and across the Arab world, earning two Kent Union Society Awards along the way. He’s also the favorite son.

PRODUCTION DESIGNER

Yiran “Michael” Xu is a Los Angeles–based production designer and filmmaker from China. He received his early training in fine art at the Affiliated High School of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and earned his bachelor’s degree in Drama Film Art Desgin from the Beijing Film Academy. He is currently pursuing an MFA in Production Design at the AFI Conservatory. He has worked as a production designer and first assistant director on numerous short films and narrative commercials, as well as a set decorator on a feature film. His approach to design extends beyond color and spatial composition, focusing on creating environments that reveal character, support the narrative, and bring authenticity to the world of each story.

EDITOR

Qianhui “Alice”Ji is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker and editor currently pursuing an M.F.A. in Editing at the American Film Institute Conservatory. She holds a B.A. in Broadcasting and Television Directing from Southwest University in China. Her professional experience includes editing, script supervisor, and working in film festival programming, with previous experience at Talent Film and Television, First Training Camp and Pingyao International Film Festival. As an editor, she is particularly interested in using rhythm, structure, and juxtaposition to shape emotional experience and deepen a film’s perspective.