Elijah Mickelson

Filmmaker and pastor Elijah Mickelson is passionate about the intersection of culture and faith. An M.Div. graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, ordained since 2006, he has served in pastoral and communication roles in diverse urban environments for the last 14 years. Elijah is the founder of the Filmmaker Collaborative and serves as Director of Communications for the Emmanuel Gospel Center. 

He has directed projects such as Cry Out, Voices of Human Trafficking, and Boston’s Civic Leader Summit, though his proudest achievements include filming an underwater music video with his two brothers and being the first person to fly a drone inside Boston City Hall (with approval from the mayor). 

Elijah and his wife Stacie live in an intentional Christian community in Boston and have two beautiful daughters, Eden and Anna.

Jordan Knott

Born in Jamaica, and raised in the Greater Boston area, Jordan is a writer/story-teller/filmmaker with various cultural influences. She loves to incorporate themes of interpersonal relationships, mental health and faith in her projects. For the last three years, Jordan has been working as a freelance production assistant on a variety of shows in the Boston area for Netflix, Hulu, NBC, Pfizer, Puma and more. She is currently writing an original feature, which won her a spot in the 2019 Nostos Screenwriting residency. She is also writing two original series and writing/directing/producing an original documentary short on former atheist testimonies.

Lee Francois

In 2009, Lee Francois received his Digital Design degree from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online. When he could not find employment in his field, Lee started his own business. Following that, some unfortunate unwise choices were costly to Lee when he had to serve time in prison for 4 years, putting his dreams on hold.  

However, after a tremendous bounce back and re-evaluation of his life, Lee relaunched his company under the name "FrancoisGrphx." Through hard work and opportunities to set a new course in life, Lee is building his business into a successful digital arts company.

Reflecting on his life, Lee says, "Looking back, I realized that if I had never experienced any struggles in my life, I probably would never have had the courage to take those giant leaps of faith to become the courageous man I am today."

Today, in addition to being the CEO of FGXstudios, Lee is also the Director of the Digital Media & A/V Ministry at Bethel AME Church in Jamaica Plain, MA. Red Chair Stories, directed by Lee, reveals the riveting narrative of men impacted by incarceration who are becoming entrepreneurs.

John Buckley

John Buckley is the founder of Studio Numio, a marketing and creative studio based in Cambridge, MA. Through Studio Numio, John assists various startups and life science companies through marketing strategy and content creation services; including branding, digital/web design, video production, and print design materials. John also volunteers as the Creative Director for Trinity Cambridge Church – a church plant in Kendall Square.

Shaneez Tyndall

Shaneez is a storyteller passionate about identity and representation in the media. She received her Screenwriting MFA from Boston University and her work has placed in Final Draft’s Big Break, ScreenCraft’s Pilot Launch, and BET and ColorCreative’s Script to Film contests. Shaneez has worked with Mass Cultural Council, a leading state arts agency and public funder, and the award-winning media company PRX, helping NPR stations and international producers develop podcasting and entrepreneurial skills. She loves a good dad joke, collecting postcards from every city she visits, and is most likely to be found jamming to an old-school bop.

Luke Zvara

Luke is a Boston-based filmmaker. He studied film production at Emerson College, though he lived overseas for the majority of his life. He grew up in Central Asia, went to high school in Germany, and has traveled to over twenty countries. He does narrative and documentary work, and has worked on films for Giorgio Armani, Walden Television, and various non-profits around the world. Luke has a passion for storytelling, lighting, cinematography, and cultures. He serves on Park Street Church Films. Luke directed Blind Spots, a ballad of distorted vision. His dream is to travel and make beautiful cinema.

Brandt Gillespie

From his studio in downtown Boston, its 9-camera set-up, beautifully lit Green Screens, control room, and 4ME 20 channel switcher, Brandt produces high quality video projects daily.

Brandt has produced for “700 Club,” “100 Huntley Street,” “Dish Network” from TV stations like INSP Charlotte, Comtel Miami, WEDU Tampa, WLAE New Orleans, and Lone Peak Salt Lake. He has directed live events from Boston Garden; the Superdome; the World Congress Center-Georgia Dome in Atlanta; Anaheim Pond, LA; the TWA Dome, St. Louis; the RCA Dome, Indianapolis; the Delta Center Salt Lake; and the Blue Jay Stadium, Toronto, plus numerous smaller venues. Brandt serves as Director of Communications for Congregation Lion of Judah.

Sue Murad

Sue Murad is an interdisciplinary artist whose work includes film, site-specific installation, and performance. Her practice centers around community and collaborative processes, and she has partnered with a wide variety of institutions and individuals in Boston for over two decades. Past residencies include a three-year tenure making movies with patients at Boston Children’s Hospital, as well as film projects with Reciprocity Collaborative at the Museum of Fine Arts, Jacobs Pillow, and Old North Church. She will also be taking part in an upcoming dance collaboration at The Yard this summer. In addition to her own surreal art films, Sue partners with artists, dancers, and makers in creating meaningful documentation of their time-based work. Meditations on the Tide is one such example. Sue is an avid traveler, continually opening herself up to new sources of beauty, vitality, and adventure.