Speakers

An Academy Award® winner and true pioneer, Ramsey made history directing Rise of the Guardians and the cultural phenomenon Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. A legendary visionary in modern animation.

Jones is Executive Producer, Head Writer and Director of Black Dynamite and Co-Executive Producer of Adult Swim’s The Boondocks, the first Cartoon Network program to win a Peabody Award.

Gutierrez’s credits include directing and co-writing the Guillermo del Toro–produced animated feature The Book of Life (2014). Emmy Award–winning Nick series El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny and more.

A WGA Award winner and comedic powerhouse, Waite’s credits include Family Guy, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Inside Job. He has also contributed to The Onion, The New Yorker, and Mad Magazine.

A 12-year DreamWorks veteran, Kaidbey leads the Clearance department, bridging law and creativity. From the film Ali to major animated features, she is a master of the complex world of studio production.

An Emmy & Annie-nominated icon who collaborated with Stan Lee and George Lucas. His 40-year career spans Spider-Man: TAS, Static Shock, DuckTales, Scooby-Doo, Fraggle Rock, DC Comics’ Cyborg, Green Lantern and English scripts for Disney released Miyazaki’s Laputa: The Castle in the Sky and Kiki’s Delivery Service. A true titan of animation.

Co-founder of Ole Green Studios and Creative Producer for PBS KIDS’ Work It Out Wombats!, Dr Edouard is a STEM education expert centering Black boys as imaginative problem solvers in global animation.

Honing his craft for 30 years, Bentley is the voice of Barret (FFVII Remake) and LeBron James (MultiVersus). His legendary career spans Marvel’s Nick Fury in Avengers Confidential, Naruto, Resident Evil, God of War, Call of Duty, and Iron Man Rises. A versatile icon across gaming, anime, and live-action.

Leader of the Annie Awards, Mintz is an acclaimed animator for Industrial Light & Magic and Disney. His film Nothing to Say won at 42 festivals, including Oscar-qualifying events. A true titan of the animation industry.

Chrystin Garland is an art director and visual development artist from Los Angeles, California. Over the course of her career, she has had the pleasure of lending her talents to multiple animated series including Disney Jr.'s Ariel, My Dad the Bounty Hunter, The Midnight Gospel, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and the Emmy Award Winning Niko and the Sword of Light.

Jason B. Ryan is a TV/film producer with over 20 years of experience in the business. A self-taught screenwriter, Jason has written and developed features, series, and shorts in sci-fi, thriller, horror, comedy, and animation. Professionally, Jason has worked for live news networks and cable TV networks producing award-winning lifestyle shows, documentary series, movies, and other programming.

She is in development as co-director on a feature with EPs Will.i.am, Jennifer Hudson and Snoop Dog, PIERRE THE PIGEON-HAWK.

A 2022 Rising Star of Animation, Bordenave directed Marvel’s X-Men '97, The Boys: Diabolical, and Invincible Fight Girl. His DC credits include Young Justice and Justice League. He is currently directing the new DC Super Powers.

A 10-year veteran at the LAIKA, an Oscar®-nominated studio behind Coraline, Hurwitz leads talent acquisition and onboarding. She is the go-to expert for artists looking to break into the elite world of stop-motion.

A titan of animation, Abney’s credits include Frozen, Spider-Verse, Toy Story 4, and Soul. He executive-produced the Oscar-winning Hair Love and directed the NAACP Image Award winner Canvas. A visionary leader defining modern cinema.

A former Netflix Director of Preschool Animation and current NSF lead, Clark manages a multimillion-dollar STEM & media portfolio. A veteran researcher and producer, he has shaped the digital lives of children through Netflix, TV, and apps.

A master of audio for Demon Slayer, Suzume, and Date Everything, Krystal specialises in sound design and recording at the iconic Bang Zoom! Studios. From hit anime to video games, she is a leading voice in modern professional sound.

A Division I athlete turned AR pioneer and filmmaker, Christian made history as Nevada’s first Black MD/PhD student. He blends neuroscience with tech and animation to champion diversity. A true trailblazer in art, medicine, and social impact.

A TED speaker and David Letterman Award winner, Dr. Bell is a former Skydance Animation executive. A leading expert in representation and children’s culture, he bridges the gap between academic theory and world-class media production.

A 30-year veteran of The Simpsons, Beavis & Butt-Head, and King of the Hill. An XR pioneer and educator, Elder now spearheads game development for 15 colleges and leads a new inter-campus esports league. A master of immersive storytelling.

An Academy & TV Academy member and former SMPTE President, Jenkins is a powerhouse executive in M&E and tech. He leads I2A2 in creating ethical AI and software solutions, serving as a visionary at the intersection of Hollywood and innovation.

Senibo is half Nigerian, half Irish American, and all Texan. Most recently, he has written for PAW PATROL, LYLA IN THE LOOP, MONSTERWHEELIES, HEY AJ, ARIEL, and the ME AND WINNIE THE POOH shorts, among others. Hailing from Houston, no one knew that deep inside his 6’6” frame was a kid who loved watching and writing cartoons.

After a 20-year career of news-style editing in New York City for companies such as MTV, Showtime, PBS, and A Current Affair, Mark was on vacation in Los Angeles. On a whim, he called Film Roman to see if they needed any editors — and they did.