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Conch Shell International Film Fest
Founded by Haitian American actress/writer/director/producer Magaly Colimon-Christopher, the 2nd annual Conch Shell International Film Festival (CSIFF) is an online festival that showcases the creative voices of indie and student film directors and writers of the Caribbean Diaspora and the Caribbean whose work inspires social change.
Presented by New York City-Based, Conch Shell Productions, CSIFF's goal is to infuse unique Caribbean Diaspora and Caribbean filmmaker voices into the American film industry. To do so we create a space to bring together diverse film lovers, industry experts and artists for 3-days of dialoguing, learning about the current industry trends, and celebrating films that inspire social change and challenge preconceptions about diverse multicultural people. Our aim is to create a space for open, empowering, positive and inspirational exchange about the craft, and the power of film to create room for people of diverse cultures and ethnicities to share new thoughts.
CSIFF's 3-day online event - August 26-28, 2022 - celebrates work produced by our community of artists with 3 days of on-demand screenings; and sparks dialogue during informative panels, artist chats and masterclasses that broaden the perspectives of all who attend.
Each event day concludes with online afterparties where diverse filmmakers, media and industry experts may interact in virtual spaces.
On August 28th, 2022 CSIFF2022 will close with an Award Ceremony followed by a closing night party.
CSIFF2022 TEAM MEMBERS
Magaly Colimon-Christopher
Magaly Colimon-Christopher
Magaly Colimon-Christopher
CSIFF FOUNDER & FEST DIRECTOR
Actress/playwright/director/producer/Artistic director & Founder of Conch Shell Productions.
Magaly is a first-generation Haitian-American. On why she founded Conch Shell Int'l Film Festival, Magaly says:
"Film festivals are a great place to meet like minded, passionate artists and bond with a community of fi
CSIFF FOUNDER & FEST DIRECTOR
Actress/playwright/director/producer/Artistic director & Founder of Conch Shell Productions.
Magaly is a first-generation Haitian-American. On why she founded Conch Shell Int'l Film Festival, Magaly says:
"Film festivals are a great place to meet like minded, passionate artists and bond with a community of film lovers who share common interests and tastes. Founding Conch Shell International Film Fest is my way of saying “Welcome. We see you. We honor your brilliance.” to talented artists of the Caribbean Diaspora and the Caribbean. It is a space for us to remind each other our voices are vital and essential." IG @magalycolimon_1
To learn more about Magaly go to www.magalycolimon.com
ALEXANDREA THORNTON
Magaly Colimon-Christopher
Magaly Colimon-Christopher
PROGRAM MANAGER
Cal and Columbia grad with a dozen+ years of studio experience.
Looking forward to working with the team!
Ashley Hajimirsadeghi
Magaly Colimon-Christopher
Ashley Hajimirsadeghi
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING STRATEGIST
Ashley Hajimirsadeghi is an Iranian-American multimedia artist, writer, and journalist. Her favorite movie is Kim Bora’s House of Hummingbird. Find her online at www.ashleyhajimirsadeghi.com
IG @nassarine
elanie dash
Michelladonna
Ashley Hajimirsadeghi
Production Intern
Elanie Dash is a passionate student at CUNY Lehman College majoring in Film and minoring in Media Communications and African American studies. She is an aspiring video editor and hopes to be a voice in furthering inclusion and upliftment.
Michelladonna
Michelladonna
Michelladonna
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING CONSULTANT
Michelladonna is an actress, comedian, producer and community organizer from Queens, NY. She is the creator and host of the “I’m Finna Talk” a workshop and open mic series for Queer Black and Brown artists. She is passionate about comedy, art creation and community. She is a student of HB Studio, the Secon
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING CONSULTANT
Michelladonna is an actress, comedian, producer and community organizer from Queens, NY. She is the creator and host of the “I’m Finna Talk” a workshop and open mic series for Queer Black and Brown artists. She is passionate about comedy, art creation and community. She is a student of HB Studio, the Second City, the PIT and an alumna of the MCC Theater Youth Company. She is focused on sharing her communities’ unique experiences with the world.
IG @michelladonna
Isabel mbafoe
Michelladonna
Michelladonna
French/English Translator
Isabel Mbafoe is a Cameroonian communication manager who has observed that languages barriers often prevented Black diasporas to bond culturally. With her translating skills, she aims to help build a bridge between Black diasporas and contribute to their cultural connection.
IG @Isabel.mbafoe
Awards jurist/Fest ambassadors
Alain Bidard
Maëlla Kancel
Alain Bidard
Alain Bidard is an award-winning animation film director from Martinique who has won 60 film festival awards and more than 250 nominations worldwide.
@PagodFilms
Wally Fall
Maëlla Kancel
Alain Bidard
Wally Fall is a filmmaker from Martinique and Senegal. After taking evening classes on video filmmaking and editing in London he gained much of his early experience in Europe, the Caribbean and Africa on many video and tv projects before working on his own ones. In 2016, along with fellow filmmakers, he founded Cinemawon, a film collecti
Wally Fall is a filmmaker from Martinique and Senegal. After taking evening classes on video filmmaking and editing in London he gained much of his early experience in Europe, the Caribbean and Africa on many video and tv projects before working on his own ones. In 2016, along with fellow filmmakers, he founded Cinemawon, a film collective dedicated to creating new spaces to screen films mostly overlooked from the Caribbean and the African Diasporas. He lives and work in Guadeloupe.
@walymann
Maëlla Kancel
Maëlla Kancel
Maëlla Kancel
Sharing Caribbean narratives. This has been Maëlla Kancel’s motto since the launch of the Karukerament Podcast in 2019 to document the representation of the Caribbean in cinema and television.
@karukerament
Javier molina
Maëlla Kancel
Maëlla Kancel
Javier Molina has an MFA from The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University and is the Co Associate Artistic Director of The Actors Studio. Javier directed the multi award winning short film WONDER, which is now streaming on all HBO platforms.
@iamjaviermolina
Melanie Nicholls-King
Melanie Nicholls-King
Melanie Nicholls-King
Melanie Nicholls-King is a Canadian/American actress and producer with Trini roots best known for playing Cheryl in the HBO series, The Wire; Officer Noelle Williams in the ABC/Global series, Rookie Blue; and Hazel LaCroix, in the beloved Netflix series, Anne with an E. Upcoming, she can be seen on Apple TV’s In With the Devil starring Taron Edgerton and Paul Walter Hauser.
@melanienichollsking
Nadhege ptah
Melanie Nicholls-King
Melanie Nicholls-King
Nadhege is an award-winning actor, writer, producer, director, and dancer. Viewers can see her in a recurring role on SHOWTIME TV series City on a Hill. All Star Music Awards awarded her Best Actress of the Year for her performance on Showtime. With many of her own produced works or feature leads landing distribution in CBS, PBS, ABC, NBC
Nadhege is an award-winning actor, writer, producer, director, and dancer. Viewers can see her in a recurring role on SHOWTIME TV series City on a Hill. All Star Music Awards awarded her Best Actress of the Year for her performance on Showtime. With many of her own produced works or feature leads landing distribution in CBS, PBS, ABC, NBC, Comcast, FOX, etc., her own production company MAAT Films, is developing several projects.
@nadhegeptah
clinton Roache
Melanie Nicholls-King
clinton Roache
JR Roache is the owner of JR Sterling Productions, the executive producer of the award-winning film Sweet Rind. He is also a writer, director and proud Jamaican.
@sweetrindthefilm
MARQUIS SMALLS
Melanie Nicholls-King
clinton Roache
Marquis Smalls is an experienced award winning writer-director-producer from Brooklyn, NY who has contributed to the landscape of independent content creation and mainstream productions in the film, television, cable, and web industries. www.streetdreamsfilms.com
IG @smalls.marquis FB @MarquisSmalls
David Velo StewarT
David Velo StewarT
David Velo StewarT
David Velo Stewart is an independent filmmaker and author. In 2021, David Velo Stewart launched the TRILLVISION entertainment app (IOS & Android) to create a collaborative community to support indie creators with distribution, creative feedback and branding.
@therealtrillvision
Film selection committee/fest ambassadors
CHRISTIN EVE CATO
CHRISTIN EVE CATO
CHRISTIN EVE CATO
Christin Eve Cato is a playwright and performing artist from the Bronx. She holds an MFA in Playwriting from Indiana University and completed her BA degree at Fordham University. Cato's artistic style is expressed through Caribbean culture and the Afro-Latinx diaspora, honoring her Puerto Rican and Jamaican roots. www.christinevecato.com
IG @lady_cato87 FB @christin.e.cato
ALEXANDRA FOUCARD
CHRISTIN EVE CATO
CHRISTIN EVE CATO
Alexandra Foucard is Haitian and a Grammy-nominated, Broadway actor, winner of an NAACP Award for best actress and nominated for two Helen Hayes Awards. Ms. Foucard recently created, wrote and produced a comedic series, Park Slope Moms, with an all-female cast. She’s also currently developing 4 other comedies.
IG @AFoucard FB @AlexandraFoucard
CLARK JACKSON
CLARK JACKSON
CLARK JACKSON
Clark Jackson is an award-winning actor, writer and producer who’s appeared on Broadway and starred in numerous TV series and films. He is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and a proud company member of the Actors Center in NYC. To learn more, visit www.clarkjacksononline.com.
IG @atlienonskis FB @ClarkJacksonAct
RIVKA RIVERA
CLARK JACKSON
CLARK JACKSON
Rivka Rivera is a Jew-Yo-Rican actor, playwright, and filmmaker creating work that explores the intersection of grief, capitalism, and human behavior. She is an alum of Carnegie Mellon University and LaGuardia HS. To learn more visit: www.RivkaRivera.com
IG @therivkarivera FB @rivkarivera