Film Festival Previewers.
Our volunteer previewers review all films submitted to our festival, ensuring they are in alignment with our mission.
Lupita
2020
Monica Wise Robles
Meet the 2026 Film Festival Previewers!
Asmaa Yunes
🇦🇺 🇮🇳 Benu Bindra
An emerging filmmaker, screenwriter, and associate producer dedicated to exploring the experiences of immigrants through film. She uses storytelling as a way to connect, inspire, and amplify voices that deserve to be heard.
🇬🇧 DR. Colette Balmain
A Senior Lecturer in Media at Kingston University, Colette focuses her research on identity politics in popular culture and representations of women in East and Southeast Asia. She is passionate about promoting gender equality and supporting platforms that give voice to women and girls worldwide.
🇷🇺 🇫🇷 katerina Drozdova
Moscow-born and Paris-based, Ekaterina is a journalist, former restaurateur, and cultural producer exploring the intersections of food, film, and feminism. She is dedicated to championing women’s creative power and supporting stories that deserve to be seen and heard.
🇳🇬 Joy Chikwendu
A storyteller and public health advocate, Joy works with NACTAL and her foundation to support children and young adults while amplifying unheard voices. She is passionate about using storytelling to challenge inequality and inspire change through the power of film.
🇩🇪 🇮🇪 Julia Bruton
A filmmaker and VR enthusiast, Julia is the founder of VR Women, a platform dedicated to bringing women in virtual reality into the spotlight. With over 35 years of passion for film, she strongly believes in the importance of the female perspective in media and storytelling.
VERONICA Pilane
A filmmaker, screenwriter, and script supervisor, Veronica Lebogang Pilane holds a Bachelor of Arts in Motion Picture Medium with a double major in writing and directing from AFDA. She is the co-founder and technical director of the Bantu Film Festival in Botswana, which celebrates African excellence in cinema.
🇲🇿 Lindiwe Chachiua
A recent graduate aspiring to become a social worker, Lindiwe is passionate about transformative community work. She is eager to explore global portrayals of femininity and womanhood, deepening her understanding of gender and identity through film.
🇺🇸 Maria K. Singh
An award-winning screenwriter, filmmaker, and investigative journalist based in New York, Maria is the founder of EnchantedBlue Media. Her work focuses on powerful, socially conscious stories that empower women and inspire change through thought-provoking, emotional storytelling.
🇮🇳 Promita Banerjee
An author turned filmmaker, Promita believes films are reflections of people and society. As a producer, she is committed to creating opportunities free from gender bias and transforming challenges into creative possibilities. She values platforms that allow women to showcase their talent and vision on a global stage.
🇺🇸 Maya Shtangrud
A student at Stanford University studying Economics and Film, Maya is passionate about blending visual storytelling with business insight to create impactful works of art. As the Film Programs Intern for WVN and an alumna of the 2022 Girl’s Voices Now cohort, she continues to champion meaningful, socially driven stories through film.
🇺🇸 Jazmine “Sage” Mendez
Jazmine “Sage” Mendez (they/them) is a CSULB Animation alum who believes in the power of storytelling to inspire change and spark meaningful conversations. Through their creative work, Sage aims to remind others that every voice matters and that film can be a powerful catalyst for transformation.
🇪🇬 🇩🇪 Sondos Shabayek
An Egyptian filmmaker, acting coach, Certified Intimacy Coordinator, and trained Mental Health Coordinator based in Berlin. Sondos is dedicated to creating safe, expressive spaces for artists and empowering women to tell their stories authentically through film and performance.
