Cinema #14 | 4.45pm-6pm | Regal LA Live, May 11th
Guest speakers
Carey Jones (USA)
Diana Kuanysh (Kazakhstan)
Keshet Gadish (Israel)
Mahée Merica (UK)
Roel Swierenga (Netherlands)
Carey Jones (USA)
Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Carey Jones moved to Los Angeles in 1995 and found himself working for fx legend Stan Winston. His talents can be seen in such films as Jurassic Park, Terminator 3, Galaxy Quest, and Pearl Harbor.
In 2004 he began work at KNB and has proven tob e an invaluable member of the crew. As Shop Supervisor, Carey oversees dozens of artists while managing the day to day communication with Directors, Producers, and Actors. His keen artistic eye is responsible for bringing awe inspiring imagery to camera. In 2010, he won a well earned Emmy Award for his work on the AMC series The Walking Dead.
Carey has also found himself in front of the camera, proving to be a fantastic performer and stuntman for both tv and film with key roles in Predators, This Is The End, Creepshow, The Book of Boba Fett, The Mandalorian, and Marvel’s Werewolf By Night.
He recently wrote, producer and directed his first short film, Alone, that has to date won multiple awards including a nomination for Best Director.
Diana Kuanysh (Kazakhstan)
Diana Kuanysh is an accomplished Director and Editor, revered for her unparalleled ability to breathe life into visual storytelling. With a distinguished career spanning various roles in the global film landscape, she possesses an innate talent for steering projects from conception to the masterpiece of a final cut.
Her expertise in managing the creative process has forged compelling narratives, earning accolades such as the Semi-Finalist recognition at Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival 2023, the prestigious Best Romantic Short award at IndieX Film Fest 2023, official selection at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival – HRIFF 2024, and official selection at That Film Festival 2024 for her creation of Under the Willow under garyshqa prod. in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Within the realms of 81k Productions in Houston, TX, Diana’s role as Lead Editor sees her actively engaged in refining and ensuring the highest standards of output, a testament to her dedication and prowess in the editing realm. She honed her craft and expanded her horizons, contributing her directorial, editing, and cinematography finesse to a spectrum of acclaimed projects. Notably, her creative touch graced productions such as The Last Chance, the electrifying US Masters T10 (Cricket), Destiny and Determination and Farewell to Our Home by Mitchell Miller (Music Videos), and Swallow (Short Film).
Venturing beyond borders in bustling cities like New York and Los Angeles added layers to her artistic tapestry. From the gripping Running in Paradise by Motel at Midnight to pivotal roles in Spectrophilia, Strong Black Woman, Two Suns, A Prodigal Feast, Tsunami” by Al Rocco, Saints of Stockton, and Chef at the White House, and more Diana’s dedication to crafting emotive narratives shone through in every role she undertook.
Diana’s extensive experience spans a rich tapestry of roles — PD, AD, AC, Gaffer, Cinematographer, and Editor — in projects including music videos, feature films, documentaries, and events, each showcasing her multifaceted talents and artistic acumen. Her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Filmmaking from NYFA further fortified her technical prowess and artistic sensibilities.
Keshet Gadish (Israel)
Keshet Gadish , 27 years old from Tel Aviv, Israel, is a student in her last year of studies in a film degree of the Steve Tisch School, Tel Aviv University.
Working as an assistant director in the film & TV industry of Israel, she is writer and director of 4 short films, including Self Service.
Mahée Merica (UK)
Mahée started telling stories as soon as she could talk. Her first homemade short film was shown at more than twenty festivals, prompting her to develop her craft at McGill University in Montréal, Canada.
She worked in various roles in the direction and art departments on short and independent feature films in Canada, France, and Australia, before moving to the UK to pursue her master in filmmaking at the London Film School, where she directed both fiction and documentary films.
Her graduation film, Ariane’s Baby, establishes her style and goals as a director: to take on a social realist approach to genre films and explore female experiences on screen.
She is currently developing a proof-of-concept short film for her first feature film, A Siren Song, a dark fantastique/coming-of-age exploring female friendship and internalised misogyny.
In the meantime, she also aims to direct any genre of fiction, documentary, and music videos that would allow her to experiment with different ways of telling stories. Mahée loves playing with genres’ conventions to provoke her viewers’ emotions and thoughts on issues she deems important.
Roel Swierenga (Netherlands)
Roel Swierenga is a sustainability pioneer and the founder of the Hansa Green Tour Foundation in The Netherlands, energy expert at NV NOM and parttime filmmaker and organizer of sustainability events & study trips in Northern Europe.
The short film Pushback, shot on mobile phones, was his first time entry as a filmmaker in the world of film festivals in 2021 and received multiple awards. The film was used in the European political debate to raise public awareness for the illegal pushbacks of boat refugees and mobilize help for under-aged children in UN refugee camp Moria. He decided to make a second short documentary film, now this time with Sony Alpha full frame camera’s: 48.000 Names – Deadly Borders. Again, this film was used in the European political debate about European border policy.
Inspired by the success with these 2 short documentaries, Roel Swierenga raised the bar for himself and the small crew to capture an amazing story deep in the mountains of southern Norway, Before the Oil, a story close to his heart as a sustainability pioneer and energy expert. This time he chose to film in a more cinematic style with the widescreen in mind. To emerge the viewer in a spectacular landscape that should be preserved but is under pressure because of the energy transition and choices that will have to be made.
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