Tony is a Filipino American filmmaker based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Originally from the Washington DC metro area, his love of storytelling grew from playing with cameras as a way of visual self-expression to understanding the power it has to connect and empathize with people who are far different than him. Tony has been fortunate to work on and learn from shows such as, Criminal Minds, Young Sheldon and Barbie as a production assistant. He was accepted into the Sundance Director Core Masterclass in 2020 and created two microbudget short films during the Covid-19 pandemic. He then created a crowdfunded short film titled FilAm, which is a coming of age story about a young Filipino American boy, which sheds light on the Filipino American experience. It has had success in the festival circuit being a winner at the Hollywood Blvd Film Fest (2023), Honorable Mention at the Hollywood New Directors Festival (2023) and Quarter Finalist Winner at The Bay International Film Festival (2023). In 2024 he moved from Los Angeles to Albuquerque after becoming a Directors of America Guild Member as a 2nd 2nd Assistant Director. While continuing to work in production as an Assistant Director, he still is creating independent short films in-between jobs – honing his skills as a storyteller and his goal to become a director in the entertainment industry. His next project is titled Sundown, a story about a young caretaker watching over an elderly patient suffering from dementia. This story comes from real life experiences as Tony lost his mother in 2023 after her battle with dementia and heart failure. Sundown is currently in post production with a 2026 festival release. Tony found his voice in telling personal stories to connect with others and finds filmmaking a cathartic process to empathize with the world.
Kathleen Barth is a theatre director, writer, and independent filmmaker based in Washington, D.C. She’s directed a variety of theatrical works within and outside the Washington, D.C. area, and she’s received recognition for her work as an independent filmmaker. She wrote and directed the short film The Death of Anne Brontë, which screened at multiple festivals online and across the United States. Her next film, Sundown, which is currently in development, was written in collaboration with her dear friend, Tony Marquez. As an artist working in both theatre and film, Kathleen’s passionate about showcasing women’s voices and experiences. She also works as a teaching artist, bringing arts education to young people. She received her BFA in Theatre from George Mason University.
Emilee Reynolds (she/her) is a filmmaker with roots in Wisconsin and Minnesota, now based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her love for filmmaking grew out of her love for movies, and the way in which they opened a door to all that is possible in life. She received her BA in Studies in Cinema and Media Culture and Interdisciplinary Design at the University of Minnesota. She moved to LA to pursue a career in the film industry, and learned set protocols working as a Production Assistant and Assistant Director. She then moved to Albuquerque to continue her film career and now works as an Office Assistant learning the art of producing. She is a lover of fantasy, horror, and romance. Her vision as a director is one of outcasts, everyday witches and unceasing love. She pulls inspiration from her loved ones, and aims to tell stories that might help them understand themselves and the world around them a little better.
Martie Faye is a Filipino-born singer and New England-raised songwriter. Born in Naga City, Philippines, and raised on karaoke and school choirs, she draws from nearly two decades of vocal training across Choral, Jazz, and Pop styles. Self-taught on guitar, piano, and ukulele, her sweet storytelling vocals pack a punch. Blending influences from poets like Dickinson and Frost with artists such as Joni Mitchell and Lorde, Faye is an introspective lyricist with a focus on folk-pop music. After undergoing a music production workshop with Apple Music in 2021, she continues to evolve as a performer and producer. Her recent EP “Anniversary” explores themes of resilience through grief and healing after loss.
Andy, a son of two immigrants, celebrates his rich heritage as a blend of Vietnamese and Chinese roots. Growing up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he embarked on a quest for self-expression, exploring diverse creative pursuits in search of his true calling.
It wasn’t until he stumbled upon filmmaking that Andy discovered his passion. Cinematography, in particular, became his canvas for visual storytelling, allowing him to craft narratives that resonate deeply with audiences.
Driven by a desire to bring people together, Andy found solace and purpose in independent filmmaking. Through his craft, he cultivated a vibrant community and platform, empowering him to find his voice as a storyteller. His films serve as a reflection of his upbringing and explore the nuances of his identity as a first-generation Asian American.
Drawing inspiration from his multicultural background, Andy’s work delves into the complexities of human experience, weaving together threads of tradition and modernity. With each frame, he seeks to foster connection and understanding, bridging divides and celebrating the universal language of cinema.
As he continues on his cinematic journey, Andy remains committed to amplifying diverse voices and shedding light on untold stories, forging a path that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Zach has been an editor for 14 years, his career has taken him from DC to New York to Los Angeles cutting everything from trailers and social media, to both scripted and unscripted TV/Film. He recently finished cutting his 4th indie feature film. Sundown will be his 21st short, and his second time collaborating with director Tony Marquez.
Zach and Tony’s previous collaboration was on the short film, FilAm, which screened at over 20+ film festivals including – Awesome Con Film Festival, Studio City Film Festival, Cine Asian Films and Shorted Films to name a few!
REN HANAMI (she/her) is an award-winning actress, writer, and filmmaker who brings her
“Aloha Spirit” to everything she does. Currently, Hanámi can be seen in the Kevin Bacon series,
“The Bondsman,” on Amazon Prime. She stars as the titular role of Lola in the Special Emmy®
Award-winning short, “LOLA,” played Mavis in Disney’s “Bunk’d,” Director Lee in “Star Trek
Picard,” and voiced the roles of Director Melanie in “Barbie and Teresa: A Recipe For
Friendship,” on Netflix, Adult Sally in Dreamworks Animation’s “Orion and the Dark,” and
Wakako in AAA game “Cyberpunk 2077,” to name a few of her lengthy credits. Hanámi was
recently back on stage in the world premiere of “Kairos” at East West Players. She is an Asian
Hall of Fame Inductee, and serves as National Chair of the SAG-AFTRA APA Media
Committee. | @renhanami | ren@renworldinc.com | Represented by Clear Talent Agency
Mae Claire is a Filipino-American actor and voice actor born in Pangasinan, Philippines. She is best known for her leading role in the film “The Thursday Night Club” (2022) featuring Gloria Gaynor as Ava and Riot Game’s “Masters Madrid” (2024) as Pacific. She has also been awarded Best Supporting Actress at the Caorle Film Festival 2019 in Italy with a short film she wrote and produced, “The Best Way to Murder”.
Mae is a lifelong artist, performer, and entertainer with over 20 years of experience in multiple fields such as singing, playing instruments, streaming, cosplaying, modeling, and more. Mae is also bilingual in Tagalog & English and a local hire in NY.
Follow the journey of this eclectic actress as she takes on new and exciting projects.
Kwanza Nicole Gooden is a Caribbean American writer-director from the DMV, based in Los Angeles. She is called to share nuanced, evocative, and thought-provoking stories through narrative and documentary filmmaking.
She has spent the last decade building a vast catalog of work as a multi-hyphenate creator, including directing, producing, and editing credits at Netflix, Amazon Prime, BET Networks, Black Love Inc/Confluential Films, Merry Jane Media, BuzzFeed, USA Today and more.
In 2018, she was awarded Best Director at the Oscar-Qualifying Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival for her short film Token. Token was also awarded Best Drama Short at the Windy City Film Festival and was a semifinalist at Los Angeles Cinefest.
In 2022, she founded her own production company – GOODENTERTAINMENT, LLC, where she produces and supports impactful and socially aware work that amplifies underrepresented voices.