LAGFF and LMU build a close collaboration, where everyone wins!
We are happy to be collaborating with the LMU student-interns as part of our decade-long LMU-LAGFF community partnership with Prof. Katerina Zacharia’s course on Representations of Greece: Ancient and Modern.
Connor Banuelos is a junior (’27) undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University majoring in Screenwriting. He has a passion for storytelling and writing. He is always looking for the opportunity to work with others to create something special. Connor strives to be a professional writer and someday direct his own films and watch them screened in theaters.
Max Elmore is a sophomore (28’) undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Screenwriting with ambitions to write and potentially direct feature films and television programs. He is from Georgetown, Texas, a small city about thirty miles north of Austin. When not writing screenplays, Max plays music with the bass guitar as his primary instrument.
Carmen Gherardi is a senior (’26) undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University majoring in Screenwriting. She has a strong passion for filmmaking, with a particular interest in horror and mystery storytelling. Carmen has volunteered at the NALIP Latino Film Festival, has hands-on set experience being a script supervisor and production assistant, and she is currently interning at Daniel L. Paulson Productions while continuing to develop her voice as a writer.
Maxwell Granoski is a graduating senior (’26) undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University majoring in Screenwriting, with a minor in classics and archaeology. Originally from San Mateo, he hopes to work in emergency medical services after graduation, having become an EMT and rescue diver in 2024. During his free time, he enjoys riding his motorcycle, scuba diving, and flying planes.
Ariadne Lozano is a sophomore (’28) undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University majoring in Finance. She grew up playing video games with two older brothers and after graduation aims to pursue a financial career at a gaming corporation. As a first-generation student, she hopes to achieve a level of success that will allow her to help others as well as make her family proud. She hopes to use her experience with LAGFF to expand her skillsets as well as her knowledge in cross-culturalism.
Sara Ibarra Martinez is a sophomore (’28) undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in International Relations. Born in Mexico City and raised in Tijuana/San Diego, she enjoys learning about current political events around the world and the history of any country. She hopes to give more of her time to service organizations and help people in need.
Zachariah Michelena is a sophomore (’28) undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University majoring in both Political Science and in Classics & Archaeology, with minors in both Asian and Pacific Studies and in History. With a strong sense of justice for workers, he hopes to pursue a career in law and become an employment attorney. In his free time, you might find him having lunch with friends, sitting in a coffee shop, or exploring LA.
Miranda Monarco is a transfer senior (’26) undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University majoring in Art history. Miranda aspires to apply her prior experience in the fine arts and collecting industries to establish a career in art dealing.  She has recently been using her embroidery skills to create works which advocate for human rights.Â
Julia Pinto Ribeiro Sereno is a senior (’26) undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Screenwriting, with a minor in Classics & Archaeology. Born and raised in Brazil, she has always loved reading, viewing, and writing stories. She has worked on various LMU sets, finding an unexpected passion for continuity work. She hopes to work in the film industry in LA.Â
Carolina Rodriguez is a sophomore (’28) undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Finance. With a strong passion for business and finance, Carolina hopes to start her own business after working as a financial analyst. In addition to her passion for business, Carolina enjoys reading about history, being outdoors, and cooking.
Kamani Sawyer is a junior (’27) undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University majoring in Film, Television and Media Studies. Kamani is a multifaceted film creative specializing in directing, cinematography, and screenwriting, with an Associate degree in Film Directing. She is a global cinematic content creator and professional drone pilot who has produced visual storytelling for international brands across Greece, Costa Rica, and Mexico. She is also the founder of a Consumer Economics Workshop focused on financial empowerment and community wealth-building through education.
Elle Sheppard is a sophomore (‘28) undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University majoring in Film and Television Production. With a passion for storytelling and a goal of becoming a director, she continues to explore all aspects of film and media by working on student films at LMU as well as working in video editing and social media fields.
Emma Evers is a sophomore (’28) undergraduate student majoring in Film and Television Production, and minoring in Business Administration, International Documentary and Screenwriting. Emma is the on-campus coordinator of the Entertainment Business Society, outgoing Networking Chair and active member of Delta Kappa Alpha (Cinematic Society), and an employee at SFTV’s Student Production Office. When she is not volunteering on student film sets, she loves to read and write, travel, and spend time with friends and family.
Anna Vassily is a graduating senior (‘26) undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in English. With a strong affinity for literary arts and arts-driven community engagement, she is excited to work with LAGFF and learn more about the transformative power of film.Â
Jingwen Wei is a junior (’27) undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Psychology. She is passionate about film and photography, and is particularly interested in observing and capturing emotions and interpersonal interactions through art. Originally from China, she enjoys traveling and drawing inspiration from different cities and cultures.
Katerina Zacharia is a Professor of Classics at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Her research explores classical antiquity in visual and performance culture, in Greek ethnic identity formation, and cultural politics. Prof. Zacharia is an experienced dramaturge, and award-winning educator with expertise in inclusive pedagogy, and cross-cultural exchange in local and global partnerships. She produced theatrical performances and workshops for the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation in Athens (2006-present), and the Stanford Repertory Theatre (2012-18). She wrote, directed and produced the short documentary Blessings and Vows (2018) which screened at 36 film festivals and garnered nine international awards. She co-created Enthralled, Prof. Zacharia co-created Enthralled, a new conversation game for higher education, drawing on classical drama (2022). Prof. Zacharia is the recipient of several innovative teaching awards, the 2018 LMU President’s Fritz B. Burns Distinguished Teaching Award, the 2019 LAX Chamber of Commerce Eddy Award, the 2023 Society of Classical Studies for Excellence in Teaching Classics at the University level, and the LMU inaugural 2024 Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts Excellence in Teaching award. As Director of Education for the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival, she has created a vibrant student internship program since 2014, connecting academia and the film industry through education, mentorship, and hands-on experience. She launched the LMU Greek Cinema week in 2024, and is co-hosting the 1st LAGFF-doc at LMU in 2026.