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.
Rejiar Barzani is a graduating senior (’23) at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Film Production, with minors in both Business Administration, and Classics & Archaeology. Coming from a Kurdish background, Rejiar is passionate about telling stories inspired by his cultural identity. He hopes to one day work as a writer/director.
Kieran Bunikiewicz is a graduating senior (’23) at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Finance, with a minor in Computer Information. Born and raised in Los Angeles, his passions include music, writing, film, and world cuisine. He works in event production. He spent last summer DJing in Europe, and this summer hopes to explore the Mediterranean.
Cecilia Conforti is a junior undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Graphic Design with a minor in Business Administration. With a keen interest in pursuing a career in the film and music industries, she is currently developing a bilingual (Spanish/English) poster series honoring her multicultural heritage and working as a production designer for an LMU junior thesis film set.
Sara Gerbereux is a junior undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Film Production with a minor in Animation. She is interested in camerawork and pursuing a career as a director of photography. She has over 2.5 years of hands-on experience working on film projects at LMU. She also works part-time for a video production company as a project manager and on-set producer.
Gabriella Gilchriese is a sophomore undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Classics & Archaeology with a minor in Studio Arts. She has always loved the arts, esp. painting, is a hard worker with a unique creative eye. Gabriella has a deep appreciation for Ancient Greek culture, and is excited to be studying at LMU, close to home in Orange County California.
Jacob Gold is a Junior undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Film Studies with a minor in Screenwriting. With a passion for film and an aspiration for the craft, Jacob strives to learn as much as he can from the world of cinema so that he can dive into artistic works critically, as well as create projects that bear a greater insight and purpose.
Andrew Hilmes is a sophomore undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Film Production, with a minor in screenwriting. He has worked on several projects as a production designer, producer, writer, and director. He also enjoys performing, and is currently a member of an improvisational comedy team.
Nicole Huddleston is a Junior undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in screenwriting. Originally from Oahu, Hawaii, she transferred to LMU last fall after two years at the University of San Francisco. She is eager to pursue a career in children’s television writing and producing.
Michael Kibiloski is a junior undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University, Screenwriting and Recording Arts double majors. A member of the ski & snow club, and the screenwriting club, he enjoys writing poetry, playing guitar, listening to music, watching films, and cooking. Michael plans to develop feature film scripts, while working in sound production and design, and hopes to release an EP.
Yuanqing Luo is a graduating senior (’23) at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Economics. His internships in securities and technology companies with voice intelligence as the core, have given him good work experience, while allowing him to learn and explore faster. He hopes to combine his internship experience with his skillset from his major, and Prof. Zacharia’s course, so as to perform well at LAGFF.
Pierce Nakamura is a graduating senior (’23) at Loyola Marymount University, with film production and screenwriting double majors. Born and raised in Southern California, he has always been passionate about film. Having already worked two development internships, and having directed and crewed on several student productions, he is excited to bring his knowledge to LAGFF and hopes to learn more during this process.
Matthew Wilcox is graduating senior (’23) at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Film and TV Production, and has spent the last four years honing his craft as a documentarian. Matthew aspires to meet people from all over the world and share authentic true stories about unique individuals. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, skiing, and DJing.
Anna Gabriela de Mendonca is a sophmore undergraduate student at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Film Production. She is from São Paulo, Brazil and is passionate about telling stories inspired by her cultural background. Her interests include preforming , photography, film and culinary.
Brennan McCormick is a rising senior (’24) at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Theatre Arts. She was born in Boston, MA. Brennan has a wide range of experience within the acting, writing, and social media world. She loves connecting with others and bringing her innovative ideas into the spotlight and behind the scenes, and hopes to learn all she can about film, expanding her creativity.
Katerina Zacharia is Professor and Chair of Classics & Archaeology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Her research explores classical antiquity in Greek ethnic identity formation, and in cultural politics. An experienced dramaturge, as artistic associate for the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation in Athens since 2006, and long-term producing partner for the Stanford Repertory Theatre (2012-18), has co-produced numerous theatrical performances and workshops. She produced, directed and wrote the short documentary Blessings and Vows (2018), which has screened at 34 film festivals and garnered 9 international awards. As LAGFF Director of University Connections, she has created a vibrant student internship program since 2014. Prof. Zacharia is an award-winning educator and the recipient of the 2018 LMU President’s Fritz B. Burns Distinguished Teaching Award. She co-created Enthralled, a new conversation game for higher education.