Cinefest 2026 Filmmakers
Graduating Cinefest Filmmakers
Michael Boudrot
Michael Boudrot is a senior at Fairfield University studying Film, Television & Media Arts, with minors in Management and Business Analytics. His passion for film began early with animated movies before expanding into his favorite genre, horror. What started as a love of watching films soon became a fascination with how they were made, evolving into a desire to tell his own stories. He has developed experience in writing, directing, and producing. Michael enjoys building the foundation of a film. Within each project, he always likes to find one challenge that would push beyond his comfort zone and encourage collaborators to do the same. His productions often center on bold, unconventional ideas, from experimental storytelling to ambitious production elements like practical effects and unique creative partnerships. His passion for film is driven by a close knit community of collaborators: His enthusiastic peers at Fairfield. Friends and family from home. Artists. Professional talent. Each collaborator lends their voices to bring each project to life. For Michael, filmmaking is about connecting with creative people and fostering collaboration, growth, and shared success.
John Donohue
John Donohue is a soon to be graduate of Fairfield University. He will be receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Film, Television, and Media Arts as well as English Creative Writing. John’s interest in film and media production began his freshman year and developed into a passion and dedication to exploring creativity and visual storytelling. Throughout his four years he worked on a wide range of projects and developed a love for lighting, sound design, and the environment of on-set production. John is enthusiastic about furthering his career as a filmmaker post-grad and looks forward to growing as a storyteller.
Christian Gerardi
Christian Gerardi is a senior majoring in Film, Television, and Media Arts (FTMA) and Business Analytics, with a minor in Mathematics. He is passionate about experimental film, period pieces, and visual storytelling that captures specific emotions, feelings, and experiences. He currently serves as president of the Music Discussion & Analysis Club. Looking ahead, he aims to become a financial advisor specializing in serving clients in creative industries, including actors, directors, musicians, and other artists.
Anthony Lupercio
Anthony Lupercio is a passionate, Chicago-based Mexican filmmaker graduating from Fairfield University's Film and Television Arts Program. Before film, he found himself enthralled by the arts, practicing his talents through bands, drawings, paintings, and photography. Now, driven by a strong sense of visual storytelling, he loves delving into themes of the human condition and self-identity in the ever-evolving world we inhabit. He strives to educate himself about the differing perspectives we all have and to present them through elegant visuals and striking narratives. He has experience at every stage of production and finds fulfillment in collaborating with fellow creatives, believing that every challenge is a chance for growth and an opportunity to learn.
Ryan Morgenstern
Ryan Morgenstern is a senior at Fairfield University, double majoring in Film, Television, and Media and Psychology, with a minor in Mathematics. Originally from Salem, Massachusetts, Ryan discovered his love of movies in high school, but it was through his time at Fairfield that he developed a deeper passion for filmmaking. As an Honors Program student and member of three honor societies spanning Psychology, Visual & Performing Arts, and the College of Arts and Sciences, Ryan has distinguished himself academically while actively working on film productions in a variety of roles. He is particularly interested in storytelling that explores human behavior and perspective, and hopes to combine his background in psychology with filmmaking to pursue directing, screenwriting, and other creative roles in the industry.
Contact: ryanmorge36@gmail.com
Cameron Nagy
Cameron Nagy is a senior at Fairfield University, pursuing a double major in Film, Television, & Media Arts and Communication, as well as a minor in French. Originally from Trumbull, Connecticut, Cameron discovered her passion for filmmaking through acting at a young age. This time spent on set sparked her interest in the creative process on the other side of the camera. Throughout her time at Fairfield, her love for filmmaking has grown, leading her to have future aspirations of being a director, producer, and actress.
Cara Rommeney
Cara Rommeney is a senior at Fairfield University, majoring in Film, Television, & Media Arts and minoring in Art History & Visual Culture and Italian Studies. She has been passionate about storytelling since she was a kid and has grown both in high school and throughout her years at Fairfield. Her time on set has helped her grow and learn many aspects of film, but she has found her passion in production design. Visual storytelling has always been very important to her, and she strives to create stories that audiences can connect with. Post-grad, Cara hopes to pursue a career in production design and continue growing as a storyteller and filmmaker. She is excited for what the future holds.
Contact: crommeney817@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-rommeney-1b2361268/
Michael Sessa
Michael Garcia Sessa is a graduating senior at Fairfield University with a major in Film, Television and Media Arts. Fueled by a fundamental love for the filmmaking process, he greatly enjoys any and all roles on a film set but his greatest passion is for writing and directing. Michael has been able to use his time at Fairfield to hone his technical and artistic sensibilities and he hopes to develop and offer a unique perspective on the world we inhabit to be able to make contributions that are as singular as possible.
Contact: m693garcia@gmail.com
Alexa Sewell
Alexa Sewell is a graduating senior at Fairfield University studying Film, Television, Media Arts, and Communications. She is honored to be the 2026 recipient of the Mary Louise Larrabee Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film, Television, & Media Arts, and an inductee into the Psi Rho Alpha VPA Honor Society. While she loves all aspects of film, Alexa has a particular passion for editing and post-production work and intends to pursue a career in this field after graduation. Her storytelling stems from personal experiences, raw emotions, and everyday inspiration. She hopes you enjoy I’ll Try.
Contact: sewelllexi2004@gmail.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alexa-sewell-054329221
Portfolio: https://sewelllexi2004.wixsite.com/alexasewellportfolio
Continuing Cinefest Filmmakers
Grace Danielewicz
Grace Danielewicz is a junior at Fairfield University, where she is pursuing a double major in Film, Television & Media Arts and English. Passionate about storytelling, she is especially drawn to creating work that fosters empathy, connection, and immersive experiences for audiences. At Fairfield, Grace continues to develop her voice as a filmmaker and writer, with a focus on meaningful, character-driven narratives. She looks forward to working on her senior capstone film and making the most of her final year in the FTMA program.
Simon Perez
Simon Perez is a freshman at Fairfield University with a minor in Film, Television, and Media Arts. His love of storytelling started at a young age where he would write books in Elementary School. His passion for storytelling shifted to a visual medium during his time in high school, making short films with his friends, improving his craft and developing his visual style. He hopes to learn more about filmmaking and share his passion with likeminded people during his time at Fairfield.
Melina Silvestro
Melina Silvestro is a junior at Fairfield University majoring in Film and French with a minor in Education. Her passion for visual storytelling combined with her technical skillset and commitment to contributing to a supportive creative community, is where she has found her voice at Fairfield University. She looks forward to creating her senior capstone film in the fall and to continue to grow alongside fellow filmmakers at Fairfield’s Film, Television and Media Arts program.
Leonardo Tarascio
Leonardo Tarascio is a Sophomore at Fairfield University with a major in Film, Television, and Media Arts and a minor in Italian Studies from New Jersey. He has a passion for storytelling and narrative filmmaking, coming from an award winning background in stop animation. With his remaining time at Fairfield University, he plans to push the limits of student filmmaking and continue to grow as an artist.