Cinefest 2024 Filmmakers
Graduating Cinefest Filmmakers
Elise Allum
Elise has a double major in Film and Environmental Studies and a minor in Sociology. If she could split her days between hiking with a camera, being on set, and editing in a dark room, she would. Almost every part of filmmaking, whether invigorating or mundane, excites her. She loves to cook and try new foods, enjoys listening to others and traveling to new places. She looks forward to telling her stories through film and just as importantly, helping others tell theirs.
Contact: eliseallum02@gmail.com
John Bizub
Bio coming soon.
Abigail Byrne
Abigail Byrne is a Senior Film, Television, and Media major, as well as an Italian Studies minor at Fairfield University. From Boston, Massachusetts, Abigail has had a strong passion for filmmaking since she was a child, which has only grown fonder after her past four years as a film student. She is eager to pursue screenwriting and directing in the future and hopes to one day continue her film career in New York City and Italy.
Pedro Garcia
Pedro Shyne Garcia is a graduating senior at Fairfield University with a double major in Marketing and Film, TV, and Media Arts. A first-generation college student hailing from New Britain, Connecticut, Pedro has always had passion for creativity. Throughout his time at Fairfield, Pedro has participated in various roles in multiple productions, equipping himself with valuable skills and experience in filmmaking. Pedro has also been involved in many clubs and organizations at Fairfield University, including WVOF Radio, Fairfield Admissions, FUSA, Residence Life, and Student Engagement. Additionally, he has also gained experience in the entertainment field through internships at major companies such as NBCUniversal, where he served as a Digital Marketing Intern. Looking into the future, Pedro is pursuing a career in the entertainment world, with hopes to one day make a name for himself as a director, screenwriter, and producer.
Emma Jardin
Emma Jardin is currently a senior at Fairfield University with a double major in Film, Television, and Media, and English: Creative Writing, and double minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality, and Black Studies. She is a published poet who has had a passion for writing since the third grade.This year she gained a love for production design, working on projects in NYC including a music video for the band Dogpark and an NYU thesis film. She hopes to write more scripts and stories in the future and plans to publish a short story fiction or poetry book within the coming years.
Brady Hanney
Brady Hanney is a Senior FTM major from Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Brady has found a way to apply the spark of creativity he’s had since he was a kid. He was written scripts and stories, and will continue to write well after his career at Fairfield University. Brady is proud of the work he has done at Fairfield, and will be writing scripts, planning storyboards, and creating look-books for all of his future projects in media, no matter where it ends up taking him.
Jack McGlinchy
Jack McGlinchy is a senior from New Jersey graduating this year with degrees in Film, Television, & Media Arts and Finance from Fairfield University. He enjoys being behind the camera and hopes to begin working in film or television production post graduation. Jack has produced multiple SAG-approved films and thinks Grown-Ups 2 is wildly underrated.
Emily Merola
Emily Merola is a senior FTMA major. She has a passion for writing and directing and hopes to continue writing in the future. This year Emily was one of two recipients of the Mary Louise Larrabee Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film, Television, and Media Arts. Her favorite actor is Vincent Price and her two favorite films are Antichrist directed by Lars Von Trier, and Stepbrothers, like the one with Will Ferrell.
Ryan Sodora
Ryan Sodora is a senior film major from New Jersey. He has always had a passion for writing and decided to pursue film in his senior year. Since then, he has worked on a number of student films and has started to build an interest for on set work and editing. His favorite movies are Mad Max: Fury Road, Before Sunrise, and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.
Taylor Soyland
Taylor is a Senior Film, Television and Media Arts Major and recent Phi Beta Kappa inductee from Fairfield, CT. He is especially interested in writing, editing, and performance, but enjoys delving into all aspects of the art of filmmaking. Coming from a background in theater, Taylor's early writing garnered the attention of Broadway professionals at the age of thirteen. Since then, Taylor has gone on to write numerous scripts with comedy being his favorite genre. Currently, with the help of the Wyler family, Taylor is working on a World War II documentary about Hollywood director William Wyler and his wife, Margaret Tallichet.
Instagram: @soyboyproduction
Paolo Valencia
Paolo Valencia is a senior at Fairfield University with a major in Film, Television, & Media Arts as well as a minor in Psychology. Paolo is from Farmingdale in Long Island, New York and is also the 2024 recipient of the Mary Louise Larrabee Award for Outstanding Achievement in FIlm, Television, and Media Arts. He loves all aspects of filmmaking and has a strong interest in screenwriting and has a lot of experience as a cinematographer. He hopes to pursue both fields post graduation in the filmmaking industry while continuing to create films with his friends in the film program. He is very excited to see Shadow the Hedgehog make his debut live action appearance on the big screen this December in “Sonic The Hedgehog 3.”
Contact: paolov13@gmail.com
Continuing Cinefest Filmmakers
Kevin Collazo
Kevin Collazo is a Junior FTMA major and Marketing minor from Stratford Connecticut. Kevin is passionate about storytelling and has a particular interest in directing, cinematography, and writing. Through his three years of study, Kevin has worked on and produced over 20 different student films, allowing him to acquire numerous skills through his hands-on approach to filmmaking. Along with his love of video production, Kevin has hosted the JJK! radio show on the university's WVOF 88.5.
Contact Info: 203-800-1988 kevin.collazo@student.fairfield.edu
Samuel Enriquez
Samuel Enriquez is an FTMA major and first-year student at Fairfield University from Amherst, New Hampshire. Samuel has a passion for exploring his creative side whether it is through storytelling in film or acting on stage and in front of the camera. Samuel hopes that during his next few years at Fairfield and through the film department he will be able to hone in on his craft to create fresh ideas and compelling narratives. Samuel’s favorite movies include: Nope directed by Jordan Peele, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off directed by John Hughes, and A Fish Called Wanda directed by Charles Crichton.
Contact: samuelkenriquez@gmail.com
Jacen Januseski
Jacen Januseski is a Junior film major from New Jersey. Starting from a young age, he has had a deep passion for post-production and now has much interest in directing, acting, and editing. He used to have a Youtube channel where he learned to be comfortable in front of a camera and edit videos together efficiently so his audience would always have something to enjoy. These skills have allowed him to immediately grasp the filmmaking process and significantly boosted his interest in the film industry. He hopes to work under a major production company in the future and eventually make a name for himself.
Theo Laflamme
Theo Laflamme, a dedicated Junior pursuing a Film, Television, and Media Arts (FTMA) major, is driven by an insatiable desire to create. With a deep passion for filmmaking, photography, and graphic design, Theo blends artistic vision with technical expertise to craft compelling narratives and striking visuals. His innovative approach and keen eye for detail enable him to produce work that not only engages but also inspires.
John Anthony Rivadeneira
John Anthony Rivadeneira is a Junior FTMA major from Stratford Connecticut. Rooted in his upbringing in a loving Hispanic household, with Ecuadorian roots, John Anthony’s cultural and personal background helps his creative endeavors. John Anthony is passionate about making films that address important societal issues, but he's also a huge fan of all kinds of movies, from horror to action. He dreams of putting his own spin on these genres in the future.
Justin Sabogal
Justin Sabogal is a Junior FTMA and Business Analytics Double Major with a Minor in Marketing from East Windsor, NJ. He has a passion for both narrative and documentary filmmaking, diving into both realms during his time at Fairfield University.
Contact:
Alexa Sewell
Alexa Sewell is a sophomore at Fairfield University with a major in Film, Television, & Media Arts and a minor in Communications. While Alexa loves all aspects of filmmaking, she seems to gravitate most towards editing. She hopes to gain more experience during her time at Fairfield that she can then utilize after she graduates.