Award Winning Filmmakers on FestFlix.tv

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With a distinct interest in belief systems, Buddhist philosophy, and the uncanny, Gary is an award-winning New Zealand filmmaker who loves creating nightmares and dreamscapes to provoke and entertain; scary, cerebral horror films that explore the modern human condition. 

Gary jumped in at the deep end - writing, directing, shooting, producing and editing the horror-comedy feature FLATMATES WANTED which, despite having no budget, obtained NZ-wide DVD release via Vendetta Films.

He has developed his original horror feature script PSYCHOMANTEUM with UK and NZ producers, and was represented by Atchity Entertainment International for his horror-thriller feature script IN THE MOONLIGHT prior to the project receiving NZ Film Commission Early Development Funding. 

Gary has been short-listed for numerous NZFC funding schemes, and his short films and feature screenplays have taken part in and won accolades at festivals and competitions around the world. 

SECOND SKIN was a Top 10 Finalist in the 2020 Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition out of 765 entries, and COULROPHOBIA won Best Feature Script at the 2020 Independent Horror Movie Awards. Gary's award-winning short BE QUIET played at Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas all across the USA as the preshow for Hollywood horror hit A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE.  

Gary's inspired feature horror slate is attracting exciting name attachments - including a current Hollywood horror icon wanting to come to New Zealand to play the lead in Gary's terrifying psychological horror film, PSYCHOMANTEUM.'

Born in Vero Beach, Florida, Gregory is a self – proclaimed “Military Brat”. Having spent a great deal of his formative years on Air Force bases oversees, he began to see the world, people, and stories around him with his own unique perspective. A perspective in which the most compelling narratives lie not in the triumph of the Super Hero but in the invincibility of the Human Spirit.

A writer, poet, chef, entrepreneur and dotting “Girl Dad”, Gregory brought his unparalleled creativity and vision to Atlanta in 2016 determined to capture the lifelong dream of being a filmmaker. Finally, at the age of 42, he released his first short film. “Don’t Go Home She Knows” – 2017.

Now, he is back under the banner of his own content and development house, John Crow Creative, with a proof of concept short for his groundbreaking, first, feature film, “The Duppy Man’s Walk”. An incredible southern folklore supernatural thriller steeped deeply in the occult mythology of the rural black south.

Julie Herlocker grew up in the midwest loving movies and tv, greatly influencedby her father’s passion for classic westerns and thrillers with a sense of humor. She made her way to Los Angeles, and learned the craft of filmmaking on set and in post.

Prior to directing, Herlocker was a Post Producer in episodic television. She learned the craft of visual storytelling spending countess hours in cutting rooms, working closely with showrunners including Executive Producers Mark Gordon,

Steven Spielberg, Aaron Sorkin, Jim Kouf and David Greenwalt.

While a Producer on NBC's Grimm, Herlocker made her episodic directing debut in the show's final season. Soon after, she "re- directed" her career from post to directing.

A graduate of the DGA’s DDI Mentorship Program, Herlocker was selected for the inaugural 2024 Alliance of Women Directors Rising Director Fellowship for feature film directors. She is currently a director in the Paramount Global

Directing Initiative.

Herlocker was recently brought on to direct "Unbridled Courage", a female led western set in 1899 Texas. Photography is expected to begin in September 2025.

In addition to directing, she is developing multiple projects with her production company Shadow Art Entertainment.

Julie Herlocker lives in Los Angeles, CA, where she and her husband are finishing up raising their four kids with the help of their Boston Terrier, Yogi.

Wesley Gondim, born in 1977 in Fortaleza, Ceará, is a Brazilian director and screenwriter. His portfolio includes medium-length and short films that explore both fiction and documentary, and his works have been recognized with numerous awards and showcased at prestigious festivals both in Brazil and internationally.

In 2022, Gondim made his debut in feature-length format with the documentary "Afeminadas" during the 55th Brasília Brazilian Cinema Festival and had its international premiere at Europe's largest LGBTIQ+ film festival, the BFI Flare: London Film Festival.

Currently, in 2023, the director is in Brasília, where he is finalizing the filming of his next project, a psychological horror fiction film titled "Cáustico."

In addition to his activities as a director and screenwriter, Gondim serves as the artistic director of the Fantastic International Film Festival of Ceará - Sinistro Fest, solidifying his contribution to the national film scene and his dedication to promoting fantastic cinema.

Christy Lee Hughes is a first generation college graduate from Albany, New York. Christy brings vulnerability and authenticity to her characters and has a strong passion for stories championing the underdog and fighting for justice. She was cast in a role opposite Melissa Leo in the Sundance Film Festival selection, Predisposed. She was cast opposite Nora Dunn in an original fully improvised comedy pilot. A writer on CBS Comedy Showcase, she felt inspired to create original content and characters. For several years, she studied and performed improv at The Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade. She was cast in the lead role playing Jennifer Lawrence in the world premiere of the original play, I'm Jennifer Mother Fcking Lawrence. During the pandemic, Christy adapted two plays, Guardian and Asking for it. She flipped the gender of both lead characters and adapted the plays into films. Christy has earned several Best Actress and Best Comedy Awards. She resides in Los Angeles and is focused on creating projects with the intention of changing the landscape of film and television and impacting positive social change. 

Born in the heart of New Orleans, where storytelling is a way of life. I was\ always drawn to film. One of my first cinematic experiences was Raidersof the Lost Ark. My mother tried to cover my eyes during the scary parts...I just pushed her hand away. I lived inside these stories and discovered the magic of movie-making.

Fast forward to 2005, immersed in University of New Orleans's Acting program and hand picked out of a crowd to be Sean Penn’s stand-in & double. For months, I observed Oscar winning cast and crew members upclose. It was the ultimate workshop in how film worked. Later on, I

attended UCLA TFT’s Acting for the Camera program where my acting chops were validated, and worked in development for the legendary Mike Medavoy at Phoenix Pictures.

Today, I live in Georgia, taking my film career into my own hands. Daddy is the result of that, for which I am very proud.

Raymond Boland is an Atlanta based Filmmaker. He grew up in Atlanta and went to the University of Georgia for undergrad. Afterward, he spent two years in Los Angeles getting his MFA in producing from UCLA. After graduating from UCLA, he returned to Atlanta and began work as the showrunners' assistant for The Duffer Brothers on Season 4 of Stranger Things. Raymond has been making films and writing stories since he was a kid, and he continues to follow his passion and love for movies today.

George Coley is a writer / director based in London, UK. He has a penchant for horror, sci-fi, and fantasy stories, grounded in realistic character drama.

George also works in the games industry—directing animated trailers and live-action commercials for the likes of Dune, Marvel, and A Quiet Place.

In 2023, George won the British Horror Award. In 2025, he was selected for Directors UK Inspire, a mentorship programme for promising emerging directors.  

Olia is an imaginative and passionate storyteller whose roots began in Siberia during the chaotic reign of the USSR. In the 90s - when political tension and uncertainty loomed overhead, Olia found salvation in fantasy as a way to escape the world around her. When her psychic grandmother introduced her to Slavic folklore at the age of eight, she instantly fell in love with the art of storytelling. She began to develop her own tales to satisfy her creativity. Inspired by Soviet Propaganda that brainwashed millions and Slavic fairy-tales that expose our deepest fears and beliefs, Olia has created impactful stories that provoked emotions and tapped into the human psyche.

Olia majored in Communication Studies, with a minor in Mandarin Chinese at KSTU in Russia. A year after graduation, Olia traveled westwards to Hollywood, where she enrolled in USC's MFA program with a focus in Film and TV Production. Olia later produced a feature film, "Baby Doll and directed a feature thriller "Snowbound" that was completed within 9 months and screened at the Marche Du Film during the 70th Annual Cannes Film Festival.

Olia also created several immersive theatrical shows which received recognition in the art community. Today she continues her journey as a filmmaker and content creator with a strong leadership mentality. She uses her childhood experiences, cultural knowledge, and insight into human psychology to create stories that will live on through the ages.

The great-great niece of A.B. Guthrie Jr. (Shane, The Big Sky), Greta grew up in a family that cherished great storytelling, and continues on that legacy in her work. She's spent her career balancing a passion for film with a love of music and playing odd instruments, yet remains increasingly resentful she can't whistle. She's currently NYC-based working in production for NBC while pursuing screenwriting.

Greta and Jake most recently collaborated on "Overlook" a short film they co-directed starring Jared Gilman (Moonrise Kingdom, Paterson), which premiered in March of 2022 at the Garden State Film Festival.

Jake is an NYC-based filmmaker, movie poster lover, and film photographer currently working in production for NBC. As the son of an English teacher, he's loved writing his entire life, dating back to co-writing his first novel during 4th-grade recess (I promise it's not as sad as it sounds). In his Freshman year of college, he was fortunate enough to attend Sundance through his school’s Film Club, where he met Greta. The two led the trip the following year and have been collaborating on creative endeavors ever since.

When he's not writing you can probably find him at the Downtown Brooklyn Alamo Drafthouse (a 25-minute walk from his apartment -- incredibly dangerous).

David E. Tolchinsky's work has been seen at such venues as Sundance, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Kennedy Center, and distributed in theatres, on DVD, on iTunes/Amazon Prime, and on the NYTimes Op Docs platform. His film credits include Creature Companion (producer, Special Mention, International Jury, Oberhausen); Cassandra (writer/director/composer), Fast Talk (producer), Girl (associate producer/screenwriter, from Sony, starring Selma Blair and Tara Reid), The Personal Life of Mr. Phelps (producer/writer/director/composer, premiered at Sundance), St. Catherine’s Wedding Ring (co-producer/co-director/composer, premiered at Sundance), and most recently Debra Tolchinsky's short documentary, Contaminated Memories (co-producer/composer, as part of the NYTimes Op Docs platform).

He is currently editing his horror short, Orpa (an adaptation of Orpheus), working on the feature version of Cassandra, developing a TV series about Wilhelm Reich, and co-producing/scoring Debra Tolchinsky feature documentary, True Memories and Other Falsehoods (in process).

He was co-ranked no. 7 on New City's Film 50 2017: Chicago Screen Gems and was recently chosen for their hall of fame. He is the founder/co-director of Northwestern University’s MFA program in writing for the screen+stage and attended Yale (BA, musical composition/video) and USC School of Cinematic Arts (MFA, film production). He was the founding director of Northwestern's Pritzker Pucker Studio Lab for the Promotion of Mental Health via Cinematic Arts and is currently the Dean of the Media School at Indiana University Bloomington. More at https://davidetolchinsky.com/