APRIL XIONG
Writer and Director
April is a Chinese-American writer and director based in New York, known for crafting emotionally resonant stories that connect cultures and amplify underrepresented voices. Sora marks her debut as a narrative feature writer and director, supported by a 2022 NYSCA grant and selected as one of just four fiction features to receive post-production funding through the 2022 NYC Women’s Fund. In 2022, April was a top 10 finalist for the coveted PictureStart x Ghetto Film School Discover Your Voice fellowship, reflecting her distinct cinematic vision. She is an active member of Filmshop, a nonprofit collective of independent filmmakers, where she continues to refine her craft. Her short film Drive screened at the 2018 NYC Poetry Festival, and was featured on Shondaland.com through the Visible Poetry Project. April directed the short film Superhero Betty for the inaugural Women’s Weekend Film Challenge in NYC. Previously, she wrote and directed the short film Aisha, which was a finalist at the 2015 Fusion Film Festival. A graduate of the inaugural class of NYU Abu Dhabi, representing 49 countries, she is devoted to creating art in order to inspire people, and bring them together, through diverse cultures, languages, and stories.
"A Cinematic Self-Portrait": https://vimeo.com/665906686
CLAUDIA MURDOCH
Producer
A co-founder of Cup of Joe Film, Claudia has always been particularly interested in working with directors from diverse backgrounds, highlighting stories from a variety of cultures, and celebrating inclusiveness. Claudia has produced Peter Azen's debut feature Cacaya (Montreal World Film Festival; Festival Ecrã Rio de Janeiro) and was an executive producer of Imitation Girl, a sci-fi feature by Natasha Kermani (Cinequest, Dances With Films, Fright Fest London). Claudia also led production on award-winning shorts such as Time is the Longest Distance by Bryan Powers and The Invaders by Mateo Marquez, with screenings at prestigious festivals including the BFI London Film Festival, Fantasia, March on Washington, and NewFest NY. Her acclaimed projects have screened at over 55 international film festivals around the world. She was selected for The Gotham’s Women Owning It Pitch-Deck Accountability Challenge in 2023 and received the 2025 Runner-Up NYWIFT Ravenal Foundation Grant. Claudia holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing (Summa Cum Laude) from Pace University, with a concentration in Advertising and Promotion, and a minor in Photography. Her business experience and marketing education provide the foundation for her approach to producing and creative development. In her role as Manager of Human Resources at the Jacob Burns Film Center, she works at the intersection of art, education, and business administration.
TINE JAKOBSEN
Cinegrapher
Tine is a highly versatile cinematographer based in New York City known for their collaborative approach and calm energy. They are just as comfortable leading a full crew on a large set as they are in improvisational settings with smaller crews. With any project, they are committed to putting the story first and always working to foster a safe and harmonious environment on set. Among others, Tine’s narrative work has screened on HBO, and at BAM, Palm Springs Shortfest, NoBudge, Outfest, as well as New Orleans Film Festival. The documentary Takeover, which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival was shortlisted for the Oscars. Other doc and commercial clients include Google, Nike, Spotify, ACLU, Food Network and more. Tine is multilingual and holds degrees in both Journalism from Oslo Metropolitan University and in Film Production with a concentration in Cinematography from CUNY Brooklyn College. With over a decade of experience and a desire for adventure and continued growth, they are excited to take on projects both big and small that will bring them to new places or offer new wisdom.
LEONHARD LIERZER
Editor
Leon is a video and film editor with more than 15 years of experience in commercial, documentary, and narrative editing. Originally from German and now living in New York, he has worked on international projects in the UK, Indonesia, and Morocco. He has edited award-winning documentaries for Arte, ARD, and ZDF, and worked on narrative features and short films which screened at festivals worldwide, including CPH:DOX Copenhagen, HOF International Film Festival, Chennai International, Palm Springs International Film Festival, and Zürich Filmfest, and celebrated theatrical releases as well as tv debuts in Germany, Japan, France, Switzerland, and South Korea. Leonard was the lead editor on the hybrid documentary feature Easy Love, which premiered as the opening film at Berlinale 2019 in the Perspektive Deutsches Kino section. He studied documentary and feature film editing at the International Film School Cologne 2005-2006 under Eric Zumbrunnen, Andrew Bird, and Barbara Hennings.
FRANK LOPEZ
Sound Recordist, Editor, Mixer, and Post-Production Sound Supervisor
Frank is an award-winning journalist and sound engineer who has worked at some of the biggest recording studios in New York, including Electric Lady, collaborating with clients such as Sonic Youth, The Mars Volta, and Kings of Leon. Frank founded F + K media in Australia with Kaitlyn Sawrey, also an award-winning journalist. He is the head writer and senior producer of the Spotify documentary series Who is Daniel Johns?, which was the #1 podcast in Australia, #3 in Canada, #11 in the U.K. and #23 in the USA. He also was the head writer and original composer of the University of Technology Sydney’s series The Last Outlaws and the senior producer of Threads with Veronica Milsom for ABC Audio Studios. Frank has created original podcast score for Pineapple Street Media/Netflix, Gimlet Media, Impact Studios, and the Paul Ramsay Foundation. He has mic’d everyone from Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson to Emily Ratajkowski, recording sound for film, television, podcasts and ad spots. Frank mixed live orchestras and broadcasts as Head Engineer for Symphony Space in Manhattan.
XIREN WANG
Sound Designer and Foley Artist
Xiren is a Chinese-born Canadian multidisciplinary sonic storyteller, sound designer, composer, and foley artist, whose work bridges classical training, electronic influences, and bold sonic experimentation. With classical training in piano, violin, and composition under world-class mentors from Tianjin Conservatory, Conservatoire de Paris, Queen’s University, and Juilliard, her sound journey began on stage and evolved into cinema, theater, DJ-ing, and immersive media. A NYFA-trained actress and 2025 Sundance Audio Storytelling Cohort fellow, Xiren builds sonic resonance with the nuances of a performer and the precision of a composer. Having worked alongside Academy Award–winning foley artists at Skywalker Sound, she has honed a deep, intuitive approach to sonic storytelling shaping elements not just for realism, but for emotional impact. Her work amplifies the unspoken, giving texture to silence and creating atmosphere with cinematic intention. Her work has been featured in The Bachelorette, Temptation Island, award-winning films, and boundary-pushing theater. designing for screen or stage.
JONATHAN BINGHAM
Composer
Composer Jonathan Bingham has been recognized for his use of electronic and acoustic instrumentation. Holding degrees in composition from Howard University and New York University, Jonathan studied with Anthony Randolph and Justin Delio Joio respectively. He has created the score for music for film and advertisements, and was commissioned to write for numerous ensembles. Jonathan received the Vincent C. LaGuardia Award in composition leading to a residency with the Arapahoe Philharmonic in 2016. Subsequently, he premiered five orchestral works and obtained a residency with the Boulder Symphony. Jonathan is a winner of the Emerging Black Composer Project, and he has joined the faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in the Technology and Applied Composition department. His latest project is Cool Story, a record label he has founded to research scores and produce recordings of lesser-known music.
https://www.jonathanbingham.xyz
LOU DAUMAS
Colorist
Originally from the South of France, Lou Daumas has worked on music videos, interviews, commercials, as well as narrative and documentary shorts, features, and series in the U.S. and France for the past seven years. Lou's client roster includes Shiseido, Hugo Boss, Lacoste, Moschino, Disney+, HBO, Amazon, Nike, Canon, Univision, and AccuWeather. The projects she collaborated on screened at such prestigious festivals, such as Tribeca Film Festival, Cinequest Film & VR Festival, and Festival de Cannes.
THE CAST
VIVECA CHOW
Lead Actress - 'Maria Elena'
Viveca was the first born and raised Hong Konger to make a debut in a musical on Broadway. She appeared in the 2017 revival of Miss Saigon, and performed at the 71st Annual Tony Awards. Viveca played the role of Mary-Anne in the feature film The Country Club and has made her Netflix debut in Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (directed by Joe Berlinger.). Her selected on-camera work includes Macy’s, BMW, Tiffany & Co., Buzzfeed, Visa, Ferragamo, Bayer, and more. Viveca joined the 2022 Disney Television Discovers Talent Showcase, an ongoing effort by the Disney/ABC Domestic Television Group to discover and develop select artists from coast to coast, who perform for notable casting directors, talent agents, managers, and executive industry professionals. Showcase artists are paired with executives from ABC Entertainment Casting and other creative departments for the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships and receive continued support throughout their experience through on-camera workshops, and other program resources. Most recently, Viveca has appeared as a guest star in the role of “Grace” in FX’s Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette by Executive Producer Ryan Murphy.
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Tenzing Kalden
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Jenny Lin
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Jacqueline Nwabueze
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Anthony Goss
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Mingjie Li
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Carl Ellis Grant
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Takumi Mitobe
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Rob Chen
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Jason Lee