Victor Hugo Duran – Director

Victor was born in Tlalnepantla, Mexico and raised in Los Angeles, California where in 2007 he graduated from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television. Where he completed several short films including Ayer, Antier and Botiando.

Victor is currently pursing his M.F.A. in Film Directing at Columbia University’s School of the Arts. Where he has completed several short film projects including Elotes and Fireworks.

In 2012 Victor directed and produced the short drama Fireworks that went on to play to wide acclaim at the Tribeca Film Festival, Los Angeles Film Film Festival, Slamdance, the New York International Latino Film Festival and is currently screening on PBS as part of the Film School Shorts series.

   Alexandra Vivas – Producer

Alexandra Vivas was born in Tabasco, Mexico. She graduated from Monterrey ́s Institute of Technology with a B.A. in Communication Sciences. During her studies, she worked at the school’s newspaper as a reporter, and received, from the same institution, awards for her writing, photography, and production of an institutional video. She also produced a short film, Caida Libre. While matriculated at Monterrey Tech, Vivas spent two semesters as an exchange student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in the School of Theater, Film and Television.

After graduation, Vivas worked at the Supreme Court of Tabasco, in its Public Relations and Social Communication department, as the producer of its television show Justicia en Casa.

She finished her third year at the MFA Film Creative Producing program of Columbia University. During this time, she produced several short films and worked as the co-producer of the MTV China show Music Check In: New York.

Vivas has worked as an intern for two of the most promising independent production companies in New York City: Killer Films and Parts and Labor. She received a grant from the Academy of Motion Pictures to work at the second. Alexandra has recently been accepted into the Producers Guild of America East Student Membership Program and is now working as the Assistant Production Coordinator of the feature film The Heart Machine.

   Ajani Jackson - Co-Writer

Ajani Jackson, a young, Black-American writer/director/producer, has always been a storyteller. He is the son of two microbiologists, one a University administrator. His passion for the written word led him to performance poetry, the University of Kansas and eventually to Columbia University’s MFA film program, where he has written, directed and produced several short films. Recently, Ajani’s work has garnered several awards including the Everest Film Development Award, the 2013 Alfred P. Sloan Short Film Grant and the Jesse Thompkins III, Screenwriting Award. Beyond his work as an artist, Ajani has always actively pursued opportunities to teach and empower those around him. In 2012, he was instrumental in the creation and implementation of a Columbia University film boot camp for New York City high school students which is now in its second year of operation. He is currently working as an intern for Cine Mosaic and Director Andrew Donsunmu while writing and developing several short and feature screenplays.

   John "J.P." Wakayama - Director of Photography

John "J.P." Wakayama Carey is a force of nature. Having received a bachelor degree cum laude in New Media Communications from Oregon State University, John left for Los Angeles to pursue a career in film. He worked for, among others, the prestigious Weinstein Company and Michaels/Goldwyn on the Paramount lot. After having produced several commercials, web videos, and a feature film, John founded the production label Wakayama Entertainment in 2006, together with his creative partners Cameron Carey and Adam Uyemura. After he moved to New York City in 2010 for his Master of Fine Arts in Film Production at Columbia University, he has worked as a cinematographer on over a hundred projects, including various projects on digital video and film that have been awarded at film festivals from New York, Los Angeles to Barcelona.