The DIRECTOR

Emmai Alaquiva, once homeless is now a four-time Emmy Award-winning film director for Roc Nation, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Donkie Hodey, CBS, The ROOTS and more. His work has been featured nationally on Good Morning America, VIBE, Forbes and The New York Times for manufacturing the future of cinematic art across the multiverse of purposful media. “The sky is not the limit,” says Alaquiva who’s dynamic body of work has been recognized by President Barack Obama. Today, he is one of the most distinguished trailblazers in the creative arts industry. Full Bio Here.

Brenda Gilbert is the Co-Founder & President of BRON, a company she co-founded with husband Aaron L. Gilbert in 2010. The BC-based parent company BRON Media Corp. has global divisions which include BRON Studios, BRON Creative, BRON Animation, BRON Releasing, BRON Digital, BRON Life, and an affiliate media fund, BRON Ventures. Brenda previously served as President of BRON Animation, where she produced and recently delivered the original animated film The Willoughbys to Netflix. Currently, her focus is on BRON Life, the company’s non-scripted division, where she’s passionate about giving a voice to those who need one.

Janis Burley Wilson has been an arts leader for almost two decades in Pittsburgh and beyond. Burley Wilson launched the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival (PIJF) in 2011 and is one of the few women in a curatorial and directorial role in jazz. In addition to leading as President, she is the Artistic Director of the AWAACC. She is most excited about the permanent exhibition, August Wilson: The Writer’s Landscape that opened in 2022. A shrewd arts administrator, under her leadership, the August Wilson African American Cultural Center supports a wide landscape of artists from around the world that foster art rooting in the african diaspora. The organization is bound for a bright and sustainable future.

Alana Yzola-Daly graduated from University of Maryland in 2014, and has a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. She has worked as an Editorial Producer and On-Air Anchor with Complex Networks, a video producer and editor with National Geographic, and as a freelance host for BBC World News’ The Travel Show. Alana has also worked as a senior video producer with Insider, with a focus on food, travel, entertainment and culture stories. At Insider, she developed hundreds of videos for their social media channels and website, totaling hundreds of millions of views. Yzola has also acted as the showrunner for two successful international food and travel series for Facebook

Michelle A. Daniel is an award-winning executive producer and screenwriter with over 15 years of experience in independent film and digital storytelling. As the creator of the ShowRunHer brand, she has mentored aspiring filmmakers while producing over 250 pieces of content, including shorts, series, and documentaries. Her work has been showcased at renowned festivals like ABFF and BronzeLens, cementing her reputation as a visionary in the industry. Previously, Michelle served as the Director of Video at TV One’s iOne Digital, where she oversaw content production for major networks and collaborated with brands such as AT&T, Ford, and Wells Fargo.

Currently, Michelle is the Executive Producer on the short films Announcements and In Five Minutes.  Michelle is a proud mother to two sets of twins and a grandmother, gracefully balancing the joys of family life with her passion for creativity.