FROM POCKET CHANGE TO PICTURE LOCK: BUILDING YOUR LOW/NO-BUDGET FEATURE

Marlee Archer is an independent filmmaker and owner of the creative media agency Digital Reveries Media. Her passion for storytelling and unique, cinematic eye is at the core of her filmmaking style. Her work highlights the stories of underrepresented communities and intersectional identities, and the strength and collective spirit they employ to heal and thrive despite circumstance. She leverages her talents to create visually impactful films to advance conversations around marginalized groups and the challenges they face. 

Archer has directed and served as cinematographer for several music videos, promotional videos, creative shorts, and award-winning films. She made her directorial debut for a short film with the making the OTV sponsored film, Capacity, released in 2020. She subsequently directed and co-produced a feature-length documentary entitled, Can I Askew A Question, which was released in 2021. 

Archer’s work has been lauded and screened in more than 20 film festivals around the world, with critics describing her approach to storytelling as visually stunning and deeply affecting.

Kristina Arjona (she/her, they/them) directs work emphasizing women, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC in front and behind the camera. Proudly a SAG-AFTRA accredited and certified Intimacy Coordinator through Intimacy Professionals Association. They are also a certified Mental Health Coordinator through the Association of Mental Health Coordination and is the Director of Research and Resource Development at the Association of Mental Health Coordinators. Her experiences as a queer Latina and sexual assault survivor motivate her to give a voice to underrepresented narratives. She is the daughter of immigrants from Colombia and Germany who met in the U.S. pursuing the American dream.

Kristina studied theatre at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. She graduated from Elon University with a BFA in Acting, and a BA in Theatrical Design & Production, with specialties in Directing and Scenic Design. She now owns Jump Cut Collective, a production company empowering marginalized voices. Her films have been showcased in festivals such as the Atlanta Film Festival, Sidewalk Film Festival, and Cucalorus Film Festival. Previous directing credits include Mi Casa (HBO MAX), Christmas with Jerks (Tubi), Order for Ben (premiered at OOFF '24), Backtrack, Southern Spirits, BrownTown, and Dirty Nails. They are currently in development with their second feature film, a campy, sapphic, latina-centered horror comedy, Randy Mandy, in partnership with the Atlanta Film Society.

is a fearless storyteller—both in front of and behind the camera. As an actress, producer, and filmmaker, she is dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices through bold, thought-provoking narratives.

An Atlanta-based artist, Amer-Marie began her acting career in TV and film before expanding into theatre, bringing depth and authenticity to every role. On stage, she has appeared in Yoni Stone and the Honeypot Trap (SheATL, 7 Stages Theatre) and Cry It Out (Stage Door Theatre). She currently trains in movement, devising, and Suzuki with Vernal & Sere Theater and currently in the New Play Development Directing and Producing Intensive with Working Title Playwrights.

Beyond acting, Amer-Marie discovered the power she held behind the lens. Wearing multiple hats as a Script Supervisor, 1st Assistant Director, Location Manager, and Unit Production Manager, she developed a sharp eye for storytelling from every angle. Her natural acumen for filmmaking led her to produce By The Lake, a raw and unflinching drama that delves into the relentless war of addiction, and Her Pretty Vagina, a dark comedy that sparks empathy for the often-silenced battles women face with endometriosis and HPV.

Pushing her creative boundaries further, she completed producing her first independent feature, Both Eyes Open, a gripping psychological thriller that follows a young woman’s journey to reclaim herself after surviving domestic violence.

With an unwavering commitment to stories that challenge, provoke, and inspire, Amer-Marie continues to carve her path as a dynamic force in entertainment—one bold project at a time. Follow her journey on Instagram: @amermariewoods.

Chase Commins is an Atlanta based, director, writer, filmmaker and Associate Dailies Producer at Company 3. He has worked on everything from commercial production to independent features and large studio projects. His experience in post production has been invaluable to his work as an independent filmmaker.

Paige E. Parnell (she/her) is a Jamaican-American actor, producer, and writer based in Atlanta, GA. Growing up in Jamaica, she witnessed her father perform as a theater actor in Kingston, fueling her love for the performing arts. Paige began her career on stage but transitioned to film in college, finding her true calling there. Since then, she has acted in and produced various short and feature films, including a three-part mini-series titled “Tremble.” She is currently in production on a feature film titled “Written in Blood,” and also produced and appeared in the feature film “Boxed In 2,” which is available on Peacock. Additionally, she has a role in the feature film “If I Can’t Have You,” which is currently in post-production. This year, Paige completed the first short film that she wrote, starred in, and produced called “I’m Doing Well, Thank You” (currently in post-production). She is currently writing her first feature film, which will be a cult-horror.After a decade in New York, his husband Dustin Presley and he relocated to Atlanta in 2018 where they have been making films and engaging with the local filmmaking community ever since.

Emma Warner is the Manager for the Artist Accelerator & Women at Sundance Institute Programs at the Sundance Institute. In this role, she provides artist support and development for dozens of artists annually through various fellowship and granting initiatives. In addition to her work at the Sundance Institute, she is also a film curator and participant in various film festival juries, industry panels, and pitch forums. Emma is a graduate of Barnard College of Columbia University where she studied English and film.