guest Speakers at disc 2025

WRITER, DIRECTOR & FOUNDER OF THE REGAN FILM INSTITUTE

Regan Humphrey is a writer, director, performer, psychologist, and arts educator.

In 2022, she launched the Regan Film Institute (RFI), an online, international screenwriting conservatory for emergent storytellers. RFI, in some ways, is an expansion of Regan's work as a film critic. In 2020, she invented of the REFscore, the first and only scoring system to rate films on craft and social justice. Regan was hardly the first to notice that too often, films lauded as “good movies” contributed, in substantial ways, to the systemic oppression of marginalized people. Working to create a healthier and more inclusive film industry, she invented the score to highlight cinematic disparity.

Combining her strengths as an interdisciplinary scholar, human psychologist, film critic, and writing professor, she founded RFI to help guide the next generation of cinematic storytellers. Better films for all is at the heart of her teaching practice.

Regan is a multi-hyphenate creative. Her artistry spans form and genre, and as a writer, she feels propelled to create lasting change through her work by creating stories that include and challenge us, offer healing, and open the way for connection with each other and our innermost selves. She helps others do the same. Her art is her activism.

Regan’s publications include numerous books, film reviews, interviews, personal essays, and articles.

SCREENWRITER

Screenwriter Misan Sagay, won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture for Fox Searchlight’s critical box office hit, BELLE. Also nominated for a Humanitas Prize, Sagay’s screenplay was inspired by the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the illegitimate mixed-race daughter of a British admiral who was raised by her aristocratic aunt and uncle.

Sagay’s producing and screenwriting credits include SECRET LAUGHTER OF WOMEN, starring Colin Firth and Nia Long; and the award-winning, critically acclaimed ABC television movie, THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD, starring Halle Berry and executive produced by Oprah Winfrey.

She is currently writing BLACK THE O, a feature film for Netflix and ADA JOHNSON, a 3 part series for the BBC, and THE KNICK RENAISSANCE for HBO produced by Barry Jenkins. 

Misan Sagay is writing the adaptation of Count of Monte Cristo for BBC TV.

WRITER & DIRECTOR

Ary Zara is a transgender writer and director, who also works as a stage performer and cultural provoker. He studied cinema at Universidade Lusófona in Lisbon and University of Texas in Austin. 

AN AVOCADO PIT, his debut short film, has earned a spot on the shortlist of the 96th Academy Awards® (Oscars®) and Elliot Page has become its Executive Producer. This achievement comes after the short film has garnered 90+ selections and 20+ awards in festivals such as: Clermont-Ferrand, Indie Lisboa, AFI FEST, Brest, BFI, Guadalajara and Outfest. 

Ary is developing his first feature, SUN IN SATURN. He took part in Torino Script Lab 2023 where he won CNC Prize for his pitch, and Dot.on.the.map 2024 where he won Best Debut Project.

Ary is in pre-production of his third short TOKOS, developed at Midpoint Institute, pitched at WEMW 2024, to be completed in 2025. He was selected for the Program La Factory des Cinéastes, where he co-direct a short film that premiered in Cannes, under the umbrella of Directors’ Fortnight 2025.

Ary strives to inspire a more inclusive society, leaving an indelible mark on both the art world and the hearts of those who experience his work.

STORYTELLER, CHOREOGRAPHER & EDUCATOR

Dawn Axam is an arts innovator known for her extraordinary ability to tell stories through movement. Her choreography is marked by a fearless spirit of creative collisions—bringing together diverse influences, disciplines, and communities to spark new ideas and reach new audiences. Whether in the studio, on stage, or on film, Dawn’s work is dedicated to illuminating untold stories and giving voice to marginalized perspectives through dance.

At DISC 2023, Dawn premiered Not Allowed, an evocative new work inspired by Alankrita Shrivastava’s film Lipstick Under My Burkha. This powerful piece exemplifies her commitment to cross-cultural dialogue, using movement to explore the same issues of female sexuality, secrecy, and the tension between tradition and personal freedom that the film so boldly confronts.

A consummate arts professional, Dawn Axam has been performing, choreographing, and teaching dance for more than 35 years across the US and abroad. She holds a B.F.A. in Dance and Theatre from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and an M.Ed. from Lesley University. In 2014, she was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study the Wolof language and culture in Senegal, where she taught and choreographed for the Senegalese company ARTEA Dance.

WRITER & DIRECTOR OF DOCLISBOA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Hélder Beja is the Director of Doclisboa — International Film Festival.

As an author, editor and programmer, he has worked in journalism, literature and cinema. He co-wrote the feature film Global Project (to be released in 2025) and the TV series The Cowboy (2024).

He’s currently working on the script of a new feature, together with filmmaker Ivo M. Ferreira. He has written film and literature reviews and articles for various publications in Portugal (Público, Sábado, i, LER), Macau, Hong Kong, Brazil and elsewhere.

In Asia, where he lived for almost a decade, he co-founded the Macau Literary Festival, serving as its programme director for seven editions (2012-2018). He was also the Editor-in-Chief of different publications (Macau Closer, Ponto Final), and the coordinator of the European Union's Jean Monet Programme.

Hélder is one of the organisers of the biennial Asia Pacific Writers & Translators conference. He graduated in Communications and has a postgrad in Anthropology.

WRITER, SPEAKER & BROADCASTER

Manuela Cantuária is a Brazilian writer, speaker, and broadcaster who uses storytelling to rethink the role of women in art and society.

Creator and head writer of As Seguidoras (2021), the first original Brazilian series for Paramount+ and a finalist for the Rose d'Or and Rookie Awards, she has developed original projects and contributed to writers' rooms for major platforms such as HBO Max, Amazon, Netflix, and Globoplay. Previously, she was a staff writer at Porta dos Fundos, one of the world's largest YouTube comedy channels, where her sketches have amassed over 40 million views.

Turning years of writing and research into a learning experience, she created her signature screenwriting course, The Heroine, Undone: Developing Female Characters, which has drawn industry experts and a growing audience. Combining political and symbolic perspectives, the course challenges creators to deconstruct gender stereotypes and reimagine storytelling through a feminist lens. She is also a regular speaker at conferences and events, bringing her insights to a broader stage.

Alongside her work in audiovisual projects, she wrote a column for Brazil’s largest newspaper, Folha de S. Paulo, for several years, and now shares her reflections on feminism, art, and film with a wider audience through a weekly podcast. 

WRITER & DIRECTOR

A former actor, Annetta directed numerous short films before founding Roman Candle Productions, a film production company focused on black and female–led films in 2013. 

In 2021 she was selected as a writer/director for Berlinale Talents. Since then Annetta has directed DOCTOR WHO New Year’s Special EVE OF THE DARLEKS for BBC Studios, and 2 episodes of GET MILLIE BLACK, written by award winning author Marlon James for HBO and Channel 4. 

Most recently, she directed 3 episodes of a new adaptation of the period drama THE FORSYTE SAGA for Mammoth Screen, to be broadcast in the autumn 2025. Annetta is currently developing her feature film, MOTHER COUNTRY, with the BFI and producer Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, and a 2nd feature WILD SWIMMING, with producer Yvonne Ibazebo and Film Four. She is also developing a female-led revenge drama series for Television. 

FILMMAKER

Luis Campos is an awarded filmmaker, PhD in Media_Arts and alumni of EAVE Producers Workshop, Berlinale Talents, Rotterdam Lab, ZFF Academy, Locarno Match Me and ACE Producers Mentoring Programme. Founder of GUIÕES – Portuguese Language Screenplay Festival, PLOT – Professional Script Lab and DRAMA.pt, collected experiences in film development at renowned companies such as RT Features (Brazil) and Savage Film (Belgium), BRO Cinema and SPi (Portugal) before fully dedicating to its own production company Matiné in 2023.

SCREENWRITER, PLAYWRIGHT & JOURNALIST

Sofia Perpétua is a screenwriter, playwright, and journalist. She holds a Master's degree in Journalism from the City University of New York and has worked in the newsrooms of The New York Times, NBC, and CNN in New York. She was a correspondent in Brazil and has collaborated with BBC, The Washington Post, Ms. Magazine, UNICEF, Greenpeace, and Human Rights Watch, among other organizations. She produced The Thread podcast, which was nominated for two Webby Awards, and received a Pictures of the Year International award for her work in documentary reporting. In 2023, she won the New Playwriting Award for Female Authorship and was a finalist for the first MotelX/Guiões partnership. In 2024, she was a semifinalist for Prémio Oceanos, one of the most important literary prizes in the Portuguese-speaking world.

PLAYWRIGHT, ACTOR & EDUCATOR

Dr. Jessica Litwak  is a recognized leader in the field of socially engaged theatre. She is an award-winning playwright, an actor, educator, puppet builder, and a creative coach accredited by the International Coaching Federation, and a registered drama therapist accredited by the North American Drama Therapy Association. Litwak has a BFA in acting from NYU, an MFA in playwriting from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Theatre as Leadership and Change. As a playwright and cultural critic, Litwak has been widely published, her plays have been produced Off Broadway and on stages across the U.S., Europe, and The Middle East. Her plays include: My Heart is in the East, The Emma Goldman Trilogy, Dream Acts, A Pirate’s Lullaby and Secret Agents. As an Equity actress Litwak has performed extensively on stages across the U.S. and Europe. Litwak created the New Generation Theatre Ensemble, where she wrote and directed plays for youth. She founded ARUNY: Artists Rise Up New York, designed to create free theatre actions in response to the needs of the community. She is the Artistic Director of the H.E.A.T. Collective, which she founded to bring together the practices of healing, education, and activism through theatre. Litwak is a core member of Theatre Without Borders and a Fulbright Scholar.

WRITER, RESEARCHER & EDUCATOR

Dr Scott is an academic, writer, researcher, and change maker who has been providing diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership and support to organizations and individuals for over 30 years. 

John’s academic inquiry includes but is not limited to: indigenous wisdom related to our human relationship with water and environment, narrative research, leadership and democracy, theater of the oppressed (Boal), racial equity, and cultural humility.

He has created and facilitated interdisciplinary trainings with corporations, non-profit organizations, colleges and educational systems, providing support surrounding issues of cultural humility, community leadership development, social justice issues, non-violent communication, and community building processes.

John has also created and led dynamic trainings, lectures and workshops internationally in South Africa, Egypt, Japan, and Canada. Through the process of socially conscious, playful inquiry, John provides participants with practical and engaging skills in making positive, sustainable changes in their lives, communities, and organizations. John holds a PhD in Transformative Studies and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Drama Therapy from California Institute of Integral Studies.

DIRECTOR GENERAL, ACADEMIA PORTUGUESA DE CINEMA

Diogo Camões is a casting director and the director-general of the Portuguese Academy of Cinema. Born in Lisbon, he studied film direction at ESTC (Portugal), completed an internship at ECAM (Spain), and received the INOV-ART Scholarship from the Portuguese Ministry of Culture.

 His work as a casting director includes feature films such as Operation Autumn by Bruno de Almeida, Diamantino by Gabriel Abrantes & Daniel Schmidt, Légua by João Miller & Filipa Reis, and On Fallingby Laura Carreira, as well as several series and short films.

 Since joining the Portuguese Academy of Cinema in 2016, Diogo has served as creative director and producer of numerous initiatives, including two partnerships with Netflix: one promoting Portuguese films helmed by women, and the other, Pitch Me!, dedicated to empowering underrepresented communities in developing feature film and series projects.

 As of 2023, Diogo was appointed director-general of the Portuguese Academy of Cinema and, in 2024, was elected to the Board of FACE, the Federation of Film Academies from Europe, while continuing his career as a casting director.

 Guided by an unwavering sense of purpose and advocacy for equity and social justice, Diogo believes in the transformative power of film to catalyze meaningful change, an ethos that shapes every collaboration and community he engages with.

FOUNDER, SUE HAMILTON STUDIO & DISC 2025 MC

Dr. Sue Hamilton is a director, producer, acting teacher, author, and Founding Artistic Director for Artists Rise Up Los Angeles, a social justice theatre company. They were the resident show director of Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular in the U.S., and helmed Disney’s Frozen shows for Disney Parks in the U.S. and Asia. Hamilton worked as executive producer and director for ABC Television’s Diversity Talent Showcase for 14 years and helped to launch the careers of Gina Rodriguez, Chrissie Fit, Brandon Scott, Kelly Jenrette, Alyssa Goss, Mapuana Makia, to name a few. Hamilton spent seven years as producing artistic director for the Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Program at the LGBT Center, directing award-winning shows including the 25th anniversary production of Last Summer at Bluefish Cove, world premiere of The Break-Up Notebook: The Lesbian Musical, Jane Lynch’s Oh Sister MySister, and Alison Arngrim’s Confessions of a Prairie Bitch; as well asthe west coast premiere ofV’s (formerly Eve Ensler) Floating Rhoda and the Glue Man. An international artist, they own Sue Hamilton Studio in Los Angeles, where they teach the craft and business of acting to television, film, and theater actors of all levels, and have created extensive performer training programs for Shanghai Disney Resort. Hamilton has taught acting and directing at American Film Institute Directing Workshop for Women, California Institute of the Arts, University of Connecticut, Pomona College, University of Southern California, and California School of the Arts. Their work has garnered Ovation, Backstage, Garland, Los Angeles Drama Critics, Dramalogue, and GLAAD Media Awards; Hamilton was also awarded the Rainbow Key from the City of West Hollywood for their outstanding work in Los Angeles theater and received the Disney Inventor Award. One of Hamilton’s primary collaborators is playwright/performer Jessica Litwak; together, they have produced Litwak’s Secret Agents, Victory Dance, Emma Goldman Trilogy, among many others. Hamilton holds a doctorate of education in educational and professional practice with dissertation focus on gender complexities in Los Angeles theatre storytelling. Their book, Have Fun Or Quit: Letters To My Acting Students can be found on Amazon. Show & Creative Director for Disney Live Entertainment, working internationally, Hamilton lives in the U.S. with their Broadway performer wife and two hounds. Their rockstar kid is a senior at UC Davis. suehamiltonstudio.com

OWNER, MAHOGANY CONSULTING & DISC 2025 MC

Fiona is a visionary leader, dynamic presenter, and fierce advocate for equity, inclusion, and belonging. With over two decades of experience shaping transformational strategies in education and the arts, she brings a rare blend of creative talent, social justice passion, and magnetic stage presence.

As CEO and Founder of Mahogany Assessment Partners, Fiona partners with communities, educators, and organizations to develop culturally relevant frameworks that empower marginalized voices and dismantle systemic barriers. Her work blends rigorous research, strategic planning, and artistic vision—rooted in the belief that storytelling, theatre, and education can be powerful tools for social change.

Fiona’s career spans leadership roles at Cognia, AdvancED, and educational institutions, where she has driven national initiatives, coached leaders, and built coalitions for systemic reform. She is also the Inaugural Board Chair of the Regan Film Institute, advancing opportunities for emerging storytellers, and a founding leader in multiple nonprofits dedicated to uplifting women of color and creating inclusive spaces for creative expression.

An accomplished keynote speaker and published author, Fiona has addressed audiences worldwide on topics ranging from anti-racist assessment to culturally responsive teaching, often weaving in her background in drama and English education. Her presence as MC will bring warmth, insight, and energy to DISC 2025—connecting ideas, people, and possibilities in the shared pursuit of disrupting industries for a more just and creative future.

RFI, DEAN OF STUDENTS & DISC EVENT MANAGER

Gaye Humphrey is an education and arts professional with more than 30 years of experience in arts education, program administration, and performance. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Hawai‘i Arts Alliance and is pursuing a Doctor of Education in Social Justice Leadership at Antioch University. Her career includes leadership roles with the Georgia Department of Education, Teach for America, and New Leaders for New Schools. A former professional dancer, Gaye performed internationally with Garth Fagan Dance and other companies, and has designed and directed numerous arts enrichment programs. She holds a B.A. in mathematics and dance from Smith College and an M.B.A. from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.