Autumn Durald Arkapaw (she/her)

Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC, is a visionary cinematographer known for bold, atmospheric visuals. Her recent work includes Sinners (2025), the first film shot by a female cinematographer on IMAX 65mm, and The Last Showgirl (2024). Autumn also lensed Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), earning major box office success and an Oscar nod for Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up.” An Emmy nominee for Loki, she has also collaborated with Spike Jonze, Gia Coppola, and Aziz Ansari. A graduate of AFI, she was the first woman of color on American Cinematographer’s cover and is represented by Iconic and LUX Artists.

Meshell Ndegeocello (she/her)

Meshell Ndegeocello has survived the best and worst of what a career in music has to offer. She eschewed genre for originality, celebrity for longevity, and musical trends for musical truths. Fans have come to expect the unexpected and follow her on sojourns into soul, R&B, jazz, hip-hop, rock, all bound by the search for love, justice, respect, and resolution. Those sonic investigations have defied and redefined the expectations for women, for queer artists, and for black music for over 30 years and she remains one of few women who write the music, sing the songs, and lead the band.

Robert Townsend (he/him)

Robert Townsend transcends any medium he touches, whether performing stand-up, acting, writing, directing, or producing. With over 30 years in the business, Townsend is often called the “Godfather” of the Independent Film World. An out-of-the-box thinker, he has made an indelible mark in Hollywood with an extensive list of credits. Robert’s recent directing credits include multiple episodes of Poppa’s House and Power Book IV: Force.  He directed multiple episodes of the NAACP Image Award-winning The Best Man: The Final Chapters. Additional directing work can be seen on Netflix’s Kaleidoscope and Colin in Black & White.

Third World Newsreel

Since 1968, Third World Newsreel (TWN) has advanced movement storytelling and media arts for cultural and social justice. They champion the self-representation of historically marginalized communities—including Black, Latine, Indigenous, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, North African, Mixed/Multiracial, People with Disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ individuals—through diverse genres and forms of media, such as documentary, experimental, and fiction. Their aim is to create, engage, and amplify stories while creatively activating audiences. Their comprehensive support includes hands-on training, fiscal sponsorship, educational distribution, and preservation, all designed to advance cultural justice and societal change. From documentary and experimental to narratives, TWN is committed to shaping a media landscape where diversity and intersectionality are not merely represented but are central to social transformation.