On this episode of the Film Sessions Podcast, we are excited to feature Nmesomachii Nwokolo:

“An unconventional storyteller who looks to go beyond what society has deemed “normal” or “beautiful”. The goal initially was to tell the story of the underdog, and that much hasn’t changed. Giving a voice to the voiceless and boldly touching on subjects that people have been afraid to touch on in the past. ”

This episode was hosted by Kieran Blunnie, a Podcast Host at the Student World Impact Film Festival, and produced by Mark Leschinsky, the Festival Director of the Student World Impact Film Festival.

On this episode of the Film Sessions Podcast, we are excited to feature Wyatt Lee:

“"This film was created as part of a community service program at my school under the insteuction of my teacher, Mr. Willis. I started working with Mr.Willis during the covid summer of 2020, when he held an editing class on zoom. During the next school year we made this film. Mr. Willis had co-founded an event called “The Troutbeck Symposium” which invited students in our area to make films or other art pieces that told under-told or forgotten pieces of (mostly local) BIPOC history. The Troutbeck was the site of two important meetings of the NAACP in 1916 and 1932. So there were many incredible people were there. I felt that Marcus Garvey’s story may have been a stretch to connect as a “local story”. But it was too good to pass up. He represented one of three philosophies of the civil rights movement, and freakly came inyo conflict with W.E.B. Dubois. Dubois was a guest and organizer of the NAACP meetings at Troutbeck. So that was the connection!

I am passionate about editinh and this history project was all about editing together archival photos, audio, and video in a compelling way. Since it was the middle of covid we had needed a project where we could make it without leaving campus. So this was perfect for that. It really allowed me to hone my skills as an editor. We just finished a follow up project, this time focusing on an attendee at the Troutbeck, named Mabel Byrd. Mabel also has a really compelling story. It seems every person who came to the Troutbeck went on to do something awesome around civil right. And we’ve never heard half these stories! Mr. Willis always encourages us to focus on the people. not the bigger topics, seeing them as people and speculating on how they thought, whst thry felt csn really bring the history to life. The Mabrl Byrd and Black Moses films were made in a similar way, using archival footage, and I am really proud of the end result. We hope people will come across these films on youtube and it will teach them that there is so much about Black History and the early civil rights movement that they are unaware of. "”

This episode was hosted by Alexis Casida, a Podcast Host at the Student World Impact Film Festival, and produced by Mark Leschinsky, the Festival Director of the Student World Impact Film Festival.

On this episode of the Film Sessions Podcast, we are excited to feature Funmi Adetola:

“Funmi Adetola is a South African-born Nigerian - Canadian filmmaker. After graduating from Carleton University in film studies, he attended Vancouver Film School, specializing in Directing and Production Design with the goal of creating character-focused stories, working on both sides of the camera. His short films have been screened at several festivals, including TIFF Jump Cuts Next Wave and Centre Film Festival. He is currently writing his next feature film. "Hi, I'm Growing Up" is his first feature.”

This episode was hosted by Amaya Tavares, a Podcast Host at the Student World Impact Film Festival, and produced by Mark Leschinsky, the Festival Director of the Student World Impact Film Festival.

On this episode of the Film Sessions Podcast, we are excited to feature Tim Edelbauer:

“Tim Edelbauer is an Austrian filmmaker born in December 2006. Currently, he is studying as a student at "die Graphische" in 1140 Vienna. In 2022, together with two colleagues he founded "Luminare", a multimedia collective for students and young creatives from Austria. His work includes advertising film, music video, and short film production.”

This episode was hosted by Amaya Tavares, a Podcast Host at the Student World Impact Film Festival, and produced by Mark Leschinsky, the Festival Director of the Student World Impact Film Festival.

On this episode of the Film Sessions Podcast, we are excited to feature Benjamin Hays:

“Whether it's behind the camera as a filmmaker or in front of the camera as an actor, I am passionate about bringing my stories and characters to life through film.”

This episode was hosted by Helena Krawlzik, a Podcast Host at the Student World Impact Film Festival, and produced by Mark Leschinsky, the Festival Director of the Student World Impact Film Festival.

On this episode of the Film Sessions Podcast, we are excited to feature David Babasiev:

“I am a 23-year-old filmmaker and director based in Yerevan, Armenia. I have a deep passion for creating emotional and dramatic visual stories. Started creating short films at a young age, experimenting with different styles and techniques to hone my craft. I believe that film has the power to bring people together and spark meaningful conversations. Through my work, I hope to create a space for reflection and growth. I believe that, at its best, a film can change hearts and minds and inspire us to be our best selves.”

This episode was hosted by Helena Krawlzik, a Podcast Host at the Student World Impact Film Festival, and produced by Mark Leschinsky, the Festival Director of the Student World Impact Film Festival.

On this episode of the Film Sessions Podcast, we are excited to feature Sophia Leogrande:

“As a storyteller my work mainly consists of shedding light on traumatic events and being very open with my emotions. Art is a form of therapy for me as I struggle to express how I'm feeling verbally. My inspiration comes from the trauma I've experienced and how it has made me feel. I enjoy being vulnerable and raw with my feelings in hopes that someone viewing my work to be able to relate and feel less alone in their struggles. ”

This episode was hosted by Helena Krawlzik, a Podcast Host at the Student World Impact Film Festival, and produced by Mark Leschinsky, the Festival Director of the Student World Impact Film Festival.

On this episode of the Film Sessions Podcast, we are excited to feature Alberto Méndez Rojas:

“"Hello, my name is Alberto, I'm 25 years old and I am a storyteller. Since I can remember, my life has been surrounded by video games and movies. I was fascinated by those great and surreal worlds such as Shadow of the Colossus, Final Fantasy, Spirited Away, Jak and Daxter, Tekkonkinkreet and so on.

Later on I started editing videos of my cats and me playing with toys and it developed into photography and finally 3D art. Now I am a young director with a somewhat different approach to 3D films due to my love and experience with live action movies and methods.

My only goal in life is to teach audiences through the art I make, whether it is from images or videos, I want to tell stories that people can save in their heart and carry them. It is our duty as artists to not pursue what makes us happy, but instead seek what is profound for our souls."”

This episode was hosted by Moises Rijo, a Podcast Host at the Student World Impact Film Festival, and produced by Mark Leschinsky, the Festival Director of the Student World Impact Film Festival.

On this episode of the Film Sessions Podcast, we are excited to feature Elliott Dynes:

“As a filmmaker, I tend to focus on films about self healing. Since lessons in mindfulness and self confidence have played such a large part in my own struggles as an individual, I often discuss themes that surround complex ptsd, emotional wounds, sensitivity, and hope. With visual styles and formats that closely relate to themes of this nature, the lessons I portray in my films are also ones I try to integrate into my own life. ”

This episode was hosted by Moises Rijo, a Podcast Host at the Student World Impact Film Festival, and produced by Mark Leschinsky, the Festival Director of the Student World Impact Film Festival.

On this episode of the Film Sessions Podcast, we are excited to feature MAO Yu Lynn Yuan:

“MAO Yu Lynn Yuan is a female writer-director and producer in film. Being a China-born and Canada-raised grownup, her explorations in film centre around gender equality, classism, and Eastern and Western cultures. MAO Yu Lynn Yuan’s very first award-winning experimental short film, ‘Mermaid in the Garden of Escapism’ (2023), humbled laurels in international film festivals with two wins and ten nominees. The pioneering artistic choice of using AI voices in the film draws public attention to the lack of women’s voices in terms of gender equality. Visit www.maoyulynnyuan.com for more.”

This episode was hosted by Moises Rijo, a Podcast Host at the Student World Impact Film Festival, and produced by Mark Leschinsky, the Festival Director of the Student World Impact Film Festival.