For the past year, the MFA class of 2025 been refining their voices as filmmakers while fostering an exciting collaborative environment across film sets. With a truly diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives, in the beginning of 2025, we will set out to make 8 distinctly bold short films together, helmed by our incredible directors. However, we need your help to make these films come to life. Our hope is that you see this as an opportunity to invest in brave, creative voices that the world needs to hear. Please consider supporting this unique collective of artists by donating towards our next short films.

MEET THE FILMMAKERS:

ARMANDO GUZMAN                  

Director

Armando Guzmán is a writer/director from Monterrey, México. Growing up with a vivid imagination and a limitless sense of curiosity meant Armando was always asking questions and eager to understand the world around him. As the youngest of three, he got to dabble in many of the same creative endeavors his older sisters practiced, from painting to theatre to music, but ultimately abandoned them to focus on his academics and sports, eventually pursuing a career in engineering. It wasn’t until he was 23 when he found the courage to go against his family’s wishes and carve out his own path in life: telling stories. Whether it be behind or in front of the camera or on paper, Armando’s love to entertain and humor his loved ones never left him. Through hard work, determination, and a bit of luck, he made it all the way to Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts, where he is currently pursuing an MFA in Directing. No destination will ever fill a heart that failed to enjoy the journey — Armando embraces every day to find meaning and joy in the little moments of his life.

COLE KELLEY

Director

Cole Kelley is a filmmaker, writer and die-hard Atlanta Braves fan from Pensacola, Florida. Growing up, Cole always had a love for entertaining, rather that meant making his friends laugh at the lunch table or reenacting the entire Raiders of The Lost Ark opening in his back yard. Cole spent his teenage years playing sports, boring his friends with movie talk and occasionally making short videos of whatever he could. It was in High School where he realized the “job” he wanted to pursue, had been right infront of him on the TV his whole life. He credits his near 10 years of editing and videography experience as a major influence on his creative process as he spent all of his undergrad at Faulkner Christian University in Montgomery, Alabama, on scholarship to produce creative content for the schools various sports teams. Outside of college, he’s shot and edited dozens of wedding films, event presentations, and short form documentary videos. Today, Cole is one of 8 directors pursuing a MFA in film production from Florida State Universities College of Motion Picture Arts.

CHANCE FREYTAG

Director

Chance Freytag is a writer/director from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Chance has been a DIY filmmaker from young age, cobbling together ramshackle cinematic monstrosities with anything and everything at his disposal, including Flip Videos, iPods, and Windows Movie Maker. Inspired by his grandfather's love of classic westerns, he is also an avid cinephile, consuming a steady diet of everything the medium has to offer. He is currently attending the MFA program at Florida State University's College of Motion Picture Arts with an emphasis in directing.

ELIJAH NEWMAN

Director

Elijah Newman is a filmmaker from Los Angeles, CA. His childhood consisted of playing sports, wandering around with friends, and enjoying different meals with his family. As a teenager, Elijah worked at restaurants, competed in high school sports, and soon found a deep fascination with stories on the page, and on the screen. This led him to pursue and graduate with a B.A. degree in English from the University of Oregon. And it was during this time when Elijah not only worked as a writer for the university’s newspaper and their marijuana-themed magazine, but began to take a serious interest in filmmaking as he started making short films, working on sets, and writing screenplays. This ultimately brought him to Tallahassee, where he’s currently pursuing an MFA in Film Production at Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts.

LIZZIE ALLEN

Director

Lizzie Allen is a writer-director from Atlanta, GA, who first fell in love with storytelling through books, transitioned to the stage, and ultimately moved to film, embracing it for its timeless nature. She enjoys collaborating with others to achieve a shared goal and believes that if you’re not having fun along the way, it's time to reevaluate the mission. Lizzie wears her heart on her sleeve and uses her passion and gifts to champion those whose voices might otherwise be silenced.

CRISTINA MARTINEZ-SANEAUX

Director

Cristina Martinez-Saneaux is a filmmaker born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Immersed in the world of fine arts from a young age, Cristina was influenced by her dancer mother and her painter aunt who used their beautiful art forms to display the dismal realities of the world. Ultimately passionate about the conversations film can elicit, Cristina believes that evoking visceral reactions is essential in pushing audiences outside their comfort zones. She holds this raw intensity to be the key in sparking important conversations about the uncomfortable truths that society often avoids confronting. With a background in acting from her undergraduate degree, Cristina leverages her understanding of performance to guide actors in authentically and safely portraying these difficult stories onscreen. Eager to continue learning and collaborating, Cristina currently pursues an MFA at FSU’s College of Motion Picture Arts with a specialty in Film Directing.

LEX MORALES

Director

Lex Morales is a filmmaker and recovering tiktoker from Washington DC. Growing up a “Third Culture Kid, Lex spent time living in Sao Paulo Brazil, where she began to discover a knack for capturing hyper-specific yet universal moments of youth life and posting them to online platforms. After growing a TikTok following of a million watchers, and making one too many viral sound bytes, Lex began to work at The Boston Globe, where she realized her passion for narrative storytelling, and made her way down South to pursue an MFA in Directing at Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts.

KEVA PETERS JR.

Director

Keva Peters Jr. is an incredible filmmaker and photographer from the vibrant city of New Orleans, LA. His award-winning work showcases the beauty of human expression and the rich tapestry of the Black Southern experience. A proud graduate of Dillard University's pioneering filmmaking program, Keva is known for his captivating storytelling. You can catch him whipping delicious dishes in the kitchen or cheering on the New Orleans Pelicans during game nights when he's not busy crafting compelling narratives.

BAILEY MCDONALD

Cinematographer

Bailey McDonald is a filmmaker and analog enthusiast from Mickey Mouse, Florida. Growing up in the shadow of Cinderella's Castle, Bailey’s childhood was a tapestry woven with the threads of fantasy and dreams. Although he truly lived where you vacation, he also played the tourist, living most of his younger years through a viewfinder. With plenty of concrete to conquer, Bailey and his friends often took to the streets to ride their wheel-equipped planks of wood. It was at the skatepark of suburban satisfaction that Bailey first found a love for filmmaking. Wherever he went, the camera followed — all the way to current day, as he pursues an MFA in cinematography at Florida State University's College of Motion Picture Arts.

BAILEY PHILLIPS

Cinematographer

Bailey Phillips is a filmmaker born and raised in the charming town of Tupelo, Mississippi. Known for its rich, artistic history and storytelling traditions, "The Birthplace of America's Music" was a hub of creativity, culture, and interesting characters. This inspired Bailey's artistic inclinations and endeavors, favoring experimental and abstract forms of expression to match the peculiarity of his hometown. His love affair with movies in-particular began in his childhood, thanks to his grandfather, who whisked him away to the movie theater at every opportunity. That love affair has lingered long into Bailey's adulthood and is still motivating him as he pursues his MFA in cinematography at Florida State University's College of Motion Picture Arts.

JOSH ECHEVARRIA

Cinematographer

Joshua is a visual artist hailing from West Palm Beach, FL.. He counts the art of Elizavita Poradina and Lewis Rossignol among his influences, and enjoys painting with light and color in his work, collaborating with his friends and coworkers to craft beautiful imagery. He loves mixed media art as well and infuses his style of painting and drawing into his photography. He is currently pursuing his MFA in film production with a specialization in Cinematography.

JACK GAFFNEY

Producer

Jack Gaffney is a filmmaker from Satellite Beach, FL. He fell in love with movies at an early age and has held onto that passion throughout his life. Jack currently attends the FSU College of Motion Picture Arts as a MFA student with a focus in producing. He strives to produce independent feature films after graduating.

SIMONE COLOZZA

Producer

Simone has always cultivated an interest for anything that requires creativity, passion and hard work. Even when he was dedicating countless hours on a golf course pursuing his childhood dream of becoming a professional golfer , he found himself being drawn to storytelling. Similarly to his variety of passions, his taste for genres and styles in film, varies just as much, that’s why he isn’t able to ever tell you his favorite movie. Simone feels at home being a producer and working alongside filmmakers who have a clear vision of what they want to achieve. He finds immense satisfaction in being a resource for directors while giving them advice and providing whatever it takes to bring their movies to light.

LANRE OBISESAN

Producer

Lanre Obisesan, a Film Director, Writer, and Producing Specialist at FSU has 15 years in film production. As a devoted father, he blends his passion for storytelling and visual artistry to create impactful West African-themed films. An award-winning filmmaker, Lanre champions world peace and human connection. Though he misses his beloved dog, he channels that emotion into his work, crafting films that echo his love for humanity and rich cultural heritage.

BRYAN HERRERA

Production Designer

Bryan Herrera is a first-generation Colombian-American from south Florida. Growing up, Bryan spent his time painting with his father, playing soccer with his brothers, and watching movies obsessively. As he got older, sports and the arts always remained a consistent part of his life. Picking up hobbies such as painting, drawing, guitar, reading, writing, and building things in general, it was inevitable that he would find himself interested in production design once he mixed all of that with his love for film. From Indiana Jones to 2001: a Space Odyssey, Bryan has always been entranced by films that create entire worlds within themselves and invite you to get lost in them. Whether it was academics, sports, or the arts, Bryan always wants to be the best at whatever he sets his mind to. This is a mentality he carries on into his career as a filmmaker. After graduating with a bachelors degree in English from FSU, he decided to chase his dream and get a masters degree from the College of Motion Picture Arts at FSU, specializing in production design. He’s hoping to tell compelling stories with magical worlds similar to the ones he watched growing up!

SYDNEY PAOLERCIO

Production Designer

Sydney Paolercio is a filmmaker originally from Lakeland, Florida. Growing up, she was a ballet and modern dancer before wanting to pursue film. As a kid, she often found herself tuned in to Turner Classic Movies with her mom where she discovered some of her favorite films like East of Eden and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. On the other hand, she also watched films like Transformers and Fast and Furious with her dad. Her creative pursuits were deeply encouraged her entire life: She went from writing poetry and short stories as a kid to learning the piano and continuing dance as a teenager until she finally found her way to film school as an adult. In undergrad, she took up student journalism and even began writing and copy editing for a newspaper. In the end, all of these things made Sydney the person she is today and made her decide to pursue an MFA in Production Design at Florida State University.

WILL HILL

Virtual Production

Will Hill is a multifaceted creative whose interests include immersive world building, multimedia projects, and explorations of human consciousness. The goal of his craft is to better understand how art might shape behavior and culture into forms that cultivate empathy and sustainability in built, natural, and social constructs. Will also loves travel, chocolate, time at home with his fiancé and cats, and moments in nature.

JALEN WILLIAMS

VFX

Jalen Williams is a filmmaker from Tallahassee, Florida, whose creative journey began as an only child with a passion for storytelling. Early on, she channeled her creativity through journaling and art, laying the foundation for her future in film. During her undergraduate studies in Information Technology at Florida A&M University, Jalen’s interest in motion graphics was sparked by web design courses, which introduced her to the world of coding and digital design. Jalen’s passion for visual storytelling grew as she launched her own production company, where she delved into photography, visual effects, and editing. She immersed herself in editing platforms like Premiere Pro and After Effects, viewing them as vital tools for her film career. After earning her bachelor's degree, Jalen worked with FAMU’s extension program, where she honed her skills in integrating and editing recorded footage, graphics, effects, dialogues, and images. This experience paved the way for her to join Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts, where she is now specializing in visual effects and mastering the tools necessary as she carries on in her filmmaking journey.

OLIVE KASPER

VFX

Olive Kasper is a filmmaker and multimedia artist from Tampa, Florida. At FSU Film, she is a post-production student focusing on visual effects and editing. Outside the film school, you can find them working on graphic design at FSU’s on-campus movie theater. Professionally, she wants to pursue motion graphics in film, combining her passion for visual effects and graphic design.

MAY CURL LAYLAND

Editor

Howdy! I'm May Curl (she/her), and I'm an editor because why would anyone do anything else?! I've been doing this from age 11 onwards and my greatest ambition in life is to make good friends, eat healthy and explore the world! Uh, my 2nd greatest ambition is to keep getting better at editing!! Cutting films together lets me speak in ways I can't figure out with words, and it makes me feel human. This is the best work on earth, and I'm beyond lucky to be able to do it alongside such talented, driven people!

CAROLINE MULLEN

Sound Designer

Caroline Mullen is in the post production track at fsu film, focusing in sound design. They have a background in music and love to score, edit, and sound design films. When Caroline isn’t playing music or making films, you can find them hanging out with their dog, Grumble.

SHELBY ROSS

Sound Designer