Filmmaker Spotlight

Meet some of the talented directors whose unique visions align with the International Children’s Media Center’s mission.

Here, we explore the inspirations behind each filmmaker’s involvement with ICMC. We are honored to highlight how their creative philosophies connect to our core values and contribute to a richer, more diverse media landscape for children.

Hear From the Directors

Daniel Lir / Bayou Bennett

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Tombstone Pillow

About the Directors

Dream Team Directors is a LA-based, global-minded, production and directing team specializing in branded content, commercials, fashion and lifestyle pieces, documentaries, and films that marry stunning visuals with meaningful, impactful narratives. Dream Team’s inspiring drama, Tombstone Pillow, shot in a Manila cemetery where 6,000 families live, received a flood of awards including Best Inspiring Film, Best Drama, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Short Film bringing their total festival wins to over 60. Tombstone Pillow was introduced in Italy by one of their cinema heroes, Oscar nominated actor, Edward Norton.

Carlos Douglas Jr.

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Kenya’s Symphony

About the Director

Carlos Douglas Jr is an animator & producer. He is the creator of the award-winning animated short, Kenya’s Symphony, executive producer of the accompanying album, as well as writer and illustrator of the upcoming children’s book of the same title.

His works in the visual arts include promotional artwork for marketing, illustration, videography, post-production editing, and storyboarding for film. He has worked for brands such as Allied Artists, Big Teeth Productions, Impressions Face & Body, Live Free 999, & Homewood Brewing Company.

Chelsea Ramirez

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GO DANI GO

About the Director

Chelsea Ramirez is an award-winning Guatemalan-American director/writer/producer who explores comedy, wonder, and the power of paradox through storytelling. A first-generation American, college graduate, and filmmaker, she stepped into entertainment after being cast on the Emmy-nominated show, Little America, a series about immigrants redefining the ‘American Dream.’

She worked with Annapurna Pictures before directing Go Dani Go which won “Best Picture” at the WCA Feminist Media Festival and premiered at the Oscar-qualifying, LA Shorts International Film Festival. She is a LeMond Filmmaking Fellow, USC George Lucas Scholar, Saturday Night Live Fellow, and the first Latina ever selected to direct one of USC’s intensive Advanced Production films, granted to only six filmmakers a year.

Zanah Thirus

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Memaw

About the Director

Zanah Thirus, a Chicago-based filmmaker, has earned acclaim for her socially conscious documentaries and comedies since launching Zanah Thirus Productions in 2018. Her work, including the award-winning documentaries Unlearning Sex and Black Feminist, and comedies like The Love You Want Exists and New Santa, has been recognized at international film festivals and widely screened in academic and public settings. Zanah’s films focus on merging arts and activism, making significant impacts in both the film and broader communities.

Doug Roland

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Feeling Through

About the Director

Doug Roland is a New York City native based in Los Angeles and an Academy Award nominated director. With a passion for storytelling and collaboration, Doug has had the privilege of acting in a variety of invigorating projects.

In 2021, Doug’s short film Feeling Through was nominated for an Oscar for best live action short film. Most recently, he was a lead in the feature film Prism, which won best ensemble at the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival.

Doug is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, where he studied acting and filmmaking, and is a graduate of the acting conservatory at Michael Howard Studios.  For more on Doug as a filmmaker, check out dougrolandfilms.com

Steve Chatterton

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Adnan

About the Director

Steve Chatterton is a writer, director, screenwriter and all-round fan of putting positive stories into this world.

He loves telling stories, particularly from kids’ perspectives, and loves making up worlds in a way that connects us back to this one and the people we’re living in it with.

For him, the primary role of storytelling is to move people, to engage their hearts and maybe even their tear ducts. Not sad tears, but those great big heart-heaving “oh-flippin’-heck-isn’t-it-all-so-beautiful-I-just-want-to-call-everyone-and-tell-them-I-love-them” kind of tears. Check out his short film Adnan and you’ll see what we mean.

Want to Screen Your Film With ICMC?

Get in contact with us using the form below to inquire about your film!