Multicultural Entertainment Media Panel

This month we’re featuring a diverse panel of speakers representing filmmaking, festivals, and film appreciation from around the world happening right here in Austin TX.

Alka Bhanot is a producer, and co-founder & former board chair of Indie Meme.
Alka emigrated to Austin in 2003, but not before gaining considerable experience producing, among other things, India’s award-winning first Late Night Show. Alka hit the ground running here producing and participating in a score of more award-winning independent films and television shows.
Indie Meme (IM) promotes socially relevant independent cinema from South Asia in an effort to influence cultural consciousness and encourage and facilitate conversations. Last year IM launched a Youth Program, and since 2016 has held screenings throughout the year, as well as an annual film festival here in Austin.

Julia Podgorsek is the founder & director of the Ciné-Club of the Alliance Française d’Austin.
Julia emigrated to Austin TX shortly after graduating from the Sorbonne Nouvelle with a Master’s Degree in English and Film in 2013. Not long after arriving she created the Ciné-Club and began teaching at the Alliance Française d’Austin.
The AFA Ciné-Club monthly screenings that are subtitled, followed by half-hour discussions with the filmmakers or other special guests, are fun, relaxed, lively, and open to anyone.

Jing Yang is a photographer & film director, and Festival Director of the Austin Asian American Film Festival.
Jing received her MFA in film production at UT Austin. Her documentary and narrative short films have screened, won awards, or entered the market at a number of festivals, including Austin Film Festival, Lone Star Film Festival, Sarasota Film Festival, Chick Flicks Festival, DC Chinese Film Festival, etc. Jing was a key member of the team that revived AAAFF in 2014, and served as a programmer focusing on documentary feature films before taking on the role of festival director in 2018.
The Austin Asian American Film Festival (AAAFF) supports the creative talents of Asian American and Asian artists, and promotes those cultures and experiences by showcasing the best independent cinema from across the globe. The AAAFF holds screenings and special events throughout the year, as well as an annual film festival.

Manuel Ray Garcia is a multimedia producer and founding member of the Austin Chapter of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers.
Manuel started as a graphic designer / illustrator, worked his way through school as a photojournalist, then discovered animation and filmmaking. He has worked with numerous public & private clients including: the State of Texas, Hispanic magazine, Galan Productions, American Airlines, and the Austin Film Festival, and currently runs Lone-Stars Productions.
Although the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) Austin Chapter recently went on hiatus, the national organization has been supporting entertainment media industry content creators, producers, performers, writers, directors, and industry professionals in the Latino community for over 2 decades, and holds annual summits & festivals.

December’s Talent Showcase — Call for Submissions

To enter, read more here and fill in the form. Don’t delay, because only the first 25 completed & confirmed entries will make the program. And the deadline for submissions will be here before you know it: Monday, November 25^th.

The Veteran’s Teddy Bear Project continues at this month’s mixer, too, so if you have a stuffed lovie to donate, we’ll be collecting them this night!

Last Month

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to actor, author, acting teacher, and musician Marco Perella for speaking as our guest on Wed Oct 9^th! Marco has been working steadily in film and television since the mid-1980s, and offered great insights about acting, timing, improvising, and getting callbacks by giving great auditions. Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge with us, Marco!

See photos here, and more mixer photos here.

Come on the 13^th and bring a friend to network and enjoy the show. While there enjoy Opal Divine’s Happy Hour which lasts until 7, then $3 “Three for Texas” beers the rest of the evening. And don’t cook or go anywhere else for a meal or snacks because Opal’s offers a tasty and largely locally-sourced menu of goodies.

Beware both rush hour traffic and any current construction!

Pass along our website and check it for details about each month’s speaker(s)!
Find this month’s mixer on Facebook and invite your friends.
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Mixing & Networking @ 6:00PM, Announcements @ 6:30, Program @ 6:45
Followed by More Mixing & Mingling and Networking