Pillars of the NYC Arts Community, these leaders bring an undeniable enthusiasm for celebrating and elevating community to every decision. Join us as we present them with tokens of our appreciation followed by a screening of festival films in their honoree.
Chair of the Cultural Institutions Group, Executive Director of Queens Theatre
“To be honored along with my dear friends and partners is an opportunity to reflect on all we have been through together. Culture@3 has given me a front row seat to the generosity within New York City’s cultural community. I am in awe of what leaders have done individually and collectively to navigate through the pandemic. The relationships that have grown over the past two years have been so sustaining. To be honored by the Queens World Film Festival – a movement more than an organization – is especially meaningful to me.”
– Taryn Sacramone
Chief Executive Officer of the National Black Theatre and Chair of the Coalition of Theatres of Color
“I am truly honored to be recognized by the Queens World Film festival, which exemplifies the power of community through storytelling. As a co-leader of Culture @ 3pm; Taryn, Lucy and I strive to create and hold space for the NYC cultural community to harness the collective power and wisdom of all of our experiences in service of pushing both our sector and City ever forward. Thank you for this recognition and can’t wait to celebrate all of these cultural queens when we gather together!”
– Sade Lythcott Chief Executive Officer, National Black Theatre
Executive Director of New Yorkers for Culture & Arts
“I am thrilled at this recognition of the work that I’ve been honored to do with Taryn Sacramone and Sade Lythcott—leading daily calls for hundreds of cultural organizations so we can all find our way forward and build an equitable vibrant city. The city is so full of amazing cultural gems, and QFF is one of them. If the calls have been of use to this treasure, then we are doing our job.”
– Lucy Sexton
“Participating in an international film festival here in Queens is exciting. Queens World celebrates the voices of both emerging and masterful artists from across the globe and it is an honor to welcome the festival to Flushing Town Hall and to share the Spirit of Queens honors with my colleagues.”
– Ellen Kodadek
Although as a producer I am usually in the wings, I love being invited to join the august company of honorees Melvin Van Peebles, Susan Seidelman, Leon Ichaso, Nancy Kelly and Jan Oxenberg — indie directors whom I deeply admire. And it’s a thrill to receive this award from two iconoclasts who embody the “Spirit of Queens” themselves —Preston & Katha Cato. They are trying (as am I) to showcase significant films, often those created far from the centers of political and economic power.
– Sandra Schulberg
Every year, Queens World honors filmmakers and community members who give beyond measure.
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