CANDY KUGEL
Describe yourself in 5 words: Energetic, Empathetic, Creative, Curious Peacenik!
In my daily life I am an independent animator
What brought you to the Queens World? I was invited!
Watching films is like going on a trip to an unknown land
What gives you hope? Human decency that prefers cooperation over battles.
EASMANIE MICHEL
Describe yourself in 5 words. Inquisitive, philosophically, tenacious, learning to be more compassionate, love to laugh
In my daily life I am….(a sentence about your job/profession) In my daily life, I work with an amazing group of people at New York Women in Film & Television(NYWIFT). Our organization has a good mix of members who are either veteran filmmakers or those whose careers are just beginning. I work with NYWIFT to help provide support and a community for our members to flourish.
What brought you to the Queens World? NYWIFT started collaborating with Queens World Film Festival in 2017. At that time, NYWIFT had funding through Immigrant Cultural Initiative to curated the Immigrant Stories Series in Queens. We approached Queens World Film Festival and they were enthusiastic about partnering to show NYC stories through the immigrant lens. We have continued to collaborate with Queen World Film Festival not only in order to showcase and support filmmakers with incredible talent, but also because the festival draws attention to Queen’s artistic and production community.
Watching films is like… Watching films is like stepping, if only just for just a moment into someone else’s world and sometimes even someone else’s being. Movies can really help us understand the human condition from different perspectives.
What gives you hope? I have hope while traveling around NYC, although not so much now due to the pandemic, and watching so many people work together in harmony. It’s what makes NYC great and it gives me hope in humanity.
LUC PAPINEAU
Describe yourself in 5 words: Fun, Organized, Detail Oriented, People oriented
In my daily life I am currently a college student
What brought you to the Queens World? I was brought to the Queens World Film Festival by Katha and Preston asking me to screen films for the festival and have been with them ever since.
Watching films is like a different perspective of storytelling.
What gives you hope? What gives me hope is the community of people helping others.
ANDI REISS
Describe yourself in 5 words: The Devil’s in the detail.
In my daily life I am – Will this affect my motor insurance?
What brought you to the Queens World? Fortuity, fate, film and friends….
Watching films is like making paint dry.
What gives you hope? Kids these days know that brushing their teeth prevents cavities, and also that human activity is contributing to climate change in a major way.
The answer therefore has to be our future.
KRIS SORBIE
Describe yourself in 5 words: Authentic, Passionate, Giving, Inspirational and Optimistic
In my daily life I am a Teacher, Mentor, Coach and Hairdresser.
What brought you to the Queens World? A friend and now husband…
Watching films is like an escape or inclusion from, into reality…
What gives you hope? Kids and Technology, especially when blended…
SAMANTHA L. ROPPOLA
Describe yourself in 5 words: Creative, Open Minded, Empathic, Interested, Passionate.
In my daily life I am a creator. Everything I do and think comes from seeds of ideas. Seeds that get planted every day. Everything inspires me.
What brought you to the Queens World? What brought me to Queens World was a fortunate series of networking. What kept me at Queens World are all the inspiring, empathic, and amazing people who are also here.
Watching films is like working on a puzzle. Relaxing but engaging, and it leaves me with a picture to interpret.
What gives you hope? What gives me hope is the beautiful future that this generation, and the future generations have the ability to create.
MARIJA SAJKAS
Describe yourself in 5 words: I too speak with an accent.
In my daily life I am a journalist and an advocate, with a passion for freedom of expression and human rights.
What brought you to the Queens World? The love and sense of community. Unlike many others who are with the Festival because…well, films, I came for the “Queens is the World” part. I stayed for the absolutely wonderful films that we get every year.
Watching films is like traveling! You know the starting point, and you more or less know the itinerary. But you don’t know what awaits at the end and all the thoughts & emotions that you will gather along the way.
What gives you hope? The undeniable advancement of science.
Are You a Friend of the Festival?
