Synopsis: Speakers:

Autumn Federici is a critically acclaimed independent film producer and actress and executive producer of the much-anticipated SciFi drama CIRCLE a Netflix exclusive. Lauded in the festival circuit, Federici has worked alongside noted members of the entertainment industry, including Emmy, Oscar and Golden Globe nominees and winners Andy Tennant, Barry Sonnenfeld, Mel Gibson and Randall Wallace. As Senior Vice President of Production at Transparent Media Company, a Perot family company, she saw to the distribution and production of all creative content. With a focus on development, pre-production, principle photography, distribution and marketing, over the past five years Federici has produced and sold dozens of independent films with MARVISTA ENTERTAINMENT, GAUMONT, BETA, LIFETIME, UPTV, and NETFLIX. The Ninth House had one of the highest rated Christmas Features of 2018, A CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENT, that had over 1 Million viewers in just two presentations. Additional credits includes television, commercial, music videos and corporate campaigns. She lives in Southern California with her family.

Jake Helgren is a screenwriter, director and producer originally from Austin, Texas. After placing in a number of screenwriting contests when he moved to LA in 2008, Helgren’s first low-budget romcom script Finding Mr. Wright (2010) was produced and subsequently selected for a few major LGBTQ+ film festivals. Helgren went on to write the hit holiday family film A Belle For Christmas (2014) for STARZ/Anchor Bay, and the teen horror feature Varsity Blood (2013), the latter of which marked Helgren’s directorial debut. Helgren has since written, produced and directed several genre hits for Television, including the highly-rated Lifetime thrillers Babysitter’s Nightmare, Psycho Stripper, Psycho Sister-in-Law and Killer Dream Home; as well as multiple hit holiday romances including A Very Charming Christmas Town, Christmas on the Menu and A Date by Christmas Eve for Lifetime, My Best Friend’s Christmas for SHOWTIME Networks, and A Merry Christmas Match for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. More recently, Helgren wrote, directed and produced the hit LGBTQ+ holiday romantic drama Dashing in December for MTV Studios and Paramount Network starring Andie MacDowell, which premiered as a simulcast across four different major networks and was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Most Outstanding TV Movie of 2020. Helgren’s work can next be seen in upcoming Lifetime features Welcome to the Christmas Family Reunion, and Writing Around the Christmas Tree. Helgren currently resides in West Hollywood with his dog Piper, who appears in many of his films.

Lexi started her career in entertainment at a very young age. Growing up watching movie musicals she pursued dance competitively until moving to LA to pursue acting as a teenager. Years later, she graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in Business Management. In expanding her love of story telling and bringing characters to life, Lexi started producing on projects she was in before moving forward to produce features with G It’s Entertainment. This role lead to helping with development and writing of scripts within the company. Known for her performances in Pride and Prejudice, Cut, Accidentally Engaged, and most recently The Christmas Listing, Lexi is hoping to bring at least a small amount of the enjoyment that movies have always brought her to the next generation and their families.

Nikki Freeman is a DGA UPM/Line Producer with extensive film credits.

Elizabeth Snoderly first started producing after helping a seasoned female producer on an educational TV show. She had her own idea for a kids educational travel show which she later produced and syndicated to 90% of the US. She went on to produce over 25 films. She finally made the jump to direct her 23rd film, and she has now directed 4 films. She has always admired Nora Ephron and she loves a good romantic movie. Her goal has always been to produce a film that she would love to watch herself. She has been blessed to work and learn from some of the most amazing and talented colleagues. Elizabeth is not only a filmmaker, she is an anesthesiologist who specializes in interventional pain therapy. She enjoys working in both fields because even though they seem so different, both jobs give something positive to others, which brings her joy.

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