Lisa Cortés

NYFA / ALUMNI / PRODUCING / LISA CORTÉS

Lisa Cortés

Lisa Cortés

PRODUCER | DIRECTOR


Lisa Cortés is an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning director and producer known for her work in film, television, and music.

She served as executive producer on Precious (2009), which received six Academy Award nominations and won two. Her directorial credits include All In: The Fight for Democracy (2020), co-directed with Liz Garbus and featuring Stacey Abrams, and Little Richard: I Am Everything (2023), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and she was selected by the Black Film Critics Circle for its Pioneer Award. She was also a producer on The Apollo (2019), which won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary.

Cortés’ production credits span narrative and documentary projects, including The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion (2019), Invisible Beauty (2023), and Time (2020), which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. She has collaborated with platforms such as Amazon Studios, HBO, CNN Films, and Netflix, focusing on stories that explore race, gender, and cultural transformation. Earlier in her career, she was a key music executive at Def Jam and Mercury Records, launching the careers of iconic artists and integrating music with broader cultural movements.

Through her company, Cortés Filmworks, she produces films that spotlight underrepresented voices and untold histories. A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, she also speaks regularly on diversity in media and storytelling.

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NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY (NYFA) ALUM ISSA RAE EARNS NOMINATION IN 73RD ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS

New York Film Academy (NYFA) alum, Issa Rae is in this year’s nominations for the 73rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, announced Tuesday, July 13, 2021. The filmmaking alum was nominated…
NYFA Community Among Shortlist for 93rd Academy Awards

NYFA Community Among Shortlist for 93rd Academy Awards

After teasing the annual announcement of shortlists for this year’s upcoming Oscar nominations, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences finally announced nine categories of shortlists on Tuesday afternoon….
The 52nd NAACP Image Awards Winners

The 52nd NAACP Image Awards Winners

On February 2, 2021, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) announced its list of nominations for this year’s NAACP Image Awards, an annual awards ceremony crediting…
NYFA Presents: The Rock The Vote Rally 2020

NYFA Presents: The Rock The Vote Rally 2020

A rousing group of New York Film Academy students, faculty, and staff from all three campuses (New York, Los Angeles, and South Beach) participated in a Rock the Vote Virtual…

Jane Oster Sinisi

NYFA / ALUMNI / PRODUCING / JANE OSTER SINISI

Jane Oster Sinisi

Jane Oster Sinisi

PRODUCER
Graduated from NYFA NYC Campus in 2015


Jane Oster Sinisi is a film producer and executive, known for her dynamic contributions to independent filmmaking over the past decade. She is CEO of Phiphen Studios and Creative Director at Phiphen, a leading post-production house headquartered in New Jersey.

She has produced or executive produced major titles including “To Catch a Killer” (2023), “Stowaway” (2021), “Centigrade” (2020), “The Birth of a Nation” (2016)—one of the highest-selling films in Sundance history—and “The God Committee” (2021), an official selection at the Tribeca Film Festival. Other notable credits include “Coup!” (2023), “Butcher’s Crossing” (2022), “Brighton Beach” (2020), and “Plan A” (2021), along with television projects such as “Baselines” (2023) and “Bunnylovr” (2025). Her work reflects a blend of genre diversity and social relevance, and she continues to be recognized for her impact on expanding opportunities for female filmmakers and independent productions.

She also serves on the board of the Museum of Jewish Heritage as the granddaughter of four Holocaust survivors. Her vision includes supporting and growing New Jersey’s film community by providing state-of-the-art facilities and fostering creative talent.

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Former Producing Student Executive Producer on Sundance Hit ‘The Birth of a Nation’

Former Producing Student Executive Producer on Sundance Hit ‘The Birth of a Nation’

Without a doubt, the most talked about film at this year’s Sundance Film Festival is Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation. The compelling drama tells the true story of…

Tendo Nagenda

NYFA / ALUMNI / PRODUCING / TENDO NAGENDA

Max Peltz

Tendo Nagenda

PRODUCER
Graduated from NYFA NYC Campus in 1999


Tendo Nagenda is an American film producer and former studio executive, widely recognized as one of the most high-profile Black executives in the entertainment industry. With a track record of developing major studio and streaming hits, he has played a pivotal role in bringing culturally significant and commercially successful films to global audiences.

Nagenda most recently served as Vice President of Original Films at Netflix, where he helped expand the company’s global film slate and championed bold, auteur-driven projects. During his tenure, he developed and oversaw critically acclaimed and high-profile titles such as Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods, Spenser Confidential, The Old Guard, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Hillbilly Elegy, The Harder They Fall, The Gray Man, and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. His time at Netflix was marked by an emphasis on genre diversity and cinematic ambition, helping to shape the streamer’s reputation as a home for original, director-led features.

Before joining Netflix, Nagenda held the role of Vice President of Production at Walt Disney Studios, where he was instrumental in shepherding a range of high-profile titles. His credits include Queen of Katwe, directed by Mira Nair; A Wrinkle in Time, directed by Ava DuVernay; Dumbo, directed by Tim Burton; and Mulan, directed by Niki Caro. His work at Disney reflected a commitment to inclusive storytelling and global appeal, aligning with the studio’s efforts to evolve its legacy content for modern audiences.

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NYFA Filmmaking Alum & Vice President of Original Films at Netflix, Tendo Nagenda, Featured in ‘The Hollywood Reporter’

New York Film Academy (NYFA) alum Tendo Nagenda recently spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about what viewers can expect from Netflix originals in the age of COVID-19, showing that the streaming…

Antoinetta (Hairston) Stallings

NYFA / ALUMNI / PRODUCING / ANTOINETTA STALLINGS

Antoinetta (Hairston) Stallings

Antoinetta (Hairston) Stallings

PRODUCER
Graduated from NYFA NYC Campus in 2009


Antoinetta Stallings is an Emmy nominated producer and creative executive, currently serving as the Vice President of Development and Acquisitions at Tyler Perry Studios. Previously she held roles as producer and post producer on acclaimed projects with networks such as PBS, BET, Centric TV, ITV America, and A. Smith & Co. Productions.

Stallings has built an impressive portfolio, starting as a producer for the Black Girls Rock Award show for BET. She went on to co-produce Crank That Vote, a project highlighting youth civic engagement, and served as supervising producer on the docu-series BEING on Centric. Notably, her short documentary The ATL Waterboyz received the Best Society Film award at the July 2023 Toronto Documentary Festival.

She also served as Vice President of Unscripted at Tyler Perry Studios where she oversaw the end-to-end development and production of unscripted content. Other credits include Associate producer on TV series such as All the Queen’s Men, House of Payne, and Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living. Stallings was an Executive Producer on Sincerely, Love, a romantic dramedy, and a Creative Executive at Tyler Perry Studios for the film The Six Triple Eight, starring Kerry Washington.

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NYFA Cinematography Alum Ilaria Serantoni is Booked and Busy

NYFA Cinematography Alum Ilaria Serantoni is Booked and Busy

It’s Spring, and NYFA Cinematography alum Ilaria Serantoni has graciously made time in her very busy schedule to talk to NYFA. We’re at the Coppola Cafe in Manhattan, and early…
NYFA Alum Step Into The Spotlight at Cannes

NYFA Alum Step Into The Spotlight at Cannes

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Film Festival Successes of the New York Film Academy Community

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NYFA at the Nordic International Film Festival (NIFF) 2023

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NYFA Alum Abraham Amkpa’s “Lift” Selected as Festival Finalist

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NYFA Students Awarded “Top of the Class” in MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy

NYFA Students Awarded “Top of the Class” in MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy

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NYFA Brazilian Alumni Reunite in São Paulo

NYFA Brazilian Alumni Reunite in São Paulo

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NYFA Alum James Friend Wins the Best Cinematography Oscar for All Quiet on the Western Front

Continuing success for NYFA alumni is always something to celebrate—and this year, Cinematographer and NYFA alum James Friend won the Academy Award for best cinematography for his work on All…
The 2023 Oscars: Highlights & Full List of Nominees (Updating Live)

The 2023 Oscars: Highlights & Full List of Nominees (Updating Live)

The nominations for the 2023 Oscars were announced on Tuesday, January 24th, with Riz Ahmed, who won the Oscar for best live-action short last year, and Allison Williams, who currently…

Janek Ambros

NYFA / ALUMNI / PRODUCING / JANEK AMBROS

Janek Ambros

Janek Ambros

PRODUCER | SCREENWRITER | DIRECTOR
Graduated from NYFA LA Campus in 2012


Janek Ambros is Indie-Spirit Award nominated producer, director and writer who began in experimental and documentary films by tackling issues such as civil liberties during the War on Terror, the military industrial complex, and the rise of fascism in Europe which was highlighted when he was awarded the Roots of Europe Auteur Award in 2023. He later directed the psychedelic farce Mondo Hollywoodland, which was a sequel to the 1967 cult classic and executive produced by Oscar nominee® James Cromwell.

His most recent film, Ukrainians in Exile, is a short documentary executive produced by Liev Schreiber and two time Oscar® winner Janusz Kaminski which he shot on the border when Russia began its invasion. His additional experience in producing resulted in awards at Venice Film Festival, GLAAD, SXSW, and Sundance where his film was awarded the Grand Jury Prize in 2024. He is the founder of Assembly Line Entertainment, an international production company which boasts an impressive filmography, including 10,000 Saints (Ethan Hawke, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld), Human Capital (Maya Hawke, Marisa Tomei, Liev Schreiber, Alex Wolff), the documentary Imminent Threat (Directed by Janek Ambros), and Hey, Johnny.

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Janek Ambros, MFA Producing Alum, Produces Festival Hits ‘Ukrainians in Exile’ and ‘Monica’

Janek Ambros, MFA Producing Alum, Produces Festival Hits ‘Ukrainians in Exile’ and ‘Monica’

UPDATE: In May 2023, the Los Angeles-based filmmaker and NYFA alum received the ‘Auteur Filmmaker Award’ at the Roots of Europe International Film Festival. The festival screened Ambros’ films Son…
Assembly Line Entertainment Founder & NYFA Producing Alum Janek Ambros Shares Exciting Slate of Upcoming Projects and Collaborations with Fellow Producing Alum Robbie Leacock

Assembly Line Entertainment Founder & NYFA Producing Alum Janek Ambros Shares Exciting Slate of Upcoming Projects and Collaborations with Fellow Producing Alum Robbie Leacock

After graduation, it’s straight to set for many alumni; but for others, it means a new era of innovation injected into the film industry by bringing in new, incredible stories…
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NYFA Alum Janek Ambros’ Film Produced by Barbara De Fina

New York Film Academy alumnus Janek Ambros, known for his work on “Valley of Bones,” “10,000 Saints,” and “Imminent Threat,” is working with Marin Scorsese’s long-time producing collaborator, Barbara De Fina….
MFA Producing Grad’s Political Documentary Available on Amazon

MFA Producing Grad’s Political Documentary Available on Amazon

When we last spoke with MFA Producing graduate Janek Ambros, he had just premiered his film Ten Thousand Saints (which he co-produced) at Sundance. He briefly mentioned his upcoming directorial debut film, Imminent…

Mohamed Diab

NYFA / ALUMNI / SCREENWRITING / MOHAMED DIAB

Mohamed Diab

Mohamed Diab

DIRECTOR | SCREENWRITER
Graduated from NYFA LA Campus in 2005

Mohamed Diab is an Egyptian screenwriter and filmmaker who made history as the first Arab director tapped by Marvel, leading four episodes (and executive producing) Moon Knight on Disney+.

Early in his career he penned successful Egyptian films such as Real Dreams, The Island, The Replacement, and Congratulations, before making his directorial debut with Cairo 678 (2010), a grainy yet powerful exploration of sexual harassment that resonated beyond borders and earned widespread accolades. Diab’s second feature, Clash (Eshtebak, 2016), showcased his bold experimentation—shot entirely within a riot police truck amid the chaos of post-revolution Egypt. This politically charged film premiered in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section at Cannes and became Egypt’s official submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars.

His subsequent film Amira (2021) earned awards at Venice, underlining his continued ability to craft emotionally gripping stories centered on urgent socio-political themes. In 2022, Diab made history as the first Arab director tapped by Marvel, leading four episodes (and executive producing) Moon Knight on Disney+. In 2025 he wrote and produced the feature film “Happy Birthday” which earned significant honors at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, where the film made history as the first Egyptian production to sweep three major awards: Best International Feature, Best International Screenplay, and Best Female Director.

Mohamed Diab Alum Interview

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Years ago, Mohamed Diab was a 1-Year Screenwriting program student studying at the NYFA Los Angeles campus. Today, he is the lead director and executive producer of Marvel Studios’ Emmy Award-winning series Moon Knight, available to…
Twelve New York Film Academy Alumni at the 2021 Red Sea Film Festival

Twelve New York Film Academy Alumni at the 2021 Red Sea Film Festival

Twelve New York Film Academy (NYFA) filmmaking, acting, screenwriting, and short-term workshop alumni have works that were selected for Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival. This festival marks the first big…
NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY (NYFA) SCREENWRITING ALUM MOHAMED DIAB SCREENS FILM AT VENICE FILM FESTIVAL

NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY (NYFA) SCREENWRITING ALUM MOHAMED DIAB SCREENS FILM AT VENICE FILM FESTIVAL

New York Film Academy (NYFA) Screenwriting alum Mohamed Diab screens his latest film, Amira, at this year’s 78th Venice Film Festival. Writer Mohamed Diab attended NYFA’s 1-year screenwriting program in 2005. The Egyptian filmmaker…

Abby Ajay

NYFA / ALUMNI / SCREENWRITING / ABBY AJAYI

Abby Ajayi

Abby Ajayi

SCREENWRITER
Graduated from NYFA NY Campus in 2011

Abby Ajayi is a British-Nigerian screenwriter, director, and showrunner best known as the creator, writer, and executive producer of Riches—a critically acclaimed six-part drama about a Black British family’s beauty empire, which premiered in 2022 on ITVX (UK) and Amazon Prime Video (U.S.). She was also a writer and co-producer on the Emmy-nominated Netflix limited series Inventing Anna, and her U.S. television credits include The First Lady (Showtime), Four Weddings and a Funeral (Hulu), and Shondaland’s How to Get Away with Murder, where she contributed as a writer and story editor across seasons three and four.

Ajayi is currently developing several high-profile projects, including an adaptation of The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz for Hulu/Onyx Collective, starring Mahershala Ali, and a remake of The Bedroom Window for Studiocanal.

She began her career at the BBC as a script editor on iconic British series such as EastEnders, Casualty, and Doctors. Her first writing credit came on The Story of Tracy Beaker, followed by The Future WAGs of Great Britain for Channel 4’s Coming Up scheme—early work that showcased her sharp storytelling and flair for character-driven drama.

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New York Film Academy (NYFA) Alum Issa Rae Executive Produces HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show

New York Film Academy (NYFA) Alum Issa Rae Executive Produces HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show

This Friday, HBO will premiere its newest comedy series, A Black Lady Sketch Show, executive produced by New York Film Academy (NYFA) alum Issa Rae and created by Robin Thede….
New York Film Academy (NYFA) Screenwriting Alum Abby Ajayi Featured in Largest Hollywood Reporter Photo Shoot Ever

New York Film Academy (NYFA) Screenwriting Alum Abby Ajayi Featured in Largest Hollywood Reporter Photo Shoot Ever

Abby Ajayi, New York Film Academy (NYFA) Screenwriting alum, was one of 63 black female writers featured in an epic photo shoot by The Hollywood Reporter late last year. In…

Tracy Oliver

NYFA / ALUMNI / SCREENWRITING / TRACY OLIVER

Tracy Oliver

Tracy Oliver

FILMMAKER | SCREENWRITER
Graduated from NYFA LA Campus in 2005

Tracy Yvonne Oliver is an American screenwriter, producer, and director. Oliver made history as the first Black woman to write a film that grossed over $100 million with Girls Trip (2017). Her other major credits include Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016), Little (2019), and the Amazon series Harlem, which she created. Oliver also created and wrote the BET television series First Wives Club and wrote the screenplay to the 2019 film adaptation of The Sun Is Also a Star.

One of her early works that first gained attention was co-creating and starring in the web series The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl (2011-2012) alongside Issa Rae. Oliver continues to champion diverse storytelling through her company, Tracy Yvonne Productions, under an eight-figure deal with Apple.

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New York Film Academy (NYFA) Filmmaking Alum Tracy Oliver Launches ‘First Wives Club’ Series

New York Film Academy (NYFA) Filmmaking Alum Tracy Oliver Launches ‘First Wives Club’ Series

First Wives Club, the new adaptation of the hit 1996 film developed for television by New York Film Academy (NYFA) Filmmaking alum Tracy Oliver, premieres this week. Oliver attended the…
New York Film Academy Graduate Challenging Stereotypes with Popular New Webseries

New York Film Academy Graduate Challenging Stereotypes with Popular New Webseries

NYFA Graduate Issa Rae is the creator and star of the youtube series, “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” New York Film Academy graduate Issa Rae grew tired of watching…

Raul Sharma

NYFA / ALUMNI / SCREENWRITING / RAUL SHARMA

Raul Sharma

Raul Sharma

SCREENWRITER
Graduated from NYFA LA Campus in 2018

Raul Sharma is a Kiwi-Indian screenwriter with extensive development and production experience and is currently a staff writer and storyliner for Shortland Street, New Zealand’s longest-running medical drama, based in Auckland.

He interned and worked as a script reader for Arad Productions (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) and Emmett/Furla Oasis Films (Silence, Power ) and he as Script Coordinator for Power Rangers Season 30 and the Netflix special Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always.

His sci-fi feature spec Turnstile won a New Zealand Writers Guild Seed Grant (2020), reached quarterfinals in the 2022 Academy Nicholl Fellowships, and semifinalist status in the Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition. He was named one of Austin Film Festival & MovieMaker Magazine’s “25 Screenwriters to Watch in 2023.

Raul Sharma Alum Work

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NYFA Alum Step Into The Spotlight at Cannes

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Film Festival Successes of the New York Film Academy Community

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NYFA at the Nordic International Film Festival (NIFF) 2023

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NYFA Alum Abraham Amkpa’s “Lift” Selected as Festival Finalist

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NYFA Students Awarded “Top of the Class” in MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy

NYFA Students Awarded “Top of the Class” in MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy

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NYFA Brazilian Alumni Reunite in São Paulo

NYFA Brazilian Alumni Reunite in São Paulo

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NYFA Alum James Friend Wins the Best Cinematography Oscar for All Quiet on the Western Front

Continuing success for NYFA alumni is always something to celebrate—and this year, Cinematographer and NYFA alum James Friend won the Academy Award for best cinematography for his work on All…
The 2023 Oscars: Highlights & Full List of Nominees (Updating Live)

The 2023 Oscars: Highlights & Full List of Nominees (Updating Live)

The nominations for the 2023 Oscars were announced on Tuesday, January 24th, with Riz Ahmed, who won the Oscar for best live-action short last year, and Allison Williams, who currently…