Visiting Artists

The Film Program at hosts a number of filmmakers and industry professionals each year, from up and coming directors like Elizabeth Wood and Rebecca Thomas to established filmmakers like David Gordon Green and documentarian Albert Maysles to industry professionals like stuntwoman Monica Staggs. They conduct workshops with students, screen their latest films, and conduct Q&A sessions about their work.

Previous visitors include:

2025-2026


Director

Junge is the director of the Oscar-winning documentary short “Saving Face” (2012), which follows a plastic surgeon’s efforts to help women disfigured by acid attacks in Pakistan. He has also directed Sundance-premier “Being Evel” (2015), Toronto-premier “Iron Ladies of Liberia” (2007), South by SXSW-winner “They Killed Sister Dorothy” (2008), Tribeca-premiere “A Lego Brickumentary” (2014) and Oscar-nominee “The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner” (2009). Junge also served as showrunner for the AMC series “Secret History of Comics” (2017) and Netflix’s “Challenger: The Final Flight” (2020). His most recent film I was Born This Way premiered in 2025.


Foley Artist/Sound Editor

The Chicago-based artist has a background in acting and earned a Bachelor of Arts in film from Columbia College Chicago. After discovering her passion for post-production and the art of Foley, Waters began creating and recording live sound effects that heighten realism and emotion in film, podcasts and video games. She joined post-production audio facility Noisefloor in 2014, where she has served as studio manager, producer and currently their in-house Foley artist. Waters is an active member of the Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) organization, and her work on the online game Destiny 2 has earned Golden Reel and G.A.N.G. award nominations. She has also contributed to the films “Ghosts of the Void” (2023), “Good Guy With a Gun” (2022) and “The Stylist” (2020)..

2023-2024

Eugene Hernandez
Director, Sundance Film Festival

Before he was named Director of the Sundance Film Festival, Hernandez served as the director of the New York Film Festival, deputy executive director of film at Lincoln Center and publisher of Film Comment magazine. He is also well known for founding IndieWire, an online publication predominantly focusing on independent film back in 1996


Producer/Director

Sheffer, who lives in New York City, has a diverse background in film directing, production, and development. She produced A Lien, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2025 and she line-produced The Letter Room, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2021. Her directorial work includes My Dear God, which played at the New Orleans Film Festival, and has screened at Indie Memphis, Nitehawk Shorts and the Jeff Nichols-founded Arkansas Cinema Society’s Filmland.

 

2022-2023


Actor/Filmmaker

A New Jersey native, Todd Solondz won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 1996 for “Welcome to the Dollhouse.” In 1998, he won the International Critics Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay “Happiness.” His film, “Storytelling,” premiered at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival and was named one of the ten best films of the year by the New York Times. “Palindromes” premiered in competition at the 2004 Venice, Telluride, New York and Toronto film festivals. “Life During Wartime” won best screenplay at the 2009 Venice Film Festival and many other awards. “Dark Horse” premiered at the 2011 Venice Film Festival, and “Wiener Dog” premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.


Producer

Michael Wright
Director of Photography

Caro Posse is an assistant professor in cinema and television arts at Columbia College Chicago and film curator for Mostra: Brazilian Film Series presented in cooperation with Partners of the Americas Illinois-Sao Paulo Chapter. She has served on juries for the Sundance Institute, Latino Public Broadcasting and the Independent Television Service. Michael Wright is an adjunct faculty member at Columbia College Chicago and head of Wright Bros. Photoplay. An Emmy winner and multiple Telly Award recipient, Wright served as director of photography for television networks like NBC, ESPN, MTV, Discovery and more.

2019-2020


Actor/Filmmaker

Mark Duplass is a well known American actor and filmmaker. He has starred in a wide range of TV shows and movies including The League, The Morning Show, Bombshell, Paddleton, and The Mindy Project. He is also a prolific writer/producer/director. His projects have included Room 104, Togetherness, Jeff Who Lives at Home. Mark visited as part of the Creative Sustainability Summit.

 

 

 


Filmmaker

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas Jeff Nichols is the award-winning director Mud, Loving, Midnight Special, and Take Shelter. Jeff visited as part of the Creative Sustainability Summit.

 

 

 

 

Emily Best
CEO/Filmmaker

Emily Best is the founder and CEO of , a crowdfunding platform for storytellers and filmmakers. Emily visited as part of the Creative Sustainability Summit.

 

 

 

 


Filmmaker

J. Daniel Hanna is a Toronto-born, Arkansas-raised writer, director, and editor. He directed the film Miss Virginia starring Emmy winner Uzo Aduba. His short film Shelter, starring Clea DuVall (Argo, Zodiac) and April Grace (Whiplash, Magnolia), played at the SAG Short Film Showcase and won the Audience Award from the NewFilmmakers LA festival, among other accolades.

 

 

 

2018-2019


Screenwriter

After winning an Academy Award for Best. Screenplay with Spike Lee for Blackkkansman, Kevin Wilmott returned to for his second visit. In addition to Blackkkansman, Kevin co-wrote Spike Lee’s follow-up Da 5 Bloods and Lee’s earlier film Chi-Raq.

 

 

 


Filmmaker

Ramin Bahrani is an Emmy-nominated Iranian American writer and director whose films have premiered at the Venice, Cannes, Sundance, Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals. His films, Man Push Cart, Chop Shop, and others have won numerous awards worldwide. Bahrani is a professor of film directing at Columbia University.

 

 

 

2017-2018


Filmmaker

Werner Herzog is one of the greatest living filmmakers in the world. His credits include Aguirre The Wrath of God (1972), Fitzcarraldo (1982), and more recently Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World.

 

 

 

2016-2017


Actor/Director

Paul Sand an actor and director with over 50 years acting experience. He is known for (1980), (1991) and (2000), as well as his guest starring roles on numerous TV shows.

 

 

 

 

2015-2016


Filmmaker

Elizabeth Wood is the writer and director of , which premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

 

 

2014-2015


Filmmaker

Rebecca Thomas is a writer/director known for her film screened at the Berlin International Film Festival.

 

and Producers

Coleman and Harrison are film producers best known for their work on the Academy Award nominated film (2012).

 

 

 

 

and Producers

Coleman and Harrison are film producers best known for their work on the Academy Award nominated film (2012).

 

 

 

 

and Mouaz Moustafa
Filmmakers/Activists

Kalin and Moustafa are documentary filmmakers and political activists who worked on the documentary (2014), about the 2011 Syrian crisis.

 

 

 

 

and Mouaz Moustafa
Filmmakers/Activists

Kalin and Moustafa are documentary filmmakers and political activists who worked on the documentary (2014), about the 2011 Syrian crisis.

 

2013-2014

Filmmaker

Enlgand is an Arkansas based writer and director with credits that include (2011), (2013), and (2016).

 

2012-2013

Filmmaker/Actor

Stephenson is best known for his roles in the film (1990), as well as the subsequent making-of documentary (2009), and the documentary (2012).

 

 

Journalist

Putzel is a journalist and documentarian known for his award winning short (2002) and his correspondence work for Al Jazeera America, Vanguard, and Current TV.

 

Filmmakers

Brothers Brent and Craig Renaud are Arkansas-based documentarians who have worked on projects for HBO and Vice News including and Peabody award winning series . They also founded the in 2005.

 

Filmmaker

Sara is a documentary filmmaker best known for her Academy Award nominated short (2011).

 

 

Actor

With over 45 years of experience as a film and television actor, Robert is best known for his roles in (1976), (1977-1982), and (2011-2013).

 

 

 

2011-2012

Filmmaker

Evan is an independent filmmaker who has worked as a writer, director, and cinematographer on several films, including his critically acclaimed experimental film (2011).

 

 

 

Stuntwoman

Monica has done professional stunt work for over 90 films and television series including (1995), (2004), and (2011-2012).

 

 

Producer

Taylor is a television and film producer with credits that include (2008), (2010), and (2015).

 

 

 

 

2010-2011

Filmmaker

Spike Lee is a renowned award winning writer, director and documentary filmmaker with esteemed titles that include (1989), (1992), and (2006).

 

 

 

Filmmaker

Sam Green is a documentary filmmaker who directed the Oscar nominated film (2002), about the radical political activist group of the 1970s.

 

 

 

 

2009-2010


Actor/Director

Mike Brune has worked on several films as an assistant director, director, and actor with credits that include (2007), (2013), and (2015).

 

 

Filmmaker

Kenner is an Academy Award nominated and Emmy winning documentary filmmaker who has worked for National Geographic and PBS, but is best known for his political documentaries (2008), and (2014).

 

 

Actor/Director

Rogers was a character actor and director on such films as (2001) and (2010).

 

 

 

2008-2009

Filmmaker

Maysles was a legendary and award winning documentary filmmaker with credits that include (1970), (1975), (1996), and (2014).

 

Filmmaker

Brent Renaud is an Arkansas native and award winning documentarian whose work has taken him worldwide, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Mexico, and Egypt. Some of his films include , and

 

2007-2008

Alloy Orchestra

Alloy Orchestra is a three-man musical ensemble that performs live eclectic accompaniments and soundtracks to classic films of the silent era.

 

2006-2007

Editor

Long Cheng is a film editor with a who has worked on such acclaimed films as (2004), (2006), and (2007).

 

 

 

Sound Designer

Tao is an award winning sound designer whose most notable work includes (2002), (2004), and (2011).

 

 

 

Sound Designer

Harry Cheney is a Hollywood veteran sound designer with dozens of credits as a sound and foley mixer, including such films as (1994), (1999), and (2013).

 

2005-2006

Cinematographer

Ly Bolia is a cinematographer and camera operator who has many short film and feature credits to his resume.

 

 

 

 

Cinematographer

Jeff Seckendorf is a cinematographer known for (1999), (2003), and (2004).

 

 

 

2004-2005

Filmmaker

Arkansas native Indie-sensation turned Hollywood filmmaker David Gordon Green is responsible for such films as (2003) (2008), and (2009-2013).

 

 

 

Filmmaker

Michael Moore is an Academy Award winning documentarian and activist. Some of his more influential films include , , , and

 

IMAX Cinematographer

James Neihouse is an Arkansas native and an award winning IMAX cinematographer.

 

2003-2004

Filmmaker/Actor/Screenwriter

Kevin is known for his films , and , as well as co-writing Spike Lee’s .

 

Screenwriter

UCA alumnus (1999), Graham Gordy is the screenwriter behind (2007), and co-writer of (2008). He was also a staff writer of the television series (2013-2015). In 2015, he became the executive producer of the television series (2015).

 

 

 

 

2002-2003

Film Scholar

Bordwell is a renowned film theorist and historian. He has authored over a dozen works on cinema, its history, and theory.

Filmmaker

Ben Meade is a documentarian and producer responsible for films like and .