Arpa International Film Festival Advisory Board
JOE BERLINGER
Academy Award and eight-time Emmy–nominated Joe Berlinger has been a pioneering force in nonfiction filmmaking for over three decades. Creator of such landmark documentaries as “Brother’s Keeper”, the “Paradise Lost” trilogy, “Crude”, and “Metallica: Some Kind of Monster”, eight of Berlinger’s films have premiered at Sundance, earning the Audience Award and three Grand Jury Prize nominations. Other recognition includes multiple DGA, National Board of Review, Indie Spirit, and Critics’ Choice Awards. Berlinger’s body of social justice work has sparked justice reform, notably catalyzing the release of six wrongfully convicted defendants from prison, and three from death row. “Intent to Destroy: Death, Denial, Deception” won Best Documentary Film at the Arpa International Film Festival in 2017.
The film was also screened for U.S. lawmakers, playing a critical role in the United States Congress finally acknowledging the Armenian Genocide in 2019, after a century of Turkish denial. Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America, commented: “Joe Berlinger’s ‘Intent to Destroy’ empowered our community, our coalition partners, and our congressional allies to finally persuade both chambers of Congress to formally recognize the massacre of the Armenian people in 1915 as a genocide.”
Berlinger holds a streak of chart-topping work on Netflix, attracting enormous audiences with many productions that have all debuted in Netflix’s Top Ten—often at number one. He is also the first filmmaker to simultaneously cover the same subject in both scripted and unscripted forms, with “Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes” and “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile”, the latter of which starred Zac Efron, Lily Collins, and John Malkovich.
Berlinger’s recent titles for Netflix include “Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich”, “Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street”, “Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial”, and “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey”. “Hitler and the Nazis” and “Cold Case” are nominated in this year’s News & Documentary Emmy Awards.
Berlinger’s most recent documentary, “The Tylenol Murders”, is currently at the top of Netflix’s rankings.
KRYS MARSHALL
Krys Marshall is a dynamic and versatile actress whose current portrayal of Special Agent Nicole Robinson in Hulu’s political thriller “Paradise” has garnered her critical acclaim. In the series, Marshall’s character is a high-ranking Secret Service agent entangled in a complex web of political intrigue and personal secrets, all within a subterranean bunker housing survivors of a global catastrophe. Her performance has been praised for its emotional depth and authenticity, particularly in Episode 7, which resonated with real-world events like the Los Angeles wildfires.
Marshall’s commitment to her roles is evident in her approach to character development. She has spoken about the importance of diverse representation, noting that her character in “Paradise” was not initially envisioned as a Black woman, and how she brought her own life experience to the role.
Prior to “Paradise”, Marshall captivated audiences as Danielle Poole in Apple TV+’s acclaimed series “For All Mankind”, where she portrayed NASA’s first-ever Black astronaut. Called “one of the best shows of 2021” by Rolling Stone, Krys, along with her cast, was nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Best Drama.
Her various television credits also include “Supergirl”, “This Is Us”, “Shameless”, and “NCIS”, showcasing her range across genres.
Originally from the South, Marshall is a graduate of the classical conservatory program at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Beyond her on-screen work, she is an advocate for underprivileged children and a mentor with the Young Storytellers Foundation, whose mission is to “inspire young people to discover the power of their own voice.”
With her compelling performances and dedication to meaningful storytelling, Krys Marshall continues to be a rising force in Hollywood.
ARA KESHISHIAN
ZQ Entertainment is a development and production company founded by former CAA agent and producer Ara Keshishian, along with producer Petr Jákl. ZQ Entertainment most recently produced and financed the thriller “Locked”, starring Bill Skarsgård and Anthony Hopkins.
Other projects by ZQ Entertainment include the John Grisham book “Calico Joe”, which is being adapted by George Clooney and Grant Heslov and produced by Bob Dylan and Smokehouse Pictures. Also upcoming is “God’s Country”, with producer Matt Reeves and director Egor Abramenko; Patrick Burleigh’s adaptation of Hannah Gold’s international bestseller “The Last Bear”; and an upcoming trilogy of Stan Lee horror movies from producer and director Timur Bekmambetov.
Keshishian began his career in the mailroom at CAA, where he rose to become an agent in the Motion Picture Department. His clients included Natalie Portman, Antonio Banderas, Kate Hudson, Jeffrey Wright, Kerry Washington, Lena Headey, and Liev Schreiber.
He helped put together acclaimed independent films such as “Black Swan”, “Mud”, and “Margin Call”. He also worked closely with major studios in packaging high-profile films such as “Iron Man”, “Captain America”, “Thor”, and “Marley & Me”.
In 2011, Keshishian was named President of Production and Development for Lotus Pictures, where he produced the Lionsgate/Roadside release “Maggie”, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose performance as a tormented father was critically acclaimed. He also produced “November Criminals”, starring Ansel Elgort and Chloë Grace Moretz; the Roadside film “Z for Zachariah”, with Margot Robbie, Chris Pine, and Chiwetel Ejiofor; “Kidnap”, starring Halle Berry; and the sci-fi thriller “Replicas”, starring Keanu Reeves.
In 2018, Keshishian produced the highly acclaimed “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile”, directed by award-winning documentarian Joe Berlinger. The film went on to become the eighth most-watched film on Netflix after selling to the platform in a bidding war.
Keshishian also produced “What Is Life Worth”, starring Michael Keaton and Stanley Tucci, which sold to Netflix in a multimillion-dollar deal for Higher Ground Productions.
Together with partner Petr Jákl, Keshishian shares a commitment to impactful filmmaking and an exciting slate of upcoming projects.
Keshishian is the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award for International Law and volunteered at the Western Law Center for Disability Rights. A longtime supporter and jury member of AIFF, he has one daughter, Zabelle, with his wife, Corrine Keshishian.
STUART MANASHIL
Stuart Manashil is the founder of NOVO and has produced over 25 films and television shows since the company’s inception in 2018. NOVO is a management and production company based in Los Angeles that represents writers, directors, and producers from around the world, including multiple Academy Award winners. Before founding NOVO, Manashil was a partner at WME for three years and an agent at CAA for six years.
Manashil graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with a master’s degree. Some of the films he has produced and executive produced include “Pieces of a Woman”, “French Exit”, “Wasp Network”, “City of Lies”, “Malcolm & Marie”, “His House”, “The Watcher”, and, most recently, “Misanthrope”.
His produced television projects include the recent HBO series “Irma Vep”, the limited series “Debriefing the President”, starring Joel Kinnaman, and the upcoming television series “Crystal Lake” (based on Friday the 13th) for A24/Peacock.
Manashil is also in post-production on “At the Sea”, starring Amy Adams; “The Wizard of the Kremlin”, directed by Olivier Assayas; “Place to Be”, directed by Kornél Mundruczó; and “Onslaught” for A24.
TINA TREADWELL
Tina Treadwell is a longtime supporter of Arpa International Film Festival and has served twice as a jury member and presenter.
As President of Treadwell Entertainment Group, Ms. Treadwell develops and manages the careers of groundbreaking talent. Recognized for her work at Disney Channel as Vice President of Casting & Talent Development, she has launched the careers of many young stars. She was the creative executive in charge of Disney’s In Concert series and spearheaded music specials for Britney Spears, LeAnn Rimes, Backstreet Boys, and ’NSYNC.
With several notable clients under her wing, Ms. Treadwell also produced Oliver Goldstick’s critically acclaimed musical Dinah Was (starring Yvette Freeman), earning a nomination for both an Ovation Award and an NAACP Award for Best Musical.
SCOTT MICHAEL CAMPBELL
For over 30 years, Scott Michael Campbell has appeared in countless television shows, including (but not limited to): “ER”, “Nothing Sacred”, “House”, “Boston Legal”, “Masters of Sex”, “24”, “Criminal Minds”, “The Shield”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Dexter”, “CSI”, “The West Wing”, “NCIS”, “Supernatural”, “Castle”, “Suits”, “Longmire”, “Code Black”, “Hawaii Five-0”, “Hell on Wheels”, “Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac & The Notorious B.I.G.”, “This Is Us”, “Magnum P.I.”, “Shameless”, “For All Mankind”, “The Rookie”, “Ted”, and most recently, the Emmy-nominated limited series for Hulu and Disney, “Under the Banner of Heaven”, portraying Brigham Young. Recurring character roles indicated by asterisk.
Scott’s extensive repertoire of film credits began when he debuted on the big screen in George Lucas’ “Radioland Murders” (1994). He has also starred in “Hart’s War”, “Bulworth”, “Flubber”, the 2004 remake of “Flight of the Phoenix”, “Brokeback Mountain”, “Brothers Three: An American Gothic”, “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints”, “Crazy: The Hank Garland Story”, “The Smell of Success”, “Push”, “A Good Day to Die Hard”, “Small Town Saturday Night”, “Ticket Out”, “The Wedding Pact 1 & 2”, “Dead Wrong”, and “Riff Raff”—only to name a few.
In addition to delivering numerous memorable performances on screen, Scott has also been recognized and has won awards for his work as a director, producer, and writer.
In the community, Scott shares his support for various organizations, including Lupus LA (www.lupusla.org), where he continues to advocate as one of their Celebrity Ambassadors. He also serves on the Advisory Board for California Police Youth Charities (www.calpyc.com), and is now a proud honorary member of the Arpa International Film Festival board.
HEATHER McCOMB
Heather McComb is an American actress and producer with over 100 credits to her name in film and television. She made her film debut as the lead, Zoe, in Francis Ford Coppola’s “New York Stories.” Since then, she has continued to work with some of today’s most acclaimed directors, including David Gordon Green, Bryan Singer, Martha Coolidge, Francis Ford Coppola, and Wayne Wang.
Heather’s feature film credits include “Apt Pupil,” “Anywhere But Here,” “Silver Skies,” “If These Walls Could Talk 2,” and “Oceans of Pearls,” as well as several movies that have screened in competition at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, including: “All the Real Girls,” “God’s Lonely Man,” and “Steel City.”
She has also had memorable roles on many notable television shows, including “Prison Break,” “House M.D.,” all four “CSI” series, “The Mentalist,” “Castle,” “The Rookie,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Station 19,” and “Shameless,” to name a few—as well as being cast on the critically acclaimed NBC show “The Event,” portraying FBI Agent Angela Collier.
Heather is well known for her work on Showtime’s breakout hit “Ray Donovan,” where she played Patty. She can currently be seen on the Showtime series “American Gigolo” in the recurring role of Rachel, opposite Rosie O’Donnell.
In addition to her television work, Heather recently starred in the films “Incarcerated” (for Tubi), “Sweet Home Carolina,” “Pretty Bad Actress,” “Shooting Star,” “The Cleaner,” “The Wedding Pact 2,” and “Battle Scars,” which Heather also produced.
KARINA MANASHIL
Karina Manashil is the President of MAD SOLAR, having begun her career in the mailroom at William Morris Endeavor, where she became a talent agent. Manashil represented notable clients including Scott Mescudi, known by his stage name Kid Cudi, and built her career by taking talent into new arenas.
In 2020, she partnered with Mescudi and Dennis Cummings to launch MAD SOLAR, which is backed by BRON. The first production released under the banner was the Amazon documentary, “A Man Named Scott,” directed by Robert Alexander. Manashil then went on to executive produce the SXSW fan-favorite “X,” along with its highly anticipated prequel, “Pearl,” and the recently announced sequel, “MaXXXine.” All three films are directed by Ti West and distributed by A24.
“Pearl” had its world premiere at the 2022 Venice Film Festival, followed by a screening in the Midnight Madness program at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, and was released exclusively in theaters on September 16. Manashil is also an executive producer on the Netflix animated event directed by Fletcher Moules, “Entergalactic,” which was released alongside Kid Cudi’s 10th studio album of the same name on September 30.
Manashil is a native of Los Angeles and graduated from Chapman University with a BFA in Film Production.
ANTHONY GRIECO
Anthony Grieco is a 2015 Nicholl Award winner for his script “Best Sellers,” which was recently released. The film stars Michael Caine, Aubrey Plaza, and Scott Speedman, and was produced by Cassian and Arielle Elwes.
Anthony eagerly awaits the start of production on “Buzzed,” a Buzz Aldrin biopic to be directed by Marc Forster. He is also prepping his directorial debut with “Ciao America,” his latest script based on a true story about the world’s longest, craziest, casualty-free hijacking in 1969. Anthony is currently writing “One Christmas in Washington,” a political dramedy about Winston Churchill’s disruptive three-week stay at the White House in 1941.
In addition, Anthony has worked as a story specialist for The Writers Store and as a mentor for the Industry Insider Screenwriting Contest. He also co-wrote the screenwriting book “The Pocket Screenwriting Guide: 120 Tips for Getting to Fade Out.” Anthony attended the University of Toronto, where he studied English and History. He later attended Circle in the Square Theatre School in New York City and went on to act in over 50 television commercials and episodic programs.
In his spare time, Anthony is an amateur photographer (favorite subjects include Los Angeles architecture, his wife’s cooking, and his cats Max and Buddy), film buff, collector of Criterion films, and frequent dinner party attendee.
LOREN EIFERMAN
Loren Eiferman was born in Brooklyn, NY, and currently lives and works in the Hudson Valley. After studying in France, she received her BFA from SUNY Purchase. Her artwork has been exhibited extensively at museums and galleries throughout the New York Tri-State region and is included in many prestigious private and corporate collections both in the U.S. and globally. In 2014, she received a public works commission from the NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority, in which she translated her wood sculptures into a series of metal railings at the Pelham, NY, train station.
SANDRA GERING
Sandra Gering is an influential American gallerist, curator, and art dealer known for her pioneering support of conceptual and interdisciplinary art. Beginning her career by exhibiting work in her West Village townhouse in the late 1980s, she went on to open a series of acclaimed galleries across New York City, showcasing artists such as Janine Antoni, George Condo, Leo Villareal, and KAWS. Her curatorial vision has consistently embraced emerging talent, new media, and international perspectives, evolving through partnerships and expansions that positioned her at the forefront of contemporary art discourse.
Beyond the gallery world, Gering has made significant contributions to cultural preservation through her founding of Friends of E.1027, an organization devoted to restoring Eileen Gray’s iconic modernist villa in France. A board member of Art OMI and active in leading art institutions such as the Art Dealers Association of America and ArtTable, Gering continues to shape the contemporary art landscape through exhibitions, public programs, and international advocacy for both artists and architectural heritage.