Our Mentors
Lorien McKenna
Mentor
Lorien McKenna is an Emmy-nominated and NAACP Image Award-winning writer and producer. Most recently, she was the Showrunner for the award-winning YouTube preschool show TAB TIME. As a former Story Manager at Pixar Animation Studios, Lorien worked on UP, BRAVE, INSIDE OUT, and THE GOOD DINOSAUR. She was the Development Producer on several animated features at Paramount Animation and was the Co-Executive Producer on CURIOUS GEORGE for the TV series and animated feature films. She’s written and developed for NBC, Hulu, Disney, Comedy Central, and Netflix. Lorien is a Script Editor for Screen Australia (HOW TO PLEASE A WOMAN), Screen Queensland, and Screen Ireland. She is a mentor for the Cinestory Foundation and the Nostos Screenwriting Retreat and, along with writer Meg LeFauve, she is the co-host of THE SCREENWRITING LIFE podcast. Lorien received a BA in English Literature & Performing Arts and an MFA in Playwriting from St. Mary’s College of California where she taught as an Adjunct Professor in the English and Theater Departments. Her favorite writing snacks are dill pickle chips and black licorice.
Guest Speakers
Producer & director
Stefano Tealdi
Producer/Director. Born in Johannesburg (ZA) in 1955, he studies Architecture in Torino, Italy and founds film production company Stefilm in 1991.
He recently directed the documentary series Food Markets – In the Belly of the City (20×52); A World of Pasta, Doctor Ice (Science Film Festival – Milano 2009), and co-wrote Food Makers go Global! (5 x26′). He produced Exemplary Behaviour (winner of Golden Dove, Fipresci and Interreligious award, 2019).My Home, in Libya (Locarno FF 2018); Wonderful Losers (Lithuanian candidate Academy Awards 2019); The Strange Sound of Happiness (Special Mention Next Masters DOKLeipzig 2017); The Queen of Silence (IDFA 2014, Silver Horn, best feature length doc Krakow FF 2015, Golden Nanook IDF Perm 2015); Char, no man’s island (Berlinale Forum 2013), Vinylmania (IFF Rotterdam 2012), Mostar United (IDFA 2009).
He tutors for: Biennale Cinema and VR College Venice, Marchè du Film Cannes, Documentary Campus, EsoDoc, Films 3 Continents-Produire au Sud, Med Film Factory, New Chinese Film Talents, Ouga Film Lab, Torino Film Lab, Scuola Holden, ZagrebDox Pro, ZELIG Film School and several other institutions.