A graduate of DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts, Ryan cut his teeth in the festival world working with the Chicago International Film Festival from 2014-22 as an archivist, technical manager, programmer, and ultimately as the CineYouth Festival Director. He’s excited to continue NFFTY’s mission of encouraging young filmmakers to share their art with the world. When he’s not programming films for festivals or his podcast, you can catch Ryan trekking through the mountains of the PNW or sitting with his cat reading a book.

Amy Williams is an editor, producer, and film programmer based in Seattle, WA. She’s been a leading member of the NFFTY Programming Team since 2018, and she’s excited to help curate and produce another unforgettable festival in 2026. A lover of creating and consuming media, Amy is most fulfilled by helping others bring their artistic visions to fruition.

Gurjot Kang is a passionate multimedia journalist and creative who utilizes her skills in digital marketing as a source for powerful storytelling and advocacy. Having worked with local youth-led organizations in the past like Ground Zero Radio, Gurjot is thrilled to be part of the 2026 festival team and looks forward to championing the work of up-and-coming NFFTY filmmakers! When she’s not busy, Gurjot likes to rewatch and cry to edits of her favorite films and shows, like Avatar the Last Airbender.

Selena Calacat, a former Special Education teacher and community organizer, is happy to join Seattle’s film community in their first year at NFFTY as a Programming Intern. Selena graduates this spring from the University of Washington’s Cinema & Media Studies program and works at the world’s largest public archive at Scarecrow Video. They live and breathe the movies; in their free time, you can find them writing reviews for UW’s film club, editing video essays or forcing their cats Muad’Dib and Nakia into watch parties.

Born and raised on the island of Maui, Julia Chou is a fourth-year Film & Media Studies major and Marketing minor at Seattle University. She discovered her love for filmmaking and storytelling in her middle school media club and has continued pursuing creative projects ever since. When she’s not running around campus helping others, she’s usually hiking, shooting on her film camera, playing the ukulele, sharing good food with friends, or rewatching her favorite comfort shows.

Meilee Chou Riddle is a multidisciplinary arts worker across Seattle’s film, music, and theater communities, whether that be festivals, arts venues, or visual media. Her award-winning films have been featured in regional and national film festivals. She is excited to be on staff for NFFTY and help this incredible festival come to life.