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.