Sabrina Avilés is an award-winning independent filmmaker, educator, and the Founder/Executive Director of CineFest Latino Boston.

Born in NYC, and as a first-generation daughter of Puerto Rican and Dominican immigrants, she sees her life reflected in the stories she documents about Latinx communities. A graduate of Boston University’s film program, her goal as a documentary filmmaker is to tell in-depth stories, documented over a period of time, that require longer substantive conversations with the community, and that move beyond the headlines. By drawing attention to the issues Latinx communities face, she hopes her films will shift perspectives and foster a deeper understanding of the human experience.

She is currently producing several projects: a documentary about Chelsea, Massachusetts, which delves into the city's challenges and resilience through the stories of three local leaders; an episode of American Experience that examines Puerto Rico’s complex history as a U.S. colony; and The Pneumafractalist, a powerful narrative about an autistic artist who, after surviving deep childhood trauma, returns to rural Kansas to direct an autobiographical film shaped by a profound new understanding of self.

Heidi Burkey is a documentary producer with over 16 years of experience crafting powerful, character-driven stories. Known for capturing the voices and journeys of underrepresented communities, Heidi has directed and produced projects for major platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu. She’s a pro at developing stories from concept to final cut, bringing scripts to life with an authentic, hands-on approach. Heidi’s credits include Jedi Junior High, The Pitch, Fan Chronicles, The Class, and An Update on Our Family—which premiered at Tribeca. An active member of the Video Consortium, Women in Media, Documentary Producers Alliance, and the International Documentary Association, Heidi is passionate about building trust with her interviewees and digging into stories that push beyond the surface.

Rebecca Stern is an Emmy-nominated documentary producer and director living in Los Angeles, CA with over a decade of experience in the field delivering high-quality non-fiction films and series to myriad platforms, film festivals, and media outlets including HBO, Hulu, AMC, ESPN, Starz and PBS among others. Her work has covered topics from the world of sports, national debates, systemic issues, crimes and comedy. Deeply rooted in the documentary community, she is on the board of the Documentary Producers Alliance, a 2023 DOCNYC 40 Under 40 honoree, a 2018 Impact Partners Fellow, a PGA-accredited producer. Rebecca is particularly drawn to films that feature joy, awe, strong narrative structures, and a healthy dose of fun.

Nathaniel Hansen is an Emmy-nominated, Peabody Award-winning documentary filmmaker and educator. His work has screened at Tribeca, SXSW, and Hot Docs, and has been featured by The New York Times, PBS, and National Geographic. He resides in Boston with his family.