Yanely “Nelly” Castellanos (they/them, 20) is a junior studying Film & Television at Columbia College Chicago with a concentration in Producing and Screenwriting. Dedicated to the art of filmmaking, their work amplifies diverse voices and representation of Queer BIPOC. Beyond film, they are actively involved with nonprofits, channeling their passion for community involvement through event organizing and youth outreach. In line with their commitment to both filmmaking and community building, they interned with the International Children’s Media Center as a Film Selection Committee member, gaining valuable insight into the operations of film festivals while enjoying new and inspiring films. Their first short film, Daydreamers, was an official selection for CineYouth, the Big Teeth Small Shorts Film Festival, and earned the “Audience Choice Award” at the Cariño Festival de Cine in its 2024 festival run. Yanely is excited to return to CineYouth as an Intern to further hone their skills in programming.

Ava Chandler (she/her, 22) is a senior at Loyola University Chicago studying Film and Digital Media and minoring in English. Ava has worked on countless student film productions at Loyola, fulfilling roles such as a writer, director, producer, editor, production designer, 1st AD, 2nd AC, script supervisor, and production assistant. In fall of 2024, Ava volunteered at the 51st Telluride Film Festival in Telluride, Colorado, working as a Q-Giver/Q-Caller and Floor Usher at the Galaxy Theatre. From this experience, she grasped the reality of working at a high-profile film festival and the persistence required to work in show business. Ava is eager to continue her filmmaking career by pursuing creative or logistic roles to make the world of filmmaking as exciting and accessible as possible.

Carmen Chavez (she/her, 20) attends DePaul University, where she is a third year studying Film and Television with a concentration in Directing as well as minoring in Business Management. Carmen has worked on over 30 projects over her time at DePaul ranging from student films, to dance covers, and Live TV events. In the spring of 2024, Carmen worked for DePaul’s Premiere Film Festival and really enjoyed how film festivals operate and watching the work of her peers. Recently, she has worked on the Visiting Artist Series as a camera operator, working events for notable names like Jim Jarmusch and Joi McMillon. Carmen also does Production Design, Casting, and 1st Assistant Directing. Last September, she worked as the 1st AD for Why Do The Turbines Glow?, a thriller involving aliens and wind farms. This spring, she will be making her first big short film called Day 777, a drama involving zombies!

Jessica Dortch (she/her, 20) is a junior studying Film and Television with a concentration in Screenwriting and minoring in Professional Writing at DePaul University. She has had the privilege of working on a variety of productions over the course of her time at DePaul, both filmed and live performance. She has worked as a script supervisor for short films such as Honey Lemon and Scorched, and as a production assistant for projects such as Shine Bright and Love Is All You Need. Additionally, she has served as a writer, performer, and director for numerous sketch and stand-up comedy shows as a part of The Theater School at DePaul University’s Mess Fest comedy festival, including her original sketch show My Big Fat Rom-Com Sketch Show. Her favorite genre to write is comedy, and she loves to create character driven stories that find the magic in everyday life. She is looking forward to CineYouth’s 2025 festival, and is excited for the opportunity to support other young filmmakers and creatives.

Vante Duong (she/her, 19) is a Sophomore majoring in Communications with a minor in Moving Image Arts at the University of Illinois, at Chicago. She is an active member and podcaster at UIC Radio, hosting her own show called The Good, The Bad, and The Films where she discusses everything cinema! Her first ever amateur short film, Limerence, made in 2023, was a film about obsessive and toxic love written in both Vietnamese and English. She worked on the project as co-director, screenwriter, and co-editor. She also volunteered at the 60th Chicago International Film Festival where she worked as a theater operator, greeter, and more. Vante has a strong and passionate love for cinema—which she sees herself pursuing after graduating to go back to her home country to help make Vietnamese movies more mainstream!

Cameron Eader (he/him, 26) is a genre filmmaker residing in the Chicago area. He is currently studying at DePaul University for his BFA in Film & Television with a concentration in cinematography. With experience on over 20 short films working in either the Camera or G&E department, Cameron puts great emphasis on each of his films’ visual style. His latest short film, Amy Surprise Party ’94, a proof of concept for a much bigger and bloodier film, is a culmination of everything he loves to see in horror: silly teenagers getting brutally murdered, over-the-top performances, and glorious practical effects. Cameron is currently on the programming committees for NFFTY ’25 and Indy Film Fest ’25. He is most looking forward to learning more regarding the logistics of programming an annual film festival and utilizing his skills and resources towards uplifting up-and-coming filmmakers as a 2025 CineYouth Programming Intern.

Sydney Krey (she/her, 21) is a cinematographer in her senior year at DePaul University, where she studies Film & Television and Public Relations/Advertising. During her time there, she has been the Director of Photography on several short films, including Something Great and Avery and the Boy Witch. She is a member of the professional cinematic society Delta Kappa Alpha, where she has collaborated on several projects with many talented filmmakers. Through volunteering at the Chicago International Film Festival and the Chicago Irish Film Festival, Sydney discovered her passion for film festivals and the dedicated community it takes to make them possible. Sydney aspires to document the world through thoughtful visuals while connecting with others through the shared love of cinema. She believes film is the most powerful tool we have in our lifetime to instill empathy and better understand our shared humanity.

Justin Turner (he/him, 21) is an actor, writer, producer, and director from St Louis, MO. Justin is in his fourth year studying Film and Digital Media and minors in African Studies/Diaspora at Loyola University Chicago. Justin starred in Loyola’s production of Fairview this past February for eight performances. He recently produced his first short film in November now in post production, wrote and edited his directorial debut Party for None, and is now working on his capstone film that he is directing and acting in. After graduation in May 2025 Justin hopes to continue pursuing working in film and television. He has a strong passion for Back representation in media and hopes to tell positive Black stories through film and television.