UWHFF23 Title Sponsor

GroundFloor Studios (GFS) provides a space for collaboration and accessibility where makers can bring professional-level creative visions to life while making a social impact. This multi-purpose media production studio exists as a partnership between ChatterBlast Media and Big Picture Alliance – made for creatives by creatives. Centrally located and in close proximity to multiple modes of transportation, GroundFloor grants convenience and flexibility in addition to a vast collection of highend production equipment. GroundFloor also serves as a workforce incubator and source of social impact, allowing for the personalization of the creative process from inception to completion while cultivating a diverse pipeline of emerging young creatives, all in one place.

Master of Ceremonies: Williametta SimmonsSonpon

Dr. “Sweetie”Simmons-Sonpon wasborn in Liberia, West Africa. Sheimmigrated to the United States in 1995due to the Liberian Civil War.Dr. Simmons graduated from Upper Darby High School in 2000 and continuedhereducation at WidenerUniversity.Today, Dr. Simmonsisa LicensedPsychologistwith over10 years of experiencein the mental health field.She obtained herMasters in BusinessAdministration (MBA) with a concentration in Health Care Management(HCM)and Doctorate in Psychology (Psy.D) from Widener.Dr. Simmonsisthe ownerof IntegrativePsychological & ConsultingServices, located in Bala Cynwyd,PA. Shespecializesin mood and anxietydisorders,marriage and familytherapy, trauma, andpsychosis.

Our Jury:

Kyra Knox

Kyra started workingin the filmindustryas an actor whilebalancinghercorporate job. A friendaskedher to helpproduce a film. Sherealizedthat not onlywas she good, butshe lovedit! Shetook a leapof faith,quither day job, andbegan workingas a full-timeproducer. Kyra's latest project “Bad ThingsHappen in Philadelphia,”willdebutatthisyear’s American Black FilmFestival.Herfilm"TheTime Thief,"screened duringthe2022 UWHFF.We are honored to haveKyra be a UWHFF23judge.

Hakima Benjamin

Hakimais an independentshort filmproducer, writerand director from Newark,New Jersey. Shebegan writingshortstories of personal experiencesand fantasyin her early teensto escape the socioeconomic hardshipsof her environment.Todate, Hakimacontinuesto work with other directors and writersto help produce independentshortand featurefilms.Her stories featurevariousfacets of the Black experience. Hakima's short film“Call End”screened during the 2022UWHFF program andwe are now honoredto haveHakimaas a UWHFF23judge.

Martin Alfaro

Martin is the newly promoted General Manager of Al Día News. Martin is a prominent member of the media community. He loves community organizing and highlighting individuals making a difference in their communities. In 2018, he founded the annual Martin Alfaro Scholarship at his alma mater to help one undergrad student with the financial burden of attending college. Alfaro is part of several nonprofit advisory boards, including the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (YPN) and Graduate Philadelphia. We are honored to have Martin as a #UWHFF23 judge.