Production Assistant Certification Program Cohort 2025

Justice for My Sister has created and launched a one-of-a-kind Production Assistant Certification Program exclusively for filmmakers of color. The second cohort, of 30 fellows, will participate in an 8-week curriculum followed by job placement opportunities for participants based in the greater Los Angeles area. Graduates from Justice for My Sister’s PA Certification Program will go on to obtain crew positions on JFMS-produced content, as well as positions on networks such as WarnerMedia and production companies such as Blumhouse Productions.

Interested in hosting sponsored PAs or applying to an upcoming cohort? Visit the Applications page to get started, or email info@justiceformysister.org for details.

  • Ale S. Peguero is a multidisciplinary artist from Boyle Heights. Peguero’s community organizing background through equity, justice, and holistic approaches inform his artistic and community-building practices. Committed to uplifting marginalized voices and the desire to create their own stories moved Peguero to pursue opportunities in theatre and film with CASA 0101, the Latino Theatre Company, Women in Film, Venice Arts, and the UCLA Latine Film & Theatre Association. He is also a Fellow with Get Lit’s Creative Career Lab. Through their art they center QTBIPOC narratives of connection, transformation, and resilience in the face of social issues through an intimate lens.

  • Lizzy Esparza is a poet and an aspiring filmmaker. Born and raised in the Inland Empire, Lizzy is a chicana artist who takes inspiration from their culture and identity. They received her Bachelor’s in Digital Film with an emphasis in production and directed one of the practicum films for her graduating class. While they have experience in multiple roles on set, their long term goal is to write and direct their own feature films. As someone who has struggled with mental illness, neurodivergency, and accepting their own gender identity, Lizzy wants to be a queer artist of color that other young filmmakers can look to for inspiration.

  • Ana Borrego is an award winning filmmaker born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. She is currently studying Screenwriting and Directing at Los Angeles Valley College. Ana has a deep love for film history, especially for films shot in LA, and loves any opportunity to be on set. She is outgoing, and she is very inspired by the stories she hears through meeting others. She hopes to write films that represent the latino community better, and to create more women and queer-led stories.

  • Andres Corali Gonzalez is a brown, Two Spirit, transgender non-conforming artist and a therapist raised in South Central and Mexico. Their involvement in grassroots organizations, art collectives, and Two Spirit ceremonies has shaped their passion for resisting systems that harm marginalized communities. As an artist, Andres works in photography, videography, and has led artivism workshops.They use film and photography as therapeutic tools to help clients feel connected, seen and develop their own story. Lastly, Andres loves summertime, is a proud dog parent of two, likes training dogs, enjoys going to the movies and cooking with friends and family.

  • Angel is an aspiring filmmaker and current master’s student in Psychological Science, with a research focus on undocumented Asian American experiences. She is passionate about uplifting immigrant stories and diversifying representations of Asian Americans in media. Her lived experience fuels her commitment to immigrant rights and social justice. Angel has worked closely with grassroots organizations and aims to use film as a tool for advocacy, healing, and representation. By bridging psychology and storytelling, she hopes to explore identity, trauma, and resistance in underrepresented communities, and to inspire systemic change through both academic and creative work.

  • Bella Ayala (b. 2005) is a queer, non-binary, Mexican-American, and Nativeartist who was born and grew up in Los Angeles. As a third-generation creative, Bella was immersed in music, art, and storytelling from childhood. Bella has been playing various instruments since childhood, and throughout high school, Bella performed stand-up bass in the orchestra. Bella’s artistic practice encompasses illustration, painting, jewelry-making, ceramics, film, and digital photography. Lately, Bella has been exploring DJing, mixing, and audio production,and is eager to continue learning about cinematography. Bella’s work is grounded in curiosity, culture, and sound, driven by a passion for creating and a deep bond with my creative lineage.

  • Diana is a versatile creative professional who loves bringing stories to life, both on and off the stage. With a background in content production and client relations, Diana is committed to supporting projects that amplify diverse voices. She is excited to apply her skills and dedication to the dynamic world of film and media production.

  • Emiliano was born in Veracruz, Mexico. A 2017 screening of Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water set Emiliano’s path: film as a lifetime pursuit. Emiliano studied Graphic Design and Animation at Universidad Tecmilenio. Emiliano has written, directed, and produced three shorts—Onix (stop-motion, 2022), Una Sorjuana (2023), and Triada (2024)—screened at the Tecmilenio Veracruz Short Film Festival; Triada earned Best Actor for Yael Saldaña. In 2025 Emiliano completed an internship in Los Angeles at Frida Kahlo Theater and Casa 0101, supporting as Assistant Director, Stage Management, and Production Assistant on I Bet You Didn’t Know, Yo Soy Joaquina, La Noche de Anoche (Mujeres on the Verge), and Breakfast with My Mother

  • Emma Ramirez is a proud second-generation Filipino-American writer passionate about telling stories that explore the intricacies of relationships, whether romantic, platonic, or familial. A graduate from California State University, Fullerton's Cinema and Television Arts program, Emma spent the majority of her college career in a room of her own, writing as a way to experience life. Developing as a writer during a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Emma discovered writing as a tool for her to understand herself and the world around her. This drives her to tell stories because her experiences aren't singular, and stories can make people feel less alone.

  • Faride Z. is an abolitionist, writer, activist, and attorney who lives in Oakland, CA. Her commitment to community centered activism work and passion for storytelling is what guides her career forward. With roots in community justice and a career spent fighting for Reproductive Justice and

  • Fox Kier is a Black Mangaka whose projects span Sci-fi, Fantasy, and Horror genres. His work asks, "What exists now, and what could it become?” His trilogy series explores the biblical event “The Rapture” and its birth of a new world. Deeply influenced by Multiculturalism, Tradition,and a blend of Mono/Poly religious motifs; Fox seeks to weave together diverse cultural narratives that challenge boundaries and create worlds where Black and Brown characters are empowered to break past their limitations. His goal is to inspire readers, helping them dare to be bigger, braver, and bolder than they ever imagined.

  • Gabriel Molina is a writer, a cook, and a single parent. Gabriel has two young daughters and his goal in life is to show them both that they can live their dreams no matter the obstacle. Gabriel was born and raised in Los Angeles so his Chicano roots run deep. Gabriel has always wanted to tell stories that highlight the city and his culture, specifically Chicano punkers like the ones Gabriel grew up with. Gabriel performed in a couple school plays and concerts but his current goal is to write and produce his own films and stories.

  • Hilary Fabian-Rodriguez is a filmmaker born and raised in Southern California, specifically in Los Angeles County. Growing up in a Mexican-Guatemalan household, she developed a rich cultural perspective that influences her work. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Film, TV, and Media Studies from California State University, Los Angeles, and also holds an Associate Degree in Visual Arts from Citrus Community College, underscoring her commitment to the creative arts.

  • Jaylon Jones is an aspiring filmmaker from Toledo, Ohio with a particular interest in screenwriting. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Film Production from Bowling Green State University. His passion for film began when he was an infant, when his mother took him to his first movie in the theaters. His experience working in movie theaters, retail and gyms provides endless inspiration for characters and stories he hopes to create. He currently resides in Valley Village, California.

  • Jeny Amaya was raised in LA County's San Gabriel Valley and has Salvadorean roots. Her multimedia work addresses a range of geopolitical topics through a poetic lens. Each artwork is site-specific, where geography, history, myth, and memory are intertwined. Her films, installations, and collaborative multimedia projects have screened across the U.S. and internationally. She is the recipient of various awards, including LACE’s Lightning Fund and the Princess Grace Award. She received an M.F.A. in Documentary Media from Northwestern University and a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

  • kaden umaña is an disabled queer latinx artist and community organizer born and raised in Los Angeles. Contextualized by umaña’s own marginalized experiences, their role as a community organizer implores education and extracts barriers to create access to the arts. As an artist, umaña’s work utilizes his lived experiences to delve into, defy, and dismantle the impacts of societal oppressions and the internalization of repeated exposure on marginalized identities. Utilizing an interdisciplinary and multimedia approach, umaña’s work relates their concepts through diverse presentation emphasizing the tactile and visceral nature of the themes within each project. Grounded in community and arts access, umaña’s practice is entrenched in learning, education and solidarity with other marginalized artists.

  • Luna Bautista is a lesbian Mexican American filmmaker from San Jose California. Since she was a young girl she has been an avid cinephile for both films and TV. Her work embodies women centered narrative that tackle real world dynamics with a satiral edge and a vibrant aesthetic. Her creative disciplines are rooted in hands-on positions such as lighting and camerawork. She attended De Anza Community College in Cupertino and was chosen by the Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project for a filmmaking workshop in 2023. She is currently finishing up her Bachelor of Arts in Film Production with an emphasis on cinematography at Cal State Northridge.

  • Maia Vik Villa is an actor, writer, drag king (Vik Floyd), & aspiring filmmaker from East LA, most at home between taco trucks y boba tea. Passionate about vulnerable & bold storytelling, cultural healing, & illuminating comedy–they are ecstatic to join JFMS as the next step in progressing two decades of theatre experience to a TV/Film career. They have written screenplay drafts; created Digital Drag videos; acted in short films; dubbed VO for Netflix; and worked as an extra for HBO & Fox. Acting Training: TV/Film with ActNOW & improv comedy with Rich Baker Coaching. BA: Marginalized Identities in Performance, Bennington College, 2015.

  • Mars Ciezki (they/them) is a queer, Congolese-Polish immigrant from Belgium with a background in photo, film, and community-centered arts. They began their creative career in e-commerce before expanding into live event production, including producing Pride-by-the-Beach, as well as casting and production management across the U.S. and Europe. Currently a film student, Mars is committed to building inclusive, culturally accountable creative spaces and brings a deep ethic of care to all aspects of their work. They are particularly interested in the intersections of casting, production, and intimacy coordination, and are focused on developing a well-rounded, socially conscious career in entertainment.

  • Martina Tucker is an independent film producer based in Los Angeles who is dedicated to working on projects that impact others. Her work moves between comedy and emotional storytelling. As a new member of the Justice for My Sisters Production Assistant Cohort, Martina is deepening her understanding of more inclusive and trauma-informed approaches to filmmaking. Her leadership style is collaborative and emotionally attuned. She builds relationships with care and communicates with clarity, always aiming to create spaces where people feel safe and seen. Through her work, Martina continues to advocate for stories that resonate deeply and reflect the complexity of real life.

  • Meghan Hsieh is an aspiring film industry professional with a background in Communications. She has recently worked on various short films, including Paletas Calientes, which garnered multiple awards at the Collaboration Filmmakers Challenge. With a B.A. in Communications Entertainment from Cal State Fullerton, Meghan is an excellent written and verbal communicator. With her knowledge and experience at the Newport Beach Film Festival, she feels a responsibility to collaborate with passionate filmmakers to help create queer BIPOC stories to uplift marginalized communities, and establish understanding within the general public; ultimately attaining the goal of spreading love and compassion.

  • Melina, also known as Melly by many, maintains a close relationship and bond with her Oaxacan-LA community where she strives to sustain a creative and safe environment for the community of Pico Union through educational activities and storytelling. Today Melina continues highlighting her art through documentary photography, podcasting and now filmmaking. Her participation this year with Justice For My Sister is helping her create and dream out loud during unprecedented times.

  • Regina is a San Diego based visual and written artist. Born in Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, Regina grew up in the community of Boyle Heights in Los Angeles, California. In their artistic craft, they often incorporate aspects of their Mexican-American heritage and queer migrant identity. Their work reflects on themes of lineage, chosen family and human connection. Additionally, Regina is extremely passionate about mental health advocacy and accessible arts education.They consider their artistic approach to be unapologetically honest. Regina is a motivated artist, continuously seeking collaboration and ways to explore new mediums.

  • Shanaya Coloma is a Filipina Creative originally from Palm Springs, CA, but now based in the OC/LA area. Shanaya is a 2024 film graduate from California State University, Long Beach, and excited to be participating in Justice for My Sister’s Production Assistant Certification Program. Ever since Shanaya was eleven years old, has had a passion for storytelling and filmmaking, originally making short sketches, to now pursuing a career in the film industry. Through this program, Shanaya looks forward to learning more about the film industry and networking with peers.

  • Xavier Peng(he/she) is a Gen Z, genderqueer filmmaker and film critic from China. Her works often focus on underrepresented communities and have been screened around the world. Currently a Directing student at Chapman University, Xavier’s mission is to help tell stories that are being actively erased.

  • Zach Ng is a mellow yet puckish rogue who is passionate about all things entertainment. Practically, he reckons himself to be an emerging filmmaker with a keen eye for the camera and a growing penchant for the production process. By combining hands-on experience in support of local indie projects with an obsessive focus on the fundamentals, he ponderingly dreams of one day being the one who calls the shots.

  • Zahria Jadice Eaves is a Film major at Santa Monica College with a passion for telling authentic stories that center Black lives. Zahria strives to portray the quiet, often overlooked moments of Black experience—those rich with meaning yet missing from mainstream media. Through work, Zahria blends activism with compassion, creating space for reflection, connection, and truth. Zahria is committed to pushing the boundaries of storytelling, not just for herself, but for the generations after. Zahria’s purpose is to inspire, uplift, and ensure that our stories—especially the everyday ones—are seen, heard, and valued.

Interested in hosting sponsored PAs or applying to an upcoming cohort? Visit the Applications page to get started, or email info@justiceformysister.org for details.