florida's film makers

Will Packer is an American film producer who founded Will Packer Productions, and Will Packer Media. Packer has produced or executive produced a wide range of movies that have grossed more than $1 billion worldwide at the box office, including 10 films that have opened at number one. Born: 1974 (age 51 years), St. Petersburg, FL

Film producer, director, and photographer, Cathleen Dean, creates innovative work inspired by her experiences in South Florida. Dean’s surroundings help fuel her work, and her subjects, translated through her storytelling abilities, engage her audience to ask questions about their surroundings.

Dean approaches her work from an anthropological point of view, aiming to uncover historical truths that have been lost, forgotten, or hidden with time, and illuminate their consequential presence in a contemporary environment. For over a decade Dean was the City producer of the 48 Hour Film Project, a project instrumental in establishing a sense of community for South Florida’s Filmmakers.

 Gerald Jackson, Jr. was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, with a huge passion for filmmaking. After graduating from the University of North Florida with a degree in Broadcast/Film, he assisted in the production of the television series “Safe Harbor,” as well as acted in Joel Schumacher’s “Tigerland.” Afterwards, he attended and graduated from New York City’s Columbia University with a degree in Film Studies. In 2002, Gerald was accepted into the Florida State University Motion Picture Conservatory, where he produced the film Coochie (2004) starring the prolific actress Tyra Ferrell. 

Barry Jenkins (born November 19, 1979) is an American filmmaker. After making his filmmaking debut with the short film My Josephine (2003), he directed his first feature film Medicine for Melancholy (2008) for which he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Feature. He is also a member of The Chopstars collective as a creative collaborator.

Following an eight-year hiatus from feature filmmaking, Jenkins directed and co-wrote the LGBTQ-themed independent drama Moonlight (2016), which won numerous accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Picture. Jenkins received an Oscar nomination for Best Director and jointly won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay with Tarell Alvin McCraney.

Swanson started attending the Miami-based festival in 1998, and at this year’s festival she presented her feature film with an all-star cast.

“When you get the opportunity to spread art as you live it, it’s a rare gift,” said Swanson, an Avon Park, Florida native and director for the film “Albany Road,” which initially released in April.

 Swanson has been in the film industry for over two decades. Her first film “All About You” came out in 2001 and she’s worked with most of the major studios, including Warner Bros. and HBO Films. 

 Carroll moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, during the 1980s. There, she founded the Vinnette Carroll Repertory Company, where she remained as artistic director and producer until her failing health forced her to retire in 2001 

  Dwight Lauderdale (born in Columbus, Ohio) is a former TV news anchor. He was the first African American news anchor in South Florida and became one of the state's most watched and longest running anchors. 

Former Journalist at WPLG Local 10

May 1, 1982 - March 31, 2000·Pembroke Park, Florida

For 18 years, covered breaking news, anchored weekends and early mornings and, ultimately, became the first Education Beat reporter for Eyewitness News.