LAURA ANNALORA, PRESIDENT

Wearing hats as diverse as Freelance Producer, Development Consultant and Talent Manager, Laura Annalora has almost two decades of film and television experience, and her work has aired on multiple platforms in over 170 countries.

Annalora has a sixth sense for developing original content that sells. She currently runs her own production company, Queens’ Suite, working with clients like Harper Collins and WebMD to create commercial and branded content. She also freelances as Head of Production for Cannon Lady Pictures, a new independent production company producing scripted and unscripted content. Prior to that, Annalora was at Bat Bridge Entertainment. There she managed a team of development producers and oversaw exclusive network development deals that produced original content seen in 100 million U.S. homes, with two billion viewers digitally. Her strong guidance as Head of Development at Bat Bridge Entertainment led to the successful creation of the Emmy-nominated series, High Profits for CNN, and then went on to develop the Emmy-winning documentary, Disgraced, for SHOWTIME. Prior to Bat Bridge, she was Director of Global Development & Production for National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild, working with over 150 production companies and agencies worldwide to develop original content. Annalora fielded, reviewed, and green-lit innovative TV pilots, one-offs, and series. During her stint as Development Producer and Consultant in Washington, D.C. Annalora made global impact by advancing unique content for independent production companies worldwide, and pitched and sold original ideas to networks, digital platforms, and corporate clients with budgets ranging from $50k-$750k per hour.

Annalora takes a hands-on approach working with field crews, editors and pitch executives to transition ideas into compelling pitch packages. She is accomplished at sourcing strong on-camera talent and crafting pitches for concepts that have included Emmy and Gemini award-winning documentaries, as well as BANFF World Television Award winners. Her unscripted programs have been picked up by major cable networks including National Geographic Channel, CNN, and Showtime.

Annalora brings a fresh perspective and creative ingenuity to quality entertainment.

Contact Laura at president@wiftaustin.org

MELINDA MARROQUIN,  SECRETARY

Melinda Marroquin is an award-winning filmmaker whose journey in the world of film began in her childhood in deep South Texas in her Rio Grande Valley hometown of Mission. From the moment she made her first on-screen appearance at the age of seven, she was captivated by the art of storytelling. While her early career included acting in theatre, films and TV movies, it was her extensive two-decades long experience behind the camera that truly shaped her path. Working in various crew positions, she had the privilege of collaborating with iconic directors like Richard Linklater, Robert Rodriguez, and Quentin Tarantino, each encounter honing her skills and deepening her understanding of the filmmaking process. This dynamic journey ultimately led her to embrace her true passion as a director and producer. Driven by a commitment to inclusivity, Melinda actively champions the diversity of women's voices in the film industry, creating initiatives that empower women to thrive and make their mark in the ever-evolving landscape of film and television. Melinda hopes to inspire a new generation of storytellers to break barriers and share their unique narratives

Contact Melinda at secretary@wiftaustin.org

JESSICA SLOAN, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS CHAIR

Jessica Sloan interned at many places in Austin including Austin Film Society, Detour FilmProductions and Miramax. Once employed with Troublemaker Studios she soon realized she loves working with actors. This led her to becoming part of the casting team at Beth Sepko Casting working on the casting side and becoming an Extras Casting Coordinator. While working for Beth, she started an internship at a known talent agency that led to 17 years as a full-time on-camera agent and head of the voiceover department. Her extensive resume of industry work has curated a strong sense for the development of actors and grown strong relationships with the film community in Texas. Jessica has now started her own consulting firm, First Take, teaching the business of acting.

Contact Jessica at communitypartnerships@wiftaustin.org.

DEB WILEY, TREASURER

Contact Deb at treasurer@wiftaustin.org

TORI ROSE, BOARD SUPPORT CHAIR

Tori Rose is a jack of all trades on set but primarily works as a production designer and set dresser based in Austin, TX. She also volunteers for other film related organizations including Austin Entertainment Business and Austin Film Festival. She worked as an Office Production Assistant on Jeff Nichols' film The Bikeriders and was the Production Designer for Allen Danzinger's The Weedhacker Massacre.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Southwestern University with a minor in Philosophy where she received the Laura Kuykendall Communication Student of the Year Award. In 2017, Tori achieved a Master of Arts from Texas State University in the same field with a focus on Qualitative and Rhetorical research in Critical Media Studies. Tori also works in academic research currently studying presenteeism (working while sick) and intersectionality in media. She co-authored an article called, "#RepresentationMatters on TV: A critical textual analysis of intersectional representation at work on NBC's Superstore," in the communication journal Feminist Media Studies.

​Contact Tori at boardsupport@wiftaustin.org.

JANELLE LEE AUSTIN, EVENTS CHAIR

Janelle Lee Austin discovered her love for the magic behind the scenes of film sets when her daughter expressed an interest in acting. She was so inspired that she quit her job and went back to school to study film, pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a scriptwriter. Janelle actively supports independent filmmakers by contributing to Seed&Spark campaigns, and has volunteered as a film screener for the 30th Austin Film Festival. She also interned under the legendary Foley artist, John Roesch, and completed a 150-hour script supervising workshop with Randi Feldman. Janelle is set to graduate from Texas State University in 2025 with a BFA in Cinema Studies.

Contact Janelle at events@wiftaustin.org.

JESS GUTIERREZ-HEFNER, MEMBERSHIP CHAIR

Jess is a Creative Producer with over 12 years experience in production management, and content development. 

She has worked on projects in Mexico City such as Nosotros los Nobles (Warner Bros), Club de Cuervos (Netflix), Pulling Strings (Pantelion), Blacker than Night (Videocine) and in 2016, she was one of the producers of La Leyenda del Diamante (Corazon films) which was accepted into and shown at San Diego Comic Con International Film Festival in 2017. 

She was also a producer on Michel Franco’s film, April’s Daughter, winner of the Jury prize in the “Un Certain Regard” section of Cannes International Film Festival in 2017.

From 2018 to 2019, she was Supervising Producer at 11:11 Film & TV, working on the series Rubirosa, La Negociadora and Claramente for the streaming platforms Pantaya (now ViX+) and Clarovideo. 

At the end of 2021, she moved to Austin, where she has worked on various projects including the film Chocolate Lizards that premiered at the Dallas International Film Festival in 2023. 

Most recently she has been developing, packaging and seeking financing for the $3.5M feature film Doll House produced in association with Banskota Productions. As well as developing other upcoming projects, including a film to be shot as an international co-production between Mexico and the US.

​Contact Jess at membership@wiftaustin.org.