2025 UMFF Pitch & Catch Panel
This panel is a place for a face-to-face discussion, individual meetings for projects that searching investors, producers and distributors. Each project representative will do 10min. presentation in front of the investors/producers/distributors; distribute the project summary and the contact information.
Pre-registration is strongly recommended and the project presenter must be registered festival attendees of 2024UMFF with a panel pass.
This year, the UMFF will have film delegations from China, Korea, Russia, Mexico, Japan, UK, Iran, India, etc. Remember to made additional meetings after the panel with them while they are in town.
1PM-4PM; Friday, June 20, 2025; Address: Fireside Room in Fred Hesse Park (29301 Hawthorne Blvd, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275)Admission by Panel Pass.

Benny Tjandra - Director, Producer, Writer, and Action Choreographer

Benny Tjandra is an award-winning Asian American filmmaker based in Los Angeles, known for his work as a Director, Producer, Writer, and Action Choreographer. Born in Bandung, Indonesia, Benny moved to the U.S. at age 10 to pursue his passion for filmmaking. With a background in martial arts and a hands-on approach to production, he has worked across nearly every role in film, including editing, cinematography, and stunt coordination.

He has directed and produced over 30 feature films across multiple genres, including Syndicate Smasher (2017), Bloodline: Love Sick 2 (2018), Nation's Fire (2019), Kill Plan (2021), American Western (2022), and the upcoming Prey of Wrath (2024). His work has earned him recognition at the Golden Reel International Film Festival and the Prestigious International Film Festival.

Benny founded New GenerAsian Pictures in 2009, offering full-service production capabilities across the U.S., Indonesia, and the Philippines. His visionary storytelling continues to cross genres and borders, inspiring global audiences and future filmmakers.

Mindy Rosario - Actress/Diretor/Producer

Ms. Rosario, originally from Philadelphia, began her career in NYC as a Broadway and on-camera actress before expanding into producing, directing, writing, and hosting across web series, television, film, and theater. With over 64 producing awards, she brings a versatile and innovative approach to storytelling.

Her work spans a wide range of genres and platforms—from reality shows to Fox Soul’s Black LGBTQIA+ talk show The House. Her hands-on experience in every aspect of production has allowed her to merge creative vision with film marketing, crafting a unique producing style grounded in audience connection.

For over 25 years, Ms. Rosario has led market research and focus groups for nearly every major studio, including Universal, Disney, Sony, Columbia, and The Weinstein Company. She has built deep insights into audience preferences across genres such as faith-based, family, independent, and drama films—often by engaging directly with viewers on the ground.

Currently, she’s developing several projects as both producer and actor, including music videos, a television drama, a feature film (Jack and The Empress for Sony), a biopic, a documentary on Japanese internment camps titled My Name is Terry, and a multiracial ensemble sitcom.

Peter Spirer - Director/Producer

Peter Spirer is the Academy Award- and Emmy-nominated director and producer behind Rugged Entertainment and One Bowl Productions. His acclaimed work includes over 30 films, with two premiering at Sundance. Feature credits include Just Another Day and Dunsmore. His documentary catalog features Rhyme and Reason (named one of Rolling Stone's 40 greatest music docs), Notorious B.I.G.: Bigger Than Life, The Legend of 420, and the BEEF series with QD3.

Spirer's Spirit Game: Pride of a Nation—about the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Team—is permanently exhibited at the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. Sacheen: Breaking the Silence honors Native activist Sacheen Littlefeather's historic Oscar moment. Expanding into distribution, he executive produced Queen Mimi, Burlesque: Heart of the Glitter Tribe, and Who the F**k Is That Guy?, later launching Rugged Releasing to distribute social justice–themed films like Disarm Hate and Bob and the Monster.

His current project, Sign of the Times, explores iconic rock billboards on the Sunset Strip, featuring Roger Daltrey, Paul Stanley, and others. Raised in Georgia and Florida, Spirer studied at the University of Miami and lives in Hollywood with his family. He is active in local civic efforts including the Rotary Club and bike safety advocacy through WeHo Byco.

Gary Tomchuk - Film/Media Leader

Gary is a leader in the intersection of film/media and business for social impact. As CEO of Transformational Media he builds the business foundation for many movie and TV projects such as launching the Ethical Markets TV series to over 44 million homes through PBS and Harmony Channel on Comcast VOD. He started Global Film Ventures, an accelerator for independent film bringing Silicon Valley entrepreneurial practices to the film world. He is a proven leader who drives results through production, management, consulting, and advisory roles, earning multiple awards (including an Inc 500), and raising over $11 million for his projects