REVOLUTION ME FILMS
For filmmakers that seek independence
Changing the face of film one story, one voice at a time
MEET THE FESTIVAL TEAM
Maria Palacio
Festival Director
Maria Palacio is a Brooklyn based filmmaker & photographer who was inspired through her own experience as an up-and-coming filmmaker, was
driven to create a forum to nurture other emerging artists in the field by establishing Revolution Me Film Festival in 2016. With the experience in assisting the coordination for the Big Mini Media Film Festival at Long Island University during her graduate tenure, she used the skills and knowledge in turning the Revolution Me Film Festival into an annual event, attracting filmmakers from all over the world.
Maria has written and directed three short films, Necromancer (2015), The Unknown (2017) and
Unlocked (2022). Necromancer and The Unknown have screened at numerous festivals & have received award nominations. She is also one of the producers of the award-winning prologue of The Promise, a docu-series on childhood cancer. She is the producer of I F#%$ING QUIT, a comedic web-series and has written/directed her own web series, Pay It Forward in Death, which have been official selections at the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival, International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival in 2021 and The Latino Market in 2022.
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Maria is now working on her first directed/co-produced documentary, The Fighter in Us. Her documentary series is a recipient of the 2022 NYC Women's Fund.
Maria holds an MFA & BA in Media Arts with a focus in screenwriting and directing from Long Island University.
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Christine Richards
Festival Programmer
Christine Richards is a Media Producer and Project Manager based out of Tampa, Florida. She studied Directing at New York Film Academy and Film at UCLA. She manages video and audio production at live events and creates a wide range of digital content for clients ranging from marketing graphics to sizzle reels. She has been part of our team since 2016.
Jamie Leach
Festival Intern
Genevieve Shi
Festival Judge
Genevieve Shi is an award winning bilingual actress, singer and director. Born and raised in Chongqing, China, Gen moved to her dream city New York all on her own to pursue her passion in performing arts at the age of 19. Gen is honored to be a part of RMFF’s jury this year.
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Her most recent short film RORY HOME that she directed and starred in as the lead, has won Best Actress Award and Best Romance in numerous festivals, such as Oniros Film Awards, World Film Carnival, New Creators Film Awards, Hollywood Gold Awards and Crown Point International Film Festival. Gen also won the second place of the American Protégé International Music Vocal Competition 2022 and will perform solo at Carnegie Hall this winter.
Previously Gen worked as the female lead with Emmy Award Winning actor Armand Assante in the upcoming feature film DON Q. She was invited twice to sing at the OSCAR CHINA NIGHT in Beverly Hills. Off-Broadway credits include - COMFORT WOMEN at Playwrights Horizons, GREEN CARD at Theatre at St.Clements, Solo Concerts at Triad Theatre. Gen has also served as a jury member at New York True Venture Film Festival and Bergen International Film Festival.
Juliana Suaide
Festival Judge
Juliana Suaide is an award-nominated Brazilian actress/dancer/singer, all-things-art department and producer based in NYC. She moved to the Big Apple after an extensive life of dance in São Paulo, where she got her degree in Classical Ballet by the Royal Academy of Dance. In 2012, Juliana graduated from New York’s Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Her credits include Babel (Off-Broadway), New Stage Theatre Company’s ‘Garden of Delights’ (IT Awards nominee) , ‘No Place’ (M1 Singapore Fringe Festival and San Francisco’s Fury Factory Festival) and Savana Glacial (NY Fringe Festival), “Cayaca” and "Calidris" (both features by Peter Azen), "Rainha da Cocada - Season 3 and 4", "Diabolical" , "Notes on Killing" (Soho Rep) , and many others.
Juliana believes in intelligent, educational and inspiring work for both theatre and film.
Jamie Leach is a senior at Texas Tech University majoring in Creative Media Industries, with an interest in pursuing a career in film. He enjoys creating short films in his free time with close friends, and has a passion for writing and directing. His first year joining the Revolution Me Film Festival team as an intern.
Tyler Mendelson
Festival Judge
Tyler Mendelson is an American film director, born and raised in New York.
At the age of 18 in 2010, Tyler followed one of his lifelong goals and joined the United States Marine Corps. In 2012, he deployed to the Helmand Province in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and later attained the rank of sergeant.
He completed his military service in 2017, having served both on active duty, and in the Reserves. After his time on active duty, Tyler pursued his other dream, film directing, attending Emerson College and obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Film Production in 2018.
Tyler’s most recent work is In Between the White Space, a short film passion project that he wrote, directed, produced, and edited. The film aims to raise awareness for the veteran suicide epidemic in America. Telling veteran and military stories is something that Tyler is immensely passionate about.
Adrian Pnut
Festival Judge
Adrian Pnut is the CEO of Nutrageous Productions. She is an award winning director and actor. She started off writing and directing for music vidoes when she wasn’t in front of the camera. She also wrote her first book, “Sex Education Written By A Black Man” last February. She now teaches Digital Media for middle school kids.