Colby Barrios is a Venezuelan-American writer and director and a Class of 2024 Directing Fellow at the American Film Institute. In addition to writing and directing several personal projects, Barrios has produced over 100 standup comedy specials. In addition to his work at the Conservatory, Barrios continues to write and direct short films and is currently developing a handful of feature films that explore nuanced and personal stories. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and his cuter-than-life dog, Lula.
Sylvia Sun is a film producer from Wuhan, China, and a recent graduate of UC Santa Cruz with a BA in Film and Digital Media. Currently a producing fellow at American Film Institute, Sylvia has over four years of experience producing short films. Additionally, she has invaluable industry experience in script development, feature/commercial production services, and film festival coordination at reputable film companies, including No Trace Camping, Legacy Pictures, and FIRST Film Festival. Sylvia is dedicated to promoting bold voices and innovative forms in ethical filmmaking.
Reena Kim is a recent graduate of ArtCenter College of Design, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration Entertainment Arts. She had served as a Teaching Assistant during her bachelor's degree for several classes called Creative Perspective, Visual Development and Architecture Design. Last summer, she participated in a college film project as a spaceship interior designer for THE PROBE, a sci-fi short horror film.
Quinn Thomashow is a Vermont-based cinematography fellow at the American Film Institute. With awards for her exceptional work on projects like Inventor Crazybrains and the Girl Called Bird, she combines her expertise in cinematography and experimental techniques to create captivating narratives. Quinn's passion for community and environmental advocacy shines through her filmmaking, influenced by her upbringing on a Vermont farm. Before AFI Quinn taught camera-less filmmaking techniques nationwide, culminating in a collective film project. Now based in Los Angeles, Quinn continues her film studies and industry pursuits.
Sydney Fix is an editor from Norco, California and current editing fellow at the American Film Institute. In 2020, she graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Film Studies. While at Berkeley, she worked as a video producer and editor at The Daily Californian, the city's paper of record, covering local and campus news stories. Following graduation, Fix worked as a video editor at various organizations, including an art gallery, social services agency and travel company.