Meet Our Advisory Council
The Film Advisory Council, chaired by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Roger Ross Williams, serves as a resource for the MFA and BFA Film Programs at The City College of New York, offering guidance, industry insight, and support. Through its engagement with students, faculty, and alumni, the Council helps strengthen the programs and advance their mission.
Roger Ross Williams
Roger Ross Williams is an Oscar, Emmy and Peabody award-winning director, producer, writer, and the first African-American director to win an Academy Award ® with his short film Music By Prudence. Williams’ award-winning work pushes the boundaries of culture and film. In 2021 Williams was named an Indiewire Influencer for “changing the face of documentary film”. “Beautiful,” “Uplifting,” “Extraordinary,” “Triumphant,” “Rich with insight,” “Searing,” “Remarkable,” and “Inspirational” are accolades Williams’ films have received from the New York Times, Vanity Fair, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Forbes and Entertainment Weekly. Williams has received the Career Achievement Award from the International Documentary Association, The Woodstock Film Festival Maverick Award, The NYU Alumni Achievement Award, and an honorary doctorate from Lafayette College.
Laura Poitras
Laura Poitras is an Academy Award– and Pulitzer Prize–winning filmmaker, journalist, and artist. Her documentary All the Beauty and the Bloodshed won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award. Her film CITIZENFOUR won the Oscar for Best Documentary and chronicled the Edward Snowden revelations, while her reporting on the NSA’s global surveillance programs contributed to a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. Her acclaimed Post-9/11 Trilogy includes My Country, My Country and The Oath. A MacArthur Fellow, Poitras has also received a Peabody Award and Guggenheim Fellowship. She co-founded The Intercept and Field of Vision, and her production company, Praxis Films, is based in New York and Berlin.
Stanley Nelson
Stanley Nelson is one of America’s most acclaimed documentary filmmakers and a leading chronicler of African American history and culture. A MacArthur Fellow, Peabody Award recipient, and recipient of the National Humanities Medal, Nelson is known for combining rigorous historical research with compelling storytelling. His acclaimed films include Attica, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, Freedom Riders, Freedom Summer, and The Murder of Emmett Till. His recent work includes Sound of the Police, Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom, and Becoming Frederick Douglass. In 2000, he co-founded Firelight Media, whose Documentary Lab has helped launch the careers of more than 100 nonfiction filmmakers of color.
Dawn Porter
Dawn Porter is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and founder of Trilogy Films. Widely recognized for her powerful storytelling, her films explore social justice, history, politics, and culture through compelling personal narratives. Her acclaimed work includes Trapped, John Lewis: Good Trouble, The Lady Bird Diaries, The Sing Sing Chronicles, and Luther: Never Too Much. Her work has been released by HBO, Netflix, CNN, PBS, and other major platforms. Porter is the recipient of a Peabody Award, Sundance Special Jury Prize, NAACP Image Award, National Humanities Medal, and the 2025 BIO Award. A former attorney, she holds degrees from Swarthmore College and Georgetown Law. She lives in New York City and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2024.
Kamilah Forbes
Kamilah Forbes is an award-winning director, producer, and co-founder of Hi-ARTS, widely recognized for pioneering and advancing Hip-Hop theater. A graduate of Howard University, she helped launch the Hip-Hop Theater Festival alongside actor Chadwick Boseman, creating a platform that has championed nearly 100 artists from around the world. Forbes has produced acclaimed theater, television, and live performance projects, including HBO’s Peabody Award–winning Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry and PBS’s The Women’s List. Her work has been presented at major venues including the Kennedy Center and has consistently explored social justice, culture, and the Black experience. Forbes is the recipient of numerous honors, including a Tony Award, NAACP Image Award, and Mayor’s Arts Award; she is the executive director of the Apollo Theater.
Ally Sheedy
Ally Sheedy is an acclaimed American actress, writer, and educator whose career spans film, television, and theater. She rose to international prominence as a member of the iconic “Brat Pack,” starring in landmark films such as The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo's Fire, and War Games. Her performance in High Art earned widespread critical acclaim, including Best Actress honors from the Independent Spirit Awards and several critics’ organizations. In addition to her work as an actress, Sheedy is an accomplished author and has been a dedicated mentor to emerging filmmakers and performers. She has taught acting at The City College of New York, where she is widely respected for her generosity, insight, and commitment to artistic excellence.
Kweighbaye Kotee
Kweighbaye Kotee is a Liberian-American filmmaker, producer, entrepreneur, and advocate for underrepresented voices in film. She is the founder and CEO of the Bushwick Film Festival, one of New York’s leading platforms for emerging independent filmmakers, recognized for championing diverse storytellers and building community through cinema. A graduate of New York University, Kotee has produced films, documentaries, and media initiatives while mentoring the next generation of artists. She also founded the Bushwick Film Institute, expanding educational and professional opportunities for filmmakers from historically underrepresented backgrounds. An accomplished speaker and cultural leader, Kotee has presented at TEDx, Google, SAG-AFTRA, and universities across the country. Her work is driven by a commitment to storytelling, equity, and creative empowerment.
Nancy Savoca
Nancy Savoca is an award-winning filmmaker whose work has been celebrated for its distinctive voice, emotional depth, and commitment to independent cinema. Her debut feature, True Love, won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and established her as a leading figure in American independent film. She went on to direct acclaimed features including Dogfight, Household Saints, and The 24 Hour Woman, as well as numerous television projects. Savoca’s films are noted for their richly drawn characters and exploration of family, identity, and community. A passionate advocate for emerging filmmakers, she has taught and mentored artists for decades and remains an influential voice in contemporary American cinema.
MFA in Film at The City College of New York
160 Convent Avenue (@ 138th Street)
Shepard Hall - Room 286
New York, NY 10031
Phone: 212-650-7235
Fax: 212-650-5734
Email: cityfilm@ccny.cuny.edu
The City College of New York, CUNY
