Alex is an multi-international award winning filmmaker who has committed the past 25 years to studying the art, science, and impact of storytelling. His extensive professional experience as an actor, writer, director, and producer, working with brands and names you hear everyday, combined with the life lessons learned on his own journey through substance misuse led him to found Of Substance – an innovative nonprofit that’s reimagining cinematherapy and revolutionizing education, prevention, treatment, and support for addiction, mental health, and trauma through movies!

Caleb Zlomke is a multi-disciplinary artist and storyteller whose work spans acting, writing, directing, animation, and photography. As an actor he is known for taking on ambitious projects such as single takes, monologues, and solo projects. Behind the camera, Caleb has taken on roles as a director, writer, and DP, recently completing the cinematography for his first feature film. With a body of work across feature films, shorts, TV, voice, and even dance.

Michael Gabriele began his filmmaking career in advertising, directing commercials for big brands. He’s won multiple awards for his films including three midwest Emmys, one last year for his horror short ROOM TONE which screened at 40 festivals and is slated to release on ALTER this November. His other horror short GET AWAY screened at over 50 festivals, won 33 awards including the Gold audience award for Best International Short at Fantasia.

Sarah Whelden is drawn to narratives that highlight the often overlooked complexities of the human experience and to characters trapped between worlds. She wrapped production on her eighth feature film in November of 2024 and currently has five shorts and one feature film headed into the festival circuit.

Umar Malik is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker capturing the intimate, often overlooked moments of everyday life. His work centers on the quiet, powerful experiences that shape ordinary people’s lives, aiming to humanize the individuals behind the headlines. By focusing on these fleeting, yet profound moments, Umar creates stories that highlight shared human struggles, triumphs, and vulnerabilities. He believes in the transformative power of storytelling to bridge divides, foster empathy, and spark conversations about the issues that matter most—encouraging audiences worldwide to recognize the humanity in all people and inspire collective action for change.