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The Team

We are a collection of producers, creative executives, writers, marketers, programmers, financiers, an attorney and a graphic artist, dedicated to the Cinereach mission and tasting snacks from every corner of the world.

  • Theresa Berens

    Graphic Designer

    Theresa is responsible for Cinereach’s graphic design and branding, and for the visual identities of Cinereach produced films. Prior to joining Cinereach, she was head graphic designer for the True/False Film Festival for four years, and has also worked in editorial design for several publications in New York and the Midwest. She earned her B.J. and M.A. in journalism at the University of Missouri.

  • Terry Chang

    General Counsel

    Terry manages Cinereach’s legal and business affairs including production legal for Cinereach’s original productions. Prior to her current role, she provided legal counsel to The Esteé Lauder Companies Inc. on television, digital and print production, talent and music licensing agreements. Prior to that, she worked at an NYC entertainment boutique law firm as a talent lawyer representing actors, writers and directors in film, television and theater. Before joining the entertainment industry, she began her legal career as a finance lawyer. Terry is a graduate of Columbia Law School and Harvard University.

  • Natalie Difford

    Head of Artist + Content Initiatives

    Natalie is responsible for designing and overseeing Cinereach’s highly personalized Fellowships program, an incubator for creative exploration. Prior to joining Cinereach, she was Senior Program Officer of the non-profit film fund Chicken & Egg Pictures for five years. She has extensive film industry experience, from development to festival programming, having worked with This is That, IFP, London Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, and on various TV productions for A&E, Comedy Central, IFC and MTV Productions. As an independent producer, Natalie was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Adam Leon’s feature debut, Gimme the Loot and co-produced Leon’s Tramps. She also produced the interactive documentary 11/4/08. Natalie is on the Film Advisory Board for SXSW, and was named one of the “Jezebel 25 Amazing and Kick-Ass Women” in 2012.

  • Meredith Duff

    Creative Executive

    As Creative Executive, Meredith works alongside the Outreach and Creative Direction Team to identify emerging storytellers and content for the organization to support. She also manages project submission and review processes. Before becoming Creative Executive, Meredith was Cinereach’s Filmmaker Outreach Coordinator. Before joining Cinereach, she was an agent trainee at ICM Partners working within the Motion Picture Literary department as well as the International Film Department. Prior to ICM, Meredith was an assistant digital planner at Zenith Media.

  • Philipp Engelhorn

    Executive Director

    Philipp founded and currently serves as the Executive Director of Cinereach. He’s also a member of the boards of the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), Cinema Conservancy, Court 13 Arts, as well as a Trustee of the Sundance Institute. Additionally, he serves on the board of Synergos, a non-profit dedicated to eliminating global poverty and social injustice. Originally from Germany, Philipp attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in New York.

  • Melissa Estro

    Head of Finance

    As part of the Business Affairs team at Cinereach, Melissa’s role is to ensure the smooth operation of Cinereach’s financial processes and day-to-day activities. Prior to joining Cinereach, Melissa worked at Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC) as Finance Associate and Manager of the Fiscal Sponsorship program, providing administrative support to BAC’s sponsored artists and organizations. Prior to BAC she worked as a rentals coordinator at one of the cities oldest costume collections where she got to play dress up on a daily basis.

  • Leah Giblin

    Head of Artist Exploration

    As the Head of Artist Exploration, Leah is an antenna for artists pushing their concept and craft forward. Having been at at Cinereach since 2010, she has helped to ensure that relationships with supported films flourish. Through Cinereach’s grant support, Leah also worked with Khalik Allah to produce Black Mother. Previous experiences placed her within the Tribeca Film Institute, the Rockefeller Foundation’s Media Arts Fellowships and the programming department of the Tribeca Film Festival; but in her heart she is forever a video store clerk.

  • Kelly Hartnett

    Finance Associate

    As the Finance Associate Kelly plays an integral supporting role in the company’s day-to-day financial affairs. Prior to working at Cinereach, Kelly worked at LMCC (Lower Manhattan Cultural Council) doing finance and operations and was instrumental in opening the first Arts Center on Governors Island. In addition, she worked as a freelance production manager for film, theatre, dance, and events. Some favorite events include the International Emmy Awards and the New York City Marathon. She received her BFA from SUNY Purchase in Theatre Design & Technology with a concentration in Stage Management.

  • Caroline Kaplan

    Director of Content

    Caroline oversees the Cinereach Foundation including: Artist Programs & Initiatives, Film Grants and Organizational support; she also develops strategies to strengthen the filmmaking community and the independent film landscape and produces select projects for the Cinereach. She has extensive film and television industry experience having been Head of Production, Acquisitions and Original Programming at IFC and IFC Films, and a founding member of InDigEnt, where she oversaw films and programs including Decade under the Influence, My Best Fiend, Our Song, Spring Forward, Mr. Death, Waking Life, Monsoon Wedding, Tadpole, Personal Velocity, and Me and You and Everyone We Know. She is also an independent film producer whose films include Gary Winick’s Letters to Juliet, Oren Moverman’s Time out of Mind, Jim McKay’s En El Septimo Dia and Kent Jones’ Diane.

  • Margaret Klingler

    Operations Manager

    As Operations Manager, Margaret facilitates a space that encourages and supports collaboration and creativity while throwing a few parties along the way. A native Chicagoan, she obtained her degree in film production from Columbia College Chicago before venturing to Los Angeles, where she worked with live entertainment organizations to produce award-winning animated content at Cinevative.

  • Syia Lewis

    Chief of Staff

    Syia is Cinereach’s effective COO responsible for the organization’s internal operations, culture, people processes, strategic growth, and business development. Syia’s work at Cinereach ensures the company is cohesive and efficient. She has worked extensively in the media & entertainment industry since 2005 and prior to joining the leadership at Cinereach, has held various strategic operations and business development roles at media startups and legacy media companies like A&E Television Networks and Oxygen Media. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Hartford.

  • Candice McFarlane

    Director of Creative + Cultural Strategies

    Candice oversees all marketing and communication efforts for Cinereach. This includes developing branding, strategic marketing, PR and communications for the company and its supported films. She has an extensive background in media and entertainment having created, developed and produced original content, campaigns and programming for blue-chip companies such as Nike, Visa, Universal, McDonald’s and AT&T. As a screenwriter her work has been awarded at various film festivals including Urbanworld and The Tribeca Film Festival. She holds a dual Marketing and Management degree from Georgetown University.

  • Paul Mezey

    Director of Production + Investment

    Paul directs the Cinereach productions team, providing creative and strategic support for projects. He also advises on Cinereach’s program strategies, particularly as they relate to the evolving landscape of independent film. Paul has over 20 years experience as an independent producer in the motion picture industry and has produced more than two dozen theatrical feature films, including the Academy Award nominated films Maria Full Of Grace, Half Nelson, and Benh Zeitlin’s Beasts Of The Southern Wild. Recent projects include include Benh Zeitlin’s Wendy, Kogonada’s After Yang starring Colin Farrell, Jeremiah Zagar’s We The Animals, and the documentary MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A.

     

  • Merrill Sterritt

    Head of Alliances + Cultural Engagement

    Merrill develops and oversees organizational partnerships for Cinereach, as well as new creative initiatives to provide support for filmmakers and a more sustainable industry. Prior to joining Cinereach, Merrill co-founded Film Presence in 2010 where she lead theatrical outreach campaigns for over 50 independent films. Merrill began working in film as an editor, before managing the Production Assistance Program at Women Make Movies. Merrill is on the IFP Advisory Board.

  • Nshira Turkson

    Artist + Content Initiatives Associate

    As the Artist + Content Initiatives Associate, Nshira supports the work of Grants, Creative Initiatives, and Fellowships at Cinereach. Her previous experience in the film industry comes from her time teaching documentary journalism at Reel Works and working as a production assistant on commercials, shorts, and documentaries. Nshira was also a Fellow at The Atlantic.

  • Elliott Whitton

    Head of Development

    As Head of Development, Elliott manages Cinereach’s slate of films in development working closely with the Cinereach productions team and filmmakers to develop content for the organization to support, finance and produce. Elliott joined Cinereach in 2012 after spending time working in both advertising and film in New York, Singapore and his native Australia. Prior to moving to New York in 2011, Elliott worked as a creative for a range of brands including film campaigns for The Walt Disney Company in Asia. He got his start in film at American independent production companies including Big Beach and Likely Story. Elliott holds a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Creative Industries from the Queensland University of Technology and is an AWARD school graduate.