Recently named one of the 6 Great New Media Festivals by Backstage, NYC Web Fest has brought together a multifaceted diverse group of people from around the world to showcase the best of the web. Born in Cape Town and raised in Toronto, Lauren Atkins founded NYCWF in 2014, after recognizing there were several festivals showcasing digital series on the west coast, but nothing in New York. “Our goal is to make this festival the premier home for digital producers on an international level. An organic space where creators can showcase their talent, network with other artists, and learn from industry insiders,” said Atkins.
Lauren Atkins, Founder & CEO
@blackcatbaby
Born in Cape Town and raised in Toronto, Lauren Atkins has always had a natural curiosity about the world and what makes people tick. She spent much of her childhood and adolescence singing in the choir, acting in plays, and modeling. But it was the invention of social media platforms and advances in digital entertainment that really sparked her entrepreneurial spirit. In 2006, Lauren began hosting a popular online music show ‘Black Cat Baby Presents.’ She wrote and produced every episode. Artists from around the world began submitting music. What began as a small hip-hop podcast quickly became a format for musicians of all styles to showcase their talent. Her weekly blog about her musings on life, love and womanhood has been read over 10 thousand times. After the success of the award winning web series “My Friends Think I’m Funny” which she wrote, produced and co-directed, she had an idea: why not create a festival celebrating the best of the web in New York City? After a successful launch in 2014, NYC Web Fest continues to gain in size and momentum, with guests flying in from around the world.
Programming
Zerelda Nothnagel, Programming Director
Zerelda Nothnagel was born and raised in South Africa, where she took numerous acting for stage and film courses and classes. She interned with a production company there after an exchange year in the US and soon started writing and directing short films and web series. Since moving to the US she has made several more short films and served as producer on a feature film that was shot on location in South Africa and Namibia. Her latest project is a comedy series that she created, co-produced and directed the pilot for. She is still working hard behind the scenes to bring the entire series to life.
Laurie Nothnagel, Programming Consultant
Laurie Nothnagel was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa where she completed a number of film production certifications at prestigious film schools. She worked on several low budget short films as well as a full length war drama in South Africa. Most recently she worked on The Big Time, a comedy series set in New York. She is an avid series fan and loves all genres!
Lindsay Pugh, Programming Consultant
womaninrevolt.com
Lindsay is the founder of Woman in Revolt, an intersectional film and television blog devoted to women behind the camera. WiR is comprised of coverage for events (like the Final Girls Berlin Film Festival), interviews with up-and-coming filmmakers, critical essays, and reviews. When she’s not writing, Lindsay works as a digital strategist for Something Digital, an interactive agency in New York City that specializes in ecommerce, website design, digital marketing, and user experience. Her favorite things include cats (she has three), Halloween, and the Wonder Wheel at Coney Island.
Marketing/Outreach/Sales
Robert Watson, Social Media Marketing
Robert Watson is an award winning playwright, actor and fragrance aficionado extraordinaire. He is the creator of the Canadian Comedy Award winning web series A GAY VICTORIAN AFFAIR (agayvictorianaffair.com), and is a two time Dora Award nominee (Toronto’s version of the Tonys) for his writing in theater.
Robert is a mainstay of the Toronto Queer comedy community, producing and hosting Back Room Comedy and Gay AF (And Funny), both live and online. Follow him @ThisIsRobWatson @gayafcomedy
Samantha Casesa, Sales & Sponsorships
Samantha Casesa is very excited to be joining the NYC Web Fest team this year as Sales Director! Samantha got involved in the festival in 2022 when her team’s series, Chill Girl, made its worldwide debut at NYC Web Fest 2022. Samantha was an actor, director, head writer, and co-creator of Chill Girl and even had the honor of taking home the award for Best Supporting Actress. As a born and raised New Yorker, Samantha is so excited to see the festival return back to NYC in 2023. Having spent many years in the film & tv world of both LA and NYC, she loves how this festival brings together creatives from all over the world for a night of connection and celebration of great projects!
Art/Design
MelimeL, Graphic/Web Designer
mldigitalart.com
MelimeL is a creative artist and mompreneur. She is CEO and Lead Graphic Designer of MelimeL Digital Art Design, and is co-partner of MELySMAX LLC, a media and production company dedicated to the arts and event production, known for its successful concert series Smax Music Live and Smax Music Live With Friends, as well as, the co-production of Soul Bliss events in New York and Massachusetts, and the LoversRock Chats series which received an Asia Web Awards Best Reality/Vlog Nomination in 2020. MelimeL is a published poet (Beneath the Deep Surface). The 1st edition was released in 2006 and re-released in 2022 in print and e-book. A follow up book of poems and a novel are in the works.
Aside from designing and writing, MelimeL enjoys travel, photography, and is an aspiring DJ. She graduated from New York University with a Bachelor’s degree in Media and Communication Studies. MelimeL was named an Inspiring Influencer by UrbanClassy.com in 2016 and was an inaugural 2018 Sokoloff Arts Fellow for Town Stages. She is passionate about women empowerment and hosted an annual Women Empowerment Event during Women’s History Month in NYC from 2013-2022, as well as, runs The sisSTAR Loop, a platform for women-owned business and professionals since 2015. In 2019, MelimeL launched a digital magazine, The Empowerment Network, with its 10th issue currently in production. Through The sisSTAR Loop and her creative works she hopes to empower others to excel in their personal and professional lives.