Alison McMahan, Ph.D.
Co-President

Alison McMahan, Ph.D., is a documentary filmmaker (see www.HomunculusProds.com) and the head producer for Homunculus Productions, a company that producers training films, industrials and documentaries. Her most recent training film was LIVING WITH LANDMINES (2005). She is in production on an industrial and a PSA for an NGO in Brazil that provides computers and internet access to poor communities. Her latest documentary is BARE HANDS AND WOODEN LIMBS: HEALING, RECOVERY AND RECONCILIATION IN CAMBODIA (2006). She is in pre-production on a feature length documentary,THE EIGHT FACES OF JANE: THE LIFE AND WORK OF JANE CHAMBERS.                              

Maiko Sakai

Board Member

& Treasurer

Maiko Sakai holds a Bachelor's degree in Music with a concentration in Music Business from NYU. She created successful networking events that exposed NYU students to executives from the entertainment industry as VP of Music Business Association at NYU. At Logic Records US / BMG Entertainment she gained an overall label-running experience. She became a product manager for Logic's imprint, Logic 3000, and was in charge of licensing in and out, financial management, and product development. Currently she works for Musicrama Distribution in marketing where she oversees production and marketing of both CD's and DVD's. She is the founder of Airtight Concepts, Inc., which offers music licensing services, marketing, A&R consulting and other music business solutions.

Ylana
Board Member


Ylana is an actress, writer and singer whose credits include: Playing Alexina (Theatre of Necessity, NY); Miracle at Merryvale (Ensemble Studio Theatre, NY); Women of the Left Bank (White Mask Theatre, NY); and Little Wolfie, or Not an Instruction Book for Mischief (a children's book co-written with H.J. Saunders). Ylana is presently co-writing a play with McKinley Winston. She is also writing a series of public service announcements promoting children's fitness. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from Sarah Lawrence College. www.ylana.net.

Jessica Burstein
Board Member

After obtaining her MFA in Photography and Related Media from the School of Visual Arts Jessica began her filmmaking career at the YWCA after-school program in Coney Island where she up-started a video program for disadvantaged students. Jessica wrote, directed, produced and starred in the award winning 40- minute film VERONIKA'S BIRTHDAY which screened at the Pioneer Theater as part of the CWNY Screening Series. VB played in numerous festivals where it received audience and critical praise. In addition, Jessica worked as an Associate Producer for Off Ramp Films, producing docs for UNICEF and the ACLU, before heading to MTV, where she is now currently writing and directing on-air promos. She has appeared in six independent films, and starred as Lola in SUMMER THUNDER, released on DVD by TLA. http://www.ponytailproductions.com

Nyna Sargent

Board Member

Filmmaker's Group Leader

Through her production company Lucky14 Films, Nyna Sargent is on a mission to change the way film making happens...With the mindset that film making should be fun AND that treating each other with kindness and respect will surely fuel her mission and the fun!  Nyna has worked in film since 2001, mainly as an Art Director. She also worked for 4 years with an amazingly talented group of after school and summer camp kids where 3 short films and 3 talk shows came to fruition.  Last year, Nyna was the Associate Producer of The Best Lesbian Short Film Festival where herself and the Executive Producer drew SRO crowds for all of the screenings.  This year, Nyna directed and produced her first short film..."A Light Sexy Comedy About Mistaken Identity" and is currently in the editing process.  Nyna is a Filmmaker, Director & Writer.  But wait!...There's more! Nyna is leading the Fabulous Filmmakers' Group here at Cinewomen.