Vedat Akman
NNYCR Founder, Author, Educator
Mr. Vedat Akman is a popular nonfiction "self-help" author from Turkey. The author, with his warm and witty style, takes on the role of mentor. Individuals in many of his "self-help" books became influential public figures in their community. He has done an outstanding job for his community with his books by promoting young successful individuals and creating a new source of inspiration for other young people. His style is informal yet knowledgeable, the content of his books is extensive and his wisdom invaluable. The author offers smart, real and inspiring wisdom through the examples of selected individuals' stories and experiences. That's why his work stands out as real, inspirational and full of anecdotes. View his published works at the following site: www.tulumba.com. You can also view Mr. Akman's CV here.
Michael Mut
NNYCR Founder, Creative Director, Fine Artist
Michael Mut was born and raised in Connecticut. He has studied fashion, business, art and photography. A multi-talented photographer and artist, he is also an internationally known hair sculptor. For the last 10 years he has lived and worked in New York City. As an artist he's exploring all facets of art, beauty, feelings, the unity of oneness, the ego and the dark sides of humanity and sex and sexual addiction, to name a few. Since the devastating incidents of 9/11 and the ongoing reports of death in Iraq, the constant presence of killing in the news and in all forms of media and entertainment has given him access to deep feelings of sadness that he's currently shaping into new expressions of art. His most current project "...and counting" is a pro-peace art installation that will run from December 15, 2005 to January 28, 2006 at Denise Bibro Fine Art in Manhattan. You can view Michael's amazing artwork on his web site at www.michaelmut.com
Louis Yungling
NNYCR Founder, Musician, Educator, Web Developer/Designer
Currently a full time piano teacher at his Brooklyn music studio, Yungling Piano Studio, Louis also teaches English as a second language in New York City and builds websites. He is a self taught web designer and the site you're on right now was his first creation. He really likes coding and as he learns more you'll see amazing changes and developments on this site and his own Yungling Studio of Music web site. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he studied piano at the Charlotte Moore-Viculin studio of Music and graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy. After graduating from Arizona State University, Louis enjoyed a rewarding and diverse computer career in the US and The Netherlands. In 2002 he moved to New York City to pursue ESL teaching. As a piano teacher, in 2005, he founded, presented and performed in The Dreams Fulfilled Concert at Carnegie Hall where he raised $14,000 for The High school for Leadership and Public Service.
Richard Holley
NNYCR Founder, Author, Editor, Composer, Educator
Seen here playing one of his beautiful, original compositions, Richard is a multi-talented educator, author, musician and composer. During the day he teaches courses at Globe Institute of Technology. When he isn't teaching he is playing the piano, composing, being the extraordinary husband and father he is and helping the foundation, Food For Children, raise money for kids around the world. He also is a founder of that organization and serves on the board of trustees.
Pelin Kadilar
Director, Film Festival
Pelin Kadilar was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, but was raised in Istanbul, Turkey. In Amsterdam she became an economics teacher and an active member of JCI, Junior Kamer Amstelland, with the aim to create a positive change in the world. Since then, She has attended various personal development courses, and graduated from the “2001 JCI European Leadership Academy”. After a short career in teaching, she decided to follow her beloved husband, and move back to Istanbul, where she started a company in corporate branding advisory services as a managing partner, and gave birth to her lovely daughter. Later, she moved to London, and after establishing the UK arm of a leading Turkish exporting company, and after a successful spell in real estate, she decided to create her own company, JustOpened Ltd, in London. Currently back in Istanbul, she is still developing her company as an advisor to international investors in the Turkish real estate market. And with her vast knowledge and international exposure, she is now director of the NNYCR 2007 International Film Festival.
Johanna Voutounou
Coordinator, Film Festival
Johanna grew up in Nicosia, Cyprus. During her sophomore year in high school, she was hired as a feature writer for the Weekly Review, making her the youngest published journalist on the island. Later, she moved to London where she accepted a scholarship at Richmond University to study Art History and Communications. However, two years into the program, she discovered her passion for film and decided to move to New York to pursue a Filmmaking degree at NYU. Johanna graduated on the Deans list from TISCH, paving a path in freelance Production Coordinating. She worked at Granada Productions for two years, developing and coordinating shows for Discovery, A&E, Disney and MTV. Currently she is the Instructional Support Coordinator for the Digital Filmmaking Department at Katharine Gibbs School, New York, where she also teaches the freshman Pre-Production class. Johanna's is currently working on two short narrative projects of her own and a short documentary that are in various stages of production; one of them was a Jerome Foundation Grant Finalist. She is also writing her first feature film. Her need to tell a story through images has inspired a photography hobby. Some of Johanna's photos have been displayed at various restaurants through out New York City including a permanent exhibit at Cafe Kai in Brooklyn.
Niyah Rahmaan
Coordinator, Film Festival
Born into an immigrant family from Mexico and Belize, Niyah has been exposed to diverse cultures and ethnicities since birth. Having lived abroad and traveled to over 26 countries around the world, Niyah has acquired a deep passion for cultural diversity and immigrant stories. With an academic and career background in film and television production, Niyah has had the opportunity to work for television networks such as MTV, WHRO (Public Access Channel) and WODU as well as Splinter Films, a film company based in London, England. Currently the Director of the Academic Learning Center for the Katharine Gibbs School, Niyah has recently started engaging her passion for diversity and the world through the creation of several short documentary and independent films.
Gaelle Fall
Coordinator, Film Festival
Gaelle was raised in Senegal, West Africa, where she developed her interest in the Performing Arts. She started studying Dance in high school and briefly pursued it when she moved to the US. After high school, Gaelle organized a nightclub event that was a success. Since then, she has organized many other nightclub events, marketing events and concerts featuring African artists like Meiway, Alpha Blondy, Salif Keita, and many more. She currently co-owns a small production and artist management company, Sawigapi Productions. Her love of Cinema has led her to Katharine Gibbs School in New York City, where she is studying Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia. With the knowledge of filmmaking, Gaelle hopes to start her own TV and Film production company in Senegal, where she'll proudly inspire young African women to be filmmakers.
Andreea Apostol
Partner
Her father is Romanian and her mother is Hungarian. Born in Transylvania, in the city of Brasov, Andreea is the great great grand daughter of Alexandru Macedonski, a well known Romanian writer and literary critic (son of Dimitrie Macedonski - a historic revolutionary leader). Much like her ancestors, Andreea started writing while in 1st grade and hasn't stopped since. She went to Journalism College in Romania and later Media and Marketing College at Dublin Business School. She has worked at different newspapers, magazines, radio stations and has had a taste of TV. She is currently working to develop www.globalimmigrant.org into a global portal dedicated to people, cultures, differences and humanity overall. She has lived in Dublin, Ireland since 2002.