The 48 Hour Film Festival

Joseph V. Leone

Joe Leone is a New York native sketch comic turned writer/director with over 200 festival selections, nominations, and wins - with a dozen produced features. Since 2018, he’s received the Best Screenplay Award at the Sydney Indie Film Festival for the acerbic comedy Meant to Be Broken, was co-winner of the BlueCat Screenplay Competition with the fantastical Death of a Fool, and was named “Best Writer” at the Accord Cine Fest for his slow-burn mystery Death Sentences. His psychological thriller Half Sisters (starring Kristy Dawn Dinsmore, Vikings) was produced by No Sunrise Wasted, LLC in Portland, Oregon, and received a limited theatrical release. Last year his dark comedy Breakup Mountain won Best Thriller at the Golden Lion International Film Festival, and was nominated for several other awards. Joe began his performance career in the Off-Broadway hit The Donkey Show, and has been a part of Tony and Tina’s Wedding for a long, long time (and recently played the role of “Tony” in a production in Italy).

Prudence DiBenedetto

Mom to a wonderful son Jake. I write pizza reviews on Instagram @Pizzapru. Food is something I am passionate about but at heart I'm an actor and competitive eater. I work at a cheese shop and am a photographer in my spare time. My photography Instagram @P_is_for_photographs.

Maria Rella

Maria Rella is a lawyer, actor, musician, and Air National Guard Public Affairs Specialist. She works as a housing staff attorney trying to prevent evictions with Legal Services of Northwest Jersey in Morristown, NJ. She also takes photos, makes videos, and manages social media as a Public Affairs Specialist with the 108th Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst, NJ. Maria is a graduate of Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, the Defense Information School's Broadcast Communication Specialist Course, and Thomas Edison State University. Maria mostly performs as a late-bloomer theatre kid, but is excited to step her toes into writing and directing with this project. She credits her faith in God and her family for everything positive in her life.

Rodney Reyes

Rodney Reyes has been an active filmmaker in the New York City area since 2013, establishing himself with his award-winning debut short film, Not Fade Away, which earned Best Short Film at the International Film Festival Manhattan in the same year. His most recent project, Pangloss, secured the top spot at Kevin Smith's Smodcastle 37-Hour Film Challenge in 2024, showcasing his continued innovation and talent. As a multifaceted creator, Rodney serves as a writer, director, cinematographer, and editor, crafting independent short and feature films through his production company, Fictional Films Productions. Beyond his film work, he plays a key role in shaping the next generation of creative talent as the Associate Director of the Theatre Arts & Technology program at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, NJ.

Anthony Augello

Anthony Augello is excited to dive into Virtual Arts 48hr film festival. Recent directing contributions include "Moving Day," "The Last Goddess," and "Decoration Day." He and his team are ready for whatever VA throws their way!

Kathleen Kaan

Playwright Kathleen Kaan is a native New Yorker. She studied at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and, as an accomplished singer, entertained audiences both nationally and internationally. Her two ten-minute plays, Lost & Found and Remember were featured in the New Playwrights Virtual Arts Festival. Remember has been published by FlowerSong Press as part of an Anthology of Plays During Covid. As writer and executive producer, Kathleen is proud to announce her short film FIVE FLIGHTS has been selected and screened at the International Theater Festival Manhattan, Big Apple Film Festival, New York Short Festival, New York True Venture Festival, Festival of Cinema, Sacramento International Film Festival, Silicon Beach Film Festival among others. She has won “Exceptional Merit Award for Best Shorts Competition, Award of Recognition Indie Fest, and Exceptional Merit for WRPN Women’s International Film Festival among others. The Webby Awards chose Kathleen’s podcast NOW LET’S TALK: THE PODCAST as an Official Honoree 2023 and well as the Communications Awards Distinction Winner 2023. Kathleen is working on a short film adapted from her play Teddy’s Doll House. She is a member of New York Women in Film and Television, and the Dramatist Guild.

Joseph Galizia

Joseph Galizia is an actor, filmmaker, comedian and circus performer who resides in Las Vegas. After graduating from the Chicago College of Performing Arts in 2011 Joseph dove head-first into Chicago's competitive theatrical scene, which included performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, House Theatre, Collaboraction, Black Ensemble Theatre, and the Tony-Award Winning Lookingglas Theatre to name a few. Since transitioning to on-camera work Joseph has appeared in numerous commercials on television and online, including viral spots for The Onion, Zero Fatalities, and Buzzfeed. His first film, Bella & Cedro, played in 30+ film festivals in five different countries and won numerous awards. He recently wrapped filming on his first feature, This Is Our City, which co-starred Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts.

Concetta Rose Rella

Concetta Rose Rella - is once again thrilled to be joining this incredible team. Past credits with Virtual Arts include: Pandemic, Baby; A Very Virtual Christmas Carol; Lavinia!; A Date With The Devil; Group Chant; Moving Day.

Micah Spayer

Micah Spayer is an award-winning filmmaker, singer and actor living in NYC area. Originally from Illinois, he received his Bachelors in Musical Theatre. Since then, he's done everything under the sun to further enrich his creative world and continues to do so while teaching acting and film at a prestigious film school in lower Manhattan. He is a proud daddy to a brilliant young girl and enjoys everyday as it happens. He hopes that creativity continues to bring people out of the fog and into the light.

Dustin Presley

Dustin Presley (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5617886/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_7_q_dustin%20presley), CSA is an *Artios Award winning Associate Casting Director based in Atlanta who works on TV & film projects with Erica Arvold. After attending Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of the Performing Arts and graduating from the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in New York, Dustin completed internships with both Donna DeSeta Casting and Barden/Schnee Casting before becoming Donna’s Casting Assistant in 2014. Dustin also worked on commercials with Binder Casting in New York before relocating to Atlanta, Georgia in 2018. Casting credits include: Color Book (Indie Feature), Slanted (Indie Feature), Reasonable Doubt S2 (Onyx/Hulu) The Bondsman (Blumhouse/Amazon), *Dopesick (Hulu), Tell Me Lies S1-S2 (Hulu), Mike (Hulu), The Game Reboot S1-S2 (Paramount+), Swagger S2 (Apple TV+) Freaky (Blumhouse/Universal), My Best Friend’s Exorcism (Amazon), They/Them (Blumhouse/Peacock), The Black Phone (Blumhouse/Universal), Red Notice (Netflix), The Evening Hour (Indie Feature), Even After Everything (Indie Feature), Breaking Brooklyn (Indie Feature), Stuck (Indie Feature), Front Cover (Indie Feature), _PREVIEW_ (Short Film), Over My Dead Body, (Short Film), Adam (Short Film), Seeking: Jack Tripper (Short Film)

Robert Funaro

Robert Funaro is a professional working actor based in NYC. Known for his work as a regular in "The Sopranos" in which he created the role of Eugene Pontecorvo. “Members Only” his final episode in which he co-stared in won an Emmy Award for best dramatic episode for writer Terence Winter. Robert has worked extensively in NYC- OFF BROADWAY and OFF OFF BROADWAY scene. One of the plays was DREAD AWAKENINGS directed by Arin Arbus Artistic director of Brooklyn’s “Theater For A New Audience”. He last Directed How Alfo Learned To Love Women with Joanna Bonaro. His most recent film credit includes, ”The Irishman" directed by Martin Scorcese. A recurring role on the final season of the hit Showtime TV series "Ray Donovan" as Lt. Bricker. Other T.V. credits include the first season of "The Sinner" with Jessica Biel as a regular. Vinyl directed again by Martin Scorcese. Film credits include "American Gangster" with Ridley Scott and "Not Fade Away" directed by David Chase.

Christy Patti

Christy has had a long and varied career in the entertainment field, with past experiences including working as a Stage Manager, Producer, Board Member, Company Manager, Theater Manager, Box Office Manager, House Manager, and sometimes performer and playwright. She has worked on productions in NYC (most notably Off-Broadway: Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, The Great Divorce, Actor Found Dead, The Great Divide, TheatreWorks USA Tour of Junie B. Jones), New Jersey, Orlando and Washington, DC, as well as on Norwegian Cruise Lines, at Walt Disney World, and on tours across the US. A few years ago, she became a mom and thought her theatre days were over, but has found a new and exciting way of being able to work from home in an industry that truly motivates and inspires her.