Women Connect Speakers
Filmmaker & Executive Director, Boston Latino Int’l Film Festival
Sabrina Avilés has worked as an independent film and video producer for over 25 years, many of which have taken her throughout Latin America, Canada and Europe. Her list of credits include American Experience’s “American Comandante,” “An Unexpected History: the Story of Hennessy and African Americans” and “The Raising of America,” a PBS documentary series about early childhood development produced by California Newsreel. In 2012, she worked on the Peabody award-winning PBS series, “Latino Americans.” That same year, she received development funds from the prestigious Independent Television Services (ITVS) to begin work on a documentary about the sterilization of Puerto Rican women.
In 2016, Ms. Avilés became the Executive Director of the Boston Latino International Film Festival, after having served as its Associate Director from 2004 – 2007. Born in Washington Heights, Ms. Avilés’ family originates from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. She earned a B.S. in Broadcasting/Film from Boston University.
President, MullenLowe US
As President of MullenLowe US, Fredrickson is focused on partnering with strategy and creative to make the work great; expanding the agency by delivering new ideas and value to existing and prospective clients; and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.
She joins a leadership team responsible for almost 500 integrated marketing professionals across the agency’s full range of hyperbundled services, including strategy, creative, media, and public relations. Boston is home to the teams who work with many of the agency’s most progressive and innovative clients, including JetBlue, Royal Caribbean, American Greetings, and Burger King.
In addition to her extensive experience as SVP, Channel Marketing Executive at Bank of America, Fredrickson has deep knowledge working inside creatively driven agencies. She was Chief of Staff at Modernista! during their emergence as a national creative powerhouse on brands like Cadillac, Hummer, TIAA-CREF and Project RED.
Director, Northern Light Productions
Susan Gray is a Director who develops, directs, and writes projects for television broadcast as well as festival and theatrical screenings. Before coming to Northern Light, she worked as a director/writer in Europe and Washington, D.C. Her films have aired on PBS, National Geographic Channel, Animal Planet, Channel 4 England, Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, Arte, NHK, and more. Susan's awards include Nomination for Outstanding Historical Emmy, the best INPUT (public television programming worldwide), and the Adolph Grimme Award (the German Oscars).
Actress
A graduate of Boston Conservatory of Music, it was Andrea's love of singing and musical theatre that led her into the entertainment world. She began her career when cast in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and went on to perform in the Easter and Summer shows at Radio City Music Hall. She is a member of SAG-AFTRA, and ACTORS EQUITY.
In New England, Andrea won Best Actress Award at The Boston Playwrights Platform as well as awards at the 48 Hour Film Festival the first time she produced a film. Andrea's contributions to the New England Film Community include volunteering on the New England SAG-AFTRA board and helping to run the SAG-AFTRA Conservatory. She also serves on the SAG-AFTRA National Diversity Committee.
Andrea has appeared in many films and television productions such as A Snow White Christmas on ION-TV, commercials (Early Voting) and corporate videos, in addition to performing locally in stage shows such as Ruthless and Ain’t Misbehavin’, A Piece of My Heart. You can also catch her performing her solo Cabaret style musical show, Broadway Lady throughout New England. She worked in LA for a year as a stand in on Body of Proof as well as a stand-in on the Hulu series Castle Rock last year.
Director of Photography
Nikki Bramley is a director of photography based in Boston. Her work ranges from independent documentaries to high-end commercial projects. Recent broadcast camera credits include: Councilwoman (America Re-Framed, 2019),Breaking Big (PBS 2018), Seeing Eyes/Feeling Heart (American Masters 2018), NOVA “Addiction” (2018), NOVA “Prediction by the Numbers" (2017), Frontline (2017, 2015). Her documentary and nonprofit cinematography work has taken her across the U.S., and to Thailand, Ireland and South Sudan. Nikki graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University in 2002 with a B.S. in Television, Radio and Film Production.