fliXfest TEAM
Working together to bring fliXfest to life!
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Eve Cohen
fliXfest Executive Director
Producer
fliXfest: Co-founder
ACM Records: Co-owner, Music Supervisor
Living Great Real Estate: Co-owner, CEO, Broker, REALTOR®
Stories To Tale: Founder, Producer, Filmmaker
Eve’s passion for film and music was the inspiration for fliXfest.
Eve has worked with some of the top names in the entertainment industry including Universal, CBS, Miramax, Paramount.
Alan Cohen, MBA
fliXfest Producer
Managing Director
fliXfest: Co-founder
ACM Records: Co-owner, Producer
Living Great Real Estate: Co-owner, COO, Managing Director, REALTOR®
Adjunct Professor: William Paterson Univ., Ramapo College, IAR
Veteran Broadway Guitarist
Education: MBA-William Paterson University
BM-Berklee College of Music
Petri Hawkins Byrd
Judge - Films
Affectionately known as "Byrd" the co-host on the Emmy award winning CBS network court drama, "Judge Judy". During his long-running performance as the Bailiff on the "Judge Judy" show, Petri has also gained attention as a viable actor. Performing in numerous motion pictures and television shows over the course of his illustrious career, Petri is a well-known talent throughout Hollywood and the world. Petri is also a VO Talent and Comedian having performed stand-up and provided voice over services for many commercials (Bill Cosby, Bernie Mac and many others). He is a philanthropist and serves on several youth organizations providing his celebrity status to bring awareness to charitable causes through his participation in public speaking engagements and emcee services.
Angelo Panetta
Judge - Music
Angelo has been designing sound effects, sound editing, re-recording mixing and composing music for TV, Feature Films, Short Films, Commercials and Video Games for over 30 years. With over 80 films listed on IMDb, Angelo has supervised and directed talent such as, Eric Roberts (The Expendables), Tom Bosley (Happy Days), Claudia Christian (Babylon 5), PatriciaTallman (Babylon 5), Andy Hallett (Angel), Katey Sagal (Futurama and Married With Children), Marina Sirtis (Star Trek-The Next Generation) and dozens more.
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Michael Persh
Judge - Music
A music industry veteran with over 25 years of experience, Michael brings a powerful combination of creative vision and project management expertise. Currently, he leads The Music Department, a remote team of specialists offering music supervision, composition, rights & clearances, and audio mixing/sweetening services to content creators across all media platforms.
Throughout Michael's career, he has thrived in fast-paced environments, excelling in diverse roles. From Music Supervisor at major networks like E! and NBCUniversal to Artist, touring and recording with Sony Music Entertainment.
Mike Reynolds
Judge - Films
Film/Television Producer, Documentarian, Veteran Journalist and Broadcaster. Mike's film credits include producing/directing Behind-The-Scenes documentaries for Paramount Pictures on such major productions as “Ghost,” “The Hunt for Red October,” “Presidio” and “Black Rain,” as well as numerous independent films, including “Mistress” for Robert DeNiro.
Mike is also an early pioneer of New Media, having produced/directed countless live programs (“Dr. Drew,” “Three Tenors Live From Mandalay Bay,” “Live From the Roxy,” etc.). He also produced numerous Video News Releases for companies such as Coca-Cola and Motorola.
Chriss Williams
Judge - Film
Chriss Williams graduated from NYU's prestigious Graduate Film Program. His thesis film, BLOODS ON THE MOON, earned the Time Warner/Warner Bros. Fellowship. He worked as Casting Assistant for Julie Taymor on the PBS production of FOOLS FIRE and on the Emmy-winning CBS TV Movie, SEPARATE BUT EQUAL, and as Assistant to Spike Lee on film, CROOKLYN.
Chriss’ first feature, ASBURY PARK, won the Gordon Parks Award, and his second, BELLCLAIR TIMES, won the Newark Black Film Festival. A tenured Professor of Filmmaking at William Paterson University, Chriss also holds a law degree from Rutgers University and serves as a Pro Bono Attorney for Partners, a non-profit public interest law firm serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault
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Eric Vollweiler
fliXfest Consultant
Eric has been involved working on film festivals since 2005 and fliXfest is Eric's third film festival he has been involved with in NJ. The other two were the Princeton Independent Film Festival in Princeton NJ and the Garden State Film Festival in Asbury Park, NJ. Eric is presently working on film festivals and film events in NYC, CT and PA.
Further links to his work may be found at:
www.haydenfilmsinstitute.org/festival/haydenfilms-5.0-online-film-festival.html
838-202-7778
Jeffery Wisotsky
fliXfest Consultant
Jeffrey Wisotsky is a teacher, independent filmmaker, screenwriter and member of the Directors Guild of America. Wisotsky has an extensive background in documentary, industrial and fiction directing credits. He won a National Kodak Teenage Movie Award at the age of 16 for his first film and has been making them (and winning awards) ever since. He is a professor and the director of the CAS Media and Digital Film Production Program at Bronx Community College.
Jeffrey Wisotsky has taken the camera into housing projects, inner-city schools, onto the streets of New York City-anywhere to get the job done. He has emerged with a body of work, shown at film festivals and nationwide television, that Academy Award winning director Milos Forman describes as having "art, wit and great heart." His work has included a New York EMMY award nominee for Jerry Orbach's-Smooth Operator, as well as his World War Il documentary, The Blue Devils Come Home.
Wisotsky's educational children's series "On the Edge" received a CABLEACE Award. His dramatic film, HOUSING PROJECT U.S.A., was produced with a Warner Brothers Film Grant. Wisatskx's PSA, CRACK KILLS was included in Universal Pictures 2023 feature film "COCAINE BEAR." A native New Yorker, he holds a B.F.A. degree from CCNY's David V. Picker Film Institute as well as an M.F.A. degree from Columbia University.
Barry Heyman Esq.
Panelist
Barry Heyman is an attorney practicing music, entertainment, intellectual property (copyrights and trademarks), and digital media law for over 20 years. In 2004, Barry founded Heyman Law where he is the principal attorney. In his law practice, Barry advises individuals and business on a wide variety of legal matters including drafting and negotiating contracts, forming corporate entities, and handling copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property matters. In addition, he provides strategic and commercial advice on various aspects of the music and media industries, including current technological changes and alternative copyright distribution and exploitation models.
Barry’s clients include creative talent ranging from writers, actors, producers, directors, to recording and performing artists, musicians, spokespersons, social media influencers, DJs, and designers. Corporate clients include entrepreneurs, startups, talent management companies, film and audio-visual production companies, record and publishing companies, entertainment and media companies, events companies, marketing and public relations firms.
Barry has held several teaching positions at academic institutions, including serving as the inaugural Chairperson of the Music and Entertainment Business Program at the Institute of Audio Research (IAR), the world’s oldest audio engineering school. As an adjunct professor also teaching at New York University, The Hartt School of the University of Hartford, and is presently the Program Coordinator of the Music & Entertainment Industry Studies program at Five Towns College.
Susan Jacobs
Panelist
A pioneer in Music Supervision.
In 2017, Jacobs won the first Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Music Supervision for her work on the HBO drama series Big Little Lies.
Her notable projects include American Hustle, Promising Young Woman, Little Miss Sunshine and Silver Linings Playbook.
Sue’s extensive portfolio is a testament to her dedication, hard work and creative vision.
Tyrone 'Tye' Taylor
Panelist
A Strategic HR Leader and Business Growth Partner
Bringing a dynamic and committed approach to every endeavor, I have held pivotal roles at industry giants like ESPN, Viacom, and Cablevision (now Altice USA). Over the past decade, I’ve expanded my expertise across various sectors, currently serving primarily in early childhood education. As a confident and caring HR consultant, I implement strategic growth initiatives through innovative solutions.
As an Adult Educator and Adjunct Professor, my enthusiasm for business management, entrepreneurship, HR, and organizational development motivates me to craft impactful educational programs. Known for being personable and hardworking, my approach combines strategic foresight with empathy and a steadfast commitment to continual improvement, setting new benchmarks for success in every project.
I am dedicated to ongoing research in HR and business management practices, creating innovative training programs for independent clients. I excel in delivering leadership and employee development training including specializing in Everything DiSC, and customized Equity and Inclusive Leadership. I am eager to collaborate with leaders genuinely committed to driving positive change within their organizations.
