Biography
Kayvan Mashayekh
Attorney turned filmmaker, Kayvan Mashayekh, began his career by writing, producing and directing an epic, independent feature film called, “The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam,” which Premiered at the Moscow Film Festival in 2005 and had a successful theatrical run in the US for 53 weeks in 14 separate cities.
Mashayekh was the winner of the Relativity Media Special Prize of $25,000 at the 2007 Middle East International Film Festival in Abu Dhabi for his script “Batting for Palestine.” One of the judges, Branko Lustig (legendary Oscar Winning Producer of “Gladiator” and “Schindler’s List),” noticed him and subsequently took him in under his wing as an apprentice producer developing his slate of international, studio grade projects.
Being the beneficiary of a treasure chest of knowledge and experience, Mr. Lustig treated Kayvan like a son and taught him the soft skills an effective producer needs in handling complicated tasks in high pressure situations by learning to manage talented individuals in delicate environments. As a result of the knowledge he acquired, Mashayekh became a consultant to independent filmmakers.
He became a member of the Producers Guild of America in 2008 and was chosen as its Middle East Representative in the International Committee, working closely to develop an outreach program with the PGA’s first ever Middle East Affiliate, The Royal Film Commission of Jordan. By creating workshops, seminars and events with RFC, the relationship has helped launch the careers of many talented producers in the region who have benefited from the bridge building nature and educational importance of cross border producing by PGA mentor members for over a decade.
In June 2018, Mashayekh was elected as Co-Chairman of the International Committee for the PGA. In that capacity, he has been proactive in globally branding the World’s largest trade organization of Film, TV, and Multi-Media producers with a membership of over 8100. He has increased the membership of the specific committee of 175 members he Chairs by over 100% since taking over from his predecessors, proving that when people feel empowered and motivated by action and results, they will be engaged to participate and add value to the group.
Mashayekh’s initiatives involving content creation have placed him in a unique position to expand his global network base:
2021 Legacy Sponsor
James P. Axiotis
James P. Axiotis is an international producer with over 25 years of experience developing, casting, and producing film and television content for theatrical and streaming platforms, both scripted and reality based. As an immigrant who was adopted from an orphanage in Athens, Greece when he was 2 years old and raised in Southern California, he has always loved to keep a global outlook at the projects he creates. Possessing a keen eye for original ideas and an uncompromising ear for storytelling, the projects in Axiotis’ resume have spanned a wide range of genres, subjects, and budgets for major studios and networks.
Advisory Board Members
Bea Hegedus
Bea Hegedus is an accomplished television executive and producer with her career spanning across three decades in the television industry. Currently she is the Executive Managing Director, Global Distribution at Vice Media Group with an oversight of premium content licensing, FAST channel and social media video distribution strategy and co-productions for the group.
William Nix
William Nix is the Chairman/CEO of Creative Projects Group® and a Producer with extensive experience in the entertainment, media, sports, and intellectual property fields. He is also a Partner in the social and environmental impact investment firm, LOHAS Advisors and Capital. He is a member of the Producer’s Council of the PGA, a founding member of its Social Impact Entertainment Task Force and member of its Global One, Education, Independent Film, Documentary and Animation Committees. He is also the Co-Executive Director and a Founding Member of the SIE Society, the leading alliance in Social Impact Entertainment whose mission is to connect, equip and amplify SIE organizations and creative producers around the globe. He is a lifetime voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, serving on its Grants Committee, as well as a member of the Television and Recording Academies.
Steven Beer
Steven Beer is a partner in the New York office of Lewis Brisbois and a National Chair of the firm’s Entertainment, Media & Sports Practice. Steven concentrates his practice on film, television, and music matters. He represents industry-leading film, television, and music companies and has acted as counsel to numerous award-winning writers, directors, producers, and multi-platinum musical artists. Steven regularly negotiates rights deals for film and television projects.
Steven has been listed annually in Super Lawyers New York Metro edition. Research and Markets listed him as one of the top lawyers in Entertainment Law, Settlements, and Negotiations. The Wrap online magazine cited Steven as one of “21 Great Thinkers of Indie Film.”
Garry Herbert
Garry is a senior director at the specialist investment manager, J. Stern & Co. and a member of BAFTA’s commercial committee.
Garry spent 14 years at Goldman Sachs as an executive director within the Investment Management Division, co-heading one of the largest teams in London that advised some of the UK & Europe’s most successful entrepreneurs, private equity principles, family offices and charities. His business also included working with clients in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Brazil.
Arturo Chavéz
Art Chavez sees possibilities. Whether he is meeting new people, visiting countries or touring prospective project sites he can visualize futures for them all. This is one of the skills that helped elevate Art from design architect to the youngest managing principal in Page’s 100-plus year history.
Gregory Beltrame
Gregory C. Beltrame is a Partner in the Investment Management, Private Equity & Real Estate practice of Arendt & Medernach and he is the Head of the Paris Office.
Greg primarily specialises in investment funds, advising domestic and international clients on the corporate and regulatory aspects of creating, structuring and operating regulated and unregulated investment fund vehicles. He represents and supports sponsors and investors in connection with their investments in different types of alternative assets, including private equity, real estate, venture, infrastructure and debt. He also has expertise in secondary transactions, regulatory matters and restructuring of private equity groups.
Global Event Management
JoJo Dye
JoJo Dye, the name behind the brand JJD Consultancy, has extensive knowledge of producing events around the world and a reputation that is difficult to top. Well connected, energetic and with an irresistible sense of humour, Jojo makes for a compelling broker of deals.
With over 25 years of experience in the film and tv industries, JoJo has consistently been called upon to produce some of the biggest and best events at various festivals in Cannes, Abu Dhabi LA and Berlin. Via her own brand called “The Members Club” In Cannes, she has also created parties and conferences for companies as varied as property clients, governmental agencies, finance houses, music moguls, celebrities and high-end wet goods companies amongst many others.
PWB Visual Artisan
Johanna Berghorn
PWB Berlin based Johanna Berghorn holds a bachelor’s degree in photography and design.
Her work as a photographer is featured in major publications such as VOGUE Italia, The Independent Photographer and Portrait Of Humanity, published by the British Journal of Photography and Magnum. She has worked for international brands including Mercedes Benz, H&M, Pixomondo, Etsy and XOUXOU. While working as a freelance photographer and artist, she also studies psychology in order to deepen the psychological skills of her photographic work and to use it for her artistic approach.
Post Production Producer and Photography
Roxanne Reinebach
Roxanne is a graduate of the prestigious UCLA Film School with a concentration in screenwriting which eventually launched her career as a branded content director.
Her strong work ethic led her to excel in digital native brands as an early adopter of social media advertising and content marketing. From innovative TV campaigns with Kate Hudson for Fabletics to Facebook Lives with Demi Lovato, Roxanne has crafted creative campaigns with ROI.
