Join us for a conversation centered on how women in film lead with both creativity and strategy—shaping visual stories through collaboration, intuition, and experience. This panel would explore how creative decisions are made, the dynamics of leading teams, and the evolving role of women as visual storytellers and decision makers across different types of productions.

Moderator: Mariah Mellus

Panelists: Miriam Footer, Renny Grames, Amy Redford, and Tahlee Scarpitti

‍

‍

‍

‍

MARIAH MELLUS Utah Film Center Executive Director

Mariah Mann Mellus is the Executive Director of Utah Film Center, where she leads with a deep commitment to amplifying diverse voices through film and media arts. A Utah native and longtime arts advocate, Mariah has spent more than 20 years connecting people, stories, and ideas across the nonprofit, cultural, and creative sectors. Her background in media, public policy, and community building informs her thoughtful, dynamic approach to moderating conversations that matter. She’s especially passionate about the role of film in sparking empathy, reflection, and dialogue—and believes the best discussions happen when curiosity leads.

‍

‍

MIRIAM FOOTER, Director, 1st Assistant Director

Miriam Footer is a seasoned Assistant Director and Director based in Salt Lake City, with decades of experience across feature films, commercials, and independent productions. Her career began in Utah as a production assistant and advanced steadily through the ranks, from commercials to second assistant director roles on notable films such as The World’s Fastest Indian (2005) and A Life Less Ordinary (1997).

As a proud member of the Directors Guild of America, Miriam has honed a reputation for exceptional leadership on set and seamless coordination in fast-paced environments

Her extensive experience includes managing day-to-day shoot logistics, ensuring creative vision alignment, and supporting directors through all phases of production, from planning to wrap.

Whether serving as 1st AD on Utah-based commercial shoots or directing units on dramatic features, Miriam brings clarity, calm, and precision to every set. Her track record reflects deep knowledge of local workflows, collaborative spirit, and ability to elevate storytelling through strong production focus and creative partnership.

‍

‍

RENNY GRAMES Producer, Actor

Renny Grames is an award winning producer, director and actress. She and her partner, Boston McConnaughey have amassed an impressive following, with their original content garnering over a quarter of a billion views online. This viral success caught the attention of industry giants, leading to collaborations with top-tier brands such as Reebok, Nokia, Sony Pictures, Google, Gatorade, and Coca-Cola.

Renny’s most recent project, "Alien Country", a sci-fi action feature film, was featured in the New York Times as a top top sci-fi movie to stream right now and won the Grand Prize for the Best Comedy Feature Film at Flickers International FF and is now available on all platforms.

‍

‍

AMY REDFORD Director, Producer, Actress

Amy Redford’s career in the creative arts spans over three decades as a director, producer, and actor in film, television, and theatre. Currently, she is directing and producing the feature Salt and Honey, set to shoot in Helper, Utah. Her directorial debut, The Guitar, starred Saffron Burrows, and her recent film What Comes Around premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Amy produced Showtime’s The Lincoln Project and is in pre-production on two docu-series: Not Part of the Plan, exploring LGBTQ+ youth in Utah, and Shelter, about The Other Side Academy’s tiny home village. She also produced Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, starring Rebecca Hall.

‍
Amy hosts and produces the podcast Scrappy Broads, now in its second season, and has directed music videos, including “I Am a Wolf, You Are the Moon” for the composer of the Netflix series Wet Hot American Summer. As an actor, she has appeared in Sunshine Cleaning, The Sopranos, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Sex and the City, among others, and performed in theatre productions like Bhutan and The Shape of Things.

‍
Amy completed her postgraduate work at LAMDA and studied at ACT, Circle Rep, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art,and CU, earning her BA from SFSU. Amy serves on boards for the Sundance Institute and Spy Hop: Digital Media Arts for Youth. She resides in Salt Lake City with her three daughters. See her website for more information.

‍

‍

TAHLEE SCARPITTI, Cinematographer

Tahlee Booher‑Scarpitti is a Salt Lake City–based cinematographer. With a career spanning narrative film, web series, and independent productions, she blends technical expertise with a sharp visual storytelling sensibility. Known for her ability to craft cinematic imagery across both film and digital formats, Tahlee approaches every project with a focus on emotion, composition, and collaboration. Her work reflects a dedication to creating authentic, impactful visuals that elevate the stories being told.