Black to the Future 2026: Four Day Event!

Join us for a panel with reps! 

Panelists Include: 

Krista Sipp is a literary manager at Heroes & Villains Entertainment, in Los Angeles, CA. Originally from Connecticut, Krista started her career at management company Circle of Confusion in 2008. After holding positions at studios and production companies across the industry, she launched her own management company, First Friday Entertainment in 2017, alongside her partner Devon Byers. In 2022, First Friday was acquired by Heroes & Villains, where Krista continues to represent screenwriters, directors, and IP creators across film, television, and other mediums.

Krista is focused on representing diverse clients from varying underrepresented backgrounds with fresh points of view and working to close the inclusion gap in Hollywood. Her clients include writers and directors who have worked on films and TV shows, such as Abbott Elementary, Fallout, Ted Lasso, American Horror Story, and Animaniacs, as well as comic book writers and novelists who have written for publishers such as Marvel, DC, IDW, and Legendary.

Wyatt Allen is a manager and producer from Los Angeles, CA. Best known for his work on "God Is A Bullet" & "One Of Them Days" Wyatt started his career in the mailroom at WME before transitioning to a manager and producer at ColorCreative. He's the longtime manager of award winning novelist Boston Teran, other clients include Frankie McNamara, Ruby Red and Moiba Mustapha. 

Join us for a panel with producers and development/creative execs! 

Panelists Include: 

Toy Monique Hawkins is a television producer, story architect and Founder of Green Goddess Productions, a purpose-driven creative content company that develops and produces inspirational content across television, film, literature, and live events. Toy Monique’s creative passion centers on themes of faith, spirituality, family, relationships and personal growth—designed to uplift, heal, and empower audiences of all ages.

With a strong background as a television executive, Toy Monique has most recently developed scripted content in her dual role as Vice President of BET Networks and Vice President of BET Studios. Select credits include Kingdom Business, The Ms. Pat Show, and Haus of Vicious.

Since then, the proud Chicago native produced Lil Kev, an adult animated series inspired by Kevin Hart’s childhood and presently nominated for an NAACP award. Her producing portfolio also includes Bigger and That Girl Lay Lay for Nickelodeon.  

Maya Jackson is the Director of Development for TV at 1Community, an entertainment production and co-finance company dedicated to using storytelling to drive real-world impact. In her role, she is building and overseeing a dynamic development slate focused on bold, socially relevant, and creator-driven projects.

Born and raised in Southern California, Maya earned her degree in Film & TV Production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and built her career at companies including Creative Artists Agency, Freeform, Reléve Entertainment, and MRC. Previously, she served as a Manager in TV Development at MRC, where she helped develop and oversee projects including The Great (Hulu) and Time Bandits (Apple TV+), while managing a robust development slate.

As a woman of color in the entertainment industry, Maya is deeply committed to championing underrepresented voices, supporting emerging talent, and demystifying the development process for the next generation of storytellers. She believes in the power of stories to make complex issues personal, human, and transformative.

Outside of work, she can usually be found on the volleyball court or nerding out in an escape room.

Wes Akwoubi is a genre TV Exec at Amazon Studios. 

Join us for a panel with writers! 

Panelists Include: 

Originally from Virginia, and now in Los Angeles, Leon Langford is a writer with a penchant for powerhouse genre work, fused with multi-layered characters for rich, impactful stories. He is the co-writer of HOT SEAT starring Mel Gibson and CALAMITY JANE starring Stephen Amell. Currently, he has the spy-thriller SAFE HOUSE which just dropped on Amazon and Hulu, starring Hannah John-Kamen (Thunderbolts*) and Lewis Tan (Mortal Kombat). He's worked on Yellowstone Season 3, written for National Lampoon, Facebook Watch and other national brands.  

Erica Land is a Los Angeles-based Film/TV writer who grew up reading horror novels in the back of her mother’s hair salon. Her work blends horror and thrillers with stories about family and the courage it takes to confront fear - and sometimes monsters - against incredible odds. She has pitched and sold two films to Lifetime, including Her Affair to Die For (2023). Her short story, The Darkness, was named a Top Ten Finalist in the Roadmap Writers + Josephson Entertainment Short Story Competition and she is a winner of Roadmap Writers’ Diversity Initiative. Her work has also been recognized by NBC, Disney, and WB TV fellowship programs, and her sketches have been featured in NBC Scene Showcases. With a background in journalism - covering everything from concert reviews to WrestleMania - and a foundation in classical music, Erica brings a rich, emotionally grounded perspective to every project she undertakes.

Joe Carroll is an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. His recent credits include directing the critically acclaimed BET+ biopic FIGHTING TO BE ME: THE DWEN CURRY STORY, earning him his first Telly Award for Outstanding Directing, and previously writing and directing the BET+ thriller LETHAL LEGACY. After making national news for crashing a Marvel red carpet impersonating comedian Hannibal Buress (yes, that was him), Carroll signed his first studio deal with CBS Studios as a Co-Ep for SUGAR MAMAS. Prior to this, he co-created the award-winning Amazon series MS. INCORPORATED, and has since served on the writing staff for BEL-AIR, THE CHI, and THE RESIDENT. He is also the author of the thriller/suspense novel series "Sinful Confessions," which he is currently adapting for TV.

George Ellzey Jr. is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker and Telly Award–winning director based in Chicago. His acclaimed short Cottage Grove (AMC+, VTV) and experimental film SWITCHIN (NBC5, OTV) have screened at festivals including Athens International, Tallgrass, and Black Harvest. As the founder of Cottage Grove Productions, he champions overlooked narratives through emotionally rich, socially conscious storytelling. Upcoming projects include producing the feature film The Elkhorn Special and developing his debut feature SHADES—a 2025 TDE Short Film finalist—set for release in fall 2026.

Erskine Forde is a director (SUITS LA, BEACON 23). 

Join us for a pitch showcase! Up to 4 writers will practice their five minute pitch in front of the panel of execs and reps for feedback. 

Panelists Include: