Meet our 2025 CCFF Guest Artists and Workshop Hosts!
Veronica Bouza - Director of Photography
Originally from Los Angeles, Veronica Bouza is a Director of Photography whose work spans narrative, commercial, and documentary. She originally moved up the ranks in TV through IATSE 476 as an electrician and then in IATSE 600 as a camera assistant before receiving her MFA from AFI and starting her career as a DP. Veronica was among American Cinematographer’s Rising Stars of Cinematography in 2022 and Variety’s 10 Cinematographers to Watch in 2024.
Veronica’s narrative work has been official selections at Sundance, Tribeca, BAFTA, SXSW, and the Slamdance Film Festival. Veronica’s AFI thesis, “We Were Meant To,” premiered at Sundance 2023, and she helped lens Seasons 2 and 3 of Indeed’s Rising Voices program, which both screened at Tribeca. Her short “Pens and Pencils” is currently streaming on Max. Veronica’s debut feature, GUTTER, starring Shameik Moore and Susan Sarandon, originally premiered at SXSW and is streaming on Hulu. More recently, she wrapped the drama GRASSLAND starring Quincy Isaiah and TECIE, produced, written, and composed by the musical artist Moby.
Kevin Cognolotti - Post Production Sound/Live Sound Mixing
Kevin Cagnolatti is a sound designer, educator, and creative force in the world of cinematic audio. As an Assistant Professor at DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts, he brings industry experience and creative precision to the classroom. His recent film credits include 5lbs of Pressure (Lionsgate), My Fake Boyfriend (Amazon Prime), and Never Not Yours, showcasing a dynamic range across narrative sound design and post-production mixing. With a career that bridges professional film work and academic leadership, Kevin is always tuned into what’s next in sound.
Callie Johnson - Actor
Callie is an award winning actress originally from Chicago. With roots in rural Illinois, she attended Columbia College Chicago earning a Bachelor in Fine Arts in musical theatre. She had an incredibly varied theatre career, stretching from leading ladies in avant-garde cult classic musicals like Stephen King’s Carrie, to playing Ophelia and Desdemona. She won a Joseph Jefferson Award for her cameo appearance in a production of Pal Joey.She is currently best known for her recurring guest star role on NBC’s Chicago Med, and working opposite Zach Galifianakis in The Beanie Bubble (AppleTV+), and recently had a role on NBC’s Chicago Fire. Last summer, she had the pleasure of playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret at a reputable Atlanta theatre. Callie is on a lifelong journey to cultivate meaningful connection with others, and most importantly, herself; she fully believes that striving to be a whole hearted human being in life is a crucial part of effective storytelling in art.
She is currently based in Atlanta and Chicago.
Jessie Knight - Director
My name is Jesse H. Knight, and I am a filmmaker with over twenty-six years of experience. I have been an active filmmaker since 1995 when I made my first film at the North Carolina School of the Arts during its Filmmaking Summer Immersion Program. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Broadcasting and Cinema Masters Program I continue to make films to this day.
I specialize in cinematography and editing. I am owner of Jesse Knight Films, a business I have maintained since 2009.
I have created and worked on a variety of commercials, documentaries, short films, music videos, live events, and feature films. I have a music video that aired on MTV’s Headbangers Ball and a short film I am Director of Photography and Associate Producer on was picked up by Revolt, Sean “P-Diddy” Combs’ network. I am Executive Producer, Cinematographer and Editor on a feature film called Kill Giggles, which was picked up by Grindstone Entertainment and will be available to the public.
I owe my visual sense to my mother, a wonderful painter and all-around artist. Her influence from early childhood to this day is evident within my own work especially within the realms of composition, value and color. I love art and refer to it often for ideas and inspiration for my own work. My early work is way more akin to styles such as German Expressionism and artists like H.R. Geiger and David Lynch. As I developed my style, I became influenced by the Flemish, Dutch and Italian painters. Through my love of Impressionism, I welcomed more vibrant color and movement into my work and continue to try new things which keeps it exciting.
Regarding the study of the image, I always push the elements and principles of design in my cinematography and try to use them as my cinematic weapons.
I became fascinated with motion pictures at an early age mainly due to my father’s influence. He introduced me to the world of Akira Kurosawa, Stephen Spielberg, Coppola, Scorsese, Lucas, and Kubrick at an early age and I dove deep into the material. Story and image have always been one and the same, whether the pictures were provided within the confines of a movie or created by the infinite depths of the imagination.
I am a product of my influences and wish to influence others with my visual creations.
