NewFilmmakers L.A. Announces New Board Members as Non-Profit Partners With Sharjah Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles has announced four new board members and forged a strategic partnership in the United Arab Emirates with the Sharjah Intl. Film Festival for Children and Youth.

Joining the board of directors of the non-profit arts and culture organization that is focused on championing independent filmmakers and content creators are: Beverly Hills-based entertainment attorney Aditya S. Ezhuthachan, of Pessah Law Group; “Ferrari” producer Niels Juul, who is founder of the No Fat Ego shingle; Susanne Ault, VP of event programming at Variety; and Joyce Liu-Countryman, producer and interim director of physical production at NBCUniversal.

“Welcoming Aditya, Niels, Susanne and Joyce to our board of directors is an exciting moment for NewFilmmakers Los Angeles,” said NFMLA co-founder and executive director Larry Laboe in a statement.

“Each of these individuals has built an impressive career while developing a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges that shape our industry,” he added.

Concurrently with these board appointments, NFMLA has forged a new collaboration with the Sharjah Intl. Film Festival for Children and Youth, in a move that expands its international programming and cultural exchange initiatives into the United Arab Emirates.

The partnership will launch during the festival’s ongoing 2026 edition, running Oct. 25 through Nov. 1 in Sharjah, which is known as the UAE’s cultural capital. The festival, now in its 13th edition, has brought films from Thailand, Brazil, India, Italy and across the Arab world to the UAE with a lineup featuring international festival titles, emerging filmmakers and Emirati talent.

Commented Laboe: “One of the most rewarding aspects of our work at NFMLA is seeing how filmmakers from different backgrounds and parts of the world connect through their stories.”

“Our partnership with the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth creates an exciting opportunity to introduce remarkable independent films to new audiences while participating in conversations about the future of filmmaking and creative education.”

NFMLA through its year-round film festival programming, educational opportunities, industry partnerships and international collaborations, provides a platform to foster diverse creative voices while connecting artists with resources and networking opportunities needed to advance their careers.