Vera Bianchini (she/her), a queer, first generation immigrant from Brazil, is the Film Program Director at Zeitgeist, where she leads initiatives that build a thriving film ecosystem in the region, connects audiences with bold storytelling and fosters arts-based community building. With over a decade of experience in the film industry, she has worked with regional organizations such as MSP Film/MSPIFF as the Development and Membership Manager, Flip The Script Queer Film Festival, and the Upper Midwest Film Office, as well as internationally recognized, Oscar-qualifying festivals including Sundance, Chicago International Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, and Palm Springs International Film Festival. Her expertise in programming and education in both the non-profit sector and film production has led to invitations to serve on festival juries and panels nationwide. A graduate of Full Sail University Film School, Vera began her career at an animation studio in Miami before working in post-production in Minneapolis and later producing a wide range of independent projects. Recent producing credits include A Kidnapping (2024, dir. Karl Gadjusek), I & Me (2024, dir. Elizabeth Chatelain), and Ish Meets a Mermaid (2025, dir. Jonathan Thunder). Currently Vera serves on the board for Flip the Script Queer Film Festival and Future Film & Sound: EDU Film Fest.