Small Budgets, Big Roles: SAG-AFTRA Performers in Indie Film - Sponsored by SAG-AFTRA

From big screen to small screen, big budget to micro budget. Come hear SAG-AFTRA performers share why they choose indie productions, how these roles differ from studio and streaming, and why they support emerging Georgia filmmakers. From assisting in crowdfunding campaigns to the opportunity to develop and collaborate with indie writers and directors, this panel also explores how SAG-AFTRA talent are creating their own content to foster new opportunities for themselves.  Moderator: Michael Mau Panelists: Israel Vaughan, Katerina Eichenberger, Kurt Yue, Ansley Seiger Michael Mau (SAG-AFTRA, WGAEast) is an Atlanta-born writer/actor/producer. The creator of the indie fiction podcast A Blind Play , he sits on the local SAG-AFTRA board and co-chairs the Indie Outreach Committee. You can hear Michael making quips while fighting ancient aliens and robot panthers on the sci-fi podcast Derelict . Israel Vaughan is an actor/singer/writer/producer from Richmond, VA, living in Atlanta, GA. His credits include Being Mary Jane (BET) , Ghosted (AppleTV), and The Righteous Gemstones (HBO). Israel is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and excited for the world premiere of his short film Capriccio at the Atlanta Film Festival 2026. Katerina Eichenberger is an actress, producer, and filmmaker. Film acting credits include the HBO Film The Great Lillian Hall ; Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World ; Both Eyes Open (Starz); I Will Never Leave You Alone (Shudder), and My Nanny Stole My Life (Lifetime), among others. TV credits include episodes on Fox, CBS, and Netflix shows. As a producer, she produced her short The Unbearing, which she wrote and starred in (Best International Short Film at FanCine de Lemos among other nominations). Katerina has recently wrapped production on short films Call & Response (winner of the PAGE Gold Prize) and Too Done (San Francisco Art Commission Grant Recipient). She is repped by Stewart Talent Agency (NYC & ATL) and Advanced Management (LA). Katerina also serves as the Deputy Director / Director of Admissions and Enrollment at Stowe Story Labs, which is dedicated to helping top emerging screenwriters and filmmakers get work made and seen. Kurt Yue is an Atlanta-based actor whose credits include television series like Will Trent and Cobra Kai , and he continues to work across both studio and independent projects. His indie film work includes acting in the short films The Moth (screening this year at ATLFF) and WokMan (screened at the 48th ATLFF), as well as working crew on Capriccio (screening this year at ATLFF). Kurt also shares industry insights with a global audience through his YouTube channel, Acting Career Center , which has over 250,000 subscribers. Ainsley Seiger is thrilled to be representing independent filmmaking with Party USA at the Atlanta Film Festival. She is an actor best known for her series regular role as Detective Jet Slootmaekers on the television show Law and Order: Organized Crime . Ainsley is a proud alum of the Drama School at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.