Riccardo Costa

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Born in Bologna, Italy, graduated with a B.F.A. in Film & Television Production from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, and earned an M.A. in Media Studies with a Certificate in Media Management & Leadership at the New School University. Before moving to New York City to pursue film, he worked as a publicist and speechwriter for an Italian congressman. In New York, Costa turned his focus to film directing and enrolled at NYU. He has served as Spike Lee’s videographer on the feature Summer of Sam, and collaborated with Lee’s company 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks to develop his debut script. He completed his fourth short film, "Crossing" (starring Joe Morton and Anthony Mackie), which made its broadcast debut on CBS, having won awards in several international film festivals. He co-directed and co-produced a TV travel/reality pilot, Daytripping, as well as a successful run of live musical revues at Foxwoods Casino, and directed segments of Italy’s nationally televised talk show Buon Pomeriggio. Currently, he is prepping Blitz Entertainment’s first feature film project, Queen of Harlem, which he co-wrote and will co-direct. Also a passionate chef, Costa has written a book of traditional Italian recipes, Vecchia Cucina, and enthusiastically teaches the art of cooking at a private academy in Manhattan. He's the host of the Italian lifestyle TV Show "i-Italy NY" on Channel 25.

André Hereford

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Moved from Kentucky to New York at sixteen to study film production at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. After graduating in 1994, he landed at filmmaker Spike Lee's 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, where, at 22, he was tapped to head Story Development; for seven years as Director of Development, he was responsible for finding and developing projects for Spike Lee to direct and/or produce (Summer of Sam, The Best Man). He is a founding producer of PS, Inc., which annually presents the Crown Point Festival, and a co-director of MIX NYC, which presents the New York Lesbian & Gay Experimental Film Festival. He has written, produced and/or directed several short films, including "Over Easy" (aka “Pop Tarts”), which is available on DVD from PictureThis Entertainment, and “Crossing,” which stars Joe Morton and Anthony Mackie and had its broadcast premiere on CBS. He co-directed and co-produced TV travel/reality pilot, “Daytripping,” as well as a successful run of live musical revues at Foxwoods Casino. Currently, he is prepping Blitz Entertainment’s first feature film project, Queen of Harlem, which he co-wrote and will co-direct.