Ariel Ottey is a Black, queer, and non-binary artist, curator, and producer born and raised in New York. They are passionate about QTIBIPOC representation and building spaces where art and community converge to create social change. Ariel programmed and produced events for the Human Rights Watch Film Festival before stepping into their current role of Director of Operations for MIX NYC. Most recently they programmed for Frameline49, served on the narrative jury for Wicked Queer, and began programming for PrideFull Fest. When not reviewing films, Ariel can be caught being a proud cat dad and working on their film about identity and labor.

Blake Pruitt is an editor, filmmaker, film festival director and activist living in New York City. He's a proud Motion Picture Editors Guild Local 700 member. His feature editing debut, the documentary A House is Not a Disco, premiered at SXSW 2024. Blake’s vision for MIX is to create a platform for artists to showcase their work and create art beyond the constraints of traditional film ‘industry’ or ‘market’ demands. He approaches MIX as a filmmaker first, aiming to foster a supportive environment where artists can freely express themselves.