Dream Team Collaborators + Film Festival Submission Tips with Djaka Souaré and & Anthony Lalor

Woodstock Film Festival LET'S TALK FILM! Podcast

LET'S TALK FILM! Podcast Episode #23
In this episode, we talk with Actor/Producer Djaka Souaré and Actor Anthony Lalor about their new short film CUT ME IF YOU CAN, a satire about the racist and sexist tropes we see in horror films. Djaka and Anthony talk about creating black characters in non-stereotypical roles, meeting dream collaborators, and the festival circuit + Djaka recommends some lesser-known festivals to consider submitting your film to.
Djaka Souaré is an actress and filmmaker of Guinean & French descent. In 2023, Djaka produced the short film “Reunion,” Executive Produced by Danaï Gurira & Lupita N’yongo that has qualified for the 2025 Academy Awards. She was also part of the 2023 AFRIFF & CANEX “Script to Screen” program, where she developed her first feature script and won the pitch competition. Djaka’s first short film, “Jazz in Wakanda,” which she wrote, directed, produced, and in which she starred, sold to COMCAST. Previously, Djaka worked at Goldcrest & Saboteur Media, and produced two documentaries that both opened at TriBeCa.
Anthony Lalor is a born and raised New York actor who graduated with a BA from Le Moyne College. Member of Classical Theatre of Harlem, Anthony’s credits include ‘The Tempest,’ ‘Antigone,’ ‘Macbeth,’ ‘Romeo & Juliet’ and ‘Midsummers Night’s Dream.’ Anthony is developing a TV dramedy based about a group of friends living in NYC.
Instagram:
Djakasouare1
Anthonyf.lalor
Submit your films to WFF (https://woodstockfilmfestival.org/callforentry) plus included are Djaka’s recommended African film festivals:
FESTIVAL DAKAR COURTS https://www.festivaldakarcourt.com/
FESPACO https://fespaco.bf/appel-a-films-fespaco-2025/
DURBAN FILM FESTIVAL https://filmfreeway.com/DurbanFilmFest
More WFF podcast episodes:
https://woodstockfilmfestival.org/podcast