Tanya Kersey

Tanya Kersey is a respected film coach and consultant known as The Filmmaker’s Success MentorTM.  Passionate about helping indie filmmakers make creatively, critically and financially successful films, she gives indie filmmakers the information, tools and resources they need to get their films financed, seen and sold so they can make a living doing what they love, and live the life of their dreams. Tanya is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF), which she launched in 1998, along with auxiliary platforms including the Infotainment Conference, the HBFF Cinema Lounge, the HBFF Screening Series, the HBFF Film Finance & Distribution Summit, and the HBFF Storyteller Competition.  Through HBFF, Tanya has helped discover and launch the careers of nearly 1,000 indie filmmakers from over 25 countries around the world. She has also produced Hollywood conferences, film workshops, and film festivals across the U.S., and throughout the world.  

Named an Urban Hollywood Mover and Shaker by Daily Variety, Tanya also runs The Kersey Group, a boutique film consulting firm that works with individuals, businesses, organizations, universities and government agencies.  The consultancy offers a broad range of services including entertainment and indie film consulting, film development, script analysis, film business and marketing plans, social media strategies, distribution strategies, and event production (film festivals, conferences and workshops).

A graduate of Douglass College at Rutgers University, Tanya began her career as an actress and model in New York City and later became the founder and CEO of the entertainment industry trade publication, Black Talent News.  As a well-known entertainment journalist, she covered a variety of high-profile events such as the Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys, Indie Spirit Awards, SAG Awards, BET Awards, People’s Choice Awards, and the NAACP Image Awards.

Tanya is a popular public speaker and workshop leader who has spoken for the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the Birmingham Business Alliance, Businesswire, Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference, Columbia College, Writers Boot Camp Diversity Business Brunch, the Institute for International Film Financing, and Showbiz Expo, to name just a few.  Her forthcoming book, The Tanya Principle: 10 Secrets To Your Breakthrough Filmmaker Success is scheduled for a 2020 release

Tanya’s latest projects include growing her 2,500 member strong Facebook group, the Breakthrough Filmmaker Success Support Group, and the recently formed Meetup Group called the Hollywood Black Film Industry Meetup. Tanya has two daughters and two grandsons who are the loves of her life.