MaryAnn Talavera

Born in the Dominican Republic, MaryAnn Talavera is an award-winning creative technologist, filmmaker, and polyglot with a love for storytelling. She studied XR and virtual production in the Interactive Telecommunications Program(ITP) at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. MaryAnn is the Tisch Special Programs Associate Director of Recruitment, teaches XR at the New School, and was an artist-in-residence at Barnard College’s Movement Lab. She recently joined the Future of Storytelling Explorers Club.

She has studied and worked all over the world and her first Master’s explored issues of race and representation in Brazilian media. MaryAnn is the founder of Rolos Productions and Co-Creative Director of the Synastree Studio. She received a HEAR US Award for “Root,” a project highlighting the lack of Black 3D character and hair asset options. MaryAnn is passionate about projects that uplift Black and Brown narratives, transcend borders, and tackle social justice issues.