Cherokee Film

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/ Jen Loren

Jen Loren (Cherokee Nation) is an Emmy Award-winning TV host, journalist, filmmaker, author and media executive. As senior director of Cherokee Film, Jen sets strategy and oversees operations for Cherokee Film Productions, Cherokee Film Studios, Cherokee Film Commission and the Cherokee Film Institute. Selected as an inaugural Obama Leader by the Obama Foundation in 2023, Jen is globally recognized for her work breaking new ground in the field of Native American representation in film and media.

In addition to hosting two Cherokee-focused TV shows, “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People” and “Tsalagi Wherever We Are,” Jen leads a team of more than 30 content creators and changemakers whose mission is to protect and share the authentic Cherokee experience and increase the presence of Native Americans across film and media. She serves as executive producer for all Cherokee Film Productions projects and continues to work as director on many of the organization’s documentaries.

With a background in broadcast television and investigative journalism, Jen brings integrity, creativity and community-focused strategies to her storytelling work. She is passionate about serving the Cherokee and Tulsa communities and values both community involvement and time with her family. Jen serves on the boards of the Zarrow Foundation’s Commemoration Fund, OCCJ, the Booker T. Washington High School Foundation for Excellence, the River Valley Film Society, the Rogers State University TV Community Advisory Board and the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. She also was a founding board member and past chairman of the board for the Oklahoma Motion Picture Alliance.

Jen has led her teams to win several regional and national film and media awards during her tenure at Cherokee Film. She was named a Woman of the Year by the YWCA of Tulsa and the Tulsa Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women in 2019 and one of The Journal Record’s Women of the Year in 2020. She was named the Great Plains Distinguished Lecturer by the Tulsa Press Club and received the Film Icon honor from deadCenter Film Festival. In 2025, she received the Newsmaker Award from the Tulsa chapter of the Association for Women in Communications.

As the mother of two young women, Jen cares deeply about environmental and civil rights issues and doing her part to leave the world a better place.

 

Jennifer.Loren@cnbglobal.com
918.645.2925

Jen Loren

Cherokee Nation
Senior Director, Cherokee Film

Executive Producer & Host, Osiyo Voices of the Cherokee People

Media Contact

Whitney Dittman

Whitney.Dittman@cnbglobal.com

918.729.4495

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Michael Musante

Film & TV Finance and Development Executive

Michael is the executive in charge of film and TV finance and development at Cherokee Film. Prior to that, he was vice president of film production and acquisitions at American Zoetrope for more than seven years and a co-founder, along with Roman Coppola, of The Decentralized Pictures Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting independent filmmaking and filmmakers from underserved and underrepresented communities. He continues to serve on its board. He is an attorney, admitted to practice in New York and North Carolina, and received his Bachelor of Arts from Duke University and his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 2001. He practiced law for 10 years before becoming a full-time creative film producer. He has worked closely with such accomplished filmmakers as Roman Coppola, Sofia Coppola, Gia Coppola, Ted Kotcheff, Martha Coolidge, Fred Roos and Richard Chew before and during his time at American Zoetrope. During his tenure at American Zoetrope, he oversaw the development and production of several feature films: Gia Coppola’s “Mainstream,” starring Andrew Garfield, Maya Hawke, Nat Wolff and Jason Schwartzman; “Fairyland,” starring Emilia Jones and Scoot McNairy; as well as the production of “The Outsiders” musical, which debuted on Broadway at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre on April 11, 2024.

Todd Roberts

Soundstage Manager

Todd Roberts serves Cherokee Film as soundstage manager. He has more than 35 years of experience as a photographer and filmmaker. He is multi-passionate in skills and subject matter. He’s created more than 400 episodes of documentary-style television shows (“Doomsday Preppers,” “Man vs. Food Nation,” “Safari Hunter’s Journal,” “House Hunters International” and more) produced in 22 countries and airing nationally. Todd’s commercial films have served his clients well (American Express, Audi, Freightliner Trucks, Volkswagen, United Way, Walmart and many more). Todd’s productions have received numerous accolades (Addy Awards, Communicator Awards, Flame Awards, ITVA Awards, Summit Awards, Telly Awards, as well as awards from film festivals). While his skills and interests are broad, Todd’s overarching theme is the art of storytelling.

Maggie Cunningham

Pawnee Nation

Film Commissioner

Maggie Cunningham (Pawnee Nation) is a Regional Emmy-winning producer and the Cherokee Film Commissioner. Before joining the OsiyoTV team, Maggie worked in the museum and cultural heritage field. Her previous roles included positions as an archivist and tribal NAGPRA coordinator. She also spent time as a project manager for several Native-owned consultation and media production firms. She saw firsthand the impact an Indigenous narrative can have on a community during her time researching at Te Papa Tongarewa, the National Museum of Aotearoa (New Zealand). She continued to cultivate this focus in her years of cultural heritage work and storytelling. Her experience working within Native communities here in Oklahoma has only solidified her drive to tell authentic Native-led stories with the power and impact of film. Maggie holds a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in studio art and Native American studies. She earned her Master of Arts from New York University. Maggie resides in Tulsa with her family.

Hannah Roark

Cherokee Nation

Film & TV Development Specialist

Hannah Roark holds a Master of Fine Arts in screenwriting from Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts and graduated with highest distinction from the University of Kansas, where she earned her bachelor’s degree with honors in English. She joined the Cherokee Film team in July 2022. Her prior film production experience includes work as an office production assistant, director’s assistant, production coordinator and associate producer. When she’s not at work, Hannah is writing screenplays, TV pilots, or collaborating in writers’ groups. She believes that every good story can be a great one.