Summer Joy “SJ” Main-Muñoz is award-winning filmmaker of acclaimed short films that have screened in film festivals including Sundance. Her work as a director is supported by talent development programs including NBC’s Female Forward, Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative and We For She’s DirectHer program. Prior to transitioning to directing professionally, Main Muñoz worked in production for nearly 20 years in roles including Director of Development, freelance Production Supervisor and Post Supervisor. Main Muñoz is the recipient of the James Bridges Award for Excellence in Acting from UCLA's School of Theatre, Film, and Television where she received her Bachelor's degree magna cum laude. She graduated with Honors from Columbia University of New York with a Master's in Film Directing and holds a doctorate summa cum laude from the European Graduate School of Switzerland where she studied with Atom Egoyan and Claire Denis. In 2020, Main Muñoz was the only American Latina narrative director to be invited into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Main Muñoz is also a member of the TV Academy, the Writers Guild of America West, and she’s been a member of the DGA since 2020 where she is a Co-Chair of the Latino Committee.