World Music & Independent Film Festival

A global platform for independent voices.

WMIFF promotes filmmakers and musicians to a global audience while creating opportunities for artists to grow, connect, and be seen.

WMIFFSince 2010Global film community
June Daguiso at a World Music & Independent Film Festival event.
June DaguisoFounder, World Music & Independent Film Festival
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Our Story

In 2009, June Daguiso, a resident of Virginia, began building what would become the World Music & Independent Film Festival (WMIFF). "My mission and objective was to create a platform not only for the DC, Maryland, and Virginia indie filmmakers, but also to provide a platform of achievements for international cinema artists." Since its early beginnings in 2010, WMIFF has continued promoting filmmakers and musicians to a global audience.

We are dedicated to building a global film community and supporting emerging filmmakers. WMIFF has continued to strive and improve on its mission to promote and provide opportunities for artists of all genres to hone their skills and gain access to opportunities via our events, promotions, and networking opportunities.

Frank Cisco STEEL Anderson in the OG County artwork.
Frank Cisco “STEEL” AndersonMusician and musical supervisor
Festival Community

Frank Cisco "STEEL" Anderson

(Multi Grammy Nominees)

Based in the US, STEEL's story is one of glory & triumph. A survivor of the American crack wars in the 80’s, STEEL was raised, and emerged, from the hoods of Maryland, via the Washington DC Metro Area: the DMV. Second son of a stone mason, and evangelical gospel singer, Sister Erma Anderson, it was hard to get attention in the middle of 4 other siblings, and so STEEL turned to music, and sports, as his outlet.

Growing up, STEEL sang in Gospel groups, played some piano, Go-Go and jazz trombone during the school years, while working in construction during the hot southern summers on the Piedmont Plateau. This hard work ethic allowed STEEL to attend George Washington University on NROTC scholarship, which began his legacy in music, with the rap group Dysfunkshunal Family.

In between serving, globally, 10 years as a Naval officer, STEEL branched into other genres of music, such as rock, and Caribbean, and upon his release from military duty in 05’, returned home to the DMV, joined the Grammys as a voting member, and started DJ’ing, an indie label, Ellorenz Records, and linked up with a new burgeoning film production company, MJD Productions, and became one of their musical supervisors as well as assistant with the now, world famous, 10 year old, World Music Independent Film Festival, founded by my entertainment brother, Master June Daguiso.

So proud of you June, keep up the great work, and helping other dreamers, like ourselves, dreams come true on the big screen! Stay tuned for more.

John Rey Malto portrait.
John Rey MaltoAsian filmmaker submissions
Asian Filmmaker Submissions

John Rey Malto

John Rey Malto is a Filipino talent manager, television researcher, production professional, and songwriter. Born on October 22, 1991, in Manila, Philippines, he began working in the entertainment industry in 2018, initially handling models and pageant participants before expanding into talent management and production.

John Rey Malto is in charge of submissions from Asian filmmakers for next year’s festival.

Rhonda Mendoza portrait.
Rhonda MendozaWMIFF/MJD Productions · Producer
Festival Production

Rhonda Mendoza

WMIFF/MJD Productions - Producer

Brian Sussman portrait.
Brian SussmanProducer · 2027 AI Film Festival
AI Film Festival

Brian Sussman

Brian Sussman is an AI entrepreneur and the founder of ClassClone AI. His company's flagship product, The Teaching Assistant, creates an AI clone of a professor that supports students as an on-demand tutor—extending a teacher's reach and giving learners help whenever they need it.

At the World Music & Independent Film Festival (WMIFF), Brian is spearheading the launch of the festival's new AI Film Festival component, debuting in 2027. In this role, he's leading the effort to secure sponsors and is putting his own software to work to promote the event and build excitement around it.

Lisa Grubb portrait.
Lisa GrubbMJD Productions · Executive Producer
Festival Production

Lisa Grubb

MJD Productions - Executive Producer

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The WMIFF community

A festival grows through the artists, storytellers, and collaborators who bring it to life.