ANNA KATARINA
Anna Katarina was born in Bern, Switzerland into a family of classical musicians. Prior to her graduation from the Bern Music School and Conservatory, Anna viewed two American films that impacted her deeply: Dog Day Afternoon with Al Pacino and Lenny with Dustin Hoffman. These films inspired Anna to leave her home country and move to NYC to hone her craft in the same locale where these extraordinary actors had developed theirs. Once in NYC, Anna studied with legendary teachers Herbert Berghof, Uta Hagen and Mira Rostova. Over the course of her accomplished career, Anna played several memorable roles such as Tamara de Lempicka, in the show “Tamara” (LA, NY, Rome), Madame Isabelle Jeunet in HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire,” and Elizabeth Van Orton in the film “The Game” opposite Michael Douglas. Additionally, Anna pursued studies to become a Certified Art Therapist under the direction of Dr. Lucy Barbera which enhanced Anna’s ability to nurture the creative spirits of her elder thespians. She has formed truly beautiful relationships with these individuals and could not be happier about their meaningful work together. See more about Anna Katarina’s acting work at annakatarina.com.

MICHAEL PRESSMAN
Award winning producer/director Michael Pressman directed and produced the feature films Those Lips, Those Eyes, with Frank Langella and Tom Hulce as well as To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday, with Michelle Pfeiffer and Clare Danes. He executive produced and directed multiple episodes of Picket Fences, Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU, Blue Bloods, Chicago Hope and Chicago Med, among many others. He directed the Cima Project’s founder Anna Katarina on stage in her award winning performance of Days and Nights Within. When Anna shared footage of the Cima Project with Michael, he immediately recognized the unique value of her mission and decided to get involved.

ASHLEY MICHEL HOBAN
Ashley Michel Hoban is a Writer, Director, and Producer. She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where she watched too much television. She received her MFA in Writing and Directing from New York University’s Graduate Film Program. Previous work includes THE GIRL FROM PLAINVILLE (Hulu), DR. DEATH (Peacock), UNTITLED BEAUTY AND THE BEAST PREQUEL SERIES (Disney+), HAPPY! (SYFY), and MARCO POLO (Netflix). She was the Showrunner for the second season of DR. DEATH, and is currently working with Littleton Road Productions on an upcoming Peacock series. Ashley Michel is honored to be part of the Cima Project and looks forward to sharing the wisdom and the power of our elders with the world.

GREGORY PESCIA
Gregory Pescia has been editing a wide range of documentaries, music, and corporate videos for the last 15 years. Born and raised in Switzerland like Anna, he teamed up with her in New York City in 2020. He has been working on the Cima Project ever since, elevating its narrative and vision to new heights.

JEREMY BERESFORD
Jeremy Beresford has been an invaluable member of the Cima Project Team since 2019 when he began filming Anna’s on-camera classes and other priceless footage. He has been Anna’s sounding board ever since the Cima Project came into being. He graduated from Fordham University in English and Film in 2021. Passionate about movies since early childhood, Jeremy has a vast and well rounded knowledge of films and their makers.

CYNTHIA FLOWERS
Cynthia Flowers is a communications strategist and grants writer with over 25 years of experience in advertising, communications, and strategic planning. She is the founder of Go Get Grants, a consultancy dedicated to helping small and mid-sized nonprofits secure long-term funding through strategic grant research and proposal development. As a Grant Writer and Researcher, Cynthia plays a vital role in securing and managing grants that sustain workforce development and IT training programs for underserved communities. Her expertise in strategic communications, market research, and brand strategy enables her to craft compelling proposals that attract funders and drive impactful change in the nonprofit sector. Her experience as a published author further infuses her skills in crafting winning grant narratives.