Roberta Marie Munroe is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, entrepreneur, international short film festival programmer, consultant, and author of How NOT To Make A Short Film: Secrets From A Sundance Programmer (Hyperion). A veteran programmer at the world renowned Sundance Film Festival, she shares the critical secrets, tips, and guidelines aspiring filmmakers have been waiting for and provides a provocative and practical insider's guide to making a great short film. With over 15 years experience of short film programming at international film festivals and after viewing over 15,000 short films during her career, Munroe is considered the go-to expert in the world of short form filmmaking. In working with short form media makers, she has provided a large group of artists with her valuable first-hand knowledge and advice, helping many go on to produce award-winning films.

A sought after speaker and educator, Munroe has also participated on several panels and film juries including, The Black Lily Film & Music Festival (Philadelphia), The Palm Springs Short Film Festival, Canadian Film Centre Worldwide Short Film Festival, NewFest (NYC), Columbia University Film School, San Francisco Women's Festival, The North Carolina School of Film, Planet Out Short Film Awards, The LA Indie Film Group, Outfest, The Sao Paulo Short Film Festival, and The American Pavilion Student Intensive. At these and other events, Munroe has spoken about her craft, both in filmmaking and programming, in support of independent filmmakers. In addition, Munroe is a Mentor for Los Angeles based Inner-city Filmmakers, where for the past four years she has taught classes held at USC, mentoring high school graduates from underserved demographics to realize their dreams of working in the film industry.

From 2001-2006 Munroe programmed short films at The Sundance Film Festival. During her tenure at Sundance, The Sundance Online Film Festival (2003-2006) was acknowledged with several highly acclaimed Webby Awards. After five successful years at Sundance, she was instrumental in launching The Blackhouse Foundation, which supports African-American filmmakers, and served as their founding Artistic Director.

Munroe continues to work with short form filmmakers as the president and senior consultant of her Los Angeles based independent filmmaker company, RMM Film Consulting. But making films and working with filmmakers is more than just a career with Munroe; it's her passion: "There's nothing that brings me more joy than seeing the success of other people and helping them achieve their goals. I want to create films that inspire others, and whether it's creating my own work or helping someone else to realize their true cinematic vision, that's the place where I feel most at home."

Munroe seems to have been born a film festival programmer. A Toronto native, she began her film festival career at the Inside/Out Lesbian & Gay Film Festival of Toronto. She then moved on to Viacom Canada and from 1997-98 the Toronto International Film Festival. Crossing the U.S border, Munroe moved to New York City, where she became the Administrative Manager for the New Festival, 1999-2000. During 2000 she also programmed No Borders at the IFP Market (Independent Film Project), the prestigious international co-production section of the market. Offered the position of Festival Manager for Outfest, the Los Angeles Lesbian & Gay Film Festival (2001-02), Munroe moved to Los Angeles, where in 2003 she returned to programming film at the Los Angeles Film Festival.

Munroe's directorial debut Dani and Alice (a Fox Searchlight Directors Lab project) has played at over 120 festivals globally and was the recipient of the PlanetOut Best Drama Award 2006. The film received a distribution deal with Wolfe Releasing and was featured on MTV Network's Logo on The Click List: Top 10 Videos, and is available on iTunes as part of Logo's television series slate. Happy Birthday, Munroe's second short film, is currently making a highly successful run on the film festival circuit. She has again secured a distribution deal with Wolfe Releasing, and Happy Birthday, too, is featured on Logo's The Click List: Top 10 Videos.

Munroe was named one of the 2005 10 Amazing Gay Women in Hollywood by POWERUP (Professional Organization of Women in Entertainment Reaching Up) and was also one of GONYC's 100 Women We Love, June 2006. Munroe lives in Los Angeles, California with her killer Miniature Pinscher, Marcello.

How Not To Make A Short Film: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Making short Films

Distributing A Short Film: Determining the Right Market for Your Short Film, Worldwide

Short Film Formats for the Web: Launching Careers vs. Distribution Opportunities and Working with Social Networks

Film Festivals: How to Submit to Festivals and What To Do After You’re Accepted

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