From bringing complex characters to life on screen, to penning raw, harrowing tales of flawed individuals from all walks of life, award winning actor, writer, producer, and filmmaker David Dastmalchian has become one of the most in-demand talents in the entertainment industry today. Originally from Kansas, Dastmalchian’s versatility and distinctive presence in film, television, and the comic book universe as a writer and creator continues to leave a memorable impact on his audiences. First, Dastmalchian will star in the Apple TV+ sci-fi comedic thriller series Murderbot which will debut globally on Apple TV+ May 16, 2025, Netflix’s smash hit live action series One Piece, which is slated to release later this year and Paramount+ with Showtime's Dexter: Resurrection. In film Dastmalchian can next be seen appearing in Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck (Neon), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and won the People’s Choice Award, last fall. 2023-24 were banner years for Dastmalchian, as he appeared in a handful of high-profile features and further solidified his place in Hollywood. He reunited with acclaimed director Christopher Nolan, in Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures) which grossed over $900 million globally and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture of the year. Dastmalchian also made a star turn as late night talk show host Jack Delroy in Late Night with the Devil which debuted at the SXSW Film Festival in 2023 to rave reviews. Critics called it “inventive,” “wonderful creepy,” and “devilishly funny,” with Stephen King tweeting “it’s absolutely brilliant. I couldn’t take my eyes off of it.” The movie became distributor IFC Films’ highest grossing opening weekend ever with $2.8 million at the domestic box office, and marked the first project under Dastmalchian’s Good Fiend Films.

Photo credit: PRISCILLA C. SCOTT

Federico Mele, a south Italian cartoonist and illustrator born in 1991, currently lives and works in Rome.

He has been telling stories through drawings and words for as long as he can remember. After years of training (he graduated first from the International School of Comics in Pescara and then from the Roman School of Comics) and apprenticeship on regional publications and anthologies, in 2021 he exhibited his first solo painting exhibition, “The colors of comics by Federico Mele”, at the Cart Gallery in Rome and in 2022 he published his first comic book as a sole author, The Fall of Macbeth, with Fanucci Editore. Shortly thereafter, he began a collaboration as an interior and cover artist with Todd McFarlane Productions/Image Comics for the US market on titles such as Spawn and Knights vs Samurai.

He currently teaches color, painting, inking and storytelling at the Roman School of Comics.