About Us
Staff and Board for the 18th Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, April 22-26, 2015
Board of Directors
As a local non-profit organization, Cine Las Americas’ programs and operations depend on the involvement of talented individuals who volunteer time and resources to fulfill its mission. The organization’s programs are supported by the invaluable work of community leaders, industry professionals, and talented artists who serve in its Board of Directors and Advisory Board.
Executive Board
Hector Silva
Gabriel Ornelas
Denise Garza Steusloff
Melinda Gonzales Boe
Advisory Board
Sergio Alcocer, LatinWorks
Marcy Garriott, La Sonrisa Productions
Bennie Klain, Trickster Films
Paco Link, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Peter Marai, Condor Media
Chale Nafus, Austin Film Society
Charles Ramirez-Berg, The University of Texas at Austin
David Rice, Author, Lecturer, Film Producer
Staff
Jean Anne Lauer – Film Festival Director
Elena Bessire – Film Program Associate
Rich Vázquez – Webmaster
Keeley Steenson – Communications Associate
Daniel Jackson – Community Relations Coordinator
Sharon Arteaga – Registration and Hospitality Coordinator
Francisco Garcia – Venue Technical Coordinator
Joel Mize – Production Manager
Michelle Martinez – Special Events Coordinator
Vanessa Alvarado – Print Traffic Coordinator
Christian D. Nelson – Emergencia Youth Film Jury Coordinator
Brad Dusing – Film Program Assistant
Fabián Valdez – Communications Intern
Meghan Curry – Venue Projection Coordinator Volunteer
Susy Romero – Publications Volunteer (Lead)
Megan Coxe – Publications Volunteer
Elizabeth Alexander – Pre-production Volunteer
Natasha Daoudi – Communications Volunteer
Brandon Watkins – IT / Consultant
Film Selection Committee
Araceli Irigoyen, Brad Dusing, Chris Green, Dana Archip, Elena Bessire, Florencia Choto, Jean Lauer, Joan Tuttle Vargas, Maribel Falcon, Megan Coxe, Meghan Currey, Miguel Hinojosa, Sam Lopez, Selene Arrazolo, Sonia Cartaxo
Emergencia Youth Film Jury
Ben Creech (Hendrickson HS), Ben Fletcher (Pflugerville HS), Carlos Lopez (Pflugerville HS), Grace Awtrey (Hendrickson HS), Jared Rienfeld (Hendrickson HS), Jarvis Lister (Pflugerville HS), Jerson Garcia (Connally HS), Matthew Spellings (Pflugerville HS), Nickoli Roman-Capdeville (Connally HS), Rebecca Duke (Hendrickson HS), Sead Pelesevic (Pflugerville HS), Sid Boyle (Pflugerville HS), Tomas Diamante (Pflugerville HS), Victor To (Pflugerville HS)
Film Festival Volunteers
Acacia Erhardt, Aida Nunez-Rice, Ana Ramirez, Andy Orellana, Angelica Bryan, Anna Casey, Athan Bernal, Brenda Rodriguez, Carolina Soler, Cesar Lopez, Daniel Garcia, David Gonzales, Diana Phillips, Erika Montero, Frank Refugio Barrientos, Ian Pollard, India Rohmann, Jesus Acosta, Jordan Buckley, Judy Rohmann, Leticia Lira, Luis Basto, Marcin Grzaka, Maria Valdez, Nyle Emerson, Paula Horstman, Rebeca Mendizabal, Renee Brown, Rich Merritt, Rosie Ortiz, Salvador Vidaurre, Shayra Madero-Fajardo, Steffen Perico, Sylvia Araiza
Film Festival Projectionists
Ryan Croci, Meghan Currey, Sara Cushman, Francisco Garcia, John Rose, Carolina Soler, Shelby Wilson