top of page

Meet the Festival Team

Our team is combined of a diverse background of knowledge, expertise, and artistic vision, with each person striving to create the most powerful festival and programming year round.

Leadership

Robert-Raben_edited.jpg
Robert Raben

Founder

Joanne-Irby_edited.jpg
Joanne Irby

Acting Executive Director

about-isisara+29_edited.jpg
Isisara Bey

Artistic Director

David Headshot-2217v1_edited.jpg
David Andrusia

Executive Director Emeritus

Staff

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
ANNA CLINE
FESTIVAL PRODUCER
CLEA’ EVENT PRODUCTIONS
VIRTUAL PRODUCER
BRANDON SMITH
FINANCE & ACCOUNTING
IBONEE PERRY, BRIAN SMITH, & ANGELA YANG
EMERGING & STUDENT FILMMAKER COMPETITIONS
OPAL HOPE BENNETT
VR SALON CURATOR
AJA Q. EVANS
CREATIVE DIRECTION, DESIGN, & ILLUSTRATION
NICOLE M. BACKUS
GALA & FUNDRAISING CONSULTANTS
KIMBALL STROUD, LIZ SIZER, MARIE SMEALLIE, & BRANDON TUSKES
CUSTOMER SOLUTIONS
JEN LEE REEVES

STRATEGIC ADVISOR

STEFANIE CRUZ

LINE PRODUCTION
A BOND EVENT
TALENT & HOSPITALITY
JIM TAGLAUER
DIGITAL PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION
ACT.TV
DIGITAL MARKETING
FEVER CONTENT
WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
MORGAN BUTLER
MEDIA & PUBLIC RELATIONS
YOCHI DREAZEN, SARAH DAVEY WOLMAN, & JAYLA SHANNON
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
JESSICA HUGGINS
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR
HEATHER HOLMES DILLARD
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
CYAN SHREVE

Board of Trustees

The Festival is guided by a team of leaders across the entertainment, policy, and social justice arenas that ensures the success and execution of our vision. 

Gold_Stephan_H00341_1_edited.jpg
Stephanie Gold

Hogan Lovells, Chair

1440_edited.jpg
Victoria Bassetti

Brennan Center for Justice, Vice Chair

119426_edited.jpg
Craig Emanuel

Paul Hastings, Finance Chair

vickee-jordan-adams_edited.jpg
Vickee Jordan Adams

Finsbury Glover Hering

1615331890465_edited.jpg
Joyce Brayboy

Goldman Sachs

author-main-transparent_edited.png
A'Lelia Bundles

Author

foxx_edited_edited.jpg
Samara Foxx

Attorney

maxfield_melissa_comcast_edited.jpg
Melissa Maxfield

Comcast

image001_edited.jpg
Joseph Olchefske

Educator and Entrepreneur

Denielle-Pemberton-Heard-website_edited.jpg
Denielle Pemberton-Heard

Diversified Search Group

avatar_edited.jpg
Alicin Williamson

Yahoo!

bottom of page