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SIFF Profiles

Our "Take 5 with SIFF" series showcases people in the film industry, including writers, producers, activists, filmmakers, festival partners, and more. 

Get to know these talented individuals from around the globe and right here in the Sonoma community.
Michael Howell Michael Howell Executive Director | Devour! The Food Film Fest | Wolfville Nova Scotia Canada
Matt Horstmann Matt Horstmann Executive Director at Cogir of Sonoma | CA
Benjamin Howard Benjamin Howard Filmmaker | Los Angeles, CA
Kimberly Hughes Kimberly Hughes Wine Grape Grower | Farmer | Glen Ellen, California
Ken Jacobson Ken Jacobson Film Festival Programmer | Palm Springs, California
Kaspar Jancis Kaspar Jancis Director | Estonia
Wamiq Jawaid Wamiq Jawaid Producer/Filmmaker/Founder | New York, USA
Ingrid Jean-Baptiste Ingrid Jean-Baptiste Actor | Producer | Chelsea Film Festival | New York, New York
Sabrina Jurisich Sabrina Jurisich Film Commissioner | Film Shasta | Redding, CaliforniaRedding, California
Nancy Kennedy Nancy Kennedy Sponsorship & Development Director | SIFF | Sonoma, California
Hooman Khalili Hooman Khalili Radio DJ and Film Maker | Menlo Park, California
Kireet Khurana Kireet Khurana Filmmaker | Director | Mumbai, India
Nancy King Nancy King Pets Lifeline CEO | Sonoma, California
Mårten Klingberg Mårten Klingberg Director, Screenwriter and Actor | Stockholm, Sweden
Grant Korgan Grant Korgan Speaker | Author | Athlete | Reno, Nevada
Ginny Krieger Ginny Krieger Co-Director | SIFF | Sonoma, California
Larry Krieger Larry Krieger Retired | Sonoma, California
Drita Kessler Drita Kessler Fine Art Publisher | Los Angeles and Montenegro
Reece Lipman Reece Lipman Filmmaker | London, England
Emily Lim Emily Lim Chef-owner | San Francisco, CA
Daniel Lombroso Daniel Lombroso Filmmaker | New York
Adrian Lo Adrian Lo Head of Public Relations | San Francisco, CA
Marianne Maddalena Marianne Maddalena Film Producer | Los Angeles, California
Michele Maheux Michele Maheux Consultant | Toronto International Film Festival | Canada
Juliana McBride Juliana McBride Sonoma Magazine | Sonoma, California
Joel McCarthy Joel McCarthy Director | Vancouver, Canada.
Jonathan McCloud Jonathan McCloud Artist and Wine Maker | Sonoma, California
Michael McCarthy Michael McCarthy Editor-in-Chief, San Francisco & Silicon Valley Magazines | San Francisco, CA and Washington, D.C.
Jock McDonald Jock McDonald Artist | Napa, California
Kevin W. McNeely Kevin W. McNeely Artistic Director | SIFF | Sonoma, California
Rosemary McNeely Rosemary McNeely Film Enthusiast | Sonoma, California
Adan Medrano Adan Medrano Chef, Food Author | Houston, Texas
Ruth Meehan Ruth Meehan Writer/Director | Dublin, Ireland
Paul Morrison Paul Morrison Writer | Director | Barnet, United Kingdom
Bill Nagel Bill Nagel Nob Hill
Rashmi Nair Rashmi Nair Project Manager | Spritz | Bangalore, India
Adam Nee Adam Nee Director | Los Angeles, California
William Nunez William Nunez Film/TV Director | New Jersey and Spain
Geraldine O’Brien Geraldine O’Brien
Alfred Oliveri Alfred Oliveri Film Maker | The Netherlands
Ruby Oliveros Ruby Oliveros Executive Chef | Concord, CA
Kestrin Pantera Kestrin Pantera Director | Los Angeles, California
Julie Pedroncelli St. John Julie Pedroncelli St. John Owner | Healdsburg, California
Pedro Peira Pedro Peira Filmmaker and Producer | Madrid, Spain
Jacques Pépin Jacques Pépin Chef, Author, Educator, Painter | Madison, Connecticut
Anne Petersen Anne Petersen Realtor | SIFF Filmmaker Housing Coordinator | El Verano, CA
Patrick Pesetti Patrick Pesetti Technology Management | Vineyard Owner & Winemaker | SIFF Board of Directors | Sonoma, CA
Luis Fernando Puente Luis Fernando Puente Director | Salt Lake City, Utah
Bella Quilici Bella Quilici SVHS Student and SIFF intern | Sonoma, California
Michael Rabehl Michael Rabehl Film Festival Programmer | Cinequest | San Jose, California
David Ravandi David Ravandi Tequila Maker | Healdsburg & Mexico
Mike Repsch Mike Repsch President | Dark Star Pictures | Los Angeles, California
Dana Richardson Dana Richardson Filmmaker | Los Angeles, California
Lia Rinaldo Lia Rinaldo Managing Director | Devour! The Food Film Fest | Nova Scotia, Canada
Ali Riahee Ali Riahee Director | Editor | Iran
Rob Roth Rob Roth Artist | New York City
Amanda Salazar Amanda Salazar Film Programmer | San Francisco, CA
John Scheinfeld John Scheinfeld Filmmaker | Sherman Oaks, California
Beth Schnitzer Beth Schnitzer Marketing Executive | Spritz | San Francisco, California
Robert Schenkel Robert Schenkel Illustrator | Miami, Florida
Sarah Schwab Sarah Schwab Writer | Director | New York City
Marc Shaffer Marc Shaffer Filmmaker | Oakland, California
Daniel Sheahan Daniel Sheahan Filmmaker | Sacramento, California
Pauline Simard Pauline Simard Creative Project Manager | Spritz | Paris, France
Carl Spence Carl Spence SIFF Artistic Director | Valencia, Spain and Seattle, Washington
Sarah Smick Sarah Smick Filmmaker | Los Angeles, California
Kevin Smokler Kevin Smokler Author/Documentary Film Festival | San Francisco, California
Debra Solomon Debra Solomon Filmmaker/Humorista | New York City
Shiloh Sophia Shiloh Sophia Curate | Sonoma, California
Andy Streitfeld Andy Streitfeld Executive Producer | Dallas, Texas
Paul Taublieb Paul Taublieb Director | Producer | Malibu, California
Tim Taylor Tim Taylor Technical Director | SIFF | Sonoma, California
Trish Tracey Trish Tracey Mobile Bar Owner/Restauranteur | San Francisco (moving to Sonoma)
Krystal Vander Ark Krystal Vander Ark Director of Operations | Cinedigm | Santa Barbara, California
Michael J. Vandewalle Michael J. Vandewalle Managing Director | Munich, Germany
Mike Velemirovich Mike Velemirovich Producer | Nova Scotia, Canada
Rob Villanueva Rob Villanueva Graphic Designer | Photographer | Videographer | San Francisco, California
Lena Vurma Lena Vurma Film Producer | Berlin, Germany
Khachatur Vasilian Khachatur Vasilian Film Director, Screenwriter, Producer, Editor | Los Angeles, California. Before that, I lived in Kyiv.
Joanne Weir Joanne Weir Chef, Cookbook Author, TV Host, Restaurateur | San Francisco, California
Dava Whisenant Dava Whisenant Filmmaker | Los Angeles, California
Chuck and Cathy Williamson Chuck and Cathy Williamson Retired | Sonoma, CA
Chay Woerz Chay Woerz Operations Director | SIFF | Napa, California
Johanna Wolf Johanna Wolf Marketing Consultant | SIFF Board of Directors | Petaluma, California
Cynthia Wornick Cynthia Wornick Dysfunctional Family Winery | Queen of Events | SIFF Board of Directors | Sonoma, California
Ken Wornick Ken Wornick Winemaker | SIFF BOD Vice President | Sonoma, California
Ensan Wong Ensan Wong Executive Chef | Santa Rosa, CA
Daniel Wyland Daniel Wyland Cinematographer | Rancho Cucamonga, California
Allanah Zitserman Allanah Zitserman Filmmaker | Sonoma, California
Laura & Jeff Zimmerman Laura & Jeff Zimmerman Retired Reporter/Nonprofit Organizer & Jeff, Architect | Sonoma, CA
Ursula Zopp Ursula Zopp Director of Talent & Culture | Stanly Ranch | Sonoma, CA
Olivier Albou Olivier Albou Film Producer | International Sales Agent | Los Angeles, California
Ethan Alesch Ethan Alesch Filmmaker and Media Designer | Barcelona, Spain
Oscar Arce Oscar Arce Filmmaker | Festival Programmer | Sebastopol, CA
Susan Atherton Susan Atherton Philanthropist | Animal Welfare and Higher Education | San Francisco, California
Bob Berg Bob Berg Retired | Part Time Photographer | SIFF Board of Directors
Óscar Bernàcer Óscar Bernàcer Writer and Director | Valencia, Spain
Amanda Bevan Amanda Bevan Farmer, Mother, Wife and poop scooper. | On a farm with miniature animals and miniature humans in Sonoma, California
Gabriel Brandt Gabriel Brandt Graphic Designer & Illustrator | Bay Area, CA
Arjan Brentjes Arjan Brentjes Director/Writer/Animator | Amsterdam, Netherlands
Gary Bulmer & Susan Blatty Jon Curry Chef/Editor | Sonoma, CA
Chris Cahill Chris Cahill Residential Designer | SIFF Board of Directors | Napa, CA
Revell Carpenter Revell Carpenter Actress | Filmmaker | New York City
Keith Casale Keith Casale Adult Beverage Industry CFO | SIFF Board of Directors
Kelli Caldwell Kelli Caldwell Children’s Songwriter (Kelli Welli) and Publisher | Portland, OR
Emily Charrier Emily Charrier Journalist | Sonoma, California
Troy Christian Troy Christian Director. Editor. Filmmaker. | Sherman Oaks, California
Jeff Christian Jeff Christian Real Estate Broker | San Francisco, CA
Tommy Clarke Tommy Clarke Photographer | Director | London | Martinique
Zanne Clark Zanne Clark Photographer/Director | Sonoma, CA
Lee Coate Lee Coate Community Relations Director | Cogir Of Sonoma | Santa Rosa, CA
Mitchell Comstock Mitchell Comstock Fever-Tree Market Manager - Northern California | San Francisco, CA
Sharon Cohn Sharon Cohn Breathless Sparkling Wine Marketer/Sister 1 of 3 | Sonoma County
Paola Cuervo Paola Cuervo Producer and Actress | Columbia, South America
Jon Curry Jon Curry General Contractor | SIFF Board of Directors Chairman | Sonoma, California
Angelo Defanti Angelo Defanti Filmmaker | São Paulo, Brazil
Paulino Duran Paulino Duran Professional Bliss Chaser:)
Sasha Duncan Sasha Duncan Director of Development | Vancouver, Canada
Nada Djordjevich Nada Djordjevich Writer, Director, & Social Impact Consultant | Santa Monica, California
Mari Edlin Mari Edlin Retired | Sonoma, CA
Patty Elkus Patty Elkus Global Ocean Advocate | Sonoma, CA
Kim Enzensperger Kim Enzensperger Volunteers Director | SIFF
Duskie Estes Duskie Estes Chef | Farmer | Rancher | Forestville, California
Lisa Ehrlich Lisa Ehrlich Wine Marketing Consultant | Sebastopol, CA
Gabriele Fabbro Gabriele Fabbro Director | Burbank, California
Wendy Fantozzi Wendy Fantozzi Winery Compliance Director | Sonoma, CA
Winnie Farwell Winnie Farwell Retired | Sonoma, CA
Lissette Feliciano Lissette Feliciano Writer | Director | Producer | Los Angeles, California
Miles Fineburg Miles Fineburg Director of Acquisitions and Theatrical Sales | Los Angeles, California
Elettra Fiumi Elettra Fiumi Film Director and Producer | Lugano, Switzerland
David Freeman David Freeman Co-Founder | Sonoma Valley Authors Festival | Kenwood, California
Ginny Freeman Ginny Freeman Co-Founder | Sonoma Valley Authors Festival | Kenwood, California
Renée Frigo Renée Frigo Film Producer | Miami, Florida
Chase Fritz Chase Fritz Personal Assistant | Burbank, CA
Melissa Galliani Melissa Galliani General Manager Broadcast Media Company | Novato, California
Nikki Gelardi Nikki Gelardi Integrated Marketing Consultant | Bel Marin Keys, Novato, CA
Daizy Gedeon Daizy Gedeon Journalist | Filmmaker and Political Activist | Sydney, Australia
Louis Godbout Louis Godbout Writer | Director | Montreal, Quebec
Jill Golden Jill Golden Director of Marketing & Communications | SIFF | Sonoma, California
Megan Martinez Goltz Megan Martinez Goltz Film Director | Editor | Sound Designer | Santa Cruz, CA
Charlotte Hajer Charlotte Hajer Executive Director | Sonoma Community Center | Sonoma, California
Peter Hansen Peter Hansen Teacher | SVHS Media Arts Program | Sonoma, California
Greg Hanss Greg Hanss Executive VP of Hospitality | SIFF Board of Directors | Phoenix, AZ
Alex Harz Alex Harz Filmmaker | Adventurer | Motivational Speaker | Mt. Everest Summiteer | Colorado
GG Hawkins GG Hawkins Writer-Director and Podcast Consultant | Los Angeles, CA
Rebecca Halpern Writer, Director, Producer | Los Angeles, CA
Emma Hall-Martin Grad Student | Brooklyn, NY
Cheryl Hess Freelance DP | Philadelphia, PA
Aaron Hose Media Producer and Filmmaker | Orlando, FL