Experience

HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY FILM INSTITUTE

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Director

  • Dec 2022 - Present

  Heading up the organization that produces the annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (October 6 - 14, 2023) in Hot Springs, Arkansas, as well as year-round programming. Heading up the organization that produces the annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (October 6 - 14, 2023) in Hot Springs, Arkansas, as well as year-round programming.



Sonoma International Film Festival

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Programmer, Documentary Films

  • Sep 2022 - Present



Top Docs: Conversations with Award-Winning Filmmakers

• Media Production

• Co-creator, co-host

  • Aug 2021 - Present

  Ongoing podcast series hosted by Ken Jacobson and Michael Merrill that features interviews with award-winning documentary filmmakers, including 2022 Oscar winner Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, 14 of the 15 Oscar shortlisted filmmakers and all of the 2022 Primetime Emmy documentary nominees. Ongoing podcast series hosted by Ken Jacobson and Michael Merrill that features interviews with award-winning documentary filmmakers, including 2022 Oscar winner Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, 14 of the 15 Oscar shortlisted filmmakers and all of the 2022 Primetime Emmy documentary nominees.



California Film Institute

• United States
• Entertainment Providers
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Programmer, DocLands Documentary Film Festival

  • Dec 2018 - Oct 2022

  Program documentaries for DocLands Program documentaries for DocLands



MSP Film Society

• United States
• Movies, Videos, and Sound
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Documentary Film Programmer, Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival

  • Feb 2017 - Jun 2022

  • Programmed documentary films for MSPIFF • At 2017 MSPIFF, first Virtual Reality Programmer in 36 year history of the Festival; responsible for programming new Virtual & Augmented Reality Exhibition with 10 films • Curator/moderator of panel, “VR and the Future of Storytelling” at 2017 MSPIFF • Managed VR Producer and oversaw all logistical aspects of the Exhibition • Programmed documentary films for MSPIFF • At 2017 MSPIFF, first Virtual Reality Programmer in 36 year history of the Festival; responsible for programming new Virtual & Augmented Reality Exhibition with 10 films • Curator/moderator of panel, “VR and the Future of Storytelling” at 2017 MSPIFF • Managed VR Producer and oversaw all logistical aspects of the Exhibition



The American Film Institute

• United States
• Entertainment Providers
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Senior Documentary Film & Special Content Programmer, AFI Festivals

  • Nov 2018 - Aug 2021

  Program films, with focus on documentaries, for AFI Festivals, including AFI DOCS, AFI FEST and Meet the Press/AFI Film Festival; also, program Special Content for AFI Festivals, including AFI DOCS Forum and AFI FEST. Full time, permanent position.

• AFI DOCS Filmmaker Forum and VR Programmer

  • Mar 2017 - Nov 2018



International Documentary Association (IDA)

• United States
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Contributing Editor, Documentary Magazine

  • Jul 2017 - 2019



California Film Institute

• United States
• Entertainment Providers
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Guest VR Programmer

  • Aug 2017 - Oct 2017

  Programmed first ever outdoor screening of VR film "Tree" by Milica Zec and Winslow Porter of New Reality Co. for 2018 Mill Valley Film Festival (a program of the California Film Institute) Programmed first ever outdoor screening of VR film "Tree" by Milica Zec and Winslow Porter of New Reality Co. for 2018 Mill Valley Film Festival (a program of the California Film Institute)



Palm Springs International Film Society

• United States
• Movies, Videos, and Sound
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Programmer, Palm Springs International Film Festival

  • Jan 2011 - Jun 2017

  • Oversee documentary lineup and documentary jury for Palm Springs International Film Festival • Program documentaries for Palm Springs International Film Festival

• Education Outreach Coordinator & Programming Coordinator

  • Jun 2008 - Aug 2013

  • Initiated and implemented year-round educational and community programming • Managed all aspects of programming department and liaised with multiple departments • Programmed documentaries for Palm Springs International Film Festival and ShortFest



International Documentary Association (IDA)

• United States
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Educational Programs & Strategic Partnerships

  • Aug 2013 - Nov 2016

  • Served as Director of Programming for Getting Real, major international documentary conference for 700 filmmakers and industry produced with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences • Collaborated with over 100 filmmakers on dozens of original educational programs • Expanded IDA’s program reach to New York, Austin, Chicago, SF Bay Area • Managed Educational Programs Coordinator • Wrote and edited copy for all educational programs copy for website and publications • Served as Director of Programming for Getting Real, major international documentary conference for 700 filmmakers and industry produced with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences • Collaborated with over 100 filmmakers on dozens of original educational programs • Expanded IDA’s program reach to New York, Austin, Chicago, SF Bay Area • Managed Educational Programs Coordinator • Wrote and edited copy for all educational programs copy for website and publications



Academy of Art University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Instructor, Documentary Production, School of Motion Pictures & TV, Online MFA Program

  • Aug 2012 - May 2016

  • Taught fall and spring semester classes to AAU MFA candidates • Taught fall and spring semester classes to AAU MFA candidates



Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

• Palm Desert, CA

• Instructor, Film

  • Jun 2009 - Jun 2013

  • Designed and taught variety of weekly classes on film history and documentary • Designed and taught variety of weekly classes on film history and documentary



Castro Valley Unified School District

• United States
• Education Administration Programs
• 200 - 300 Employee

• High School Teacher, Video Production and Economics

  • Aug 2000 - Jun 2008

  • Co-founder/Co-lead, Arts and Communications Academy, Castro Valley High School • Co-founder/Co-director, East Bay Youth Video Festival • Co-founder/Co-lead, Arts and Communications Academy, Castro Valley High School • Co-founder/Co-director, East Bay Youth Video Festival