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To expand minds, open hearts, and entertain people through worldwide independent cinema.
Provide a year-round destination for international independent cinema, promoting diversity, understanding, education, and inclusion through engaging storytelling. Our world-class annual festival in San Luis Obispo County, along with events throughout the year at the SLO Film Center, provide a venue for international and local filmmakers, exposing an ever-expanding range of audiences to new ideas and experiences.
Located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, surrounded by lush vineyards, ranch land, and a 100-mile coastline, the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival (SLO Film Fest) is headquartered in the quaint, sophisticated downtown of San Luis Obispo on the spectacular Central Coast of California. As a premier 6-day annual event, the SLO Film Fest showcases contemporary and classic film screenings in a wide variety of venues. These range from the city’s classic art deco Fremont Theatre to the popular independent Palm Theatre, which now also hosts the newly established SLO Film Center showcasing independent film year-round.
Executive Director
Associate Director
GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Elizabeth Kurrels
PHOTOGRAPHY: Brittany App, Namu Willaims, Riley Grim
PUBLICIST: Ann Flower
SOCIAL MEDIA: Madison Quiring
SLO FILM CENTER STAFF:
Head of SLO Film Center Programming: Ryan Burr
Theater Manager: Michael Lipari
Assistant Theatre Manager: Griffin Meyers
Maria has applied her collaboration and networking skills to all aspects of education, corporate branding, government affairs and community relations. She has been responsible for building capacity through community engagement, promoting sustainability and strengthening strategic relationships for both public and private organizations. Building community and solving problems are core to her approach. Maria holds an MS in management and leadership from Pepperdine University, a certification in paralegal studies from Cal Poly SLO and a BS from Oregon State University.
Nina is a hospitality and wine industry veteran on the Central Coast of California. Currently she works as brand manager for Native9 wine and Alta Maria. She has held numerous roles in her career, acting in executive roles at
Ancient Peaks, Justin, and Perinet. Her love of independent film was developed in her youth in the Bay Area, loving books and movies, followed by numerous visits to film festivals including Sundance, SLOIFF, and Santa Barbara FilmN festival. This path naturally led her to the SLOIFF board in 2023. With extensive knowledge of the wine industry, events, and brand development, Nina brings
a global and local perspective to the board. Nina is a resident of Santa Margarita, where she lives with her husband, Chris, and two sons, Rio and Aksel.
For the past 20 years, Tom has worked as a writer, producer and director on numerous internationally distributed documentary and educational films. His most recent, the award-winning “Botso”, became the Critics Pick of the New York Times. After graduating from Cal Poly, he received additional training at the Sony Institute and at the American Film Institute in Hollywood. In 2014, Walters was awarded an Artist In Residence position at the Napa Valley Film Festival. Tom enjoys playing music with The Taproots
Paul Metchik is an attorney in San Luis Obispo, specializing in real estate and business transactions and tax planning. He loves film and has supported the performing arts in SLO County for many years, through his family’s involvement. Sons Aaron and Asher have performed in numerous plays, and his wife Robyn is the former drama teacher at Paulding and Mesa Middle Schools and Nipomo High School in south county. Paul has done everything from promoting the shows, to loading scenery, to buying pizza for the cast. Paul also experienced the ‘art of filmmaking’ as the Executive Producer of 10 YEARS LATER, an independent feature film, written and directed by Aaron, which was shot entirely on the Central Coast of California.
Kyle Plummer is an award-winning independent filmmaker based in the beautiful Central Coast of California. His first short documentary Korea Remembered, made at the age of 16, was honored by the Department of Defense in 2013 and was made a permanent addition to their historical records. More recently, amongst many other short and feature length projects, Kyle edited and produced the multi-award-winning short documentary Becoming Rich (2018). He earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication with an emphasis in Digital Film and has returned to SLO to pursue independent production work in both film and video through SuperImage, Ltd.
Janice Rohn is an executive leader and expert in high tech and a pioneer in the field of User Experience. She began her career at Stanford University, working on artificial intelligence, before joining Apple to design products and to help to create the Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines. She then moved into building and leading teams responsible for designing digital interfaces for AT&T, Experian, and many other companies. Janice has contributed to many design standards and holds design patents. She teaches courses worldwide, and is known for her expertise on a variety of topics, including design, product management, and organizational strategies.
Janice has been a resident of the Central Coast for almost 20 years. She has been attending the SLO Film Fest for over 10 years, and has also studied film production. Janice is excited to be joining the talented team of Board members and staff.
David Hardberger’s career has spanned several decades starting in the Universal Studios Optical Department. He’s worked on visual effects for such films as CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, BLADERUNNER(1982), STAR TREK – THE MOTION PICTURE, SPACEBALLS, STAR TREK – WRATH OF KHAN and the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. His other work includes camera technician for the ShowScan filming process, a unit manager for two small features and a live action cameraman and second unit DP on several feature films. David is a voting member of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences. More recently, he has written and directed two short films that were filmed in the San Luis Obispo area using many local crew members and talent. He lives in Los Osos with his wife, Maggie Means who is a production accountant on independent films, and their two cats.
P.O Box 1449
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
1-805-546-3456
Palm Theatre – SLO Film Center
Open Monday – Sunday
thepalmtheater.com
Copyright © 2022 San Luis Obispo International Film Festival | Website & Ticketing by Elevent
Website Photography provided by Brittany App
San Luis Obispo International Film Festival Inc. Registered Non-Profit 501(c3) Tax ID# 77-0367414
