Our annual film competitions continues to attract exciting new independent films from around the world. Named after George Sidney, the Festival’s first recipient of the King Vidor Award, Sidney was a Central Coast resident and a passionate supporter of independent filmmaking. A panel of more than 100 screeners evaluated over 1,200 submissions, helping us make some very difficult decisions to finalize our Official Selections. The finalists in competition are juried by a panel of film and media professionals, and cash prizes will be awarded at the Fremont Theater during our Closing on Tuesday, April 30.
Some of his other films include, RANCHER, FARMER, FISHERMAN, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2017, and OUT OF MANY, ONE which premiered at the New York Film Festival, followed by Netflix in 2018. Much of John’s work as a filmmaker has focused on the key health issues of our time, including THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION (HBO), ADDICTION (HBO), THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT (HBO), and FIRST IN HUMAN (Discovery) – a 6-hour series set in the world’s largest research hospital, the NIH’s Building 10. In addition to making films, John has also been a network executive. He was the Executive Vice President of Documentaries & Specials for Discovery from 2015 to 2018, after nearly two decades as Vice President of Documentary Programming at HBO.
Documentary Producer (The Barber of Little Rock, 2023) John Hoffman is an Oscar nominee for his most recent film, THE BARBER OF LITTLE ROCK, released by The New Yorker in 2023. John is a six-time Emmy award-winning filmmaker, whose films include the National Geographic portrait, FAUCI, which premiered at the 2021 Telluride Film Festival and THE ANTIDOTE which was theatrically released in 2020 before moving to Amazon Prime.
Named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Media List in 2024, his screenplays have been recognized by GLAAD, Outfest, and ScreenCraft, among others. Sav is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Transgender Film Center, a nonprofit aiming to help trans creators bring finished films to audiences around the world. In 2025, Sav received the SXSW Community Service Award for Film & TV for his work at TFC.
Filmmaker (Chasing Chasing Amy, 2024 SLO Film Festival)
Originally from Kansas, Sav Rodgers is a filmmaker whose feature directorial debut CHASING CHASING AMY (Tribeca ‘23) explores the complicated legacy of Chasing Amy (1997) and its profound impression on his life. The TED Talk he gave in 2018 kickstarted this filmmaking journey, and spurred the writing of scripts that center on highly specific, surprising stories about queer people.
Documentary Producer (Couple’s Therapy, Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show, Spermworld) Sophie Kissinger is a documentary producer and the head of development for Edgeline Films. She produced Couples Therapy (SHOWTIME), and was a Co-Producer on Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show (HBO) and a Field Producer and Co-Producer on Lance Oppenheim's Spermworld (FX). She was an Associate Producer on Marina Zenovich's Jerry Brown: The Disrupter.
Distribution and International Sales (Oscilloscope Laboratories) With over 15 years of international experience in film exhibition organizations and festivals in New York, Qatar, Canada, Australia and The Netherlands; Alexandra Fredricks is enthusiastic about functioning as a bridge between creators, industry, and audiences. She currently handles non-theatrical distribution and international sales at Oscilloscope Laboratories, a Brooklyn-based independent film distribution company founded in 2008 by Adam Yauch.
Previously, she held the positions of: Programming + Operations Senior Manager at Metrograph and Film Screening Operations Manager at the Doha Film Institute (DFI). She has served on Festival Juries, been on screening committees for BendFilm Festival, DOC NYC and the Hamptons International Film Festival, and a talent liaison for New York Film Festival (NYFF).
Director (Tokyo Cowboy, 2024 SLO Film Festival) Marc Marriott is an award-winning producer/director of television and film. His first feature film, TOKYO COWBOY, won accolades in film festivals around the globe including “Best Narrative Feature Film” at the 2024 SLO Film Festival. TOKYO COWBOY was released in theaters in the US and Japan in 2024 and is currently available to stream on several platforms including iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play.
At the start of his career, Marriott lived in Japan and apprenticed with renowned Japanese filmmaker Yoji Yamada. Marriott has worked on many documentary and television projects and has earned a reputation as a specialist in stories of real people in extraordinary situations; from the History Channel’s AX MEN, to the Discovery Channel’s ROUSH RACING: DRIVER X. He’s been a Series producer and Director for The Discovery Channel, History Channel, FOX, VH1, TLC, and The Travel Channel, among others. Marriott is a graduate of the Masters directing program at UCLA. His first film, SHORT ORDER won the Prix Canal Plus at the Henri Langlois International Film Festival in France and his short film THE SNOW CHILD played at Cannes. He has received The Independent Film Channel Award and the Jimmy Stewart Crystal Heart Award from the Heartland Film Festival.
Senior Film Writer (The Hollywood Reporter)
From penning cover stories on blockbusters to breaking the scoop on Quentin Tarantino’s latest films to revealing details on the rise and fall and rise of DC movies, Borys Kit has covered all facets of the movie industry as the senior film writer at The Hollywood Reporter. As a seasoned journalist, he has reported on business trends and movie deals, spotlighted troubled movies undergoing reshoots, interviewed studio heads, and walked down the red carpet of many a Hollywood premiere. Borys was one of the first Hollywood journalists to cover San Diego Comic Con and is the founder of THR’s award-winning geek blog Heat Vision.
With hundreds of shorts, mid form, features, and series produced over his 20 year career, Ben has a passion for emotional storytelling, counter culture, exploration, and pushing the technological boundaries of his craft. Ben is a judge for the Sports, News, and Documentary Emmy programs, and has won 3 National Emmy Awards with 16 nominations. Previously, Ben worked at VAS Entertainment – a global media distribution and marketing company based in San Luis Obispo where he rose to Vice President of Business Development and Licensing. He also founded and operates The Dynamite Company, a creative studio supporting media partners, independent creatives, and brand initiatives. Ben resides in Edna Valley with his family and is active within the San Luis Obispo community.
VP of Development & Documentary (Red Bull Media House) As Vice President of Development & Documentary at Red Bull Media House, Ben Bryan currently leads a dynamic team of creative executives who develop and produce unscripted content for broadcasters and streaming platforms around the globe. Ben has personally developed and produced over 20 critically acclaimed, award-winning films including McConkey, Blood Road, Any One of Us, Dear Rider, and The Alpinist; which won the Emmy for Outstanding Sports Documentary and the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Sports documentary.
Now in its 20th year and Academy Award Qualifying in 4 categories, HollyShorts has quickly become the most influential short film festival in the World, with Daniel guiding it as Festival Director and lead programmer and the HollyShorts Monthly Screening Series, which takes place each month at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres. Aside from HollyShorts, Sol also battled daily with domestic exhibitors as a theatrical sales executive at Lionsgate from 2008-2014. Mr. Sol is also the co-founder of the premium Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV content channel BITPIX (www.bitpixtv.com) along with co-founder of the production company 88th Street. He proudly serves on the Film Augusta Advisory Board. Sol is also an Executive Producer of the short films THIRST and DESMONDS NOT HERE ANYMORE, currently airing on Hulu and is the Festival Co Founder of the 9th annual Hollywood Comedy Shorts Film Festival.
Co-Director, Co-Founder (HollyShorts Film Festival) With a passion for film and filmmaking since childhood, Daniel decided to move to California in 2000 with an interest in the film business. After working on commercial productions as a production assistant for Tony Kaye Films and then acting in various films, he gained an understanding of the filmmaking process. After graduating at Cal State Northridge in 2006, he realized that young filmmakers had very little access to industry professionals, and few options for screening their films. And thus, the HollyShorts Film Festival was born.
Filmmaker (Sludge, 2024 SLO Film Festival) Jeff is a 19 time Emmy award winner and two time national recipient of the prestigious Edward R Murrow award. His dedication to creative storytelling guided his 20-year television career from his hometown in Iowa to L.A., New York to Paris and points beyond. He produced stories at The White House, three Olympic Games and at the forefront of high profile news events around the world. As a staff photographer at NBC News in New York, his work was showcased on NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, MSNBC and Dateline.
He was runner-up to the National Press Photographers Association’s Photographer of the Year and recently directed a short film titled “SLUDGE” which has since received several awards including “Best Documentary Short” at the San Luis Obispo Film Festival.
Executive Director (Film Festival Alliance) Barbara Twist is the Executive Director of the Film Festival Alliance, a nonprofit for festivals and the people who run them. She has extensive experience in distribution and exhibition, and her previous work includes Director of Partnerships at Vidiots, leading up to the recent re-launch and opening of the Eagle Theater, as well as Art House Convergence, Europa International, and others.
Barbara is one of the organizers of IND/EX, the largest gathering of independent Exhibitors and Distributors in North America, and has been a key force behind exciting discussion series and new initiatives to address the distribution crisis – including most recently The Popcorn List, highlighting exceptional films that have yet to secure distribution after a festival premiere.
In addition to her work in front of the camera, Bernadette is the creator and host of the celebrity game show CELEBRITY TRUTH OR DARE, bringing her signature charm and industry insight into entertainment. Beyond acting and producing, Bernadette is passionate about fostering emerging talent and supporting independent filmmakers. She is honored to contribute her experience and keen eye for storytelling to recognize outstanding cinematic achievements.
Actor, Producer (Riverdale) Bernadette Beck is an actress, producer, and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the film and television industry. Her career spans major network studio productions and independent films, giving her a well-rounded perspective on storytelling at all levels. She played major recurring guest star roles on CW’s RIVERDALE and Freeform’s MOTHERLAND: FORT SALEM and also appeared in CW’s SUPERNATURAL. Her film work includes independent features such as WORDS AND PICTURES (starring Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche) and GIRL IN PROGRESS (starring Eva Mendes).
In 2024, her fantasy queer short film Peccadillo was nominated for an Imagen Award for best short. Sofia continues her path of telling stories that make people cry, laugh, scream or just simply feel alive. Currently she’s part of the LFI Inclusion Fellowship sponsored by Netflix, with her film Efflorescence.
Filmmaker (Peccadillo, 2024 SLO Film Festival) Sofía Garza-Barba is a multidisciplinary writer and director who’s genre-bending work is often described as fantastic, kitsch, and highly art driven. Her films have been appreciated in festivals like Fantasia, Rotterdam, SITGES, Festival de Cannes (SFC), HollyShorts, Woodstock, Bentonville, LALIFF, SLO and have been recognized or awarded for their unique voice with colorful visual language. She’s a Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative mentee, a Fellow Director of the CDDP Diversity Program, HBO’s Tomorrow’s Filmmakers Today emerging director and an alumni of the AWD Directing the Actor Lab.
Associate Professor (Cal Poly State University) Dr. Emily Ryalls is an Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies in the Liberal Arts and Women's, Gender, and Queer Studies at Cal Poly. Her research and teaching areas are in critical cultural studies and media studies. In her free time, she can be found watching Bravo TV and hanging with her dog, Henry.
Lee is an entrepreneur with an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is one of eight American Freestyle Wrestlers inducted to the International Wrestling Hall of Fame, and is the subject of a film documentary on his life entitled “Wrestled Away”: The Lee Kemp Story, that just last year at the 2024 San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, won the Central Coast Filmmakers Showcase “Best Feature Length Film”.
Festival Alumni (Wrestled Away, 2024 SLO Film Festival) Lee Kemp is a keynote motivational speaker, educator, author and seminar presenter who has spoken in athletic and non-athletic settings in the US as well as internationally. Known as one of the greatest wrestlers in United States history, was an Olympian in 1980 and was America’s most accomplished wrestler when he became the first 3x World Champion in 1982 (a distinction held for 8 years). Lee was also one of the coaches for the 2008 Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Team that competed in Beijing China.
Writer, Director (Superstar, 2024 SLO Film Festival) Talha Hussaini has been directing films since 2014. His latest short film, Superstar, co-directed with Jacob Heimlich, premiered on August 19, 2023, in Phoenix, Arizona. The film won the West Coast Showcase at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival and has received 15 nominations at various film festivals, winning several awards. Superstar has been showcased at festivals across the globe, reaching audiences worldwide. Talha is currently in post-production on his next short film, The Cover-Up, with his co-director Jacob Heimlich, which he plans to use as proof of concept for a feature film.
Filmmaker (Post Malone: White Aversion, Machine Gun Kelly: My Ex's Best Friend) Van Alpert is an American filmmaker and artist known for his compelling storytelling and innovative work across film, music, fashion and art. With projects like the feature film SKATEGOAT, Post Malone’s breakthrough WHITE IVERSON, winning the MTV Moonman Award for Machine Gun Kelly’s MY EX’S BEST FRIEND, and sold-out exhibitions during Art Basel, Van has earned recognition for iconic music videos, while shedding light on underrepresented stories and creating culturally impactful visuals in both film and the art world.
Co-founder (DittyTV, Music Road Trip) Amy Wright is a dynamic presence at DittyTV, serving as both an engaging on-air host and an integral part of its leadership team. Audiences recognize her from hosting The Curve, a vibrant showcase that highlights emerging artists redefining Americana music, as well as Insights, where her thoughtful interviews reveal the personal stories behind the music. Together with her husband Ronnie, Amy co-founded DittyTV, transforming their shared passion for technology and music into a thriving 24/7 network inspired by classic MTV.
Beyond her on-camera roles, Amy actively oversees various aspects of DittyTV, including marketing, fundraising, operations, and the Vibe and Dime retail store. A dedicated musician herself—playing the fiddle, singing, and songwriting—Amy’s genuine love for music deeply informs her work. Through the Ditty Foundation, she further champions artists and the preservation of Americana and Roots music, solidifying her commitment to enriching the musical legacy of her hometown, Memphis.
Passionate about nurturing talent, Scott dedicates his time as a Board Member for RecHub, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit recording studio that empowers young musicians. On weekends, he enjoys spinning vinyl at local music venues or fine-tuning synthesizers in his downtown recording studio to ensure his creative energy remains vibrant.
VP, Partner (DittyTV, Music Road Trip) Scott Augat combines his expertise in visual effects, music, and technology to create projects that engage audiences through authentic experiences. He earned his Bachelor's in VFX from Miami International University of Art & Design and currently serves as a Partner at DittyTV and Music Road Trip, where he helps people discover remarkable musical destinations across the country through innovative storytelling in their new show and app.
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Palm Theatre – SLO Film Center
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