VTIFF Program-Guide 2024 - Flipbook - Page 28
MEET THE PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
CHRISTIAN ACOSTA: Chris has been a member of the
programming committee since 2021. A filmmaker and
photographer, he has made a number of award winning
short films in VT and internationally. In his free time, he
practices B&W film photography, and acts for the
Shelburne Players Community theater. He holds a BA for
Filmmaking from Champlain College, now teaches at the
college, and can be found bartending at Zero Gravity on
the weekends.
LUKE BAYNES: Luke has been a member of the
programming committee since 2014 and served on the
VTIFF board of directors from 2012 to 2017. He works as
an editor for a Seattle-based media company and has a
soft spot for obscure film noirs and 1950s Westerns.
RYAN CHARTIER: Ryan is Associate Director of Philanthropy
at Vermont Public. He holds a B.A. and M.A. in English
and Film Studies from the University of Vermont. He has
been a member of the VTIFF Board of Directors since
2018 and a member of the Programming Committee
since 2019. He is also an avid music fan, hosting a weekly
free-form show at WRUV on the UVM campus. A lifelong
film lover; according to family legend, during his first visit
to a movie theater as a child he exclaimed “Wow that’s a
really big TV”!
artistic moments. The best job I have had in relation to
the restaurant was coordinating Penny Cluse art exhibits.
LECHELLE-ANTONIA GRAY: Raised in a family of artists, it was
only natural for Lechelle-Antonia to find the magic of film
at an early age. Lechelle-Antonia currently works for
Hunger Free Vermont and is a Consultant with The
Creative Discourse. She serves on the Board of Directors
for Outright Vermont, is on the Farm to Plate Network’s
Steering Committee, and she has served on the Pride
Center’s Board of Directors as Board Co-Chair.
GRAYDON HANSON: Graydon Hanson is a senior Film &
Media Culture major at Middlebury College. He has
always been interested in the many aspects of film, and
being a programmer at VTIFF has allowed him to explore
a new side of the field. He hopes you enjoy all of the films
at the festival this year.
GRACE LABICH: Grace worked part-time with VTIFF as
administrative support, photographer, and on-site
coordinator in 2024, before accepting a teaching position
in Spain this fall. She graduated from the University of
Vermont in May 2024, where she studied studio art, film,
and psychology.
GAIL CLOOK: Gail has been the associate director at VTIFF
since 2020 and has been involved with VTIFF in various
seasonal/part-time roles since 2009. Her previous
experience includes being a box office supervisor at a
performing arts center, and a general manager at a
multiplex cinema. As associate director, her primary
focus has been on operations, membership, and
development.
STEVE MACQUEEN (Chair of VTIFF Programming Committee):
Steve is the Executive Director of VTIFF. Previously, he
was the Executive Artistic Director of Circus Smirkus
(2022-23) and Artistic Director of the Flynn, as well as
the Discover Jazz Festival (2012-22). Prior to life in
Vermont, he ran the Opening Nights festival at Florida
State University and directed multidisciplinary programs
in Atlanta, GA and Brevard, NC. He also had a prior life as
a newspaper reporter.
HOLLY CLUSE: Cluse graduated from Rhode Island School
of Design with a BFA in photography. She has
connections with local business owners and local artists.
She’s been an educator and, to quote her: “I have some
ARNIE MALINA: Arnie served as Artistic Director and Chief
Programming Officer at the Flynn Center for the
Performing Arts as well as Artistic Director of the Discover
Jazz Festival, 1997- 2012. He was an enthusiastic film
attendee in NYC where a major inspiration was the wave
of European directors in the 50s and 60s. In 1976, he
founded the Helena Film Society / Helena Series for the
Performing Arts in Montana. He served on the Board of
VTIFF from 2014 to 2023, and was President of the
Board for three years.
OLIVER O’SULLIVAN: Oliver started as marketing manager
for VTIFF in 2024, but he has helped VTIFF year-round
since moving to Vermont in 2015, first as a volunteer then
as a box office supervisor then as a marketing consultant.
Before joining VTIFF full-time, Oliver worked at the Flynn
in Downtown Burlington as marketing content manager
for nearly five years. He has an MFA in Film and TV
Studies from Boston University and writes about movies,
especially horror movies, in his free time.
TRAVIS WEEDON: Formerly of Vermont, Travis is now based
in Ojai, California. He manages festival bookings for Visit
Films world sales and has been the program director for
the White River Indie Films Festival since 2022. He has
been with VTIFF since 2021 in various capacities in
addition to the programming committee.
ORLY YADIN: Orly Yadin served as the Executive Director of
VTIFF from Jan 2012 until June 2023. She stepped down
from this role in June 2023 to focus on the Made Here
Film Festival as Program Director, and to pursue her work
as a filmmaker. Yadin is a filmmaker and producer of both
documentaries and animation films and series. Prior to
making films, she was a film researcher on historical
programs and was also founder and Managing Director of
Footage Farm – an archival footage collection. Orly has
taught documentary film history and theory in
Universities in England and at Burlington College. In 1995
she co-founded and ran Halo Productions specializing in
animation films. Many of Halo’s short films won
international awards at festivals, and one, Silence, was
short-listed for the Academy Awards.
SPECIAL THANKS TO
APRIL 23-27, 2025
Burlington Beer Co.
for providing food for
festival staff and volunteers
Featuring filmmakers from Vermont,
New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Maine, and Quebec
Submissions open January 1, 2025
PRESENTED BY
for catering the festival
preview reception on October 9
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VTIFF.ORG | VERMONT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024
