THE SANTA FE FILM FESTIVAL - Key Persons
Since stepping on the stage for the first time over 20 years ago, Celeste has been an avid lover of the arts with performing and visual art forms being amongst her most engaged in. Celeste's first love was the stage. There, she found her knack for storytelling.
She obtained her Bachelor's degree in Communication before exploring the film community in New Mexico. She started doing background work on television and movie sets and acted in student films. Before her hiatus due to the unforeseen challenges brought on by Covid, she collaborated with fellow filmmakers producing and acting in a short film titled, ‘Sierra Sisters: The Hunt for Red Hand's Treasure' soon followed by a full-feature sequel titled, ‘Sierra Sisters: The Hunt for Blackbeard's Treasure' that is now awaiting distribution.
She immersed herself in various areas of the filmmaking process taking on, often times, multiple roles at a time, including set photographer, HMU, SPFX, crafty, location scouting, props, costuming, etc. as to be a part of the different aspects of the creative process. She continues to learn and explore areas of filmmaking when opportunities arise, but currently puts most of her time exploring the outdoors with her two children and honing her craft as a performer.
Former Principal, college instructor (graduate level), Masters Degree in Counseling & Administrative Supervision, Film Historian, Screener for SFFF and other festivals for the last 14years and film lover extraordinaire!
Former Educator, Masters Degree in Curriculum & Instruction - former SFFF Office Manager & film screener and total film buff over the past 14 years!
Joe Buffalo is an Indigenous skateboard legend. He's also a survivor of Canada's notorious Indian Residential School system. Following a traumatic childhood and decades of addiction, Joe must face his inner demons to realize his dream of turning pro.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- VICE CHAIR
Justin Marmion has been a resident of New Mexico for most of his life with ties to the beautiful land of enchantment dating back to the first Spanish explorers that settled Santa Fe in the 1600s. Marmion served in the New Mexico Army National Guard as an Officer for many years and takes great pride in having served New Mexico during many of our state emergencies such as the Los Alamos fire and the winter storm relief operation of 2004.
Marmion began his film career as background talent in the film "Brothers" staring Tobey McGuire and Jake Gyllenhaal. On that film he received his first speaking role. Since then he has pursued his dream of making films as an actor, stunt performer and eventually earning the opportunity to be a Stunt Coordinator on the docudrama series "Gunslinger's".
Eventually Marmion decided to write, produced, and direct while building his production company in Santa Fe. Freedom Compass Productions is dedicated to telling stories showcasing the many supernatural legends of New Mexico and highlight the colorful, rich and diverse culture of New Mexico.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Treasurer
Karl Ferguson has worked with NGOs in Haiti, Honduras, East Africa, and the United States. The former executive director of Haiti's Lambi Fund and the Parkinsons Association of the Rockies, he now serves as COO/CFO for the St. Vincents Hospital Foundation in Santa Fe where he lives. Karl has a MA from Lesley College and a BS from Babson College.
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Member of the Board
Kurt Young is the founder of the Santa Fe Film Festival, which began in 1999.
Since then he has also advocated for the film community and its benefits to the New Mexico state economy by serving on numerous film boards and commissions.
He grew up in Santa Fe and is a 1988 graduate of St. Michael's High School. He then went to Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA. and attended Pepperdine School of Law. His mother's family traces its roots to the 1600's in Northern New Mexico, and drives his passion to make the state film industry grow.
His parents Tom and Connie Young, are pioneers in the Fitness industry and heavily influenced Kurt to be a leader in his own field.
He first came up with the vision of creating a film festival for New Mexico after a trip to Los Angeles to work on a television show. The idea was to create an event to diversity the economy and to boost film production by helping create an organic film community in New Mexico, that at the time did not exist.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Director
- Member of the Board
NaNi Rivera is a graduate from the College of Santa Fe, with a Bachelor's Degree in film, and holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Media Arts from the Santa Fe Community College. She has used her skill sets to benefit the New Mexico Film Industry for over a decade. She has celebrated above the line film artist through several film festivals, created the internship program at the Santa Fe University of Art & Design, helped film technician workers through the IATSE Local 480 film union and worked with multiple private and government partners developing the infrastructure of the New Mexico Film Industry.
Whether Rivera is helping rescue a movie theater in a small town found in the Sierra County oasis (Truth or Consequences) or serving as a nation wide board member for the Political Relations Committee of the National Theaters Association, she finds creative ways to shed positive light on her chosen projects.
Tina started her entertainment career as a runway and print model in her Hometown of Port Huron MI. She moved to New Mexico and transitioned from modeling to spokesmodel for big brand companies, which led her to a career in Acting and film festival production working on multiple projects including commercial, film and print. From there Tina found her passion as the head of public relations and film festival director for the largest Comic Book Convention in New Mexico, the ABQ Comic Con. She decided to retire from acting and turn her focus to her growing list of clients. She then merged to form Mitchell & Presley Talent Group NM and CA. After three years she decided to focus on more intimate relationships with her clients and created Presley Talent NM a boutique SAG AFTRA franchise and Artist Collective.
Robyn Reede has worked in New Mexico as an actress for over 30 years. Reede served as the Los Alamos Film Commissioner for over 2 years, is a founding member of New Mexico Women in Film and a board member of FOCUS New Mexico.
Reede has an MBA from Highlands University and taught Business Administration at Santa Fe Community College and currently serves as reporter for HollywoodTimes.net reporting on New Mexico film events and as a board member for Screen Actors Guild (now SAG/AFTRA.) As a board member for the Santa Fe Film Festival Reede continues to support artist in the moving image arts.
With over a decade of experience working in the field of finance, Sallie Kemper, proves everyday that a marriage of art and commerce can indeed live happily under one roof. Sallie joined the Santa Fe Film Festival Board of Directors in 2011 and resides in Santa Fe.
Job Titles:
- Founders of Taos Talking Picture
Stephen Jules Rubin is honored to be included on the board of the Santa Fe Film Fest as he first got involved with the SFFF in its early years and served in various capacities over some six years as the SFFF approached its first decade of existence. After a hiatus as the SFFF evolved, he is proud to have been asked to return.
Having played in Santa Fe in many capacities over roughly 20 years, he's dabbled as a filmmaker, theater performer and more with various troupes and theaters and with Julesworks. Amongst their many endevours, JW has made films and most recently produces Santa Fe's longest running not quite monthly live variety show.
Working with SFFF Founder Jon Bowman, Rubin served as Deputy Director, Programmer and more. More recently, when George Martin re opened SF's beloved Jean Cocteau Cinema, his first hire as manager was Bowman, who included Jules amongst the first staff. He remains one of the few part time employees to have been involved for all of GRRM's JCC's nearly 6 years.
SJR stumbled into becoming a radio personality a few years back (as he has the perfect face for radio), with Madrid's community radio station 96.9 FM KMRD. He gets to do a show every Monday 1 to 4pm.
Also working as a server at Jambo Café, while hoping to perform and share his passions as much as possible, Jules is pleased to add SFFF Board Member to the roles he gets to play.
After attending The University of Florida, majoring in Broadcasting and Communications, Rivera sought work in New York and became the first woman sound engineer and quickly made connections and recorded many musicians that are now well established performers. Later she made her way to New Mexico (1974) to work for TV, Radio, Film and Media in projects including US Corp of Army Engineers: Cochiti, Artifacts before the Dam "1974", KUNM: First March 8, 1975 Women's Day Event, Blue Sky Productions: Bicentenial Film 1976 "Rio Grande", Sierra Club: "Organizing the First Earth Day."
Rivera then focused on family homeschooling her children while performing sound reinforcement and mixing almost every week. She continues to do sound for special events, along social media support for various businesses, organizations and non profits.
Job Titles:
- Editor
- Directors Assistant
Tres Brown is a videographer/editor that specializes in producing cinematic interviews. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his partner and two cats. Tres has a strong passion for film, animation and documentary.