Artistic Advisory Board

Alton Walpole, Chairman
President of Mountainair Films, Santa Fe's largest, full-service film production company. A film professional for more than 25 years, he has served as producer, director, cameraman and editor, working in a variety of capacities on such groundbreaking features as Koyaanisqatsi, Baraka, Passion in the Desert and The Tao of Steve.

Members

Betsy Blankett and Djordje Milicevic, Yugoslavia
Well-known filmmakers, she edited El Norte, while he co-wrote Runaway Train, Iron Will and Victory.

Francene Blythe, Washington, D.C.
Director of the National Geographic All Roads Film Project.

Gov. David F. Cargo, Albuquerque
Former New Mexico Governor and retired Albuquerque attorney; founded the New Mexico State Film Office, the first of its kind in the nation.

Anna Darrah, Santa Fe
Acquisitions director for the Spiritual Cinema Circle.

Joseph Dispenza, San Miguel del Allende, Mexico
Founded Garson Studios at the College of Santa Fe; former director of educational programs for the American Film Institute in Washington D.C.

Ericka Frederick, Chicago
Works in the motion picture division of Kodak and advises several film festivals, including Boulder and Waterfront in Saugatuck, Mich.

Haines Gaffner, Santa Fe
Developed several businesses in the New Media/ Internet arena and founded the Film Committee of the National Arts Club.

Ray Hemenez, Santa Fe
Helps run the Institute for Regional Education, a non-profit video, film and media organization that produced Koyaanisqatsi.

Chris Kientz, Las Cruces
Co-director of the animated Raven Tales and a lecturer at New Mexico State University's Creative Media Institute.

Kent Kubena, Los Angeles
A ’94 graduate of the College of Santa Fe and co-producer of the recent Akeelah and the Bee.

Ranny Levy, Santa Fe
President of the non-profit Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, which organizes Kids First! Film festivals around North America.

Joe Matukewicz, Los Angeles
College of Santa Fe graduate who now serves as Director of Acquisitions for Paramount Vantage.

Carl Mora, Albuquerque
Author of Mexican Cinema and former staff historian at Sandia National Laboratories.

Scott Murrow, Los Angeles
Marketing director with Rainbow Media, parent company of Women's Entertainment, Bravo and the Independent Film Channel.

Francesca Ursone, Los Angeles
A renowned acting instructor and champion of the Moscow Art Theatre.

Susan Berk, Santa Fe
Susan Berk hails from Boston and is currently on the Boards of the Lensic Performing Arts Center, the NM Museum Foundation, NM Chapter of Women in the ARTS and Friends of Santa Fe Jazz. her speciality is fundraising and destination management and is considered a professional volunteer.  She resides in Santa Fe full time with her husband Lee.