Walter Chaw is our Festival Consultant. Walter Chaw is senior film critic for award-winning web journal FilmFreakCentral.net. He is an instructor at the University of Colorado, Denver and has written books on the film Miracle Mile and the works of Walter Hill. You can find his work in publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, LA Weekly and others. He's a featured guest of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour program, contributed a video essay to David Fincher's Netflix "Voir" series, and writes booklets and provides commentary tracks for various physical media distributors. He lives in Colorado with his lovely wife and two Australian Cattle Dogs that keep them busy.

Catherine Wyler, daughter of famous director William Wyler and Margaret Tallichet, is an accomplished producer and filmmaker. The first feature film she produced was “Memphis Belle” based on a World War II documentary of the same title made by her father. Her documentary productions, distributed by PBS, include “Witness to Hope,” a biography of Pope John Paul II and “Hot on the Trail: The Search for Sex and Romance in the Old World and the New.” Ms. Wyler received the Golden Reel Award for “Memphis Belle” and an award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Moreover, she received the Woman of Vision award from Women in Film & Video DC and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Information Special for Best Documentary in 1987.

Illeana Douglas is an actress, writer, producer, and director.  Getting her start by playing fearless, often outspoken women in films like Goodfellas, Cape Fear, and To Die For, Illeana went on to star in the musical Grace of My Heart, comedies like Picture Perfect, Message in a Bottleand Ghost World and the iconic horror film, Stir of Echoes.  A film historian, Illeana  is the granddaughter of two-time Academy Award–winning actor Melvyn Douglas.  Illeana has interviewed a pantheon of cinema greats for Turner Classic Movies and has participated in scores of film documentaries, including Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed,  CNN: The Movies, 78/52, Greatest Cult Films of All Time, The True Adventures of Raoul Walsh,  Kino Lorber’s Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers, which she also executive-produced and hosted, and Joe Dante’s movie site, Trailers From Hell. 

David Andrews, born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, graduated summa cum-laude from Louisiana State University, before going on to study law at Duke University and earning his degree from Stanford Law School. After becoming a member of the California bar and practicing law for a short time, he took what he calls a "hard right", deciding to leave the legal profession for an acting career. Now an industry veteran for over 40 years, David Andrews has worked with some of Hollywood's top directors and Oscar-winning actors, and has been singled out by critics for his work on both stage and screen.

Production designer Bill Brzeski has been designing for more than 40 years, becoming one  of the most accomplished production designers for feature films and television today. He is  known for his ability to create immersive and visually stunning worlds, from the  underwater kingdom of Atlantis in Aquaman to the seedy Las Vegas and Bangkok of The  Hangover trilogy. He is highly respected in the industry for his creativity, attention to detail,  and collaborative spirit. 

Christian Haberkern is an Art Director and Motion Designer known for his work in user interface design and main-on-end title sequences for feature films and television. A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, Christian has spent over a decade shaping the visual language of major studio projects, including Tron: Ares, Captain America, Black Panther, RoboCop, Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Amazon series Citadel. His expertise also extends behind the camera, having filmed visual effects sequences for Ant-Man, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and National Geographic’s Picasso. Christian’s cinematography for the short film I Heart NY was recognized with an official selection at the Tribeca Film Festival, underscoring a commitment to compelling visual storytelling across mediums.

Bob Hoffman’s career in motion pictures spanned over 50 years – the last 25 principally focused on visual effects and post-production at the multiple Academy Award-winning VFX studio, Digital Domain, and then nearly two decades at Technicolor where he oversaw much of company’s transition to digital services. While at Digital Domain, he oversaw the company’s theatrical release and awards campaigns for such films as True Lies, Apollo 13, and Titanic.

President of Oxford Group Productions, Lowe is a recognized producer and entrepreneur who brings a unique blend of experience and leadership to artistic programming and the projects, in international film production, Network and Cable television movies and the Theatre. Represented by ICM, one of Hollywood's most influential talent agencies, Lowe began her career in the film industry as a professional actor, studying at the American Academy, later with Stella Adler and ultimately accepted into The Actors Studio. As a theatrical producer, Lowe has produced numerous well-received national shows. The distinguished production of "Down Winder Dance" starring Sara Gilbert, entails the 1950s Atom Bomb testing in Utah and its effect on the farmers and livestock living down wind of the nuclear blasts. 

William Thomas Francis Miller (born 9 September 1978) is an actor and singer.  Of American and British parentage, he has lived in the UK, the United States and mainly in Spain. 

Miller studied History, Archeology and Performing Arts in Spain, and speaks English, Spanish, Catalan, and French.  He is well known for working in several Spanish television series,  and has played supporting roles in Spanish, Mexican, American, British and French films.  He has received some good reviews on his latest works.
He is currently working on several projects, nationally and internationally, also started producing and directing short films, nominated in film festivals in Spain. In Music William is still active with Rage Against the Machine tribute band: RAGE RISING  

Recipient of FCCA Award and nominated for Fangoria Chainsaw, AFI and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Radha Mitchell (born 12 November 1973) is an Australian actress. She started her career acting in various Australian TV series and movies, and later became known for her appearance in Hollywood films. Mitchell, a native of Melbourne, began acting when she was still in high school and had her professional debut on the popular Australian soap, Neighbours (1985) in 1994. 

Steven Poster ASC has always been fascinated with the art and science of capturing images.  Beginning with still photography, Poster knew he wanted to make movies by the time he was fourteen. Poster's fascination with a neighbor, a news cameraman who later became his mentor, sparked an unwavering desire to make movies, and instilled a permanent preoccupation with the cinematic beauty of still images.

Wesley Wofford is a celebrated Figurative Sculptor who has called Cashiers home since 2004. Before transitioning into the world of sculpture, Wesley spent years as a Prosthetic Makeup Artist in Hollywood, where he made significant contributions to the Motion Picture and Television Industry. Known for his pioneering silicone prosthetic techniques, he earned widespread recognition for his work. In 2004, Wesley was honored with an Emmy Award from The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and in 2005, he received a Technical Achievement Academy Award from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his groundbreaking contributions, which have since become industry standards. Over the course of his career, Wesley worked on more than 75 film and television projects, earning numerous accolades and awards.  Today, he remains an active voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and continues to participate in the annual Oscars.

Wesley will be hosting a hair and makeup workshop.

Mary Badham is an American actress who portrayed Jean Louise "Scout" Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. At the time, Badham was the youngest actress ever nominated in this category.

Dabney Day is a creative visionary with deep roots in both marketing and storytelling. As the founder of The Catalyst Group, she helped shape brand narratives for Fortune 500 companies through pioneering product placement in movies and television.  After a successful sale of the company, she turned her attention to digital media and independent film. 

 She was mentored by the late Oscar-winning cinematographer John Alonzo (Raging Bull, Norma Rae) and gained hands-on experience on the set of A Time to Kill, working closely with director Joel Schumacher and the Producers. 

The Gardener is a personal passion project—one that reflects Day’s belief in beauty, hope, and the enduring power of love.