Carol L. Fleisher - Executive Director
Carol – an award-winning documentary filmmaker – came to the Durango Independent Film Festival just a few months before our 2024 event. She brings over 40 years in film production experience (PBS, National Geographic, NOVA, etc.) as well as a couple of decades working with the prestigious Jackson Wild Film Festival (known as the Oscars of Natural History Filmmaking). Her films have won Emmys, The Humanitas Prize, Writers' Guild of America Award, Chicago Film Festival and many more. She also taught documentary filmmaking at Fort Lewis College.
Meet the Board
Dean Fagner
Board Chair
Dean and his wife, Melinda Kaye, own Durango’s Four Leaves Winery. Dean brings his vast business experience in Customer Service, Strategic Planning and Business Development to the DIFF team. The Durango Chamber of Commerce also presented him with the "Spirit of Durango" award – recognizing Dean’s extensive work benefitting the 4 Corners area.
Brian Latimer
Board Member
Brian Latimer says he is, “A graphics designer by trade and a filmmaker by dream.” He has worked on nine studio features, over two hundred commercials and has been a graphics designer for 34 years.
Shannon Kunkel
Board Member
Shannon has been a realtor in Colorado for over 35 years and over 21 years here in Durango with Coldwell Banker Mountain Properties. Look for her almost every Saturday supporting the Durango Farmers’ Market!
Jackie Culp
Board Vice Chair
Jackie’s previous two Board experiences have focused on helping young people – including a national non-profit called Girls on the Run, and a Kohler Family charity dubbed Circle of Friends. Outside of her non-profit work, she reports, “In my free time, I love to run in the mountains, ski, and of course, watch independent films!”
Stephanie Burditt
Board Secretary
Stephani Burditt joined DIFF in 2019. Holding a BA and master’s in business management, she is the Grant Compliance Specialist for Region 9 Economic Development District and is the Coordinator for the San Juan Resource Conservation and Development Council. She also sits on the SW Colorado Workforce Board and is the Treasurer for the Ignacio Creative District.
George Johnson
Board Member
George has been with DIFF for ten years – starting as a member of the Narrative Features’ Screening Team and quickly ascending to its head. "Let's face it. It's the love of film and its ramifications to the heart and soul that keep me coming back." Mr. Johnson also brings years of experience as a mortgage loan expert to the DIFF team.
Chris Lile
Board Treasurer
Chris Lile has been in the bar and restaurant business for 30 years. A 5th generation Coloradan, he’s a graduate of both Durango High School and Fort Lewis College. He is co-owner and board member of the fabled Four Corners Motorcycle Rally. Mr. Lile also serves on the board of Harley-Davidson's Ash Foundation, which helps families throughout the Four Corners.
Kim Estes McCarty
Board Member
Kim has been working in and with the nonprofit/arts sectors for more than 30 years with expertise in arts administration, strategic planning, board development, social activism, human resources, marketing, public relations, creative residencies, art jurying, and fundraising. Her life-long love of cinema has included work with resident artists specializing in film and partnerships with film-focused nonprofit organizations.
Durango Independent Film Festival
Year-Round Volunteer Staff Members:
Lynn Armato, Jim Cunningham, David Dibble, Claudia Murphy Foley, Leba Glazner, Gyana Bandy Gomar, Cornelius Hurley, Kristina John, George Johnson, Marwa Mohamed, Cara Moore, Wade Moore, Tanya Roth, Jola Schraub, Lainey Severson, Carla Marie Toth, Jacob Trujillo, Meghan Walsh, and Greg Weiss.
Administrator:
Kelsey Persyn, Contractor
Programming:
Cornelius Hurley / Programming Director
Leba Glazner / Adventure
George Johnson / Narrative Features
David Dibble / Shorts
Carla Marie Toth / Documentaries
Greg Weiss / LGBTQ
Cornelius Hurley / Family
Kristina John / Native Cinema
Claudia Murphy Foley, M.Ed. / Reel Learning School Program
Operations & Venues:
Team Leader
Marwa Mohamed / Head of Venues & Operations
Theater Managers:
TBD / Gaslight Twin Cinema
James Simmons / Durango Arts Center
Assistant Theater Managers:
Barb Brown / Gaslight Twin Cinema
Richard Coleman / Durango Arts Center
Box Office:
Lynn Armato
Pass Management:
Tanya Roth/ Head of Pass Management
Tech:
Francisco “Paco” Aschwanden / Tech Director
Festival Parties & Events:
Lainey Severson, Chair Events
Jake Trujillo / Beverage Manager
Hospitality Management:
Greg Weiss / Team Leader
Jury:
Gyana Bandy Gomar / Jury Coordinator
Volunteers:
Jola Schraub / Volunteer Coordinator
Print Projects:
Brian Latimer / Print Projects Designer
Website & Communications:
Elaine Severson / Social Media Manager
Jim Batchelder, Rest Easy Hosting / Hosting Manager
Special Projects
Rich Henrich
Programming Teams:
Features:
George Johnson / Head of Features
with Catherine Adams, Karen Overington and Amber Lark
Shorts:
David Dibble / Head of Shorts
with John Condie, Ken Coleman, Pam Smith & Robert Snead
Feature & Short Documentaries:
Carla Marie Toth / Head of Feature & Short Documentaries
with Pattie Adler, Scott Rahilly, Barry Spear, Carla Marie Toth & Doug Wakeman
Native Cinema:
Kristina John / Head of Native Cinema
with Julie Cooley, Danielle Joe, Todd Macon and Stephen Sellers
Adventure Program:
Leba Glazner / Head of Adventure Programming
with Jenna Arnold, Andrea Rike and Marcia Sabeti
Family:
Cornelius Hurley and Aiden Hurley / Co-Heads of Family Programming
REEL Learning:
Claudia Murphy Foley, M.Ed. / Head of REEL Learning Programming
with Caleb Bates, Corinna Bayless, Annabelle and Arya Benally, Deb Nielsen, Amelia Player, Susan Ridley-Myers, Scout Roehlik and Karen Zenger.