Richard Herskowitz is a media arts curator and administrator who, for the past forty years, has presented thousands of screenings and art exhibitions for leading film festivals, film societies, and museums. Herskowitz previously served as Artistic and Executive Director for AIFF from 2015-2019.

He was Artistic Director of the Houston Cinema Arts Festival from its inception in 2008 through its tenth anniversary in 2018, and director of the Virginia Film Festival in Charlottesville from 1994-2008. Herskowitz ran Cornell Cinema, where he presented over 500 films annually from 1982-94, and also served as film and video curator at Cornell’s Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art.

Richard was the curator of media arts for the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in Eugene from 2009-2019, and he also co-curated an annual media arts exhibition at Ashland's Schneider Museum of Art from 2016-22. Herskowitz has been a programmer multiple times and president of the Robert Flaherty Film Seminar and chair of its 50th Anniversary Committee.

Aura Johnson has been a programmer with the Ashland Independent Film Festival since 2012. She first worked under Joanne Feinberg, and then rose to Senior Programmer under Richard Herskowitz.

Aura has also programmed for the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, and had a former career as a sound effects editor and recordist for Skywalker Sound, Zoetrope, and the Saul Zaentz Film Center. Her history with filmmaking and post-production have given her a keen sense of the art of cinema, and she is especially passionate about independent film. 

She is also the co-owner of The Ashland Fly Shop in downtown Ashland, Oregon.

Nicole is a videographer, designer, and storyteller with a passion for independent film and fostering meaningful connections through creative work. Originally from Northern California, she has spent the past decade in Ashland, developing strong local ties while honing her expertise in film, fine art, and design.

Her documentary films have shown on SOPBS as well as featured in the Ashland Independent Film Festival, and her experience in the hospitality industry has provided valuable insight into curating memorable experiences.

Nicole’s journey with AIFF began as an intern, a pivotal experience that revealed how she could merge her interests, skills, and passions into a career in the arts. She later earned a Bachelor’s in Communication with an emphasis in Digital Cinema from Southern Oregon University.

With a background in design, branding, and filmmaking, she is honored to return to AIFF and support its mission of celebrating independent film.

Bruce has been a Producer for AIFF since 2012 and has had over 35 years working in entertainment.

Artistic Director / Producer: Portland Revels, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, CompassWorks, Carnegie Mellon New Plays Project, Anima Mundi Productions, The Backporch Theatre Company.
Stage Director: Over 170 shows: Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, City Theatre, Powerhouse Theatre, Portland Actors Ensemble, Profile Theatre, Sun Valley Shakespeare Festival, NW Children's Theatre, Rogue Opera, Bridgework Theatre, Oregon Stage Works, Mocks Crest Productions, Carnegie Mellon New Plays Project, and many others.

Bruce has directed modern comedy and drama, European classics (especially Shakespeare), musicals, opera, light opera (G&S), musicals, and new work (in workshop and full productions).

A graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Gary is a professional filmmaker, working on everything from commercials and corporate to narratives and documentaries over his 30+ year career. He has filmed all over the country in dozens of states and around the globe in over 15 countries.

His work has premiered at SXSW, Telluride, and AIFF, and screened at festivals worldwide. A 20 year resident of Ashland, he is the founder of Film Southern Oregon, a non-profit that serves to connect and strengthen the Southern Oregon film and media community.

Joe practiced law for 30+ years, and worked as a Circuit Court judge, Justice of the Peace, bankruptcy trustee, and civil litigator.  He graduated from the University of Michigan and the University of California, Berkeley, law school.  He worked briefly for law firms in Melbourne, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand, and then on North Slope oil royalty litigation in Anchorage, Alaska. 

He has volunteered in community theater, as a teen mentor, for the Britt Festival, and for veterans in Justice Outreach at the VA, among others.  He currently serves on the Oregon CASA Network Board of Directors.  He loves learning, travel, and helping others.  He lives in rural Talent with his wife, Ann, and three fur babies.

Andrew Bertell is a psychotherapist in private practice in Ashland, OR. He has served as a presenter and board member for the Baltimore Psychoanalytic Film Festival and a board member of the Baltimore Society for Psychoanalytic Studies.

Andrew attended graduate school at the University of Chicago and completed post-graduate training and fellowships with the Washington Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis and the Institute for Contemporary Psychoanalysis + Psychotherapy.

He has worked as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist for 15 years and resides in the Rogue Valley with his wife and son.

Andy Neal is a podcaster, social media content creator, model, aspiring filmmaker and mental health advocate with a large social media following.

A graduate of Southern Oregon University’s Digital Cinema program Andy is an advocate for the outdoors and mental health. Andy has created content for organizations such as has Nike, Columbia Sportswear, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Eddie Bauer, Charmin, The Arbor Day Foundation, and REI.

Andy is a vocal advocate for mental health causes and works Mental Health Coalition an organization created by Kenneth Cole to end the stigma surrounding mental health and to change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.

Aubry Hollingshead is a filmmaker, visual artist, and multimedia storyteller. Films she has worked on have won top prizes at festivals across the U.S. and Europe, including the AIFF Audience Award Winning, “The Weight of Water,” the Emmy-winning “Valley Uprising,” and films from the Reel Rock world tour.

Aubry has also been a commercial video producer and graphic designer for over 15 years, including work with Meta (Facebook) as a story consultant and editor for an internationally produced docuseries, and content creation for organizations like Britt Fest and TEDxBoulder.

She is the founder and curator of the Evicted Art Collective outdoor gallery in Ashland, a scenic artist for multiple Rogue Valley theatre companies, and the technical director for the nationally touring musical theatre company, Puppeteers for Fears.

Carina Kolodny is a seasoned communications consultant, multi-modal storyteller, and ghostwriter. Kolodny was the Director of Multimedia at HuffPost. Kolodny’s reporting on sexual violence on college campuses was recognized by then Vice President Joe Biden as “pivotal in ensuring more survivors will ask for help.”

Kolodny co-hosted HuffPost's chart-topping Love&Sex podcast, which received Rolling Stone's coveted "must listen" ranking. Prior to her roles at HuffPost, Kolodny worked for MTV International and Hearst Magazines.

Kolodny received an Emmy nomination for Creative Direction on "The Crossing," a virtual reality film and immersive reporting series hosted by Susan Sarandon.

Kathleen began enjoying world cultures, the arts, wine, food, and travel while living internationally and exploring Europe. Upon returning to the US, she worked as an events manager and learning facilitator for a major airline. She continued a professional career developing creative, interactive learning including short videos.

 Her love for culture inspired her to blog about wine, food, and the best spots to find them; she authored articles for travel magazines. She wrote local news features for their lifestyle, events, and local government sections. She published a children’s book about a curious cat who visits the great cities of the world and learns about the people and their culture.

Kathleen began the Oregon chapter of her story with relocation to the Portland area in 2015. She craved novel places to explore, like all the delights that the Pacific Northwest offers. She chaired the Tourism Committee of her city, managing its budget and marketing plans, and working with regional and state level colleagues. She also served as a City Councilor in a role as one of its primary policy makers and a visionary for the future of the city.

 The Oregon story expanded when she and her husband moved to the Rogue Valley in 2021. They have their own vineyard and wine label. Their adventure together discovering the arts, food, wine, and travel continues…

Sarahanne is the Director of Special Gifts at Southern Oregon University. Originally from the Chicago area, Sarahanne graduated from University of Oregon before holding a variety of executive positions with the National Press Club, Utah Symphony Utah Opera, Oregon Wine Experience and more. She served in lead volunteer roles for Sundance Film Festival and Community Works and currently serves as a Board member for Kappa Delta Sorority at University of Oregon. 

Sarahanne is a seasoned fundraising, event planning, marketing and business development executive with more than two decades of experience in the corporate and non-profit industries. She produced the Grape to Glass: The Oregon Wine Experience with Trish Glose special series for PBS.

She resides in the Rogue Valley with her fur baby Huckleberry.