Meet the Team

Executive Director

Born In Prince George British Columbia Canada , Matt moved To Alligator, Mississippi at age five. He grew up in Oxford Mississippi. In only 8 short years, he graduated from the University of Mississippi with a BA inArt. His mission in life is to make people feel feelings through art, comedy and films.

Operations Director

Kristin has been involved with the Oxford Film Festival since 2008 in various capacities. In 2023, Kristin will be the festival’s Hospitality Coordinator for travel, local accommodations, and any needs during the festival.

Documentary Team

Damon Burks is a native of Water Valley. He spent over 25 years in Business Management and Buyer. He is now pursuing acting and has appeared in several independent Mississippi movies. IMDB Damon Burks (ii). Taking weekly acting classes at the MSFANRW workshop in Jackson and has plans to direct his own short films,documentaries and web series in the future.

Documentary Team

Cinematographer Antonio Tarrell is a professional hairdresser and salon owner with over 27 years of experience in his field. Antonio Tarrell Films' accomplishments include contributions to Unspeakable Crime: The Killing of Jessica Chambers (2018) for Oxygen TV, Stories Under the Rainbow(2018), and LGBTQ+ Community Fights for Parade After City Tries to Ban Pride (2018) for NowThis News and much more.

Transportation Coordinator

Virginia P. Brick is the President & Creative Director of her startup company, VPB Entertainment specializing in music supervision & sync licensing based out of Murfreesboro, TN.

Venues Manager and Drive-In Team Member

Whitley is currently the Master Electrician for the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, where she handles all the lighting for the venue and the events that are held in the space. She has also been a lighting designer for the UM Opera Theatre.

Q&A Coordinator for the Film Festival

Rory Ledbetter is an Associate Professor of Theatre Arts specializing in Acting, Voice, and Speech at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). He is excited to be coordinating the Q&As for the films at the festival, and he hopes that everyone has an incredible festival experience.

Secretary

Rocio explores the natural and cultural environments with equal curiosity, guided by a deep love of learning and a desire to serve. She is a supporter of the arts and creativity. Originally from Colombia, Rocio moved to the US after completing her bachelor’s in biology at the Universidad de los Andes and conducting research in the Amazon rain forest. She arrived at Ole Miss in 1993 to obtain her master’s in biology. Her time spent in Oxford brought her lifelong friendships, her first solo art show, and her husband Darrell. Rocio and her family have lived in Nashville, Costa Rica, and Houston, TX, where she both earned her Doctorate in Leadership Studies and worked in the Environmental Sciences and Human Resources fields. Dr. Harrelson returned to Oxford in 2018, having come full circle; her son Isaac is a graduate student in the MBA program at Ole Miss, she paints and works as a consultant, and the family enjoys the north MS wholesome life.

Treasurer

EJ Edney graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2011 with a bachelor of arts in biology with minors in chemistry and psychology, in 2013 with a Master of Arts in Higher Education/ Student Personnel, and in 2019 with his Doctor of Education in Higher Education. He currently serves as the Director of the Center for Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement at the University of Mississippi where he works to enhance efforts to support diversity, equity, and inclusion.