Kathryn Philip
Founder & Executive Director
In 2014, Kathryn (she/her) founded True West Film Center in order to provide a space where everyone is welcome to experience the transformative power of film. Over the past decade, her vision has guided the organization’s evolution to become an essential part of the cultural landscape in the North Bay, offering innovative media arts educational programs, year-round film screenings, and its annual film festival. As executive director, Kathryn has raised more than $6M for True West, and has established the organization as a valued resource and trusted partner to nonprofits, civic organizations, and the local business community. Prior to founding True West, she helped launch The Clover Theater in Cloverdale.
Kathryn was appointed to the Sonoma County Economic Development Board in 2017, and currently serves as Chair. The Press Democrat named her one of 23 “People to Watch” (2022) and one of 30 “Women to Watch in Sonoma County” (2018). She received the 2018 Boho Award from The Bohemian and the 2018 Spirit of Sonoma Award from the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce. Writer and activist Virgie Tovar also featured her as a “lady boss” in Forbes.
John Cooper
Artistic Director
John (he/him) served as Director of the Sundance Film Festival, capping off a decades long career in various programmatic roles for Sundance Institute. During his tenure, Cooper introduced audiences to seminal independent films like Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, Sean Baker’s Tangerine, Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me by Your Name, Kirsten Johnson’s Dick Johnson is Dead, Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station, Damien Chazzelle’s Whiplash, Todd Haynes’ Poison, Jennie Livingston’s Paris is Burning, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Hard Eight, Sally Potter’s Orlando, and hundreds more. He expanded Sundance programming to international markets, launching satellite festivals in New York, Los Angeles, London, and Hong Kong. He co-hosts the podcast “The Film That Blew My Mind”, which shares conversations with independent artists about a single film that made a lasting impression.
Jessica Buzzard
Marketing & Communications Director
Jessica (she/her) is a brand consultant, writer, creative director, podcast producer, and strategic advisor to cultural and media organizations. For thirteen years, she led brand and marketing for Sundance Institute and its Sundance Film Festival, and has also worked with the University of Southern California, Geffen Playhouse, JOLT, Oklahoma Arts Institute, and more. With co-hosts John Cooper and Tabitha Jackson, Jessica co-created the podcast “The Film That Blew My Mind”, a series of conversations with filmmakers, actors, and other artists about the personal impact of a single film.
Matt Fields
Content Creator
Matt (he/him) is a filmmaker hailing from the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In high school, he discovered his love for making movies and hasn’t stopped creating since. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi’s film program, Matt relocated to Northern California, where his passion for creativity and the medium of film brought him to True West Film Center, where he is excited to take part in realizing the mission of this one-of-a-kind organization.
Kellen Gallagher
Cinema General Manager
Kellen Gallagher was born in Sacramento, later graduating from high school in beautiful Sonoma. It was his first job working at a local movie theater where he fell in love with film and its community. He’s had eclectic work experience as a substance abuse counselor, camp counselor, and even automotive salesperson. In the last two years, he’s worked as an assistant programmer for Film Fest Petaluma and True West, strengthening further his passion for storytelling via the silver screen. He wants to light up the love for cinema and create lifetime experiences for movie lovers near and far.
Kim Horton
Office Manager
Kim (she/her) has lived in Sonoma County for over 18 years with her husband and two children. She developed a love of classic movies in her youth while watching cinemas at the SF Castro Theatre. Her extensive administrative career has included working in investment banks, various non-profits, in addition to helping small local Sonoma County businesses. She is excited to embark on this next journey working with True West Film Center.
Jeanne Kearns
Development Advisor
A development professional with two decades of experience, Jeanne has a passion for helping non-profits create authentic and impactful relationships with individuals, businesses and foundations. Jeanne has held senior positions at the American Heart Association, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin, and University of California, Santa Barbara. Her early career included development positions with Stanford Jazz Workshop, San Francisco Film Society and California Film Institute. Jeanne is thrilled to bring her zeal for creating meaningful connections on behalf of arts and education to True West Film Center. Jeanne hails from Sonoma County and enjoys swimming, spending time with her husband and two young children and is an Indian Cinema aficionado.
Morgan Hamilton-Lee
Engagement Manager
Morgan (he/him) is a Sonoma County filmmaker. He got his Certificate in Digital Filmmaking through the Santa Rosa Junior College in 2021. He’s been making movies and staying active in the local film scene for a decade, starting his own production company, Tricky Ink Productions in 2017. This year he’s been focusing on producing, and going forward, he wants to use his network to help underrepresented communities tell their stories. He is thrilled to be a part of True West Film Center and their goal to expand the creative landscape. Morgan has been referred to as a part of the connective tissue of the Sonoma County film community.
Heather Murray
Director of Education
Heather (she/her) is a documentary filmmaker who worked as an art history college instructor, a museum director, and an art curator before shifting to filmmaking and editing. Her passion for filmmaking comes from its unique ability to unite viewers through a collective viewing experience, to forge new ways of seeing, and to encourage empathy. It is from this perspective that she builds a standards-based filmmaking curriculum and leads the education team at True West Film Center.
Jesus Salazar Montero
Teaching Artist
Elias Torres
Events Manager
Elias Torres (he/him) has been a lover of film all his life. Growing up watching classic westerns with his dad, he developed an early love for storytelling through a lens. Though he primarily held a background in music until college, he has since worn many hats on many projects throughout all stages of production, and hopes to use his knowledge and skills on set and in the editing bay to write and direct films of his own.
Pamela M. Kennemore
Lead Teaching Assistant
Pamela has taught Media Literacy and Digital Citizenship to children from Kindergarten to Middle School in several Sonoma County School Districts. She encourages children to explore storytelling through videography. Pamela enjoys working with different ages to bring hidden talents in many forms out of students and challenges those students to share their stories through framing and lighting.
Pamela is an artist, photographer, and award winning filmmaker with an Associate of Science and Certification in Digital Filmmaking, with honors, from Santa Rosa Junior College and enjoys the quintessential film set with like-minded creative filmmakers.
She has participated in short, and full feature film projects and has been invited to run cameras for Bay Area film competitions around northern California. Pamela is a student of the art of Cinematography and studies to learn from those admired, respected, and at the pinnacle of their expertise.
Stay up to date on upcoming events, educational programming and the new film center!
Stay up to date on upcoming events, education programming and the new film center!
