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Director Biography - Parker Nelson
I am a biology major with a minor in film and media. Driven by a passion for adventure and environmental stewardship, I like to explore the intersection between outdoor exploration and our responsibility to preserve nature. My education in documentary videography allowed me to capture my thesis and celebrate the wild places we enjoy while advocating for their protection.
Director Statement
"Beyond The Road" is a journey into overlanding and the responsibility that comes with exploring wild places. Through this film, I share the deep connection to nature that overlanding offers, while inviting viewers to consider the impact we leave behind. My hope is to inspire a mindful approach to adventure - One that protects these extraordinary landscapes for future generations.
How faith in God and a horse trailer brought freedom to a family who experienced unprecedented trials.
Reagan Elkins is an award-winning filmmaker from Oklahoma. Armed with his dad’s camcorder, Reagan spent countless hours making videos with his two brothers. After winning a national video competition put on by the American Bankers Association, he
decided to pursue filmmaking as a career, enrolling in the film program at Oklahoma City Community College in 2013.
He learned from names like Gray Frederickson, an Oscar and Emmy award winning producer known for producing “The Godfather," and Emmy award winning writer and director, Greg Mellott. After receiving his degree in filmmaking, Reagan went on to graduate from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in History. Soon after graduating, Reagan launched Intellego Media.
Reagan worked his way up in the corporate realm, where he began producing commercials for well-known companies like, First National Bank and Trust, Standley Systems, and Hart Trailers.
In addition to commercials, Reagan produced and directed numerous music videos for bands like, Hinder, Darci Lynne, Aranda and The Imaginaries. His work has been featured in many
publications including, American Songwriter, Cowboys & Indians, Monster Energy, Ditty TV, The Oklahoman and The New York Times Bucks Blogs.
From 2018 to 2022, Reagan traveled to multiple countries filming for documentaries and a TV show. He managed locations on multiple feature films, was executive producer and co-producer on a feature film (on Netflix), directed music videos, won multiple international awards, and had films in festivals from Oklahoma, New York, to Portugal.
Caleb Suggs is a Memphis-born writer, producer, director, radio host, voice actor, and journalist. Since he was a child, he's had a passion for creating stories of comedy and animation with a goal to inspire, inform, and entertain.
Now, through his production company, Studio Suggs, co-founded with his brother, he works toward his dream of running a television station and production company that will share his unique stories with audiences around the world.
Director Biography - Don J Albert
Over 30 plus years working in Video production, as a indie producer/director/editor and shooter. I Have a passion for being a platform to share powerful true stories of Lives transformed by grace and faith in a cinematic and creative way.
Director Statement
After reading Peter's book, Through The Fire, The True Story Of A 21st Century Job, he came to Chicago and we filmed his story. It turns out to be one of my best works with the help and participation of all who contributed to make it happen. May God use this to inspire and encourage others never to give up.
In this original documentary short, learn more about Mike Fletcher's remarkable life as the son of a jail warden, the longest-serving trooper in the history of the Arkansas State Police, and a man pursuing Christ.
Director Biography - Chase Hartsell
Chase Hartsell is an alum of the communications and media program at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. A native of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Hartsell served as a student director for OBU's Ouachita Sports Digital Network from 2022 until his graduation in 2024. He also provided play-by-play, color analysis, feature reporting work, and more for the Great American Conference, Arkadelphia Badger TV, and various Ouachita publications. Today, Hartsell is a content specialist for writing and video in Ouachita’s Office of Communications & Marketing.
Director Statement
"Life, Law, & The Lord" was originally created as a documentary project for Professor Brad Pierce's Advanced Video Production course at Ouachita Baptist University during the Spring 2024 semester.
This is the first and, thus far, only time that I have told a family member's story in a documentary format. Mike Fletcher (or "Pa," as I know him) helped shaped my love of storytelling by telling me his own tales (both real and imagined) as a young child. The chance to tell the unique story of his career and faith journey in this project has been nothing short of a blessing. I hope that this piece will leave you feeling blessed, too.
In 2012 at the North Dakota state track meet, senior Nathan Aufenkamp was about to win the 300m hurdles championship race when he tripped over the final hurdle of the race. In a matter of seconds he went from 1st to 9th place. Hear the full story from him, his coach, his family, and the other competitors of the race. All the way back to 7th grade right up to the moment of the fall.
Nathan Aufenkamp is a director from North Dakota. He got his start on YouTube when he and a friend began uploading videos in 2008. From there is where his passion for filmmaking grew. He graduated from Vanguard University of Southern California in 2016 with a degree in cinema arts. He's directed five movies including the award winning short film, "Life is Now".
Paul Wenske is a journalist and principal at Electric Prairie Productions, a media collaborative based in Overland Park, KS. I’m So Glad marks his first full-length documentary as writer and producer. With a passion for making complex issues understandable, Paul has worked as a national correspondent for The Kansas City Times and Kansas City Star, editor of the Kansas City Business Journal, journalism instructor at the University of Kansas, and a senior advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
His work has earned recognition from the Missouri and Kansas Press Associations, PRSA, IABC, and the American Bar Association. Paul has studied press freedoms in Central America and mentored publications in Ukraine and Romania. He also helped lead a national effort to designate Quindaro, KS, a National Historic Landmark.
He holds a history degree from Wartburg University and a J.D. from Valparaiso University. Paul is married to Nancy Meis and has two adult children active in the arts. In his free time, he enjoys travel, museums, reading, and playing Americana music with his band, Little Maggie.
directors statement:
I’m a journalist and musician who performs gospel-infused Americana music with my family. Years ago, we were invited to sing at traditional “musicals” in Kansas City’s Black churches. What we encountered changed us—the sound was soulful, yes, but it was the spirit in the room that moved us. It felt like, for a moment, all was well.
We knew we had to preserve this music, especially as many of the singers were aging. But we also needed to understand its roots. That search led to a 10-year journey and the creation of our documentary: I’m So Glad: Kansas City and the Roots of Black Gospel Music – The Untold Story.
We discovered a rich history that’s often overlooked. Long before the Great Migration, tens of thousands of African Americans fled the South after Reconstruction and settled in Kansas. Towns like Quindaro, a hub on the Underground Railroad, became vital communities. Western University—founded by the AME Church—was the first Black college west of the Mississippi, and its music department became a national force.
Graduates helped carry spirituals and gospel into the mainstream, influencing everything from church choirs to Broadway and film. In Kansas City, gospel collided with jazz and blues in the 18th & Vine district, creating a powerful new sound.
Our goal wasn’t just to document history—it was to reveal a uniquely American story of faith, freedom, and music that continues to inspire.
director's biography:
Holger Klussmann, born in 1955 in Bielefeld, Germany, has lived in Düsseldorf since 1980. A trained social worker with a deep passion for spirituality, Holger is an independent filmmaker whose documentaries explore the intersections of religion, culture, and peace across global traditions.
Since his debut in 2009, Holger has created over 20 award-winning films that chronicle sacred places and spiritual narratives from India, Israel, and the Christian tradition. His work often reflects meditative journeys into the heart of faith, featuring vibrant imagery and original soundtracks. His camera of choice is the Blackmagic Design Production Camera 4K.
His first film, Lights of the River Ganges (2009), explored spiritual sites in Northern India and received selections at festivals in San Francisco, Paris, and Chicago. This was followed by Lights of India (2010), a deeper 45-minute documentary that won multiple awards for photography and international recognition, including honors in Canada and Jakarta.
Journey to Kurukshetra (2012) and The Magic of India (2013) continued his focus on the spiritual roots of Indian culture, earning accolades for storytelling and cinematography. In 2014, he produced Kyrie, a poetic exploration of Biblical and modern Israel, which garnered over a dozen international awards.
Other notable titles include The Inner Life (2015), Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem (2016), and World Peace (2017), a 90-minute feature that highlights the essence of major world religions. His later works such as Om Shanti, The Love of Jesus, The Resurrection of Jesus, Last Station Calvary, and Kingdom of Peace have been praised globally for their emotional resonance and depth of message, receiving awards for direction, narration, editing, and inspirational content across Europe, Asia, and North America.
In recent years, Holger’s films have focused more deeply on Christian narratives. The Joy of Jesus (2024), a meditative short featuring narrator Kimberly Colegrove, swept several Christian and interfaith festivals with wins for Best Inspirational Short, Best Soundtrack, and Best Director.
Holger’s work has screened at over 200 film festivals, receiving top honors in cities such as Rome, Los Angeles, Jakarta, Kolkata, Vancouver, and Jerusalem. His films are regularly recognized in categories such as Best Documentary, Best Film on Religion, Best Inspirational Film, and Best Foreign Film.
Guided by a vision of peace and spiritual understanding, Holger’s films transcend cultural boundaries and offer viewers a reflective journey into the heart of the sacred. Through cinematic storytelling, he continues to illuminate timeless truths and celebrate the unity found across religious traditions.
director's statement:
I think it is good to know that Jesus continues to send his blessings and is there for us from heaven.
This movie quotes his words, which were recorded about 280 years ago by the abbess Maria Cecilia Baij from the Benedictine monastery St. Peter in Montefiascone, Italy.
director's biography-
With more than two decades of experience in Producing, Directing, Editing, and serving as a Director of Photography, Sarah channels her fervor for filmmaking to delve deeply into narratives that revolve around the human condition and societal concerns. Sarah embarked on her professional journey by producing and directing commercials for prominent entities like JetBlue, Toyota, Smile Direct Club, as well as networks including A&E, Fox, and HGTV, among others. In 2020, she made the transition to crafting feature-length documentaries and films.
1. On This Hallowed Ground: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Born From Tragedy
2. The Frontline-The Black Panthers: A Catalyst for Social Justice
3. We Thirst In India
director's statement -
"A Five & Dime Story" draws its inspiration from a genuine narrative, rooted in real life encounters. Our aspiration in crafting this documentary is marked by a unique storytelling approach, seamlessly weaving together archival footage, photographs, and interviews, all enveloped in a deliberate and unhurried narration. Our method is driven by the intent to breathe life into history, forging a profound emotional connection with the past among our audiences. We firmly believe in the potent capacity of storytelling to illuminate the facets of the human journey, encouraging contemplative contemplation of the intricate tapestry of history and culture.
Through scrupulous research and unwavering attention to detail, our mission is to unveil the concealed strata of history, and present them in a captivating and easily accessible manner, rendering the documentary both informative and emotionally evocative. Ultimately, our vision for creating "A Five & Dime Story" documentary aims to bridge the chasm between yesteryears and the present day, nurturing a deeper comprehension of the world that surrounds us.
directors biography -
Geoff was born in Los Angeles, not far from Hollywood, at Queen of Angels hospital, which is now The Dream Center. His father, John D. F. Black, was a writer and producer, who wrote for such classic TV series as HAWAII FIVE-O, CHARLIE'S ANGELS and STAR TREK -- for which he co-authored the show's famous opening monologue: "Space, the final frontier..."
Geoff's professional life in entertainment began at UNIVERSAL PICTURES, where he worked in Creative Development, Production and Post Production on more than thirty produced feature films including “JURASSIC PARK,” “JURASSIC PARK: THE LOST WORLD,” “BABE,” “THE FLINTSTONES,” “SCHINDLER'S LIST” (Best Picture), “IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER” (Best Picture nominee), “MAN OF STEEL” and “UNBROKEN.”
In 2010, Geoff wrote and produced the award winning 168 FILM FESTIVAL short film "SUMO JOE." His first directing project was the music video "CHASING THE AMERICAN DREAM in 2020." To commemorate The Hollywood Cross's centennial in 2024, Geoff directed and produced (along with his wife Ramya) the short documentary film "A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS: THE HOLLYWOOD CROSS TURNS 100."
Geoff holds a B.A. in Communication from USC. He is married to his sweetheart, RAMYA BLACK, a DISNEY animation artist who also worked at DREAMWORKS on the animated feature film "THE PRINCE OF EGYPT."
Director Statement
"To direct or not to direct, that is the question." Geoff Black
Giuseppe Fedele
The story of a girl, her father, a house, a forgotten box of letters, and all those left behind when someone gives their life.
Director Biography - Paul S Foley, Kathy Estocin Foley
P.S. Foley and Kathy Estocin Foley met on the movie Illegally Yours and also worked on Texasville together. Kathy worked on over one hundred television shows and movies. P. S. Foley's credits include Mask, The Dark Wind, and The Thing Called Love. He has also written several books including Riding Godzilla and West Newport Blues.
Director Statement -
This movie took a lot of courage and tested us emotionally, spiritually, and physically. It was in the making for over four years with many starts and stops. But we never lost our vision of our tribute to a man and his family. War has many casualties and are often forgotten when the war is over.