Staff
Ethan van Thillo, Executive Director/Founder
Ethan van Thillo, Executive Director/Founder
ethan@mediaartscenter.org
Ethan van Thillo is Founder and Executive Director of the Media Arts Center San Diego (MACSD). Since 1989, Ethan’s worked in media arts, programming Latino film festivals for the University of California, Santa Cruz; Cine Acción in San Francisco; Cine Estudiantil at the University of California San Diego; and the National Latino Communications Center in Los Angeles. Ethan has curated hundreds of programs at festivals and/or special events in 45 libraries across California, Mexico City, Morelia, Las Cruces, Nuevo Laredo, San Antonio, Tijuana, Sacramento, and San Diego.
In 1995, Ethan transformed Cine Estudiantil into the San Diego Latino Film Festival. In 1999, to broaden the scope of the festival following four successful years, Ethan established the nonprofit Media Arts Center San Diego in 1999. Under the umbrella of MACSD, Ethan has developed and continues to create innovative community media programs such as the California Digital Story Station initiative, Teen Producers Project, Youth Media & Tech Camps; Mobile Stories, Speak City Heights, The People’s Post, Video Production Services Department, and the Digital Gym community technology center and CINEMA.
Ethan has served on various funding panels including San Diego’s Commission for Arts & Culture, Latino Public Broadcasting, Rockefeller Foundation’s 2004 Film and Video Fellowships; California Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts’ funding panel for Media Arts. He’s spoken at the National Association of Latino Independent Producers, National Association of Latino Arts & Culture, and National Alliance of Media Arts & Culture.
Ryan Kuratomi, Director of Video Production
Ryan is a director and producer who leads MACSD’s Video Production team in creating work for clients like SDG&E, The Old Globe, Cajon Valley Union School District, San Diego Natural History Museum, and others.
Ryan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Media from University of California, San Diego and started at MACSD shortly after while freelancing in production and editing. Ryan enjoys learning about new topics and perspectives with each client project and creating impactful stories about our region and its people.
Moisés Esparza, Director of Development
moises@mediaartscenter.org
Moisés Guillermo Esparza Galeana serves as the Director of Development for the Media Arts Center San Diego. Prior to this role, he held the position of Exhibitions Manager within the same organization. In that capacity, he was responsible for curating film-related initiatives, including the San Diego Latino Film Festival and the Digital Gym CINEMA.
His background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies with a concentration in Psychology, which he earned from Columbia University. Additionally, Moisés has served as a juror for the International Documentary Association Awards in 2023. It’s very impressive to see his contributions to the world of film and media arts!
Carmi Casas, Bookkeeper & Operations Manager
operations@mediaartscenter.org
Carmi is proud to be part of the MACSD team and happy to support their esteemed mission and vision, as well as their ongoing impact on the community and youth. Carmi will manage all of MACSD’s accounting needs, including AP/AR, payroll, and more. Beyond accounting, she will also manage the daily operations of the organization to ensure the office operates smoothly. With over 20 years of experience in operations, accounting, and business management, Carmi has contributed to both national and international companies, managing many essential aspects of the organizations. She has provided consultancy services to various profit and non-profit businesses and associations, offering her expertise in production and systems management. Additionally, she has conducted in-house educational programs, entrepreneurial workshops, and personal development sessions. Her commitment to community involvement remains strong, particularly in the personal development of our youth. Carmi is University of California, Santa Cruz alumni with degrees in Psychology and American Studies (Ethnic pathway).
In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball, her favorite sport with her favorite partner, Rogelio. Hula dancing is another of her passions, one she shares with her daughters. Through Hula, her love for Nature, the Earth, God, and Ohana (family) is expressed with the Aloha Spirit.
Tammy Strobel, Grant Writer
Tammy is MACSD’s Grant Writer. She is also an experienced photographer and teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from California State University, Chico, a Masters in Public Administration from California State University, Chico, and a Master of Arts in Education from California State University, Sacramento.
Tammy’s past professional experiences include working at various non-profits that provided essential programs and services to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. During her time in the violence prevention field, Tammy was a Peer Counselor, Public Affairs Coordinator, and Research Associate. Tammy is also a published author. Her essays and books focus on social connection, positive psychology, and the cultural perspective of meaning.
Tammy spends her free time reading, cycling, and hanging out with friends and family. She lives in northern California with her husband and cat.
Kristian Perez-Franco, Exhibitions Sr. Manager
With nearly a decade of experience in various cinema roles and an unwavering love for film, Kristian is passionate about curating exceptional cinematic experiences and contributing to the growth and development of the Digital Gym Cinema and future editions of the renowned San Diego Latino Film Festival.
Kristian’s extensive background in theater operations includes several years of dedicated service with the San Diego Asian Film Festival, where they’ve played a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth operation of screenings and events. Their expertise in this area has been instrumental in creating memorable and seamless experiences for festival attendees. In addition to their operations experience, Kristian has further enriched the film community by teaching a DCP (Digital Cinema Package) distribution course during the Summer of 2023. This course was intended to empower aspiring filmmakers and industry professionals with valuable knowledge about the technical aspects of film distribution, further cementing Kristian’s reputation as a dedicated educator and advocate for the art of cinema. Under their leadership, the organization continues to thrive as a hub for diverse and innovative programming, bringing unique stories and voices to audiences in San Diego and beyond. Kristian’s dedication to the art of filmmaking, their commitment to fostering cultural appreciation through cinema, and their expertise in theater operations and film distribution make them an invaluable asset to the Media Arts Center San Diego team.
Diana Cervera, Community Engagement & Program Manager
Diana Cervera is proud to join the Media Arts Center team as the Latino Film Festival Community Engagement & Programs Manager. A transborder Chicanx artist, filmmaker, and arts administrator based between Tijuana and San Diego, her work is rooted in community engagement, cultural programming, and social justice. She holds a B.A. in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, San Diego, and brings over a decade of experience as an arts administrator and cultural worker. She previously served as Director of Education at California Lawyers for the Arts, where she led the annual symposium INTERSECTIONS: Art and Law at the Border for seven years, building a platform for dialogue at the intersection of policy, advocacy, and the arts. Most recently, she was Community Program Director for San Diego–Tijuana World Design Capital 2024, supporting projects that address the region’s most pressing challenges while celebrating its rich cultural diversity. Her background includes designing and facilitating programs that center underrepresented voices, foster cross-cultural exchange, and highlight the creative power of BIPOC communities. She is committed to building inclusive, community-led platforms that bridge divides through art and storytelling. Diana is also a documentary filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist whose work explores themes of migration, identity, belonging, and collective memory. She collaborates closely with artists and organizations on both sides of the border and is passionate about storytelling in its many forms..
Juan Lopez, Exhibitions Coordinator
Juan is MACSD’s Exhibition Coordinator. He attended The Los Angeles Film School where he participated with film crews working on various short films and TV shows. Juan returned to San Diego upon graduating, joining MACSD as a marketing and PR Program Associate for the Digital Gym CINEMA.
Juan is responsible for managing our Digital Gym CINEMA as well as curating all of the short films for the annual San Diego Latino Film Festival.
Glenn Heath, Artistic Director, Digital Gym Cinema
Glenn Heath brings years of experience in film and media arts to his role, overseeing operations, volunteer recruitment, and internships.
Glenn was the former Artistic Director of the San Diego Latino Film Festival and currently teaches film studies while contributing as a film critic to various platforms. He holds degrees from UC Santa Barbara and San Diego State University.
Mark Madero, Cinema Manager
Mark Madero is the newest member of the team and has over 23 years of managing movies theatres both here in San Diego and Los Angeles. He has a long history with the former Mann Theatre chain which managed the world famous Grauman’s Chinese Théâtre in Hollywood.
Mark was also the Area Manager for the onetime CinemaStar Theatres in San Diego and Riverside County. Mark has a 12-year history with San Diego Theatres, Inc., beginning as the Assistant Front of House Manager and then shortly promoted to a new department in Programming as Contract & Client Service Manager. Mark’s responsibilities include the day-to-day management of the cinema and concessions, including the cinema staff and patron services. A University of Redlands graduate, with a BA in Business Management.
Laurie Piña, Exhibitions & Marketing Coordinator
Laurie Piña is the Exhibitions & Marketing Coordinator for Digital Gym Cinema. Her responsibilities include community outreach, social media marketing, graphic design, and supplementary film curation. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Double BA in English and Film & Media Studies in 2011. Before joining MACSD/DGC, she worked in education and spent five cherished years at the Ken Cinema, one of San Diego’s oldest, now-defunct single screen cinemas. She joined the San Diego Latino Film Festival’s selection committee in the summer of 2023.
In addition to her love for film, Laurie enjoys writing and drawing. She runs Angel Pen, a newsletter home to original interviews, essays, and more. As a cartoonist, she has exhibited her comics locally and nationally at comic arts and zine festivals in cities like Seattle, Providence, Los Angeles, and Chicago. She is also a vinyl record collector and dj. She hosts Rare Charm, a monthly radio show on Particle FM, a San Diego-based DIY internet radio station for which she floats as a graphic designer, creative consultant, and community outreach coordinator. To see more of her work, visit: crushedpeanut.com
Seth Gadsden, Programs and Grant Manager
Seth Gadsden is a visual artist and filmmaker who was raised on a small farm in the South. Currently based in San Diego CA, he practices intimate, observational cinematography and experimental approaches to storytelling. Seth has worked extensively as a producer and educator in the nonprofit sector to support independent filmmakers; his approach is deeply collaborative and invested in fostering community, sustainability, and supporting emerging filmmakers. His work has been featured at Big Sky, New Orleans Film Festival, Femme Frontera, AFI Fest, Montclair Film Festival, amongst others. Recent documentary work includes INVISIBLE HANDS (2019), IN THE BUBBLE WITH JAMIE (2022) and the feature documentary MELTDOWN IN DIXIE (2021), which premiered on MSNBC, PBS and TOPIC; a 40 min version of the same film won Best Short Documentary at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, AmDocs Film Festival, and Ashland Film Festival. Seth is currently producing a feature film in El Salvador: Vena Aquatica, a finalist at the IF/THEN Global Pitch Competition on Environmental Stories at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA).
Larry Da Silveira, Education Coordinator
Larry is a veteran educator and avid cinephile. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from San Diego State University and a Master of Arts Degree in Education from Point Loma Nazarene University.
Prior to joining MACSD, Larry taught high school for twelve years before seeking a better work-life balance to care for his son with autism spectrum disorder. Coordinating the Youth Media programs at MACSD combines his love for education with his passion for cinema.
Mizar Martin, Teaching Artist & Community Producer
Mizar is a visual artist and anthropologist from Tijuana. Her work includes paintings, cartoons, photography, and sometimes tattoos, of the absurd and dark daily life, with hints of optimism.
Teaching art to youth restored her faith in humanity. Mizar is a firm believer in punk rock and social justice. Mizar has been part of the Media Arts Center team since October 2018.
Alara Jones, Teaching Artist
alara@mediaartscener.org
Alara Jones is a filmmaker, editor, artist, and dancer originally from Vancouver, WA. She graduated from Montana State University with a BA in Film Production, a minor in psychology and a business and entrepreneurship certificate. She was a production assistant on a handful of sets in Montana for companies such as Wrangler and Marlboro. The short horror film “Do Not Develop” she wrote and directed her senior year, won First Best Time Director and Best Dark Comedy at the Hollywood Blood Horror Festival, as well as being selected in 5 other festivals. She then worked in Montana as a video editor and producer for a year before starting her own business- Alara’s Editing & Productions and moving to San Diego in the summer of 2022.
She is passionate about empowering and supporting other women in film to tell stories that matter. After arriving, she was welcomed into the MACSD teaching family! She is so excited to step into the role of teacher and expand her knowledge as she continues to learn and work with so many other talented teaching artists. Check out some of my work here!: https://www.alaraseditingproductions.com/
Hope Butner, Teaching Artist
hope@mediaartscenter.org
Hope Butner is a filmmaker and actor from San Diego, CA. She creates alongside her brother and filmmaking partner, Levi Butner. Together, they co-wrote, produced, directed and starred in their first feature film The Goatman which was released in festivals 2023. The two are continuing to produce films and support their community of filmmakers.
Before working in narrative filmmaking, Hope studied philosophy and creative writing at UC Santa Cruz. She then went on to work on the YouTube channel The Physics Girl as an assistant producer and social media specialist.
Edwin FrankO, Teaching Artist
edwinortiz@mediaartscenter.org
Edwin FrankO (Edwin Frank Ortiz) is a Latino filmmaker and actor of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent hailing from Barrio Logan of Southeast San Diego. He graduated from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and is currently prepping for his debut feature film, Fuego.
Edwin began his artistic journey as a break dancer at Point Loma High School before pursuing film. He learned how to dance by watching MTV music videos before the morning school bus rides. The Catalyst in his journey was when a colleague asked Edwin if he could dance in his film and also act. Being new to acting, he loved it and wanted to pursue it ever since. This eventually introduced him to film production and the rest is history. Fuego FrankO looks forward to helping his community grow by encouraging his students to pursue their passions with his knowledge.
In his free time, he can be found dancing Salsa or Bachata.
Cassandra Iracheta, Teaching Artist
cassandra@mediaartscenter.org
Carlos Marin, Teaching Artist
carlos@mediaartscenter.org