Our growing team is passionate about film, storytelling and creating memorable events. We will be selecting Jurors, Advisory Board members, honorees and additional staff that will all complement one another and help to expand the reach of the festival to a variety of communities. Festival Director Jim Scavone (Executive Director @ Red Bank RiverCenter), along with Jersey locals Jay Webb (Co-Founder @ Indie Street) and Christopher Radeschi (Co-Founder @ Indie Street), has put together a talented team of curators, planners & promotional professionals to ensure a successful inaugural year.
JAY WEBB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jay Webb began his entrepreneurial path with the launch of a successful media production company (Evolving Productions) in 2004. Under this banner, he was lead producer on two independent feature films that received distribution through Lionsgate and HBO. His continued passion for independent storytelling led him to the creation of Indie Street Media, the first cooperative distribution brand for self-distributing filmmakers. He is also the proud co-creator of a hard science graphic novel, Legend of Sumeria, and currently owns and manages Toji Nature Retreat in Costa Rica. His contagious drive to challenge the boundaries of creative production and distribution technology will set the tone for ISFF for years to come.
ALLYSON MORGAN ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Allyson Morgan is a writer, producer, performer, and film festival veteran, most recently working for Brooklyn Film Festival, DCEFF, DOC NYC, Hamptons International Film Festival, Nantucket Film Festival, and SFFILM, among others. Allyson has twice been a top ten Finalist for Cinequest, a Finalist at Omaha Film Festival, a Finalist at Stowe Story Labs, and a Semi-Finalist at Austin Film Festival. Additionally, she has been awarded an NG Art Creative Residency in France, and four times been awarded a Juno Leadership Residency through the Omega Institute. Allyson’s short film Need For Speed (Dating) premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, and her short film, Sitting, made its world premiere at SCAD Savannah Film Festival and won "Outstanding Narrative Short" at Tallgrass Film Festival. First Date, her newest short commissioned by 20th Digital Studio, is currently airing on Hulu in their "Bite Size Halloween" series and is being developed as a feature film. She also co-created and produced Ghosted, an AR experience for the Magic Leap One headset, which was awarded “Most Innovative Immersive Experience” at the North Bend Film Festival.
JAMES SCAVONE MANAGING DIRECTOR
In his role as Executive Director of Red Bank RiverCenter, Jim Scavone serves as festival director for ISFF. Jim is a versatile executive leader with over 25 years’ experience in non-profit and arts management handling operations, change management, fiscal management, human resources, event and promotion planning, strategic planning, program direction, and staff and volunteer management. An inveterate problem solver, Jim has found unique ways to attract new businesses and consumers to Red Bank’s downtown by integrating the arts into the daily life of the community and building Red Bank as an arts and cultural destination in central New Jersey.
PAULINA KOWALCZYK PROGRAMMER / PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR
Paulina Kowalczyk has been involved in many capacities on the film festival circuit, including programming exhibitions for Glasgow Film Festival, East London Film Festival, and Warsaw Film Festival, among others. She graduated with a BA in Cultural Studies and received her MSc in Film, Exhibition and Curation from the University of Edinburgh. Paulina has worked on the various exhibitions at the Film Department of the Museum of Modern Art in New York as well as Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle in Warsaw and National Museum in Warsaw. She also collaborated with Art in Odd Places and NYC Indie Theatre Film Festival. Paulina works mainly in the area of art and film production and curation.
MEREDITH ALLOWAY FESTIVAL COORDINATOR
Meredith Alloway is a Texas native who currently resides in Manhattan as a filmmaker, writer and actress.
Her film DEEP TISSUE screened internationally at festivals including SXSW, AFI Fest, Overlook, and Bucheon, and opened for Julia Ducournau’s film RAW at MoMA. She partnered with Hulu, Sundance Institute and 20th Century Digital Studios on her last two short films RIDE and FIRST DATE and was thrilled to direct Paris Jackson’s debut gothic music video LET DOWN with Eli Roth as Executive Producer.
As a journalist for over 12 years, Meredith has written interviews and feature pieces for publications like Vanity Fair, Playboy, Filmmaker Magazine, Nylon, and Indiewire. She is a proud member of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, having written feature scripts for Original Film and Sony, and Bazelevs and Universal.
Her feature film HIGH PRIESTESS is currently in development at David S. Goyer’s company Phantom Four with Eliza Scanlen and Justice Smith attached to star. Her other feature FORBIDDEN FRUITS, she co-wrote with Lily Houghton and is attached to direct with Diablo Cody producing.
JENNA PICCOTTI SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Jenna is a recent graduate from Monmouth University with a BA in Communications. Whether it was creating graphics, editing, or helping with social media and marketing distribution, Jenna spent her time during her years at MU working in the post production realm for a number of documentaries and projects through MU Production Services. With professional experience in social media management, Jenna is excited to bring her skill set to the table and be a part of the Indie Street Film Festival team.
SARAH RICE PROGRAMMING PANEL
Sarah Rice has worked with several film festivals including the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Glasgow Film Festival, the Video Art and Experimental Film Festival, NYC Indie Film Festival and many others. Sarah graduated from USC with a BA in Media Arts/Film, and has always been passionate about film, curation and archival practices. She has worked with several companies’ archives, including the Moving Image Research Collections, Ralph Lauren, and Viacom. After screening her own video art, Sarah went on to earn her MSc in Film, Exhibition and Curation and has had the opportunity to produce and act in her own show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Sarah currently works on a variety of film/video related projects, including acquisitions for Indie Street.
SARAH GIBERSON EVENTS COORDINATOR
Sarah Giberson has worked in the creative industry for over eight years as a graphic designer, marketer, and social media guru. She began her career working under product designer & author Barbara Flanagan (MoMa Design Store) and has worked in a variety of PR and communications roles for independent artists and arts organizations including State Theatre New Jersey. Sarah is passionate about storytelling, innovative design, and creative communications working symbiotically to captivate audiences and engage them with arts. She holds a BA in Design Arts from Lehigh University, an MA in Communication Management, and a Graduate Certificate in Arts Development & Program Management from the University of Denver. Sarah is currently the Marketing & Communications Director at Monmouth Arts in Red Bank, NJ.
