OUR
BOARD
Kris Mendoza
pronouns: he/him
Board Chair
With an NYU Film degree and a Wharton MBA, Kris seamlessly balances creativity and business at his flagship company, Maestro Filmworks, an Emmy Award-winning video production company founded in 2005 known for strong visual story-telling. Kris has produced hundreds of projects ranging from broadcast, commercial, narrative, and documentary in nature, and continues to serve clients ranging from Fortune 100 brands to startups and nonprofits. Currently, Kris also serves on the Advisory Boards of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, Big Picture Alliance and PHLCVB Diversity.
Tricia Coonrad
pronouns: she/her
Vice Chair
Tricia brings over two decades of experience in the content and entertainment industry, currently serving as the Programming Partnerships and Strategy Lead at Comcast Cable Communications. A strong advocate for representation, Tricia is dedicated to expanding Comcast’s diverse content offerings. She plays a pivotal role in shaping and implementing industry-leading programming experiences, establishing strategic partnerships, and spearheading initiatives that focus on Asian American, Black, International, and Hispanic-focused networks.
Tricia’s dedication to diversity and inclusion drives her approach to content strategy. Her efforts have been instrumental in promoting underrepresented communities within the entertainment landscape, contributing to Comcast’s reputation as a leader in inclusive programming.
Of Korean and Japanese descent, Tricia’s cultural heritage plays a significant role in her professional journey. Her background fuels her commitment to promoting diverse storytelling and advocating for content that reflects a wide array of cultural experiences.
Art gimenez
pronouns: he/him
Treasurer
Arthur Gimenez is Portfolio Manager at Reinvestment Fund and oversees performance of a $150MM loan portfolio composed of several industries: Arts and Culture, Early Childhood Education, Health and Wellness and Social. He firmly believes that community banks like Reinvestment Fund are critically needed to address growing wealth inequality in America. Prior to this role, Arthur previously served as the Senior Business Development Officer at PIDC as well as the Director of Lending at The Enterprise Center, a CDFI located in West Philadelphia. Outside of work, Arthur serves on the Board of Directors for Maternity Care Coalition, South East Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition and Entrepreneur Works. He serves as the Co-Chair of the School Advisory Council for the Edwin M. Stanton School. He also organizes public outdoor events in the Point Breeze neighborhood of South Philadelphia, where he and his family have resided for over ten years. Arthur earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the Fox School of Business, Temple University and his Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering degree from De La Salle University in the Philippines. He is fluent in both English and Tagalog, the official language of the Philippines.
Dyana Wing So
pronouns: she/her
Secretary
Dyana is a strategic storyteller and culture analyst with over 10 years of experience working globally with major brands across tech, sports, entertainment, hospitality, consumer goods, education, and nonprofits. She currently works as a Sr. Deep End Strategist at 160over90, the creative agency of Endeavor. Beyond her work in strategy, Dyana is also a creative, educator, and mentor. She’s published research on the impact of the global digital nomad trend in Barcelona and illustrated a cookbook with local chefs through the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, Southeast by Southeast. Dyana has taught graduate-level writing courses on business cases and historiographies, and she makes time to support creatives and entrepreneurs who share common struggles finding opportunities due to systemic disadvantages. She earned her joint-MAs from the University of Glasgow, University of Barcelona, and Erasmus University of Rotterdam, and her BA in Visual Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. As a former, long-time volunteer of PAAFF, she’s excited to return and grow the festival’s new chapter. She’s based in Brooklyn and travels back to Philly often!
Winnie Wong
pronouns: she/her
Winnie recently started a new role as the Director of Marketing and Communications at Real Art Ways, a nonprofit arts organization, independent theater, and community performance space in Hartford, CT. Most recently, as Director of Creative Production for a creative software company and platform, she managed a Brand Production department, working alongside marketing, strategy, partnerships, creative, legal and finance teams – responsible for creative and business affairs and operations oversight related to projects, initiatives, and campaigns of all sizes. Currently, at Real Art Ways, she’s getting the word out about all of the film, music, performance, literary, public art, and educational programs offered year-round. Representation has always been a priority for Winnie, whether that manifests in the way she runs a film set, builds a brand team, or manages an ad campaign – it’s just as important now that she is part of a team that programs events and screenings for the New England and East Coast community at large.
Jes Vũ
pronouns: she/her
Past Leadership
Joe Kim – Co-Founder/Festival Programmer (2008 – 2012)
Franklin Shen – Co-Founder/Festival Programmer (2008 – 2012)
Michael Wingate Jones – Co-Founder/Managing Director (2008 – 2018), Board Member (2020 – 2022)
Brad Baldia – Co-Founder/Corporate Relations & Community Affairs Director (2008 – 2019), Board Member (2020 – 2022)
Phuong Nguyen – Interim Festival Director (2013 – 2014), Development Director (2014 – 2017)
Rob Buscher – Program Director (2013), Festival Director (2014 -2019), Board Chair (2020 – 2022)
Selena Yip – Festival Director (2020 – 2021), Executive Director (2022 – 2023)