TEAM
FOUNDERS
J. English Cook
English is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Climate Film Festival. She is an art historian and curator, and has worked on exhibitions at the Whitney, Venice Biennale, MoMA, and more. She completed her PhD in Art History with a focus on film and architecture at NYU’s Institute of Fine Arts.
Alec Turnbull
Alec is Co-Founder and Executive Director of CFF. He is also Co-Founder of Climate Tech Cities, the largest place-based climate tech community in the US. In his day job, Alec is an experienced executive, having worked on companies in media, renewable energy, building decarbonization, and climate finance.
2025 Team &
Special Thanks
Accessibility Coordinator
Caroline Parker Boyd
Brand Strategist
Rachel Gertz
Press & Communications Director
Angela Betancourt
Community Engagement Director
Aashika Balaji
Creative Director
Adrienne Hapanowicz
Data + Impact Director
Fabienne Gribi
Digital Programs Director
Manisha Sashital
Marketing Director
Rahul Nihalani
Newsletter + Education Director
Akosua Owusu-Akyaw
Programming Directors
Jesse R. Tendler (Senior Director)
Olivia Johnson
Madelyn Leembruggen
Leonardo Pirondi
Lauren Wang
Social Media Director
Elaine Chow
Photography Director
Joe Kurle
Sustainability Director
Anna Kramer
Technical Director
Karl Mehrer
Treasurer
Andrew Boyajian
Volunteer Coordinator
Sally Kramer
Intern
Ximena Coronado
Volunteers
Cyntia Abarca
Laura Cole
Maeve Hall
Marisa Guerrero
Tabong Kima
Screeners
Salem Afeworki
Mina Aslan
PJ Batley
Isabel Best
Maxfield Biggs
Mikaiya Booth
Camila Buitrago
Bella Cockerell
Lindsay Crowder
Lili Csorba
Ellen Damaso
Alexandra Davis
Rowan Davis
Teresa Doley
Reine Donnestad
Erin Eberle
Nina Engelbrecht
James Ghiden
Marisa Guerrero
Samantha Hafey-Bagg
Maeve Hall
Canute Haroldson
Laura Hatalsky
Ben Hess
Cadence Ignoffo
Radha Jadoo
Kartikeya Jain
Claudia Klinck
Anna Kramer
Sally Kramer
Ritika Kumbharkar
Kim Macharia
Adrienne Malcolm
Aish Mann
Margot Maritz
Mary Marshall
Woodie Moon
Morgan Otway
Jimmy Pan
Samantha Panchèvre
Sarika Paralkar
Shivam Parashar
Laurie Penn-Moyer
Lauren Peterson
Samuel Pigott
Melody Plan
Samar Rashid
Mikaela Ringquist
Daisy Rosato
Sarah Rubinstein
Katy Saindon
Manisha Sashital
Ryan Schnurr
Reeti Sethi
Ivy Sheibar
Arpan Somani
Genia Startseva-Zeller
Nikhil Venkatesa
Tabitha Yong
Donna York
Kazandra Zelaya
Design Partner
Studio Rodrigo
Legal Advisor
Romanette Legal PLLC
Presenting Media Partner
The Guardian US
Press Partner
Betancourt Group
Marquee Theatre Partner
Regal Essex Cinema
2025 Jury
To be announced!
•••
Founding Volunteers
Aashika Balaji • Ben Hone • Olivia Johnson • Taylor Knoche • Anna Kramer • Rahul Nihalani •
Akosua Owusu-Akyaw • Alex Schulte • Maria João Sousa • Jesse R. Tendler