Festival Staff

A Washington native, Monica started her festival career as a programming intern for the Nantucket Film Festival after graduating from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts with a B.F.A in Film and Television Production. She later became a reader for Nantucket's annual screenwriting competition, as well as a script analyst and judge for the Richmond International Film Festival, the Creative World Awards, the Bluecat Screenplay Competition, NYC Midnight, and individual screenwriters. Returning to the Washington area in 2011, she worked for the American Film Institute’s documentary film festival for nine years under its Silverdocs and AFI DOCS iterations. Before joining DCEFF, she served as the production coordinator, associate programmer, and director of programming for the Annapolis Film Festival. She currently holds the champion title for pickled peppers in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Brad is the Director of Programming for the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital. He has worked as the director of photography for various documentary projects – including the upcoming film Painted City – and has served as a videographer for local production companies and universities, as well as at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He holds a BA in Asian Studies from Furman University and an MA in International Journalism from Cardiff University.

Jacob began working with DCEFF's communications team ahead of the 2018 Festival and has since taken over marketing, engagement, and operations strategy for the organization. Prior to working at DCEFF, Jacob oversaw a variety of communications and development efforts for environmental non-profits in Colorado and Minnesota as well as the University of Minnesota and George Washington University.

He is a proud father to a house full of animals, including his dachshund/chihuahua mix, Bertie, and two corgis, Morty and Pippin. Jacob is a Wisconsin native, holding a degree in Film Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.

Prior to joining DCEFF, Brianna was Corporate Relations Manager at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, collaborating with corporate partners to support the Center’s diverse programming. A South Carolina native, she holds a theatre degree from the College of Charleston and began her career at Spoleto Festival USA. Brianna also serves on the board of St. Mark’s Players, a Capitol Hill community theatre, where she continues to perform and stage manage whenever possible.

Cate started at DCEFF as an intern in 2023 and returned as the Marketing & Communications Assistant in 2024. She is excited to return for another Festival season, now as the Program Manager. She is a Virginia-based filmmaker and editor. A proud Hokie, Cate graduated from Virginia Tech with a BA in both Creative Writing and Film. When she’s not utilizing her AMC Stubs membership, you will find her planning her next dinner party for family and friends!

Audrey brings a diverse background in marketing, event coordination, and sustainability to her role at DCEFF. With a passion for environmental advocacy, she supports the Festival's fundraising and administrative efforts by processing donations, maintaining the donor database, and executing donor communications. Drawing on her experience in project management and strategic planning, Audrey contributes to event planning, collaborates with vendors, and ensures that all stakeholders receive appropriate recognition.

Originally from Seattle, Audrey enjoys getting out and exploring the DMV area, traveling, and promoting sustainable practices!

Megan brings a strong background in program coordination and project management to her role at DCEFF. Prior to joining the team, she managed large-scale international development projects across Africa and the Middle East, overseeing grants, budgets, and logistics while fostering collaboration among diverse partners. She has also contributed to independent film projects through archival research and grant writing.

Originally from Florida, Megan enjoys exploring new places, getting on the water, and playing soccer. She holds a bachelor and master of public health with a focus on behavior change science from the University of Florida and is especially interested in the intersection of environmental conservation, international development, and film as a way to inspire action and create long-term impact.

As a DC Native, Hallie is thrilled to be an intern at the Environmental Film Festival! She's a rising Junior at Emerson College studying film, media and deaf culture, with a minor in environmental studies. She's aspiring to pursue a path in media accessibility in the film industry as well as ASL Interpretation. Hallie has worked on multiple Emerson affiliated productions and is a dedicated member of the Emerson Speech and Debate Team.