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 the Festival in December 2017, handling DCEFF’s social media pages, newsletter and website. In July 2019, he officially took on the role of Director of Online Communications, adding overall strategy to his previous duties.

Jacob came to DCEFF with a background in non-profit and higher education communications, having begun his career working on environmental campaigns in Colorado and Minnesota. 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.

Sam Plakun has over a decade of experience in the documentary film space, working primarily in programming, festival management, marketing and outreach. For seven years, Sam served as the Program Manager for DCEFF, and has held positions with New Day Films, the Brooklyn Film Festival, DC/DOX Film Festival and the DC Shorts Film Festival. Her industry experience has earned her a spot on award juries for numerous festivals, including the Bozcaada International Festival of Documentary, Indie Street Film Festival and the Green Film Network.

Born and raised in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, Sam earned a degree in Media Arts for Social Justice from Pitzer College, a member of the Claremont Consortium in Southern California. Now a proud resident of Washington, D.C., Sam shares her love of film with her husband and two cats.

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!

Ashley Holmes has been working in the environmental film space for close to a decade! She primarily works with non-profits to create educational and impact driven short films - with organizations like Defenders of Wildlife, Environmental Investigation Agency, and National Geographic Society.

Originally from Upstate NY, Ashley graduated from Canisius College with a dual degree in Animal Behavior, Ecology and Conservation, and Communications and later found herself in DC after getting her Masters in Film and Video at American University. When she’s not working on video related projects you can find her outside with her rescue dog Olly or participating in the DC community theater scene!

Lennon is the 2025 Festival Intern at DCEFF. A student from San Antonio, Texas, he is currently based in Washington, DC as a Fellow of The Archer Center. Lennon’s experiences as a filmmaker and as Feature Film Programmer for The San Antonio Film Festival (2022-2024) have allowed him to maintain a focus on storytelling in media while recognizing the effectiveness of film festivals in bringing ideas together. Lennon earned his associate degree in digital video and cinema production from Norwest Vista College and is currently studying environmental science at The University of Texas at San Antonio. With his media background and ongoing science education, Lennon aims to become an advocate for the environment through his passion for film.