Our Team

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.

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!

For Tracy, it all began with film festivals. First as a high school volunteer, then a college intern, she later worked behind the scenes at several local festivals including AFI Docs and Filmfest DC. She got her start bringing films from around the world to audiences across the city. Sticking with that theme, she went on to work in programming at Discovery Communications and later joined the General Audience Programming team at PBS. There she spent over seven years working with producers and local stations to guide programs through the potential pitfalls of nationally distributed public television and bring some of America's favorite shows to air.

She holds a B.A. in Film Studies from the University of Pittsburgh, with a minor in History and a certificate in Latin American Studies. A lifelong DMV-er, Tracy currently resides in Maryland with her objectively adorable dog, Frankie. The two spend much of their free time exploring the area's extensive public parks, with Frankie generally getting into mischief along the way.

Annie works as the Administrative Assistant for DCEFF, bringing a background in documentary filmmaking and a passion for environmental storytelling to her role. She has worked on a variety of documentary projects as a director of photography and lead editor, collaborating with organizations including the National Park Service and Maryland Public Television.

Originally from Kentucky, Annie moved to Washington, DC, to pursue a master’s degree in Documentary Film at American University. She is passionate about using documentary storytelling to connect audiences with the people, places, and environmental issues that shape our world. Outside of work, Annie enjoys exploring Rock Creek Park, rock climbing, attending film festivals, and discovering films that inspire more sustainable ways of living.

Ava Lorch is a filmmaker and artist living in New York City. Growing up in Encinitas, California, she inherited a passion for wildlife and nature, which she implements through her art. She has produced, written and directed several short documentaries, and just finished her first feature documentary that she co-directed among three of her peers.

Ava is a current film and television student at Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, in Manhattan. She is very excited to be a part of the DCEFF team!