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The New Hope Film Festival is guided by a select group of individuals, all of whom are committed to the welfare and success of the Festival and its surrounding community. This group is charged with planning and promotion, but most important of all, they select the films.
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D. F. Whipple (Founder and Chairman)
A 1992 graduate of University of Pennsylvania's Lauder Insititute, a Wharton-affiliated program, Doug's eclectic career has included stints in film, banking and publishing. In 2003, he left an eleven-year career on Wall Street to found his own company and pursue a lifelong passion for the arts. He spent the next 18 months immersed in acting training at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, but after his education he decided to write. An author of three novels to date, Doug is frequently associated with Dostoevsky, Melville, Pushkin and contemporary literary prize winners on Amazon.com. Doug has also written screenplays, some of which are based on his books.
Marianne Speiser (Executive Director - Communications)
A marketing and public relations specialist with more than 25 years of experience, Marianne has a great talent for working with the media. She began her career promoting the Borough of New Hope, attaining regional, national and international acclaim for the cosmopolitan village. New Hope has been Marianne’s home for 40 years and her love for the town and the arts has been instrumental in her becoming Director - Communications for The New Hope Film Festival. An artist herself, Marianne is a self-taught musician. She has composed music for television, regional theatre, Off Broadway productions and recently the music for two independent films. “I am thrilled to be part of the New Hope Film Festival, and to celebrate the talents of artists from all over the world.”
Thom Michael Mulligan (Executive Director - Submissions)
An independent film producer and performance artist with long-standing ties to the New Hope area, Thom brings over 25 years of cinematic experience to the Festival. He lives in Southern California. Thom's recent accomplishments include producing Callous, winner of Best Picture in the 2009 Indie Fest USA at Disneyland and Audience Favorite Best Feature at the 2009 Riverside International Film Festival, and acting in "Fierce Target," which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2011. Other projects include attachment as a producer and actor for the psychological thriller "What Tigers Do," the action/thriller "Three Way Split" and the mystical drama "Shadow Fields" by D. F. Whipple. Mulligan heads up the Festival's submissions process and continues to act and produce feature films. More information about him is available on IMDb, ThomMichaelMulligan.com and My Space.
Danny Sailor (Director - Submissions)
The New Hope Film Festival's resident movie buff, Danny possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of film. Because he combines his internal database with a keen understanding of what does and doesn't work in cinematic art, the Directors highly value the judgments he makes as a screener. Danny owns over 2,000 films and the walls of his home are replete with evidence of his passion for movies. A retired employee of the Federal government, Danny's embarking on a new a career with this step into the lights of Hollywood.
Mark Rosenthal (Advisor)
A screenwriter with a long list of Hollywood achievements, Mark Rosenthal brings a wealth of experience to the Festival. In his advisory role, Mark offers guidance and suggestions regarding the final selection of films and also provides capital advice on the world of moviedom. His substantial screen credits include Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), Mercury Rising (1998), Planet of the Apes (2001), and Mona Lisa Smile (2003). Mark maintains deep ties to the New Hope area and the Festival is honored by his presence.
Maria Dumlao (Advisor)
A professor in the Cinema/Video Production program at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, Pennsylvania, Maria Dumlao currently lives and works in Brooklyn and Philadelphia. Her art has been exhibited and screened at both Art in General and Momenta Art Gallery in New York City, at The Contemporary Museum, Honolulu and internationally in Utrecht, Barcelona, Vancouver, London, Madrid, Berlin and Tokyo. Dumlao has been awarded residencies at the Experimental Television Center in Owego, New York and at Wave Farm in Acra, New York. Dumlao has performed at Brooklyn Museum of Art, PS 1 and the Armory Show with Brainstormers, an art collective in which she collaborates, and she also collaborated with the Guerrilla Girls for a project featured at the Bronx Museum of Art. She has co-written and co-published articles and photo essays in Women's Studies Quarterly and Women & Environments International Magazine, as well as in art books funded by a grant from The Puffin Foundation. Brainstormers' video received an official selection award for the 41st Brooklyn Arts Council International Film and Video Festival. Dumlao offers advice and guidance on the direction of New Hope Film Festival, especially as this relates to the annual selection of films. More information is available at MariaDumlao.net.