Pronouns: he/him/his

Alex Villafuerte is a Filipino-American who has been a prominent community organizer and advocate since 2016. They have worked with organizations such as the Asian Business Association San Diego, San Diego Pride, the San Diego Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, and NQAPIA, advocating for the rights of marginalized, intersectional communities and individuals.

As the Executive Director of Pacific Arts Movement, Alex oversees a team of staff and volunteers to put on one of the country’s largest showcases of Asian, Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander media. He also serves as the co-chair for the San Diego API Coalition, helping organize over 50 AA & NHPI-serving organizations in the region to foster collaboration and capacity building.

During their advocacy, Villafuerte oversaw the creation of several organizations and programs, including the San Diego Queer APIMEDA Coalition, the San Diego API Coalition, and the San Diego Pride Youth Art Show. While at San Diego Pride, Villafuerte generated over $3 million in ticket sales for the San Diego Pride Festival, enabling the organization to increase its philanthropic giving to over $3.2 million since 2022.

Villafuerte is a proud alumnus of Morse High School in Southeast San Diego and San Diego State University, where they received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

Email: alex@pacarts.org

Phone: 619-400-5911

Pronouns: he/him/his

Brian Hu is a film curator and Associate Professor of Television, Film, and New Media at San Diego State University. He has curated film series for the Criterion Channel and the UCLA Film and Television Archive and was previously the Asian film programmer for the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Brian holds a PhD in Cinema and Media Studies from UCLA, where he completed a dissertation on Hong Kong and Taiwan cinemas with a Fulbright fellowship. He has published widely on Asian cinemas, Asian American media, and global film cultures and is the author of the book Worldly Desires: Cosmopolitanism and Cinema in Hong Kong and Taiwan. He has co-edited special sections on Asian American cinema for the journals Screen and Film Quarterly, for which he is also a contributing editor. He is currently contracted to co-edit the anthology Oxford Handbook of Chinese American Cinema. Brian has served on international film festival juries, has served on film granting committees at the local and national levels, and was a juror for the International Documentary Association awards. His film history podcast Saturday School, co-produced with journalist Ada Tseng, has been highlighted by Vanity Fair and Reader’s Digest as a top AAPI podcast.

Email: brian@pacarts.org

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Pronouns: he/him

Glenn Heath brings over a decade of non-profit management experience to his role overseeing film festival operations, education programs, volunteer recruitment, and internships. He also currently serves as the Artistic Director of the Digital Gym Cinema, an independent arthouse theater in downtown San Diego, curating first-run and repertory films for San Diego audiences, and as an adjunct lecturer of Film Studies in the Television, Film, and New Media department at San Diego State University. During his tenure as lead film critic for the San Diego Citybeat, he reviewed hundreds of films and conducted career-spanning interviews with filmmakers like Richard Linklater and John Salyes. His film criticism has also appeared online and in print at Slant Magazine, Cineaste, Mubi’s The Notebook, Little White Lies, RogerEbert.com, Senses of Cinema, and The Film Stage. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from UC Santa Barbara and Master of Arts from San Diego State University.

Email: glenn@pacarts.org

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Pronouns: they/she

Carmela Prudencio (she/they) is a nonprofit communications professional, curator, visual artist, and community organizer in San Diego. As Marketing and Communications Director, she is passionate about storytelling and amplifying community voices through activism, film, visual arts, and youth mentorship.

In her organizing work, she works on city and county levels to promote racial equity emphasizing intersectionality and community care. As a high energy creative and fierce advocate, she is ambitious in creating spaces with her community that activate joy, foster a sense of belonging, and emphasize collective strength. Through crafting meaningful messages and community activations, she is dedicated to empowering communities and creating enduring social change.

She has collaborated with various art institutions and grassroots organizations throughout the San Diego/Tijuana region and has exhibited work in Tijuana, MX and Quezon City, PH. Carmela has worked with the Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego Underground Film Festival, San Diego Latino Film Festival, Convoy Cultural District and numerous arts institutions and grassroots organizations. She is currently a co-conspirator and curator at Teros Gallery, and a member of Asian Solidarity Collective.

Email: carmela@pacarts.org

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Zia Sinclair is an arts and culture professional, advocate, and visual artist with an academic background in Digital Journalism Studies. She brings extensive professional experience from the nonprofit sector. Zia’s work has been exhibited as a visual artist at venues such as the San Diego Art Institute, the Oceanside Museum of Art, La Bodega Gallery, and various local art spaces.

As a strong advocate for the arts, Zia has recently honed her advocacy skills through the San Diego Emerging Leaders Arts Advocacy Program, a collaboration between SD Art Matters and California for the Arts. In this capacity, she actively supports the essential role of arts and culture in community growth, economic opportunities, and social cohesion. Zia’s unwavering belief in the transformative power of art drives her advocacy, seeing it as a potent medium for emotional expression, opinion sharing, and stimulating conversations that foster positive community development. Her advocacy extends to ensuring that the arts are represented at the legislative level, securing funding, advancing policies that benefit artists, and ensuring a creative future for California.

Zia is deeply committed to her community, constantly striving to make significant contributions. In her leisure time, she immerses herself in art-house cinema, indulges in reading, and creates visual art, frequently experimenting with both digital and analog photography and videography.

Email: zia@pacarts.org‍

Phone: 619-400-5911

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Pronouns: she/her/hers

Alissa Tu supports philanthropy and the grant proposal process. Alissa is a Vietnamese American writer from Olympia, Washington. She holds an MFA in Writing from UC San Diego. She published her debut experimental memoir, Confessions of a Modern Day Kumiho with Blue Cactus Press in 2022. She has been published by the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, Diasporic Vietnamese Artist Network, and Honey Literary. Her passion for Asian cinema, combined with her writing skills, uniquely positions her for this occupation.

Email: alissa@pacarts.org

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Jamuelle B. Zumel supports the creation, production, and management of multimedia content. Their responsibilities include content production, engaging with storytellers, documenting events, and managing project logistics. Additionally, they lead the video production team, handle equipment and digital assets, and ensure successful project outcomes to promote culturally relevant narratives and foster greater understanding through engaging multimedia content. Jamuelle is an AAPI Director, Producer, and Actor from San Jose, California, now residing in San Diego, California. His most recent on-screen role as “CS Romi” in the Master Chief Part One can be seen on AppleTV and streaming platforms. Jamuelle has also been behind the camera as a 1st AD, Director, and Producer for numerous productions, including Union and Non-Union feature films and commercials.

Email: jamuelle@pacarts.org

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Pronouns: he/him/his

Charles Thunyakij develops and manages educational programs, including the Reel Voices youth documentary filmmaking program. He is a dedicated educator with over 10 years of experience in arts education. Charles has worked with students and communities at MOPA, Mingei, Art Reach, the New Children’s Museum, and schools across San Diego. He has seen the transformative power of education and community engagement firsthand. From guiding students through traditional bookbinding to joining them in powerful protests for social justice, he is continually inspired by the energy and activism of today's youth. Charles believes in creating safe spaces where young people can thrive and make a difference. He is eager to continue supporting and collaborating with the next generation of changemakers, amplifying their voices. With his wealth of experience and passion for education coordination, he is committed to amplifying diverse voices and fostering community engagement. He dedicates himself to developing innovative programs that empower learners of all ages to explore, create, and connect through the power of film and cultural storytelling.

Email: charles@pacarts.org

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Pronouns: she

Chomp! Chomp! Chomp!

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