Chad Mathews, Festival Director

Born and raised in Texas, Chad Mathews graduated from TCU with a Bachelor of Science in Radio, Television and Film. Living in Los Angeles for the past twelve years, Chad has been fortunate to work as an actor, a screenwriter and producer.

Television acting credits include: 'The Wanda Sykes Show,' 'Profiler,' 'Fight or Die,' 'General Hospital,' and 'Sniper:Inside the Crosshairs.' Film credits include Deadland, Cowboy Smoke, The Hiding, 666: The Beast and Wesley Cash.

As a writer and producer, Chad has produced two short films and penned a number of feature length scripts, most recently an animated story, Bobby the Bull. His short film, Clones Gone Wild, spent 2009 on the festival circuit, screening in over 30 festivals throughout North America and received a number of awards and accolades.

"Having spent my childhood summers in the Hill Country of Texas, I've always had affection for Fredericksburg and its people. Bringing filmmakers and their projects to a place that I consider home, is a fantastic way for me to extend my love of both film and family."

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Gary Weeks, Programming Director

Originally from Georgia, Gary has been a working actor and filmmaker for over a decade. Through three features and many shorts that ran (and are running) the festival circuit, Gary won over 30 awards for his work, and learned first-hand what makes festivals fun and successful, as well as what mistakes are avoidable. From Sundance to the smallest regional festivals, his experience and love of festivals is what brought him on board for HCFF.

As an actor, Gary is credited with over 60 Film, TV, and Commercial appearances, including recently Zombie Apocalypse starring opposite Ving Rhames, and notable performances in 'Burn Notice, Parks and Recreation', 'The Office.' As a Producer, his latest feature Meth Head, starring Lukas Haas, will be released this year. As a writer, he has written over 12 feature screenplays and counting, along with a large collection of shorts, and is in talks to shoot his next feature in late 2012.

"Since Chad and I both work in the industry, we know how tough a road it can be. We sought out to create a festival atmosphere where filmmakers get a chance to not only showcase their passion, but to encourage them, give them a chance to build lasting relationships, and really find an audience for their film."

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Dimitris Athos,
3D Program Director

Dimitris Athos is a 3D Stereoscopic Producer and consultant based in New York City. Mr. Athos has produced short films and 3D music videos for stereoscopic and auto-stereoscopic (glasses-free) formats. In Spring 2010 he produced the first 3D runway fashion show in the U.S. for New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (for UVPH) and is currently in production on a 3D documentary. Recently, Mr. Athos produced the first 3D of Juilliard Dance for The Juilliard School at Lincoln Center.

Mr. Athos defining passion is advancing what he refers to as the “stereoscopic palette” in visual storytelling. He is a member of several stereoscopic groups and since 2005 serves as Program Director and 3D Specialist for Be FILM, The Underground Film Festival. Be FILM debuts and showcases award-winning short films from around the globe with several films garnering Academy Award nominations® and Academy Awards®. In 2009, Be FILM became the first established film festival in the world to feature a Stereo 3D category.

In parallel, over the summer of 2011 Mr. Athos joined Country Hill Film Festival as 3D Program Director for 3D shorts and 3D feature films. Country Hill Film Festival is the first film festival in Texas to feature a 3D Stereoscopic category.

HCFF Staff

• Adam Boley | Event Photographer
• Natalie Burge | Design Director
• Kathy Farley | Copywriter
• Harry Frishberg | Technical Director
• Max Frishberg | Technical Director
• Brad Kammlah | Event Host/MC
• John Lee | Marketing Director
• Juanita Lee | Marketing Manager
• Wade Lee | Hospitality Coordinator
• Rebecca Marino | Event Photographer
• Amy Miskovsky | Festival Coordinator
• Matthew Morris | Web Designer
• Noelle Newby | Sponsorship Coordinator
• Tom Provost | Filmmaker Relations Coordinator
• William F. Reed | Videographer
• Ly Tran | Digital Media Director