Owen Reiser
Co-Creator - "Listers - A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching" - Friday Night Gala Feature Documentary
Owen Reiser is the director of "Listers: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching" (2025), "America the Beautiful" (2022) and "Bugs That Rule the World" (2025). He is a vagabond creator and brother to Quentin.
Quentin Reiser
Co-Creator - "Listers - A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching" - Friday Night Gala Feature Documentary
Quentin Reiser is the writer of "Listers: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching" (2025), "America the Beautiful" (2022) and "Bugs That Rule the World" (2025). He is a vagabond creator and brother to Owen.
He is also the author and illustrator of the book “Field Guide of All the Birds We Found One Year in the United States” - a companion piece.
Hannah Toutonghi
Field Ornithologist University of Minnesota at Duluth - Featured in “Listers - A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching”
Hannah is a field ornithologist from the greater Seattle area, who has focused her research efforts on Studying raptor migration and breeding birds in the boreal forest over the last several years. She has Previously worked at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, the Natural Resources Research Institute, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, and the Institute for Bird Populations.
Hannah completed her master’s degree through the University of Minnesota Duluth, and now works as a data scientist at the Ocean Research College Academy in Everett, Washington.
Bugsy Sailor
Co-Founder Fresh Coast Film Festival and Photographer - Founder, U.P. Supply Co. of Marquette, Michigan
Sailor says he’s the official Unofficial Ambassador of the Upper Peninsula, and while he’s still waiting on the paperwork, Bugsy is a lifelong Michigander worthy of the title.
From his Year of the Sunrise project that began as a resolution on New Year’s Day 2019 and continues to this day to founding unique events like 906 Day, Plaidurday and the Fresh Coast Film Festival, Bugsy celebrates the things that set Michigan – and the U.P. in particular – apart from anywhere else.
Years later, Bugsy continues to be inspired by his Marquette surroundings and creates opportunities for connection within the Upper Peninsula community and beyond.
Aaron Peterson
Co-Founder Fresh Coast Film Festival and Filmmaker - Founder, Aaron Peterson Studios of Marquette, Michigan - Shorts Programs A/B/D
Peterson is an award-winning filmmaker, photographer, and creative director whose work is inextricably linked to the rugged landscapes and resilient communities of the Upper Great Lakes. Based in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Peterson has spent decades documenting the intersection of outdoor adventure, environmental stewardship, and regional identity. His visual storytelling often highlights the quiet, profound connection between people and the wild spaces they inhabit.
As a co-founder of the Fresh Coast Film Festival in Marquette, Michigan, he has been instrumental in building a premier platform for "Fresh Water" storytelling. The festival celebrates the spirit of the Great Lakes and the surrounding backcountry, fostering a unique space where filmmakers and outdoor enthusiasts converge. Through his production work and his leadership within the festival, Peterson continues to champion the North’s cinematic voice, ensuring that the stories of the Great Lakes are told with authenticity, grit, and a deep-seated respect for the natural world.
Bill Thompson
Co-Founder Fresh Coast Film Festival and Outdoor Guide - Founder, Downwind Sports of Marquette, Michigan
Thompson is a cornerstone of the Midwest’s outdoor community, serving as the co-founder of the Fresh Coast Film Festival and the longtime owner of Downwind Sports in Marquette, Michigan. With decades of experience as a climber and adventurer, Thompson has dedicated his career to fostering a deep appreciation for the Great Lakes’ rugged backcountry.
Through Downwind Sports, he has equipped generations of enthusiasts while organizing premier regional events like the Michigan Ice Fest. His leadership at the Fresh Coast Film Festival further cements his commitment to the intersection of adventure, culture, and environmental stewardship.
Claudia Galeno-Sánchez
Activist and Featured in "Sueños De Una Monarca (Dreams of a Monarch)" - Shorts Program B
After Claudia Galeno-Sánchez and her daughter raised a caterpillar in their home and watched it transform into a Black Swallowtail butterfly, Galeno-Sánchez was inspired to create a butterfly habitat in her backyard as a way to teach her children about nature during the pandemic — but her vision quickly expanded
Now, she and a group of motivated neighbors calling themselves “Mujeres Por Espacios Verdes" (or “Women for Green Spaces”) are working to expand green spaces in Chicago neighborhoods.
Julián Trejo Bax
Filmmaker "Sueños De Una Monarca (Dreams of a Monarch)" - Shorts Program B
BIO COMING SOON
Kristin Tièche
Filmmaker "The Invisible Mammal" - Feature Documentary
BIO COMING SOON
Nate Crane
Co-Founder Rare Bird Brewpub - Volunteer Birdwatching Guide
Nate Crane is a pivotal figure in the Traverse City craft beverage scene as the co-founder of Rare Bird Brewpub. An avid birdwatcher, Crane’s passion for ornithology is the literal soul of the pub, inspiring its name and welcoming atmosphere.
Since 2014, he has successfully married high-quality brewing with a community-centric space that celebrates Northern Michigan. Through Rare Bird, Crane continues to champion local collaboration and sustainability.
Stephen McGee
Filmmaker "Resurgo: The Rise From Within" - Feature Documentary
BIO COMING SOON
Jason Whalen
Co-Founder Fauna Creative Studio and Filmmaker “Dinosaur Fish,” “Loon,” “Restoring Northern Michigan’s River” and ”Ephemeral” - Shorts Programs A/C/F/G
BIO COMING SOON
Christy Frank
Filmmaker "A Bird in the Hand" - Shorts Program H
BIO COMING SOON
Mike King
Multi-hyphenate Athlete and Filmmaker “Lake Michigan Gets Swell! - Hometown Hype Northern Michigan”
BIO COMING SOON
Ladislav Hanka
Artist and Featured in "A Two Hearted Tale" - Feature Documentary
BIO COMING SOON
Bret Miller
Filmmaker "A Two Hearted Tale" - Feature Documentary
BIO COMING SOON
Jason Lindsey
Filmmaker "Breaking Ice: The Making of Cracks in the Ice" - Shorts Program B
Jason Lindsey is an award-winning director and conservationist whose work bridges human experience with environmental narratives. Rooted in photojournalism and commercial directing, his cinematic style blends observational authenticity with striking visual storytelling. A dedicated advocate, Jason served on the Prairie Rivers Network board and permanently protected 27 acres of Illinois forest. His latest films, including Breaking Ice and It’s Time, explore climate change through intimate stories designed to inspire environmental stewardship.
Maurice Champion
Filmmaker “Belonging: A Journey of Inclusion and Nature“ Shorts Program G
BIO COMING SOON
Jim Aikman
Filmmaker "Snail Hunters" - Feature Documentary
BIO COMING SOON
James Parker (TBC)
Filmmaker "In Our Nature" - Feature Documentary
BIO COMING SOON
Nick Loud
Co-Founder The Boardman Review and Filmmaker "The Last to Leave: Saving the Ash Tree from Extinction" - Shorts Program E
BIO COMING SOON
Dan Wanschura
Interlochen Public Radio and Points North Podcast Producer and Filmmaker “The Last to Leave: Saving the Ash Tree from Extinction” - Shorts Program E
BIO COMING SOON
Rory McHarg
Filmmaker "A Two Hearted Tale" - Featured Documentary
BIO COMING SOON
JohnPaul Morris
Founder Practical Studio and Filmmaker “Find Me Up North” - Shorts Program A
BIO COMING SOON
Dusan Harminc
Filmmaker "Language Back" - Shorts Program A
BIO COMING SOON
Chad Heddleston
Filmmaker “Catching Pinecones” Featured Documentary
BIO COMING SOON
Nick Stachurski
Filmmaker "Land of Lost Toys" - Shorts Program F
Nick Stachurski is a Detroit-based director and the founder of Eightfold, a production collective rooted in collaboration and human-centered storytelling. His work spans automotive, branded documentary, and social campaigns, often blending cinematic craft with real-world intimacy. Nick’s films focus on community, identity, and everyday moments, with recent projects recognized by outlets including the LA Times. He continues to build creative spaces and stories that bring people together across Michigan and beyond.
Matthew Podolsky
Producer “The Invisible Mammal” - Featured Documentary
BIO COMING SOON
Alex Goetz
Filmmaker "A Bird in the Hand" - Shorts Program H
BIO COMING SOON
Geoffrey Holstad
Creator of the 2026 Fresh Coast Film Festival: Traverse City Design Campaign
Geoffrey Holstad is a Michigan-born art director, designer, lake surfer and trail runner who currently lives most of the year in the small, mystic mountain town of Ojai, California. Geoff has worked for over a decade as a Senior Art Director on product at Patagonia, focusing primarily on Trail Running, Mountain Bike and Kids product.
During his tenure at Patagonia, and in his off-hours, Geoff has collaborated with dozens of grassroots enviro NGOs on creative strategy-building, many based in his heart’s home of the Great Lakes. Prior to working at Patagonia, he founded and directed Cabin-Time (501c3), a roaming creative residency to remote places.
Geoff and his wife Sarah Darnell (fellow Michigan-born Patagonia designer) have an all-season cabin with their two little girls, on fifteen acres bordering Palmer Woods Forest Reserve. They are so inspired to be a part of thoughtfully preserving Leelanau’s natural magic and to connect closely with Northern Michigan’s thriving (and growing) community working/playing at the confluence of art, sport and environmental action.
Tim Warmanen
Writer, Producer and Editor Tim Warmanen / “The Humungous Fungus Among Us”
Warmanen is an award-winning commercial editor, recognized with both Cannes Lion and Super Bowl accolades. He served as writer, producer, and editor for The Humongous Fungus Among Us, collaborating with director and cinematographer, Logan Hall. They are currently in post-production for a new feature documentary titled Puzzle Party which was featured in the New York Times.
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