Gene is a local actor who has worked throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. He has worked as a Writer, Producer and Casting Consultant. Gene attended NYU on an Acting Scholarship and brings years of experience in front of the camera and in various aspects of film production.
Meet Our Board
Gene Connelly
Board President and Co-founder
J.B. Earl
Board Member
J.B. Earl is a Cinematographer and Photographer. He has operated a successful commercial photography and video production studio for over 30 years, photographing a wide array of subjects. He has also led the camera department as Cinematographer on many short films, web series, and several feature films, as well as Gaffering multiple large and small film projects.
Wendy Barron
Board Member
Wendy is a Professor of Media Communications and the Coordinator of the Communications, Media and Arts department at Lehigh Carbon Community College. She earned her Master’s in TV/Film from Syracuse University.
She has worked in the sports broadcast and film industries as a director, producer, and in various associate/assistant roles as she established her career.
Education and teaching are her passion. She mentors and supports aspiring filmmakers with their creative endeavors and career paths.
Ann Knerr
Board Member
Ann Knerr has been involved in film in the Lehigh Valley and outside of PA for many years. She is currently on the SSFF Board (14 years) and has served as secretary, and ongoing photographer. Ann is also currently chair of the ArtsQuest Cinema Committee, Juror for the Greater Lehigh Valley Filmmaker Festival, and co- chair of the Fem-in-Film series there. She has previously served on ArtsQuest Performing Arts Board for 9 years, and has been an ArtsQuest Volunteer for 26 years, serving on both marketing and event committees. She has worked as a producer on Daniel Roebuck’s films Getting Grace, Lucky Louie, The Hail Mary under A Channel of Peace.org. She worked for two years as program and event coordinator, and photographer since 2009 for the Big Apple Film Festival and has worked in the filmmaker department for the Tribeca Film Festival from 2012 to 2018. Ann has a Bus. Adm, Accounting. Background, with interests in photography, film, community events and sports
Sara Viteri
Board Member
Sara Viteri is an award winning producer and actress that works full-time as a producer and on camera talent for ASR Media Productions. She has worked in film, commercial, theatre, and marketing for over 15 years in cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Dallas and more!