Our growing team is passionate about film, storytelling and creating memorable events. We will be selecting Jurors, Advisory Board members, honorees and additional staff that will all complement one another and help to expand the reach of the festival to a variety of communities. Festival Director Jim Scavone (Executive Director @ Red Bank RiverCenter), along with Jersey locals Jay Webb (Co-Founder @ Indie Street) and Christopher Radeschi (Co-Founder @ Indie Street), has put together a talented team of curators, planners & promotional professionals to ensure a successful inaugural year.
JAY WEBB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jay Webb began his entrepreneurial path with the launch of a successful media production company (Evolving Productions) in 2004. Under this banner, he was lead producer on two independent feature films that received distribution through Lionsgate and HBO. His continued passion for independent storytelling led him to the creation of Indie Street Media, the first cooperative distribution brand for self-distributing filmmakers. He is also the proud co-creator of a hard science graphic novel, Legend of Sumeria, and currently owns and manages Toji Nature Retreat in Costa Rica. His contagious drive to challenge the boundaries of creative production and distribution technology will set the tone for ISFF for years to come.
ALLYSON MORGAN ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Allyson Morgan is a writer, producer, performer, and film festival veteran, most recently working for Brooklyn Film Festival, DCEFF, DOC NYC, Hamptons International Film Festival, Nantucket Film Festival, and SFFILM, among others. Allyson has twice been a top ten Finalist for Cinequest, a Finalist at Omaha Film Festival, a Finalist at Stowe Story Labs, and a Semi-Finalist at Austin Film Festival. Additionally, she has been awarded an NG Art Creative Residency in France, and four times been awarded a Juno Leadership Residency through the Omega Institute. Allyson’s short film Need For Speed (Dating) premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, and her short film, Sitting, made its world premiere at SCAD Savannah Film Festival and won "Outstanding Narrative Short" at Tallgrass Film Festival. First Date, her newest short commissioned by 20th Digital Studio, is currently airing on Hulu in their "Bite Size Halloween" series and is being developed as a feature film. She also co-created and produced Ghosted, an AR experience for the Magic Leap One headset, which was awarded “Most Innovative Immersive Experience” at the North Bend Film Festival.
JAMES SCAVONE MANAGING DIRECTOR
In his role as Executive Director of Red Bank RiverCenter, Jim Scavone serves as festival director for ISFF. Jim is a versatile executive leader with over 25 years’ experience in non-profit and arts management handling operations, change management, fiscal management, human resources, event and promotion planning, strategic planning, program direction, and staff and volunteer management. An inveterate problem solver, Jim has found unique ways to attract new businesses and consumers to Red Bank’s downtown by integrating the arts into the daily life of the community and building Red Bank as an arts and cultural destination in central New Jersey.
PAULINA KOWALCZYK PROGRAMMER / PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR
Paulina Kowalczyk has been involved in many capacities on the film festival circuit, including programming exhibitions for Glasgow Film Festival, East London Film Festival, and Warsaw Film Festival, among others. She graduated with a BA in Cultural Studies and received her MSc in Film, Exhibition and Curation from the University of Edinburgh. Paulina has worked on the various exhibitions at the Film Department of the Museum of Modern Art in New York as well as Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle in Warsaw and National Museum in Warsaw. She also collaborated with Art in Odd Places and NYC Indie Theatre Film Festival. Paulina works mainly in the area of art and film production and curation.
JENNA PICCOTTI SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Jenna is a recent graduate from Monmouth University with a BA in Communications. Whether it was creating graphics, editing, or helping with social media and marketing distribution, Jenna spent her time during her years at MU working in the post production realm for a number of documentaries and projects through MU Production Services. With professional experience in social media management, Jenna is excited to bring her skill set to the table and be a part of the Indie Street Film Festival team.
MAXIMUM PORTMAN TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Maximum Portman is an actor and independent filmmaker. He recently starred in the Shudder original film HELL HOLE. Maximum graduated from Montclair State University with a BA in Creative Writing. When not involved in Indie Street, he works for a number of other festivals including as a a venue manager for the Montclair Film Festival. He is thrilled to be a part of the Indie Street team and wants you to know that he loves you.
ANTHONY SETARO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR
Anthony Jude Setaro is a Monmouth University Alumni, an award winning NJ Filmmaker, producer, actor, singer and real estate professional.
His love for theatre lead him him to become head of Red Bank Catholic’s Theatre Department, launching both their after-school drama club and film clubs before opening his own acting school. He has directed high-school and regional theatre in the area and worked with Count Basie Center for the Arts on the opening number of the Basie Awards.
Setaro’s deep roots in Red Bank go all the way back to 1888 when his ancestors established an Italian Colony at the foot of Cooper’s Bridge. As a passionate member of the community, Anthony has performed at over a thousand events as a wedding officiant, DJ, and has been featured on TLC’s “Four Weddings”. He has served as Master of Ceremonies of the town of Red Bank on many occasions, and now proudly serves on the Special Events Committee for Red Bank Rivercenter and the Red Bank Classic 5k, and embodies the link between Red Bank’s historical past, present and future.
Along with his cousin Douglas Booton, they have recently released a podcast The Red Bank: Rum Runner - Part 1, Temperance that documents their family history as well as the history of bootlegging in the area! Through their production company Setaro House, they are currently working on a series that tells this story using Unreal Engine to immerse viewers in the experience and transport them back in time.
As an NJAR Circle of Excellence Recipient, Anthony began his career in real estate after volunteering during the recovery from Super Storm Sandy and co-founding the non-profit RebuildRecover that supplied immediate aide to victims. Through the charity, he coordinated with borough officials, engineers, and FEMA to demolish over 400 homes and help relocate families. He produced an award winning film "After Sandy" that documented the experience for residents. After Sandy Feature Film
