The mission of deadCenter Film is to inspire, promote, and celebrate creativity and community through film.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Cacky Poarch is the founding executive director of the deadCenter Film Festival and established deadCenter as a nonprofit corporation in 2004. She helped grow the festival into being named “Top 20 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker Magazine and “Top 100 Rated Film Festivals” by FilmFreeway. Cacky has produced and directed multiple films in Oklahoma, many of which premiered at deadCenter, including the award-winning documentary “Faces of the 47th: The Art of Activism.” Her other credits include the Short Documentary The Reawakening of Meade which toured the film festival circuit in 2013. She co-directed and produced the Documentary Feature ART 365 with Melissa Scaramucci which was presented across the US, England, Wales, India, and Egypt. Cacky has worked as First Assistant Director on numerous Oklahoma projects, including Okie Noodling II, UFOs at the Zoo: The Flaming Lips Live, and Sweethearts of The Prison Rodeo, which received HBO distribution in 2009. Additionally, Cacky was awarded the deadCenter Festival ICON Award at the 2018 GlitterBall. Most recently, she was featured in Hundred Magazine and was a guest on The Wildly Capable Woman podcast. Cacky completed her Leadership MBA at Oklahoma City University and will strive to enrich Oklahoma’s diverse culture and economy with film experiences for everyone.

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING

Sunrise Tippeconnie is an enrolled member of the Comanche Tribe and of Diné descent who has freelanced in independent film production for over a decade, working for directors such as Michael Winterbottom, Nick Cassavetes, William H. Macy, David Lowery, Sophie Goodhart, Todd Lincoln, Heather Rae, Yen Tan, Paul Harrill, Sterlin Harjo, and Blackhorse Lowe. Tippeconnie has also festival programmed through Nextframe Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand’s short’s market, and Native Crossroads Film Festival.

Tippeconnie’s American Indian-focused works including Leave Durov to the Dogs (2011) and Anticipation for Land in 2089 (2008), which have shown worldwide, including the Heard Museum, imagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival, and the National Museum of the American Indian.

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION + OUTREACH

In his 20 years in the industry, Victor Caballero has modeled in various print campaigns & acted in multiple commercials & films such as McDonalds, Stillwater, God’s Not Dead: We The People, & Malicious Motives. He's an independent award-winning producer and director. His latest film “Seeker” won Best Thriller at Venice Shorts, Arrow Festival, and Best Directing at the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival.

In addition to his filmmaking, one of Victor’s greatest passions is teaching students the art of cinema and journalism. In 2022, he worked as a coach for the Oklahoma Institute for Diversity in Journalism at the University of Oklahoma and previously served on the Education Advisory Committee for deadCenter University. Since 2017, he has provided hands-on filmmaking experience through the OKCine Latino Film Institute. From pre-production to post-production each student is presented with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and tools needed to start them down the path of movie-making.

DIRECTOR OF FESTIVAL PR

Krystal Yoseph owns Konjo Concepts, created in January 2018 as a media/public relations, marketing and events agency: focused on celebrating community-based and lifestyle-oriented partners in Oklahoma City and beyond. Born and raised in OKC, Krystal moved to Washington D.C. after graduating from The University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism/Public Relations. The transient nature of a typical spell in D.C. eluded Krystal for a while, keeping her busy, happy and involved in the fabric of downtown life in the Nation’s Capitol for eight years.

After moving back to OKC and spending three years with a local PR firm, falling in love with her hometown and learning “How to deadCenter,” Krystal very happily accepted an opportunity to work directly with the festival and has been managing PR/marketing for dCF since 2018.

Krystal is an avid connector and supporter of community, culture and progress throughout Oklahoma... and does not like to sit still for too long.

DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Steffie has had a multifaceted professional life woven together by a liberal arts degree and a love of words. A former teacher, editor, and communications director who is now semi-retired, she works part-time as a development coordinator for deadCenter and writes and copyedits for a handful of freelance clients. She lives in Yukon.

DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY

Oklahoma born and 100% Oklahoma bred, Stephen Tyler (No, not that one...) has turned his love of music and film into both a career and a mission. In 2013 Stephen, inspired by Sherlock Holmes, began to think of himself of a “Consulting Technologist” and founded Mostly Harmless Media. Since its formation MHM has produced podcast, video streams, virtual reality experiences, dynamic lighting installations, and supported all sorts of creative and efficient use of technology.

Stephen serves the deadCENTER Film Festival as Director of Technology, overseeing the organizations various technical needs from website and communications to festival production and and virtual reality screenings. Working with the festival is yet another way Stephen has opportunity to indulge his love of art and technology, all while serving his community. In his spare time, Stephen likes to enjoy a cup of coffee because the ten minutes that takes is literally the only spare time he has.

DIGITAL STRATEGIST

Josh is a Communications professional with over a decade of experience managing the marketing efforts of independent concert venues, festivals and live events. Past adventures include Moontower Comedy Festival, Tower Theatre OKC, Universal Music Group, and The Austin Theatre Alliance, home of the historic Paramount and State Theatres. Along with dC alumna Ashley Rose, Josh is the co-owner of White Rose Productions, an Oklahoma City based communications and events firm. He lives in Norman with his partner and their son, and enjoys gardening, camping, and songwriting.

SENIOR FEATURES PROGRAMMER

Kevin has served as a features programmer for the past several years, helping deadCenter curate a slate of films that represent the best of independent film. Kevin directed the film Rainbow Around the Sun. Kevin edits the opening bumpers for our festival and selects the local band whose song is featured each year.

During the day, Kevin works as the Creative Director at LifeChurch.tv and comes home to his daughters and his wife, Holly.

SHORTS PROGRAMMER

Although originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Camila Chaves Rojas sees herself as an Okie at heart. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, where she earned a BA in Film and Media Studies. She considers her time in college among up-and-coming Oklahoma filmmakers and a trip to the Berlin Film Festival as the catalysts to get involved with deadCenter.

After a brief stint as a volunteer screener, Camila was able to move up and come on board board as a Guest Short Film Programmer for deadCenter’s festival season. She is honored and excited to promote and discover emerging filmmakers from her community and hopes to become an advocate for diversity and representation in independent filmmaking. Plus, it has always been her dream to sit around and tell people what to watch. Some of her favorite films are Perfect Blue, The Royal Tenenbaums, and Cleo from 5 to 7.

SHORTS PROGRAMMER

Paris Burris is a Chickasaw and Choctaw filmmaker and programmer in Oklahoma City. After obtaining a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma in 2016, she spent some years in the field telling stories of harsh realities. But she soon realized her true passion as a storyteller was in telling stories of fictional realities. Now, she makes independent films with her friends, and is an unabashed cinephile who loves discovering and sharing underseen films. She also runs Femme Film, a monthly series that screens movies made by femmes for free to the Oklahoma community.

HEAD OF PRIDE PROGRAMMING

Laron M. Chapman is an actor, screenwriter, director, and producer from Oklahoma with a BA in Film and Media Studies and a background in journalism and film production.

A passionate screenwriter/filmmaker, his work spans from reality TV featured on the Food Network, FOX, and Discovery Channel, to the Oklahoma-filmed Academy Award-nominated film August: Osage County starring Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, and other stars in the Hollywood film scene.

As a queer, African-American filmmaker, his films explore issues relating to race, identity, and sexuality in a topical and entertaining fashion. Chapman made his directorial debut in 2017 with his now multi-award nominated feature film, “You People.”