Who We Are

Our Mission

Pacific Arts Movement presents Asian and Asian American Pacific Islander media arts to San Diego residents and visitors in order to inspire, entertain, and support a more compassionate society.

Our Vision

How We Achieve Our Mission

Presenting unique, culturally-enriching programs that would otherwise be inaccessible to the public

Engaging the public in meaningful discourse that promotes positive social change through our programs

Promoting artistic excellence, innovation and the independent voice

Strengthening San Diego as an arts destination

Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Pac Arts promotes diversity and equal opportunity in all its programs, activities, and employment practices, ensuring that our programs and workplace are free from discrimination and harassment, and to fostering a culture of equity, respect, and inclusion.

Our Values

The Things We Hold Dear

Innovation & Creativity

Exceeding Expectations

Social & Artistic Leadership

Commitment to Inclusion & Diversity

Playfulness

What We Do

Our Team

Leadership

Alex C. Villafuerte

Executive Director

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Alex C. Villafuerte

Pronouns: he/him/his

Alex Villafuerte is a Filipino-American who has been a prominent community organizer and advocate since 2016. They have worked with organizations such as the Asian Business Association San Diego, San Diego Pride, the San Diego Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, and NQAPIA, advocating for the rights of marginalized, intersectional communities and individuals.

As the Executive Director of Pacific Arts Movement, Alex oversees a team of staff and volunteers to put on one of the country’s largest showcases of Asian, Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander media. He also serves as the co-chair for the San Diego API Coalition, helping organize over 50 AA & NHPI-serving organizations in the region to foster collaboration and capacity building.

During their advocacy, Villafuerte oversaw the creation of several organizations and programs, including the San Diego Queer APIMEDA Coalition, the San Diego API Coalition, and the San Diego Pride Youth Art Show. While at San Diego Pride, Villafuerte generated over $3 million in ticket sales for the San Diego Pride Festival, enabling the organization to increase its philanthropic giving to over $3.2 million since 2022.

Villafuerte is a proud alumnus of Morse High School in Southeast San Diego and San Diego State University, where they received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

Email: alex@pacarts.org

Phone: 619-400-5911

Brian Hu

Artistic Director

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Brian Hu

Pronouns: he/him/his

Brian Hu is a film curator and Associate Professor of Television, Film, and New Media at San Diego State University. He has curated film series for the Criterion Channel and the UCLA Film and Television Archive and was previously the Asian film programmer for the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Brian holds a PhD in Cinema and Media Studies from UCLA, where he completed a dissertation on Hong Kong and Taiwan cinemas with a Fulbright fellowship. He has published widely on Asian cinemas, Asian American media, and global film cultures and is the author of the book Worldly Desires: Cosmopolitanism and Cinema in Hong Kong and Taiwan. He has co-edited special sections on Asian American cinema for the journals Screen and Film Quarterly, for which he is also a contributing editor. He is currently contracted to co-edit the anthology Oxford Handbook of Chinese American Cinema. Brian has served on international film festival juries, has served on film granting committees at the local and national levels, and was a juror for the International Documentary Association awards. His film history podcast Saturday School, co-produced with journalist Ada Tseng, has been highlighted by Vanity Fair and Reader’s Digest as a top AAPI podcast.

Email: brian@pacarts.org

Glenn Heath Jr.

Managing Director

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Glenn Heath Jr.

Pronouns: he/him

Glenn Heath brings over a decade of non-profit management experience to his role overseeing film festival operations, education programs, volunteer recruitment, and internships. He also currently serves as the Artistic Director of the Digital Gym Cinema, an independent arthouse theater in downtown San Diego, curating first-run and repertory films for San Diego audiences, and as an adjunct lecturer of Film Studies in the Television, Film, and New Media department at San Diego State University. During his tenure as lead film critic for the San Diego Citybeat, he reviewed hundreds of films and conducted career-spanning interviews with filmmakers like Richard Linklater and John Salyes. His film criticism has also appeared online and in print at Slant Magazine, Cineaste, Mubi’s The Notebook, Little White Lies, RogerEbert.com, Senses of Cinema, and The Film Stage. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from UC Santa Barbara and Master of Arts from San Diego State University.

Email: glenn@pacarts.org

Carmela Prudencio

Director of Marketing and Communications

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Carmela Prudencio

Pronouns: they/she

Carmela Prudencio (she/they) is a nonprofit communications professional, curator, visual artist, and community organizer in San Diego. As Marketing and Communications Director, she is passionate about storytelling and amplifying community voices through activism, film, visual arts, and youth mentorship.

In her organizing work, she works on city and county levels to promote racial equity emphasizing intersectionality and community care. As a high energy creative and fierce advocate, she is ambitious in creating spaces with her community that activate joy, foster a sense of belonging, and emphasize collective strength. Through crafting meaningful messages and community activations, she is dedicated to empowering communities and creating enduring social change.

She has collaborated with various art institutions and grassroots organizations throughout the San Diego/Tijuana region and has exhibited work in Tijuana, MX and Quezon City, PH. Carmela has worked with the Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego Underground Film Festival, San Diego Latino Film Festival, Convoy Cultural District and numerous arts institutions and grassroots organizations. She is currently a co-conspirator and curator at Teros Gallery, and a member of Asian Solidarity Collective.

Email: carmela@pacarts.org

Zia Sinclair

Development Manager

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Zia Sinclair

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Zia Sinclair is an arts and culture professional, advocate, and visual artist with an academic background in Digital Journalism Studies. She brings extensive professional experience from the nonprofit sector. Zia’s work has been exhibited as a visual artist at venues such as the San Diego Art Institute, the Oceanside Museum of Art, La Bodega Gallery, and various local art spaces.

As a strong advocate for the arts, Zia has recently honed her advocacy skills through the San Diego Emerging Leaders Arts Advocacy Program, a collaboration between SD Art Matters and California for the Arts. In this capacity, she actively supports the essential role of arts and culture in community growth, economic opportunities, and social cohesion. Zia’s unwavering belief in the transformative power of art drives her advocacy, seeing it as a potent medium for emotional expression, opinion sharing, and stimulating conversations that foster positive community development. Her advocacy extends to ensuring that the arts are represented at the legislative level, securing funding, advancing policies that benefit artists, and ensuring a creative future for California.

Zia is deeply committed to her community, constantly striving to make significant contributions. In her leisure time, she immerses herself in art-house cinema, indulges in reading, and creates visual art, frequently experimenting with both digital and analog photography and videography.

Email: zia@pacarts.org

Phone: 619-400-5911

Alissa Tu

Grant Writer

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Alissa Tu

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Alissa Tu supports philanthropy and the grant proposal process. Alissa is a Vietnamese American writer from Olympia, Washington. She holds an MFA in Writing from UC San Diego. She published her debut experimental memoir, Confessions of a Modern Day Kumiho with Blue Cactus Press in 2022. She has been published by the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, Diasporic Vietnamese Artist Network, and Honey Literary. Her passion for Asian cinema, combined with her writing skills, uniquely positions her for this occupation.

Email: alissa@pacarts.org

Jamuelle B. Zumel

Video Production Coordinator

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Jamuelle B. Zumel

Jamuelle B. Zumel supports the creation, production, and management of multimedia content. Their responsibilities include content production, engaging with storytellers, documenting events, and managing project logistics. Additionally, they lead the video production team, handle equipment and digital assets, and ensure successful project outcomes to promote culturally relevant narratives and foster greater understanding through engaging multimedia content. Jamuelle is an AAPI Director, Producer, and Actor from San Jose, California, now residing in San Diego, California. His most recent on-screen role as “CS Romi” in the Master Chief Part One can be seen on AppleTV and streaming platforms. Jamuelle has also been behind the camera as a 1st AD, Director, and Producer for numerous productions, including Union and Non-Union feature films and commercials.

Email: jamuelle@pacarts.org

Charles Thunyakij

Education Coordinator

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Charles Thunyakij

Pronouns: he/him/his

Charles Thunyakij develops and manages educational programs, including the Reel Voices youth documentary filmmaking program. He is a dedicated educator with over 10 years of experience in arts education. Charles has worked with students and communities at MOPA, Mingei, Art Reach, the New Children’s Museum, and schools across San Diego. He has seen the transformative power of education and community engagement firsthand. From guiding students through traditional bookbinding to joining them in powerful protests for social justice, he is continually inspired by the energy and activism of today's youth. Charles believes in creating safe spaces where young people can thrive and make a difference. He is eager to continue supporting and collaborating with the next generation of changemakers, amplifying their voices. With his wealth of experience and passion for education coordination, he is committed to amplifying diverse voices and fostering community engagement. He dedicates himself to developing innovative programs that empower learners of all ages to explore, create, and connect through the power of film and cultural storytelling.

Email: charles@pacarts.org

Moriah Hayes

Reel Voices Instructor

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Moriah Hayes

Jannah Maling

Graphic Design Coordinator

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Jannah Maling

Stacey Uy

Brand Manager

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Stacey Uy

Oreo

Office Dog

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Oreo

Pronouns: she

Oreo is a diva Chihuahua with a love for belly rubs and an attitude as big as her personality! She's always ready to be pampered and steals the spotlight wherever she goes.

Deputy Artistic Director

  • Christina Ree

Programmers

  • Brian Hu
  • Lev Kalman
  • Wentao Ma
  • Justin Nguyen
  • Neha Pearce
  • Christina Ree
  • Noelle Sepina
  • Kim-Anh Schreiber
  • Laura Skokan
  • Alissa Tu
  • JJ Weber
  • Wilda Wong

Programming Interns

  • Jeremy Aranda
  • Kalohe Danbara

Contributing Writers

  • Selena Do
  • Anthony Yooshin Kim
  • Emily Liu

Graphic Design Coordinator

  • Jannah Maling

Publication Designer

  • Nina Cristobal

Website Developer

  • Ellie Nguyen

Graphic Designer

  • Zachary Fianza

Graphic Design Interns

  • Emily Nguyen
  • Brynn O’Quinn

Social Media Coordinator

  • Dana Del Castillo

Social Media Intern

  • Angelyn Felices

Digital Marketing Intern

  • Attila Sharipbek

Digital Marketing Intern, Public Relations Assistant

  • Maddy Marques

Video Production Team

  • Henry Liu
  • Albert Vu
  • Angelyn Felices
  • Ashleigh Budiwarman
  • Riley McGuire

VPT Intern Team

  • Ray Carlos
  • Murielle Marra
  • Stephanie Toy

Photography Coordinator

  • Jose Bucud

Photographers

  • John Pascasio
  • Allan Regala
  • Edward Sebastian Jr.
  • Scott Norland

Community Outreach

  • Stephanie Toy

Volunteer Coordinator

  • Christine Pasalo Norland

Volunteer Leads

  • Alex Chow
  • Tracy Ebba
  • Hanna Lam
  • Ida Lyn Mendoza
  • Harmon Tom
  • Roshelle Valdez
  • Phoenix Yang

Theater Operations Manager

  • Kristian Perez-Franco

House Managers

  • Nicholas Bedussi
  • Yakira Delgadillo
  • Tim Galang
  • Veronica Gehlken
  • Nicholas Leon-Guerrero
  • Keli Pallares

Line Managers

  • Michael Medina
  • Ian Curtis

Facilities Coordinators

  • Juan Lopez
  • Ian Curtis

Special Events Coordinator

  • Lauren Garces

Special Events Team

  • Kait Joven O’Connor
  • Kathleen Dang
  • Ashleigh Budiwarman
  • Andrew Izu
  • Tereese Bangayan

Guest Services Manager

  • Selena Do

Guest Services Team

  • Jeremy Aranda
  • Kalohe Danbara
  • Kristy Totten

Box Office

  • CJ “COZA” Mendoza

Projectionist Lead

  • Chris Paffendorf

Projection Team

  • Moises Esparza
  • Jon Miller
  • Michael Mowry
  • Chris Myers

Reel Voices Instructor

  • Moriah Hayes

Reel Voices Coordinator

  • Henry Liu

Reel Voices Assistant Instructor

  • Ronnie Moreno

Festival Trailer

  • Amy Fan

Our Board

Executive Committee

Huy Ly | Chair

President & CEO, Meijun

Shirely Sanz | Secretary

Director Emeritus, InspirASIAN

MyMy Lu | Vice-Chair

Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Petco

Alex Yamashiro | Treasurer

Senior Vice President, PNC Bank

Members at Large

Brett MacLeod

Senior Relationship Strategist, PNC Private Bank

Charmaine Orcino-Gonzales

Realtor, Palisade Realty/COG Real Estate

Christian Garcia

Branch Manager, US Bank

Harlen Bayha

CFO & CTO, Bayha Group

Jane Lee

Entertainment Reporter, JaneLeeMedia

Kat Flores

Global Recruiting Leader, Google

Kathy Ilacqua

Sr. Regional Solutions Specialist. Rent, a Redfin company

Samantha Trinh

Managing Director, Deloitte & Touche, LLP

Walton Chan

CEO, Mojo Licensing LLC

Advisory Committee

Brian Sun

Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Turning Point Therapeutics, Inc.

Deborah Hall

Marketing Professional

Gary Wong

Retired

Stephen Chin

Manager, Accounts Management & Community Relations, Sharp Health Plan

Wendy Gillespie

President & CEO, Starhawk Productions

Join Us

Jobs

No positions open at this time

Community Outreach and Engagement Internship

SDAFF 2024

Learn more

Digital Marketing Intern

Year-round internships accommodating for shorter or longer terms

Learn more

Film Festival Programming Intern

SDAFF 2024

Learn more

Graphic Design Intern

Year-round internships accommodating for shorter or longer terms

Learn more

Volunteer Opportunities

Check out our volunteer page to learn more