The St John Film Society comprises a group of local filmmakers and film enthusiasts who have joined together for the purpose of exposing St John audiences of all ages to film and filmmakers from throughout the Caribbean and beyond. Their focus is on independent films that feature Caribbean-related cultures and issues. The society is not-for-profit and operates under the financial umbrella of the St John Community Foundation.
The St. John Community Foundation’s mission is to promote programs that strengthen community and family values and enhance the quality of life for all members of our community. It is a well-respected local endeavor that maintains 501(c)(3) status.
CURRENT STAFF
Andrea Leland: Director of Programming
Julie Fortunato: Programming and all around support
Jon Eichner: Technical Assistant, website maintenence
Sigi Torinus: Website Administrator
FOUNDING MEMBERS
Andrea Leland: Founding Member
Leland is an artist and independent filmmaker. She has produced and directed a number of award winning documentaries focusing on Caribbean and Latin American cultures. Her filmmaking experience covers a span of over twenty years.
In 1998 Ms. Leland co-founded and co-directed REELTIME, a monthly screening series in Evanston Illinois (www.reeltimeevanston.org). Currently Ms. Leland spends most of her time in the Virgin Islands For additional information about Ms. Leland, see www.andrealeland.com.
Sigi Torinus: Founding Member
Sigi Torinus is an artist who creates hybrid, new media works with an emphasis on video, performance and site-specific installation. Native to the Virgin Islands, her migratory journey has inspired her to explore ideas of origin and destination: mobility, navigation, cultural displacement and diasporic histories. She holds an MFA from the Braunschweig Art Institute, Germany, and San Francisco State University in California. Her works have been exhibited in the US, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia and Canada.
As consultant/designer Ms. Torinus accompanied–since its inception–the well known and highly successful “Berlin and Beyond Film Festival” in San Francisco; she now is involved with GermanGems, a new film festival in San Francisco showcasing inspiring and thought-provoking films from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This experience is instrumental in her role as as creative consultant/committee member of the St. John Film Society. For additional information about Ms Torinus, see sigitorinus.com
Rea McQueen Roberts: Founding Member and former publicist for St. John Film Society.
Martha Hills: Founding Member and former writer for St. John Film Society.
PARTNERS
St John Community Foundation acts as fiscal agent or fiduciary for the St John Film Society. It is non-profit and maintains 501(c)(3) status. SJCF’s executive director is Paul Devine. Donations to the St. John Film Society are encouraged and should be sent directly to Paul Devine at SJCF.
St. John School of the Arts, a non-profit community art school, has been dedicated to offering children and adults in the community the opportunity to receive the highest quality of instruction in arts education, encompassing dance, music and art. The School of the Arts hosts our Cruz Bay presentations.
Elaine I. Sprauve Library and Museum is a free non-sectarian public library whose aim is to provide useful and accessible information for all ages. The library maintains cultural and recreational resources and materials which encourage and support personal growth and quality of life.
Selected titles from our monthly film screenings will be donated to the library and made available to the public.
For more information please email: info@stjohnfilm.com