2024 Filmmakers
Rocky Mountain Women's Film is thrilled to introduce you to an extraordinary lineup of attending filmmakers.
At Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival, we believe that the magic of a film doesn’t end with the closing credits. It’s in the stories behind the stories, the passion behind the lens, and the creativity that drives filmmakers to bring their visions to life. That’s why we’re proud to present an exclusive opportunity for you to connect with these talented storytellers through our post-screening Q&A sessions.
Maggie Hartmans
director
Maggie Hartmans is an award-winning filmmaker with a lifelong dream of using cinematic storytelling to shift culture and change the world. With a strong background in indie filmmaking, she has worn several hats, from writing to editing and producing a diverse array of films, including narrative features and documentaries.
Vicki Abeles
Director
Vicki Abeles is a filmmaker, attorney, and change agent who prioritizes the power of stories to empower communities. She directed the award-winning documentaries “Race to Nowhere” and “Beyond Measure.” She is the author of the The New York Times best-selling book “Beyond Measure: Rescuing an Overscheduled, Overtested, Underestimated Generation.” Additional film credits include associate producer roles on “Miss Representation” and “Plastic Man: The Artful Life of Jerry Ross Barrish.” She also produced the national live-stream of “State of the Kids: Uniting for Youth Mental Health.”
Sarah Rodenbaugh
writer / producer / lead
Sarah Rodenbaugh is an award-winning actor, writer and producer. She has received rave reviews and dozens of festival acting awards for her short film, HANGMAN, including multiple Best Short Film, Grand Jury and Audience Choice Awards. She’s appeared in many commercials and creates content that is both funny and poignant. This includes her web series BROS, countless sketch and improv shows all over the country including The Groundlings, Straitjacket Society (Winners of Funny Women Festival), and Upright Citizens Brigade. Sarah recently received high praise and 4 awards from John Patrick Shanley, including Best Actress.
Tiffany Herron
Producer
Tiffany Joy Herron is an emerging writer and graduate of the MA English Creative Writing program at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. She is currently a co producer for the Ben Crump film How to Sue the Klan directed by award winning producer, John Beder. She is also working on a lyrical memoir following her journey of discovering her Pacific Island roots.
Amy Toensing
director
Amy Toensing is a visual journalist committed to telling stories with sensitivity and depth. A regular contributor to National Geographic magazine for over twenty years, Toensing has reported on topics around the world, including indigenous communities and their connection to land, the impact of drought on communities, and social rights for women in Uganda and India.
Beth Lane
director
Beth Lane is the award-winning director, executive producer and writer of the feature documentary film, UnBroken. An actress, singer and dancer, she is a second-generation Holocaust survivor. Beth’s driving force has always been to create spaces to exercise our collective capacity for empathy through storytelling, design and meditation. Building bridges for a better future is paramount to her work.
Andrea Kalin
director
Andrea Kalin is an award-winning filmmaker and founder of Spark Media, a production group that brings cinematic storytelling to the social impact space. Kalin’s storytelling gifts have earned her over 100 industry awards, including a Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe and WGA nominations. Kalin seeks out unexpected, gripping human stories that shape who we are and shift how we see our world. Her spirited storytelling inspires audiences and sparks the imagination.
Pamela Hogan
director
Pamela Hogan is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker whose doc Looks Like Laury, Sounds Like Laury was hailed as one of the “10 Best TV Shows of 2015” by The New York Times. She was executive producer and series producer on PBS’s Wide Angle series (2002-2009) and Co-creator and Executive Producer of PBS’s Women, War & Peace series (2011). Recognized with a National Council for Research on Women Making a Difference for Women award, her work has been honored by the Overseas Press Club, the Television Academy Honor, and the ABA’s Silver Gavel.
Tova Krentzman
director / writer / producer
Tova’s career trajectory toward filmmaking is as layered and experiential as the stories she likes to tell. Always curious and passionate to see, do and learn, her films reflect the nuanced relationships between communities, cultures and environments. Her world premiere of Fire Tower at Hot Docs resulted in winning the audience choice award for best mid length film. In 2022, Tova won the Available LIght Film festival pitch prize for Fire Tower. In 2021, Tova’s short film Harshama earned her the Emerging Artist Jury prize at the Dawson City International Film Festival. Tova is currently stationed in the Yukon,Canada.
Behind the Lens
Filmmaker Forums
open to all pass holders
Filmmakers make the festival! Take advantage of one or both of our FILMMAKER FORUMS during lunch on Saturday and Sunday. If you pre-purchased a box lunch they will be available to pick-up at Gaylord Hall just before the forum.
Saturday Topic
OCTOBER 19, 1:15PM
DOCUMENTARY STORYTELLING: STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE
This forum challenges the myth of documentary objectivity, exploring how filmmakers balance objectivity with subjectivity, entertainment with education, and personal with social issues. Featuring women directors, it highlights the challenges of centering underrepresented voices while maintaining authenticity. Attendees will gain insights into how balanced storytelling enhances audience engagement and deepens understanding of documentary films’ social impact.
Sunday Topic
OCTOBER 20, 1:15 PM
FILM AS HEALING: TELLING TRAUMA, HISTORY AND RESILIENCE IN WOMEN’S STORIES
This forum explores film’s power to process trauma, make difficult histories relevant, and highlight resilience in women’s experiences. Filmmakers will discuss using storytelling as a tool for healing and empowerment, turning painful experiences into narratives that inspire reflection and social change. Attendees will gain insights into balancing the portrayal of trauma with sensitivity while emphasizing the strength of often untold stories.
