Staff

Max Becker (he/him)

Director of Operations

Max has been with the organization since 2008. He studied Filmmaking at The Minneapolis College of Art & Design and co-founded Northern Outpost Media, a production company that started as an online web series focusing on the Twin Cities music scene and expanded to produce numerous music videos for local and national artists. Outside of his work in film, Max is an avid cyclist, musician, and home remodeler.

Bethany Gladhill (she/her)

Business Director

Bethany joined FilmNorth as the Interim Business Director in 2012…and at some point noticed that the word “Interim” had fallen off of her title. She joined FilmNorth after almost 20 years in theater management (including at Theatre de la Jeune Lune, the Jungle, and Nautilus Music Theater) and several years of consulting. She has her BA in Drama and English from Tufts University, and her MA in Historic Preservation from Goucher College. Bethany handles FilmNorth’s finance and HR needs, as well as the Fiscal Sponsorship program, which currently has over fifty active projects. A part-time employee, she also consults with a number of other organizations (ranging from circuses to labor unions, think tanks to theaters) in nonprofit management, as well as in evaluation, strategic planning, and access — all skillsets that come to play in her work with the FilmNorth team. That said, she has especially enjoyed learning about the unique complexities of the film world, and hopes to never stop learning!

Rob Ndondo-Lay (he/him)

Director of Engagement and Advancement | McKnight Program Administrator

Rob Ndondo-Lay is a Minneapolis-based filmmaker, educator, and program administrator dedicated to fostering talent in current and future generations of filmmakers. As an alumnus of USC’s Film and Television Production M.F.A. and the University of Minnesota where he researched the correlation between cast diversity and highly profitable commercial successes, he is a strong proponent of arts education and community resourcing for underrepresented artisans. Committed to driving change through innovative works and film education, Rob has contributed to prominent film and television entities such as Verve Talent & Literary Agency, Imagine Entertainment, IMAX, and Fox Searchlight Pictures, as well as distinguished arts, culture, and youth media education programs such as the USC Cinematography Summer Program, FilmNorth’s 2022 Fall Diversity Report, and his most recent achievement: the establishment of Studio Thirteen Future Filmmakers Lab – the Upper Midwest’s pioneering youth filmmaking lab intensive.

With over eight years of youth mentorship and professional development experience, Rob has emerged as a leading advocate for regional film education programming and initiatives.

Nancy Paul (she/her)

Development Director

Nancy has served as FilmNorth’s Development Director since 2014. Working with the Board of Directors and staff, Nancy oversees fundraising and grant management for the organization, including researching new funding prospects, identifying sustainable programming, and grant writing and reporting. She has 20 years of experience in nonprofit development and administration. Former positions include the Volunteer Coordinator for the Minnesota AIDS Project (now Justus Health) and the Program and Development Associate for the Mental Health Association of Minnesota (now Mental Health Minnesota). Nancy has a background in theatre as an actress, director, playwright, and former Board Member of Four Humors Theater in Minneapolis. She holds a BA in Theatre (Acting and Directing) from the College of Fine Arts at Illinois State University in Normal, IL.

Andrew Peterson (he/him)

Executive Director

In addition to being the Executive Director of FilmNorth, the leading filmmaker support organization in the Upper Midwest, Andrew serves as Director of Programming for the Provincetown International Film Festival, a position he’s held since 2006. From 2008-2012 Andrew served as Vice President of Production for Werc Werk Works, an independent film production and finance company, where he co-produced the feature films Howl (Sundance Opening Night 2010), Life During Wartime (Venice, Toronto, New York 2009), Thin Ice (Sundance 2011), and Darling Companion (Sony Pictures Classics, 2011). His other producing credits include World and Time Enough, Older Than America and the segment “This Car Up” for Boys Life 4: Four Play. Andrew holds an MFA from New York University Graduate Film School, where he was named Best Director and Best Screenwriter, and has taught filmmaking at Macalester and Middlebury Colleges. He regularly consults independent films and film festivals.

Abby Stewart (she/her)

CTEP Youth Programs Coordinator

Abby Stewart, a Twin Cities-based screenwriter, director, and educator, brings a vibrant passion and steadfast commitment to her diverse creative pursuits. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Stewart channels her enthusiasm for storytelling into roles spanning management, media production, teaching, and youth mentorship. Notably, she played a pivotal role as an instructor in the inaugural year of FilmNorth’s Studio Thirteen Future Filmmakers Lab, making a significant contribution to the youth filmmaking landscape in the Upper Midwest. Alongside her creative endeavors, Abby has actively supported important DEI filmmaking initiatives, including MN Latinidad Through Film and the upcoming McKnight Media Arts Fellowship BIPOC Panel. With roots in box office and venue management at the Wisconsin Film Festival and beginnings at Excel Studios, an independent brand experience agency, Stewart’s journey exemplifies her dedication to shaping the future of filmmaking with creativity and purpose.

Tom Tarnow (he/him)

Director of Individual Giving

Tom joined Filmnorth after stints in resource development for local theaters including Penumbra Theatre, History Theatre, and Theater MU. He served at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and as national Development Director for Nonviolent Peaceforce. He studied fiction writing and studio arts with a focus on photography at the University of Iowa. In addition Tom has a passion for music as a lyricist and singer and performs regularly in the Twin Cities. He is also the owner/operator of one the last mirror resilvering businesses in the United States.

Reilly Tillman (he/him)

Deputy Director | Education Director

Reilly has served as FilmNorth’s Education Director since 2002, coordinating up to 100 classes and workshops annually in screenwriting, directing, narrative and documentary film production, editing, animation, marketing, and distribution. He also administers a variety of innovative educational programs for FilmNorth including Stories 55 (a filmmaking program for older adults), film production classes for persons with disabilities (in collaboration with the Courage Kenny Institute), and a film arts learning series for underrepresented communities, funded by the Minnesota State Arts Board. He also helps coordinate FilmNorth’s annual Forum, the region’s premier filmmaking conference. In 2012 Reilly began serving as FilmNorth’s Deputy Director, continuing duties as Education Director. He holds a BA in Communications (Radio-TV-Film) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is a documentary filmmaker. Also a musician, Reilly has been a longtime member of the Minnesota Chorale and Minnesota Brass Drum & Bugle Corps.