The Long Beach Film Festival will be held on Saturday the 29th & Sunday the 30th of August at the Historic Art Theatre in Long Beach, California. The program will feature new work in both fiction and documentary long and short forms. For more information and the application visit Film Freeway.
Meet the Board
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Teodor Todorov
PRESIDENT
is an international documentary filmmaker and educator with a BA in Digital Filmmaking from Middlesex University London and a Master’s degree in Documentary Filmmaking from Staffordshire University, UK. After completing his studies, he moved to California, where he and his wife opened a boutique wine bar in Long Beach. Alongside running the business, Teodor teaches filmmaking in local elementary school after-school programs, inspiring young creators to tell their own stories. He also serves as the President of the Long Beach Film Festival, where he continues to champion independent voices and global documentary storytelling
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Carole Tokudomi
VICE PRESIDENT
is a Long Beach resident, living locally with her husband and has been deeply engaged in the vibrancy of Retro Row 4th Street for many years. Carole has served on the Art Theatre Board since 2013, playing a key role in shaping its programming and community presence. She has been instrumental in organizing the Art’s beloved annual Oscar Viewing Party, turning it into a signature event for Long Beach’s film and arts lovers.
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Christo Brock
TREASURER
is an American Producer, Director, and Editor best known for the iconic swim documentaryTouch the Wall, the sports films Spirit of the Marathon and Hood to Coast, and the craft beer documentary Brewmance. After earning a degree in drama from Dartmouth College, Christo completed graduate work in film production from the USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. He served as producer on The Long Way Home, which won an Oscar as the Best Documentary Feature at the 1998 Academy Awards. After producing, directing, and distributing the swim documentary Touch the Wall with a new model of self-distribution, Christo made the craft beer film Brewmance - a love letter to home brewing and craft beer. Christo is also a fine art photographer and the creator of Trash Can Art, an entity that brings local art to the city’s trash cans. Christo lives in Long Beach with his wife and son. -
Darith Beng
is a filmmaker and educator with a BA from California State University, Long Beach. He founded CoarseFilm, a production company dedicated to curating a platform that embraces and explores a wide range of artistic styles. Through CoarseFilm, he collaborates closely with independent artists to create and distribute original films. His work is driven by a belief in building a better world for artists—one that prioritizes creative freedom. Darith’s practice centers on creating sustainable pathways for artists to grow in their creative journeys.
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Andi Orendain
is a full-time volunteer and advocate for Orange County’s most vulnerable homeless communities. She brings hands-on experience delivering solutions through emergency family shelters, after-school programs for homeless children, and multi-service hubs for those living on the streets. Guided by the conviction that no child should grow up hungry or homeless, Andi emphasizes early education as a path to breaking the cycle of poverty. She collaborates with the Origins Project Foundation to expand access to STEM education, fostering opportunity and sustainability for future generations. Beyond her homeless advocacy, Andi also champions cultural impact as a board member of the Long Beach Film Festival Foundation, elevating diverse voices through film and storytelling.
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Hunter Steibel
is an actor and filmmaker whose work spans Independent Film, network television, and acclaimed theater. He currently stars in the ensemble film Chasers, which premiered at Sundance 2025and continues a successful international festival run, most recently screening at South By Southwest Sydney. He is also recognizable from numerous national commercial campaigns, including his ongoing role as Jack Boxfor Jack in the Box. Hunter began his career in theater, performing with Tony Award–winning companies such as Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater,and Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
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Sonja Schenk
is a filmmaker who started out as a video installation artist before transitioning to writing, editing, and directing feature films and television. She directed the comedic indie feature film, “The Olivia Experiment,” which received theatrical distribution after a successful festival run. Her TV showrunning credits include ABC’s The Bachelor and The Bachelorette at a time when both shows were top ten series in the U.S. She holds an MFA in Film Production from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and currently teaches film production at Chapman University’s Dodge School of Film and Media Arts. She is also the author of the bestselling “Digital Filmmaking Handbook,” with co-author Ben Long, and the editor of the companion book series, “The Digital Filmmaking Handbook Presents.” She continues to pursue a tandem career as an artist and exhibits her work regularly in museums and galleries, both in the U.S. and internationally. She is a long-time resident of Long Beach, where she is an active member of the local arts community.
