Erin Brown Thomas is an award-winning director, writer, and producer who creates “traumedies” — emotionally charged dramedies that disguise deep pathos beneath sharp humor. Her single-shot pilot CHASERS made history as the first narrative project accepted into both Sundance and Slamdance. She recently served on the producing team of the Academy Award–winning short THE SINGERS  which premiered at SXSW. She's currently in post production on LADY KINGS OF TEXAS, her debut feature as a writer/director. Erin was named an Artist in Residence at Palm Springs ShortFest and screened at AMPAV at Cannes. Her feature script THE BODY OF CHRIS, was a Nicholl Fellowship Semifinalist, and she will soon direct six episodes of AND ALSO WITH YOU, an indie series that received a grant from Mark Duplass. As co-founder of the Salute Your Shorts Film Festival, Erin champions emerging filmmakers.

Lauren Reid Brown, a 35 year veteran teacher from Ohio, first got involved with film festivals by attending many that her daughter’s films played in around the country. Her enjoyment of that led to volunteering at several including the Oscar qualifying Cleveland International. Lauren became a screener for Salute Your Shorts’ inaugural festival in 2017 and is now Programming Director.  She enjoys the creativity and heart of independent filmmaking and has served as a judge for several other festivals. Lauren has worked on numerous movie sets in a variety of capacities eventually becoming a Producer. HUMAN, which was shot in her then mountain town of Salida, Colorado soared on the festival circuit.