Cucalorus Staff
Addison Schwab, Programming Assistant (she/her/hers)
Addison Schwab is the Programming Assistant and Jengo’s Playhouse Manager for the Cucalorus Film Foundation. Addison graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a bachelor’s degree in Film Studies and a minor in Leadership. She has an interest in several areas of film production including editing, producing, sound design & recording, directing, and a particular passion for documentary and experimental filmmaking. Addison produced, co-directed, and edited several projects during her undergrad as well as worked as a social media and art department assistant with the local film collective Lunar Kitchen. In her free time, Addison enjoys running, being outdoors, listening to music, and watching and discussing movies with her friends.
Alex Toribio, Marketing Manager (she/her/hers)
Alex Toribio is the Marketing Manager for Cucalorus Film Foundation. She graduated from Towson University in Baltimore, MD with a bachelors in Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. She was a member of the Filipino Cultural Association of Towson during college, then became the Public Relations Coordinator for The Rita M. Cacas Filipino American Foundation. Alex was a video editor and social media creator for a Mental Health and Wellness Education Program called Ommworks, that started in 2020. In 2021, she taught Middle School PE and Health. She moved to Wilmington, NC from La Plata, MD in 2022. Alex is a singer/songwriter who performs around town. You can find her Journey 4 Life album on Spotify. She lives with her partner, Rachel and has 16 houseplants together. She enjoys eating sushi and dancing to anything with a good beat!
Anna Hogelin, Communications Manager (she/her/hers)
Anna is the Communications Manager for the Cucalorus Film Foundation. Originally from Alabama, Anna graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in theatre and a double minor in art history and religious studies. She moved to Wilmington in 2006 to work in the local film industry, working in casting and then serving as the head of wardrobe for various TV shows and independent films. After working on several film projects, Anna transitioned into the publishing industry, working for over a decade as a copywriter, copy editor and content creator. When she’s not working, you can find Anna devoting her time to planning events like the New Hanover County Public Library’s annual Fiction 2 Fashion show for teens, substitute teaching at GLOW Academy or cooking every Bon Appetit recipe she can get her hands on. She loves spending time with her boyfriend, traveling, Sunday brunch with girlfriends, cooking and gardening. Random hobbies from over the years: tap dancing, fire twirling and playing the ukulele.
Annalee Decker, Graphics Specialist (she/her/hers)
Annalee is the Graphics Specialist and, sometimes, Social Media Coordinator, for the Cucalorus Film Foundation. She is currently an honors student at the University of North Carolina – Wilmington where she is majoring in film studies with a double minor in business and journalism. When not in school, Annalee works as a photographer, filmmaker, journalist and commercial whitewater raft guide. Her work is greatly inspired by adventure sports and the wild places these sports take place in. Thus far, her visual and/or written work has been featured by the International Rafting Federation, Rafting Magazine, NorthWest Rafting Company, Canon USA, and the Ansel Adams Trust. In her spare time, Annalee enjoys long-distance running, any activity involving a paddle or surfboard, and drinking far too much funky coffee.
CB Johnson, Operations Manager (he/him/his)
CB is the Operations Manager for Cucalorus and oversees the volunteer, Pop-Up and Drive-In Cinema programs as well as other operational, behind-the-scenes aspects of the Cucalorus Festival. CB began working at Cucalorus in 2017, and when he’s not setting up, striking or managing venues and productions, CB is an active musician and songwriter, performing and recording in Wilmington, NC and the southeastern US. CB earned a BS of Naval Architecture from the US Naval Academy. He has learned live event production through experience, his service as a US Marine (the school of hard knocks and busted knuckles), and his work as a local REALTOR (currently with the Property Shop International Realty). In his spare time, CB enjoys hanging out with his kids, surfing, yoga, exploring the universal field of awareness, and practicing telepathy.
Dan Brawley, Chief Instigating Officer (he/him/his)
Dan Brawley is the Chief Instigating Officer of the Cucalorus Festival, an international celebration of filmmaking, performance and creativity in Wilmington, North Carolina founded in 1994 by Twinkle Doon. Cucalorus screens more than 150 films with a range of multi-disciplinary programs focusing on dance, social justice, horror, southern documentaries, and performance. Cucalorus was one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World, 2022” according to MovieMaker Magazine. Brawley was the founding President of the Film Festival Alliance, an independent non-profit organization that develops and fosters collaboration among mission-driven film festivals around the world. Brawley was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, attended New Hanover High School, and graduated cum laude from Duke University. When he’s not watching your movie, he’s either walking his dog Izzie or surfing on the South End of Wrightsville Beach.
Jenny Robertson, Social Events Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Jenny Robertson is the Social Events Coordinator for the Cucalorus Film Foundation. Originally from Virginia, she is earning her Masters of Fine Arts in Filmmaking at nearby University of North Carolina Wilmington and would like to be a film production professor. A fan of whimsy, art, and making the world a better place (but not too fond of unicorns) she is currently working on her directorial debut with a film based on the Kindred Spirit Mailbox in Sunset Beach, NC. Jenny has worked as an AD and producer for local and commercial shoots, has an event planning background, and was an EMT for 5 years. She fell into the cinema/television world while working as a manager of volunteers for a disaster relief nonprofit and later as a tv producer–thus, she is a sucker for human interest and social justice stories. Jenny enjoys random adventures and showing off what Wilmington has to offer to out-of-town guests. Jenny loves volunteering, rainy days, thrift stores, little free libraries, and gardening. (She’s more of a hoot than this sounds!)
Trish Nicholson, Development Director (she/her/hers)
Trish began at Cucalorus as the Box Office Manager in 2020, and quickly moved into the Sponsorship Coordinator role. She has been–and will continue to be–responsible for managing customer relationships, including donors, sponsors and patrons of the festival, while also working to bring businesses, supporters, attendees, and artists together for a fun, creative, and memorable festival experience. In her role as Development Director, she will expand upon existing relationships and work to continue the foundation’s partnerships with granting organizations. In her past life, she was a school counselor, holding a Master’s in Counseling from UNCG, and has always enjoyed helping and working with others. Along those same lines, her most favorite job is being a mom to her two awesome daughters. She grew up in North Carolina and has called Wilmington home for 12 years. She loves the beach vibe and life, going out to dinner, traveling, hanging with friends & family, and watching movies. One of her favorite childhood movies, and first movie experience in a theater is described below in Haiku style. If you can guess the movie, she’ll send you a postcard!
Drunken alien
Telekinetic empath
Love from outer space