Tom Oliva - Founder & Executive Director
Tom is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of The All American High School Film Festival, and Crave Arts, the premier destinations for emerging filmmakers and visual storytellers all over the world. Tom has worked with young creatives in myriad capacities for 25+ years, discovering, developing and connecting a vast network of talented young content creators and building a community of shared passions and lifelong relationships.
In addition, Tom travels the world presenting the AAHSFF Roadshow, writes and produces curriculum for the Video Production Resource Community (for educators) hosts and produces the podcast The Future of Film and works with a wide variety of brand partners, colleges and universities to develop unique and enriching opportunities for ALL emerging content creators.
Tom has produced films for AT&T, IMAX, Sony, Warner Music Group and Atlantic Records, Blackmagic Design, Jostens, Refinery 29, Storyblocks, End Distracted Driving the Ad Council and more.
Contact:
Tom@aahsff.com
C: 845-325-0256
Andrew Jenks - Founder
At the mere age of 19, Andrew moved into an assisted living facility for two months; what started as a simple, low-budget documentary turned into an international hit, ANDREW JENKS, ROOM 335, premiering on HBO in January 2008. The New York Post said, "It's almost impossible to believe that a kid could produce a documentary like this. It's a gorgeous, hilarious, sad, wonderful, unblinking look at the joy of life - even at the end of it.” At 21-years-old, ESPN Films financed his second documentary, the award-winning film THE ZEN OF BOBBY V., which followed Bobby Valentine, the former New York Mets manager and famed American baseball coach who had become a national icon in Japan while managing the Chiba Lotte Marines.
Following the success of Room 335 and The Zen of Bobby V, Jenks created MTV's WORLD OF JENKS, focusing his lens on stories of inspiring yet underrepresented young people, from a young homeless woman to a young adult with Autism. The premiere marked MTV’s largest in history with nearly 10 million viewers. US World News and Report said the show was "a raw, intimate look at daily struggles and victories, and what it means to be a young person today.”
Jenks was also the lead correspondent for MTV News' coverage of the 2012 Presidential Election. The Daily News remarked that "...Jenks has been a voice for his generation for some time...and is carrying the weight of a potential 45 million younger voters on his shoulders.” In 2013, Jenks teamed with Scholastic to publish his book MY ADVENTURES AS A YOUNG FILMMAKER.
In 2015, CNN Films released Jenks’ award-winning short film, ALL-AMERICAN FAMILY, a film that chronicled an all-Deaf high school championship football team. That same year, Jenks premiered his award-winning feature documentary, DREAM/KILLER which The New York Times said, “elicits incredulity, frustration and astonishment...is fast-paced and frightening”. The film is currently available on Netflix. Through his work on Dream/Killer Jenks created and executive produced the documentary series, UNLOCKING THE TRUTH, which helped contribute to the release of Kalvin Michael Smith, who was wrongfully incarcerated for 20 years.
Other projects Jenks has directed include ESPN's 30/30 short film POSTERIZED, part of ESPN’s Emmy Award-Winning series, and and the MAC Aids Fund feature film IT'S NOT OVER, which he shot in India, South Africa, and America and premiered on World Aids Day on global platforms including Netflix and Hulu.
Andrew writes and hosts the critically-acclaimed documentary podcast series WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?, produced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, which reached #1 on Apple Podcasts and is in its fourth season. The show delves into historical events overlooked or misunderstood. He also co-writes and hosts the critically-acclaimed podcast GANGSTER CAPITALISM. Season one, which was nominated for a prestigious Peabody Award, focused on the college admissions scandal.
Jenks has also developed two scripted fictional series with ABC Studios and HBO respectively.
Andrew is the founder of The All-American High School Film Festival, the largest high school film festival in the world. Held annually in New York City, the festival has awarded over $3,500,000 in prizes and scholarships to the best emerging filmmakers from around the world. Jenks is also a mental health advocate, teaming with different organizations, in order to destigmatize depression and other disorders.
Eric Jacks - Director of Marketing and Communications
Eric Jacks is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the All American High School Festival and Co-Founder | Board Member of Crave Student Arts. In this role he is responsible for overseeing all marketing initiatives and strategic partnerships on behalf of the festival and the foundation. A seasoned marketing executive with more than 15 years of experience, Eric is tasked with helping build these organizations by leveraging his network of relationships with various brand and celebrity partners.
Prior to AAHSFF, he was head of the Entertainment and Intellectual Property group at Rogers & Cowan, one of the world’s leading entertainment publicity and marketing firms with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville and Florida. There he was responsible for development of various multi-platform, branded-entertainment initiatives for R&Cs brand and talent clients through the creation of entertainment franchises, development of original content strategies and monetization of their intellectual property. This included projects for Sony Pictures Television, Billboard, The Grammy’s and numerous others.
Before Rogers & Cowan, Eric was a Senior Agent/Executive at CAA managing Global Brand Partnerships as part of CAA’s Lifestyle Talent division, while also serving as a member of the Executive Team for CAA’s digital content practice. His efforts included developing groundbreaking entertainment franchises for high profile clients including Anthony Zuiker (“CSI” and John Woo (“Face Off,” “Mission Impossible II”).
Prior to CAA, he served in various Executive Producer and Brand Strategy roles at several high profile media industry companies including Yahoo!, Tribal DBB, RAPP, Slingshot, Vimation and The Regan Group.
Eric’s career accomplishments include the creation of award-winning campaigns and strategic partnerships for brands such as Victoria’s Secret, NBC Universal, ABC, Lionsgate, Dreamworks, The New York Times, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Samsung, Hilton Hotels, Mattel and Ford/Lincoln.
Chris Omar - Festival Producer
Chris Omar is the Festival Producer of the All American High School Film Festival. As an AAHSFF Alumni (‘15-’16), he brings a tremendous passion for supporting and developing emerging student filmmakers. His early productions won multiple awards and he was recognized as an AAHSFF Official Selection and Finalist in 2015 and 2016. While attending Brooklyn College, Chris directed and produced the documentary, "You Found A Home" which was an Official Selection at DOCNYC 2019.
In addition to his role with AAHSFF, Chris is a freelance producer, director, writer and cinematographer, developing a multitude of projects ranging from music videos to documentaries with the intent of telling stories of communal resilience, individual growth, and how we can collectively prevail.
Contact:
chris@aahsff.com
Lloyd Lenox - Creative Director
Lloyd Lenox is the AAHSFF’s Creative Director, leading the festival’s design and creative direction from concept to creation. With a background in artist development in the music industry combined with years spent as a narrative filmmaker, he takes point on identifying artistic trends and tailoring visual experiences that speak to the filmmakers of tomorrow.
When Lloyd isn’t putting together moodboards or designing our next campaign, he works as a resident filmmaker & co-founder of NY based production company, Dark Sun Pictures, that focuses on highly stylized storytelling.
Ashley Gonzalez - Production Coordinator
Ashley Gonzalez is the Production Coordinator of the All American High School Film Festival. An AAHSFF Alumni (’18-’19), she was awarded a Tindie for Best Broadcast Journalism Feature Story in 2019. She recently graduated from the University of Central Florida and wants to continue building up the community of student filmmakers across the globe.
As Production Coordinator, Ashley runs the AAHSFF social media accounts and assists with video production, event production and logistical coordination throughout the year.
Contact:
ashley@aahsff.com
Sydney Garramone - Production Coordinator
Sydney Garramone is the Production Coordinator of the All American High School Film Festival. She is currently majoring in Communications at Palm Beach State College and wants to continue to pursue her passions in the film industry. She is currently a News Editor at CBS 12 News.
As Production Coordinator, Sydney assists with video production, event production and logistical coordination throughout the year.
Nicole Borman - Social Media Coordinator
Nicole Borman is the Social Media Coordinator for the All American High School Film Festival. She is currently majoring in Journalism at the University of Florida and wants to continue to help rising students in both broadcast and film. She was named 2022 Student of the Year for Student Television Network.
As Social Media Coordinator, Nicole runs all AAHSFF social media accounts and assists with video production throughout the year.
Our Volunteers
AAHSFF wouldn't be possible without the help of our wonderful volunteers! Interested in volunteering for this year's festival? Visit our volunteer sign up page.