Staff
Monika Leska (she/her/hers) has been with NOFS in various roles since 2010. Originally from Poland, she has a background in organizational management, hospitality, tourism and recreation. Monika is widely regarded as our team’s expert negotiator with an eagle-eye for organizational finances and the production savvy to make NOFF run like a well-oiled machine. She’s modest about it, but Monika is also a movie star, having walked the red carpet at Sundance for voicing a certain infamous jaguar from the Audubon Zoo in the horror short Valerio’s Day Out.
Clint Bowie (he/him/his) is the Artistic Director of the New Orleans Film Society, where he manages the curation of the organization’s year-round programming. He has served on review committees for ITVS, Creative Capital, NEA, FilmNorth, and Latino Public Broadcasting, and has spoken on panels organized by Sundance Institute, Firelight Media, Center for Asian American Media, Palm Springs International ShortFest, ArtHouse Convergence, and others. He has served on the board of directors for the Film Festival Alliance and Advisory Board for the Overlook Film Festival. He previously worked as a print journalist at publications across the country.
Lisa Davis, (she/her/hers) specializes in fundraising, marketing, and community engagement. Before NOFS, she served as the development director at several private independent schools and ran her brand marketing consulting firm, Founded. Lisa is a proud New Orleanian, deeply committed to the betterment of the community and passionate about supporting the arts and culture. She enjoys volunteering at nonprofit events, attending festivals, and learning more about the world through travel. She is a member of Salon 22, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and founder of Mom Force a subkrewe of Chewbacchus.
Hector Cassini (he/him/his) joined the organization in 2016 as a contracted Business Manager. He works with the finance team to provide financial reports, maintain financial controls and assist with the yearly audit. Prior to NOFS, Hector spent a lifetime in the hotel industry working in various financial management roles. All he knows about the film industry he learned from the other people on this page, which he considers a five-star, five-diamond education.
Juliana Goode (she/her/hers) joined our team as Operations Manager after supporting ticketing & membership services in various roles since 2016, and is more than likely the person on the other end of the phone when you call NOFS. Originally from New York, Juliana graduated from Loyola University with a degree in Film & Digital Media, and has worked as a video editor on several local projects. Juliana is also a charcuterie artist–– her colorful boards are the envy of all NOFS staff gatherings. Watch out Martha Stewart.
Zuri Obi is a Haitian-American artist raised with deep cultural roots in magical realism. As a Camerawomxn, she has collaborated with artists such as Solange and Lizzo, and as Creative Producer, her projects have screened at notable film festivals, including Sundance and won top awards at New Orleans Film Festival, AFI and BlackStar. Zuri also works as a Film Curator at New Orleans Film Society, where she champions community-centered cinematic experiences.
Tishon Pugh is a Georgia-born, South Carolina–raised screenwriter, filmmaker, and film programmer. She prefers to explore the themes of comically awkward youth, Southern heritage, queerness, and the unusual in her works. To complement her love of film, Tishon is acquiring a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of South Carolina with a specification in Cultural and Visual Anthropology. Hoping to combine the two, Tishon’s ultimate goal in life is not only to create great stories but help preserve them for the upcoming generations to experience. Tishon has taken up many opportunities to get involved with the film industry over the last few years and has been a cohort in two inaugural programming fellowships with the Athena Film Festival and the Outfest Fusion Film Festival. Outside of any creative endeavors, Tishon enjoys bar trivia, thrifting and occasional rewatches of her favorite tv show, New Girl. As an artist, Tishon’s mission is to make film more accessible to rural areas in the South, expose low-income children to the world of cinema, and play an active role in archiving the Black Southern experience.
Maren Scott (she/her/hers) joined the team as Filmmaker Services Coordinator after wearing many hats in NOFS Programming and Operations since 2021. Maren comes from a long line of educators, community leaders, and creatives shaped by historic Harlem, NY. For the past 10 years, she has leveraged her background in Education and Cultural Studies to amplify the voices of BIPOC and Latinx artists and innovators. Maren is also an international award-winning competitive Angolan Semba dancer and instructor. You can find her making a cameo as “Ms. Shy Hips” in Ekwa Msangi’s film Farewell Amor (and the NOFS voicemail).
Brittany Williams is the Staff Accountant. In this role she works with the finance team to provide financial reports, maintain financial controls and assist with the yearly audit. She has worked in Accounting for almost 10 years with 6 years being in nonprofit. She’s worked with many organizations both as a staff member and as a volunteer throughout her community. Born and raised in New Orleans. Brittany enjoys exploring the city and getting out whenever she can.