Austin Film Society Announces Six New Board Members
Fall 2025 – Fall 2028
October 21, 2025, AUSTIN, TX— The Austin Film Society announces the election of six new directors to its Board of Directors:
Jimmy Gray is a lifelong Austinite involved in commercial insurance for non-profits, real estate/property management and technology companies; Nixon D. Guerrero brings over 15 years of experience at the Austin-based Troublemaker Studios, currently serving as the studios’ general manager; David Lowery has been a longtime supporter of the AFS Grant and is known as the filmmaker behind such works as The Green Knight and Pete’s Dragon; Rashanna Moss is a high performance strategist who coaches entrepreneurs and executives with a therapeutic, psychologically rooted approach; Janet Pierson was at the helm of the SXSW Film Festival for over 15 years and is a member of the Texas Film Hall of Fame; and Jane Schweppe joins the board as a civic volunteer and philanthropist known for her conservation work in Texas. (Pierson and Schweppe have previously served on the AFS board, with Schweppe having been Board President.)
Each will contribute their breadth of knowledge and experience to the existing board’s expertise. Together, they will help lead AFS through its long-term, institutional goals for supporting film and filmmakers in Texas. They began their tenures in the fall of 2025.
Click here for headshots of the newly announced AFS Board members.
AFS CEO Rebecca Campbell said:
“It has been a thrill to recruit such a dynamic and diverse group to the AFS board. Their combination of creative vision, industry expertise and leadership across film, coaching and business will no doubt propel the Austin Film Society into an even stronger force for the film community.”
The Board of Directors is an integral part of the Austin Film Society, serving in a governance role and supporting AFS’s mission to create life-changing opportunities for filmmakers, catalyze Austin and Texas as a creative hub and bring the community together around great film. Their leadership includes forging connections in the community and providing valuable resources and knowledge to further advance the organization. Board member terms last three years.
The complete AFS Board list is below, including new members :
- Kiki Lambden-Stout – President
- Christopher Rios – Vice President
- Irene Shoghi – Secretary
- Adam Chibib – Treasurer
- Richard Linklater – Founder & Artistic Director
- Katy Bettner
- Kathy Blackwell
- Greg Canally
- Beverly Dale
- Eric DeJernett
- Jimmy Gray
- Nixon Guerrero
- Noah Hawley
- Lisa Hickey
- Mike Jackson
- Bart Knaggs
- David Lowery
- Rashanna Moss
- Chale Nafus
- Heather Page
- Janet Pierson
- Lina Plath
- Celeste Quesada
- Charles Ramírez-Berg
- Jane Schweppe
- Evan Smith
- Ya’Ke Smith
About Austin Film Society
Founded in 1985 by filmmaker Richard Linklater, AFS creates life-changing opportunities for filmmakers, catalyzes Austin and Texas as a creative hub, and brings the community together around great film. AFS supports filmmakers from all backgrounds towards career leaps, encouraging exceptional artistic projects with grants and support services. AFS operates Austin Studios, a 20-acre production facility, to attract and grow the creative media ecosystem. Austin Public, a space for our city’s diverse mediamakers to train and collaborate, provides many points of access to filmmaking and film careers. The AFS Cinema is an ambitiously programmed repertory and first run arthouse with broad community engagement. By hosting premieres, local and international industry events, and the Texas Film Awards, AFS shines the national spotlight on Texas filmmakers while connecting Austin and Texas to the wider film community. AFS is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
