Team

Cathleen Carr is an arts and culture nonprofit leader and storyteller who has extensive experience in arts education and administration, performance, production and community-based collaboration.

Prior to joining newportFILM, Cathleen worked for a decade with Opening Act, an arts education nonprofit that brings theater-based programming to over 50 New York City public schools. Serving as Director of Programs as well as Director of Innovation and Engagement, Cathleen oversaw significant programmatic and organizational growth, clearing the path for hundreds of young NYC artists towards the stage and beyond.

As a performer, producer and educator, Cathleen has lived and worked in Chicago, Boston and New York City. Her original comedy has been produced Off-Broadway, she has worked internationally in documentary film production and has facilitated numerous workshops to clients such as HBO, Lincoln Center International and Fordham University.

An alum of Goddard College in Vermont, Cathleen is a graduate of the New York Community Trust Leadership Fellows program and University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Program in Arts and Culture Strategy. Outside the office, Cathleen loves improvising, exploring new hiking trails with her family and dreaming up new podcast ideas.

Get in touch: ccarr [at] newportfilm [dot] com

Andrea van Beuren is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of newportFILM, which is now in its 14th season. She is also the President of Sustainable Films (SF), a company focused on developing, producing, and financing nonfiction films and series. SF’s recent projects include Natalie Rae/Angela Patton’s DAUGHTERS (Sundance 2024), Lauren Greenfield’s SOCIAL STUDIES (Telluride 2024) and Max Keegan’s THE SHEPHERD AND THE BEAR (Camden 2024). Notable past works include Jeff Orlowski’s THE SOCIAL DILEMMA, Elyse Steinberg/Josh Kriegman’s THE FIGHT and Morgan Neville’s WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR.

Get in touch: avanbeuren [at] newportfilm [dot] com

Brendan started working at newportFILM in 2014 and has produced over 35 events per year in his roles as Technical Director and now as Director of Operations and Events. Brendan has been integrally involved in the technical production at newportFILM events, managing the audio, video and all other technical aspects for every event. Additionally in his role as Director of Operations and Events, Brendan manages vendor bookings and contractors, oversees administrative tasks in finance and insurance, works directly with film studios on print shipping and media management, and coordinates with venues on event details and planning.   

Before his work at newportFILM, Brendan graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in History and Music and went on to earn his Masters Degree in Arts Administration from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2014. He has worked at various music festivals, including jobs in stage management, hospitality, and sound engineering. Outside of his work at newportFILM, Brendan is a full-time musician who performs weekly with multiple bands and hosts a bi-weekly community jam session at a local theater. 

Get in touch: bkeogh [at] newportfilm [dot] com

Jess Walsh is a marketing and communications professional with a background in marketing, business operations, and journalism. As Director of Marketing and Partnerships, Jess leads visioning and execution of newportFILM’s annual marketing strategy, including cultivating relationships with partners and sponsors.

Throughout Jess’s career, she has developed comprehensive multi-platform marketing campaigns, managed large-scale events, and led her teams to success with a positive attitude and exceptional leadership. Prior to newportFILM, Jess served as Director of Operations for PMC Media Group (PMC). At PMC, she oversaw marketing for nearly one hundred national and international clients, including the Newport International Boat Show, which surpassed attendance records in 2021 under her leadership. 

Jess previously led marketing, social media, and business operations at an expansive Rhode Island vineyard, where she paved the way for partnerships with the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Boston Celtics, and Newport Folk Festival, strengthening the vineyard’s community relationships. Jess expanded the business tenfold and facilitated over fifty large-scale events including concerts, weddings, and charity events. 

Jess nurtured her love of storytelling as a student of journalism. An alum of Northern Vermont University, Jess graduated with a Bachelor’s in Journalism with a focus in Television Studies and started her career as a television news producer. 

A long-time resident of Newport, Jess looks forward to bringing impactful films and expanding partnership opportunities within the community she adores. Outside of the office, you can find Jess skiing the mountains of New England, walking at Sachuest Point, or enjoying the beautiful sunsets at Newport’s Second Beach. 

Get in touch: jwalsh [at] newportfilm [dot] com

Get in touch: dtorres [at] newportfilm [dot] com

Prior to Newport Film, Anna attended the University of Rhode Island graduating with a Film/Media degree where she got a jump on her film career working on local independant short films.

Anna has always been passionate about bringing arts into the communities she is a part of, always trying to find a balance between filmmaking and community action.

Her first job out of college was a PBS documentary series on Fenway Park where she learned the ins and outs of documentary filmmaking. Seeing how much telling the history of Fenway meant to the Boston community made her realize documentary work takes two of her passions and blends them seamlessly.

In her free time she enjoys curating niche playlists, writing short stories or scripts, finding new beauty in the world through photography, and long walks on the beach.

Get in touch: aviola [at] newportfilm [dot] com

Jennifer boasts over twenty years of industry experience, including prestigious stints at CBS and FOX. Holding a significant tenure at CNN as a Senior Editorial Producer for almost a decade, she played a pivotal role in shaping their morning shows and earning herself an Emmy nomination. Currently, Jennifer’s expertise takes center stage on MSNBC’s weekend morning show, “The Weekend” where her production prowess continues to shine.

In 2021, Jennifer made the move to Newport, fully embracing the maritime spirit by joining Sail Newport, where she immerses herself in sailing lessons and volunteer work. A proud alumna of The University of Rhode Island, she not only takes pride in her professional accomplishments but also cherishes her role as a devoted Aunt. Beyond her career and family ties, Jennifer’s adventurous spirit shines through as she pursues her wanderlust. A testament to this was in 2019 when she embarked on an unforgettable expedition to Antarctica.

Terri was newportFILM’s first Executive Director, leading the program from its inception in June of 2010 until she transitioned to the Board of Directors in October 2017. The majority of her career has been spent in the marketing, development and management of films, talent, festivals, and other events. Prior to her position as Executive Director of newportFILM she worked for eight years as a publicist for New Line Cinema, was the Head of worldwide theatrical publicity for Chris Blackwell’s Palm Pictures in New York and Los Angeles and worked as a unit publicist on a number of small and large budget narrative films shot in and around New England.

Nancy is a film and television producer based in New York City. Her most recent project was as co-producer of a PBS documentary titled “Demystifying Dyslexia”. She was an associate producer of the documentary “Street Dogs” for National Geographic. Her television credits include “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” for ABC, “Crank Yankers”, for Comedy Central, the ABC Special, “David Blaine: Street Magic”. Donahoe began her career at Actors’ Equity Association, where she negotiated film and television agreements on behalf of AEA members. From 1998-2004, she was the co-founder and Director of the Newport International Film Festival. She is an active member of the Cubs Committee of the New York Public Library Board. She serves on the benefit committees of Room to Grow (NYC and Boston) which provides support to babies born into poverty and their parents from birth to three years and the East Harlem Tutorial Program. Donahoe, her husband and two children live in New York City and Newport, RI.

Jim Miller is the owner of Embrace Benefits – an employee benefits consulting practice that specializes in small and midsize companies. Jim has lived in Newport County for over 30 years. Jim is active in the community and has helped many organizations including: Salve University Business Accreditation Committee, Newport County YMCA Board of Directors, Middletown Youth Soccer Club Board of Directors, Sail America Board of Directors, Small Business Association of New England Board of Directors, Boy Scouts of America – Narragansett Council Advisor and the Town of Middletown Zoning Board Member. Jim is married to Photographer Kim Fuller. They reside in Middletown, RI with there three children Henry, Ella and Keydell.

Kimberly spent 33 years in finance working with clients from South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. She ran an office for Merrill Lynch in Paris and headed Europe and the UK for Private Client headquartered in London. She speaks Spanish, French and working Portuguese. Her community involvement has included education, diversity issues and the plight of the homeless. While in London she sat on the Merrill Lynch Diversity Leadership Committee and was part of an external organization The Competitors Diversity Forum. She also supported CAMFED, The Campaign for the Education of Women in Africa. In Miami she served on the board of Camillus House, which provides humanitarian services to the indigent and homeless populations of Miami-Dade County Florida, and on the board of the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, bringing entrepreneurial training to high school students from low-income communities. She now divides her time between Newport and Miami.

Susan is a documentary filmmaker and founder of Tree of Life Productions. She produced and directed the award-winning films Set for Life (based on the multimedia project Over 50 and Out of Work) and Soldier On: Life After Deployment. Both documentaries are distributed by American Public Television and have shown on public television stations nationwide. She graduated with honors from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 2008, with distinction from New York University’s Stern School of Business in 1991 and cum laude from Williams College in 1980. She is a member of New York Women in Film and Television in addition to serving on the board of the NewportFILM.

Lampton has spent his career in the entertainment industry working as a producer and CEO of various film projects and companies.  In 2010, he co-founded Moonbot Studios, an animation and gaming company, which went on to win the Academy Award for its animated short film “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” as well several Emmy Awards, Cannes Lions and multiple industry accolades. In 2019, Lampton returned to live-action film and is currently producing the final season of the Netflix series, “Stranger Things”. Lampton previously served on the board of the Robinson Film Center, a non-profit film and education organization based in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Lampton lives in Newport with his wife Elizabeth and daughters, Agnes and Dallas.