“One of the country’s most important plays is being presented at the Raven Theater this month in the way it’s supposed to be done: three acts, two intermissions. A long night at the theater, but an intimate experience for cast and audience…
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A 501c3 not-for-profit performing arts center. ID 68-0470571 Serving Sonoma County since the turn of the century.
Ed Begley Jr. is an Emmy-nominated actor with a versatile career in film, television, and stage, known for his roles in “St. Elsewhere,” “Amsterdam,” and “Pineapple Express.” This is his fourth year of judging for the HSIFF.
Cindy Caponera is a native Chicagoan who has built an impressive career as a writer, performer, and producer, beginning in theater at the famed Second City Mainstage as well as with The National Touring Company. For the past 20+ years, Cindy — an Emmy Award winner and two-time WGA Award nominee — has been writing and producing for television.
Jeff Kober is an Emmy-winning actor who has appeared in over 55 feature films and numerous television productions. His recent film “Grassland” closed the 2024 Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, while “Self-Reliance,” directed by and co-starring Jake Johnson, premiered at SXSW. His impressive filmography includes “Break,” the soon-to-be-released “Cash for Gold,” and “Leave No Trace, Sully” directed by Clint Eastwood.
Laraine Newman is an Emmy and Annie-nominated performer. She is a true icon of comedy and a beloved member of the original cast of Saturday Night Live. Newman co-founded the influential Groundlings Theatre, and her remarkable career includes collaborations with visionary directors ranging from Woody Allen to Guillermo Del Toro.
Kristina Motwani is an award-winning film editor and producer known for her verité documentary style. Motwani has received accolades from Sundance, the Peabody Awards, and more.
Kathia Sanchez-Aldana is a co-producer on the hit television series “Criminal Minds.” Raised in Tijuana, Mexico, she is a seasoned television and film professional with a B.A. in Film and TV Production from UCLA (Class of 2013). After cutting her teeth as a basecamp production assistant on several feature films, Sanchez-Aldana joined “Modern Family” in Season 6 as an assistant production coordinator, rising to associate producer by the series finale in Season 11.
Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan: With a career spanning over four decades, Tom Waits is a revered singer-songwriter, actor, and composer known for his distinctive style and extensive work in film and theater. Waits and his long-time collaborator and wife, Kathleen Brennan, were named number four in a list of the “100 Best Living Songwriters” published by America’s Paste magazine, saying, “In literature, only a handful of writers have pulled off the near impossible. In music, it happens on every Tom Waits recording.” Tom and Kathleen were also awarded the PEN Award of Literary Excellence for their songwriting. This is their fourth year of judging the HSIFF.
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Billy Ray wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay for Captain Phillips, for which he won the WGA award. He also wrote, directed, and executive-produced Showtime’s The Comey Rule, which had the biggest debut of any limited series in that network’s history. He co-wrote the first film in The Hunger Games series as well as the upcoming November 2026 release of The Hunger Games: Sunrise On the Reaping.