THE FESTIVAL TEAM
THE FILM JURY
(Remote)
THE HOST
Meet Conrad Cecil: From Shakespeare to the Silver Screen... in English and French!
Conrad Cecil
Host
Conrad Cecil is a classically trained actor, host, and public speaker with international experience. His film credits include roles alongside Sophie Marceau, Liam Cunningham, and Clémence Poésy, in both studio and art house productions.
A Shakespearean expert, Conrad has played leading roles in the Bard’s canon and prepared the text of a unique hand-printed edition of Shakespeare’s Sonnets in Northern California.
As host and M.C., he has performed at San Francisco’s Moscone Center and Saint Joseph’s Art Society, Los Angeles County’s San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, Paris’s Centre Pompidou, and Strasbourg’s Museum of Modern Art.
Conrad grew up in England, and lived for many years in Paris, where he founded a theatre company and performed in both French and English. There, he assisted German filmmaker Werner Schroeter at the Théâtre du Rond-Point on the Champs Elysées and was commissioned to write a book on performing arts touring, La diffusion internationale du spectacle.
Conrad studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and Kings College London and trained at East 15 Acting School.
THE TEAM BEHIND THE SCENES
Kathlee Johnson
Festival Producer
Kathy has embraced acting for most of her life, gracing the stage in a wide range of stage roles and several on-camera productions.
Her passion for theater extends to directing and stage management. Having balanced single motherhood and a professional career, she has continually nurtured her love for the performing arts.
She brings her wealth of experience to the prestigious Raven Theater, where she expertly manages the house operations, working closely with artists and audiences to ensure each performance shines brightly. She is thrilled to be participating in the 2024 HISFF production for the first time, adding another exciting chapter to her rich theatrical journey.
Suanne Spoke
Film Selection Advisor
Suanne Spoke has built an impressive career spanning theatre, television, film, and education. She recently starred alongside Renee Zellweger in NBC/Peacock’s “The Thing About Pam”, earning Emmy consideration. Her film credits include roles in “Whiplash”, Spielberg’s “War of the Worlds”, and Christopher Guest’s “Mascots”. On television, Suanne has appeared in shows ranging from “Golden Girls” and “Seinfeld” to current series like “Station 19” and “Criminal Minds”, with recurring roles in “Switched at Birth”, “General Hospital”, “Step by Step”, and “Judging Amy”.
In theatre, Suanne received a Broadway World LA Best Performer nomination for ICT’s “Exit Wounds”. She has graced stages at the Fountain Theatre, The Road Theatre, and Company of Angels, garnering multiple awards for both performance and producing. A career highlight was her portrayal of Blanche Dubois in Deaf West Theatre’s acclaimed “A Streetcar Named Desire”, opposite Troy Kotsur, where she utilized both ASL and voice.
Beyond performing, Suanne serves on Deaf West Theatre’s board of directors and has taught in their summer school program. She is currently faculty at the California Institute of the Arts and has contributed to Sundance Lab Workshops and ACTORFEST on both coasts. Suanne continues to thrive as an actor, producer, and private coach, bringing her wealth of experience to each new project.
Julie Evans
Filmmaker Liaison Coordinator
Julie is a passionate storyteller and content creator. If she is not writing, playing music or building Barbie diorama, she is relaxing in her mini-storybook castle, enjoying a thought-provoking movie or book – relishing stories from imaginative people whose art inspires her to continue creating her own. She loves meeting other creators and is thrilled beyond words to be part of this year’s film festival as the Filmmaker Liaison.
