Meet the Cine Las Vegas Staff

Jean Anne Lauer - Film Festival Director

Jean joined the staff at Cine Las Americas in preparation for the 2009 festival, bringing with her a dedication to the development and promotion of independent and international film. She enjoys working with a talented and diverse team at Cine, to curate and present selections of Latin@, American Indigenous, and Ibero-American film and media, during the annual festival and other events throughout the year.

Elena Bessire - Film Program Associate

Elena started with Cine Las Americas as an intern in 2006 while studying Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Texas at Austin. She has worked in various programming positions for the festival for 8 years, as well as Jury Liaison for 7 years. Currently she is a Pre-K Teacher by day, and Film Program Associate for the festival by night.

Rich Vázquez - Webmaster

Rich has worked in technology for over 20 years and has been a part of the Cine Las Americas team since 2008. He is active in the local non-profit and film community and currently serves as Executive Director for the Scottish Rite Theater.    

Daniel Jackson - Community Relations Coordinator

Within the last 3 years, Daniel has strongly supported the Cine Las Americas mission through donor-ship and volunteer participation. He is an active member of the Austin film community and assists with the production of multiple local filmmakers' projects. As the Community Relations Coordinator, he is excited to build on existing partnerships and foster new relationships with the local community and businesses to expand the Cine experience. Live.Love.ATX.Film 

Brad Dusing - Film Program Assistant 

Brad is a general education Spanish and English teacher in the Dual Language program at Emma H. Galindo Elementary. For the last five years, from mid-November through mid-March he has enjoyed reviewing films for the Cine Las Americas Programming Team and was thrilled last year to be a part of the Short Film Jury. This year he has graciously accepted a position as Film Programming Assistant.

Francisco Garcia - Venue Technical Coordinator

Francisco has been involved with Cine Las Americas as a Venue Manager and Print Traffic Coordinator, prior to his current position. He studied Cultural Anthropology which led him to be avidly and constantly connected with assorted artistic outlets such as cinema, the arts and literature. He spends his spare time writing and experimenting on visually stimulating projects.