Sara Thompson

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING

Oklahoma native Sara Thompson graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Film Studies. After graduating, she worked at VH1 in New York as well as various film and television productions in Oklahoma. Thompson is a long time lover of all things deadCenter.

In 2008, Thompson began her relationship with the fest as a volunteer overseeing all the box offices. In 2012, she traded in those outdated credit card machines for short film becoming the festival’s first-ever short film programmer. In this role, Thompson elevated dCFF’s game tremendously, hunting and luring insightful, hilarious films from around the world and all over Oklahoma. In 2018, Sara moved to oversee all of deadCenter’s film programs as Director of Programming. She loves working at deadCenter connecting awesome audiences with amazing films.

In her free time, Thompson loves to read, watch films for fun, and spend time with her husband, son, and stepson. Her favorite movies include Sunset Boulevard, Jaws, and deadCenter Special Jury Winner Come As You Are.

Victor Caballero

MANAGER OF OPERATIONS & FESTIVAL

Victor Caballero was born and raised in Oklahoma. His parents are from South America, Jose from Peru, and Silvia from Ecuador. Victor started in high school stage productions and has since been featured in multiple commercials including Hard Rock Casino in Tulsa, MidFirst Bank, and many more.

He was the Equipment and Property Director at Gaylord College at the University of Oklahoma, where he managed the multimedia equipment. He was a member of the broadcast operations committee, supervised student employees, and was a liaison to facilities management. 

He portrayed the main villain in the music video "Heart" opposite Oklahoma City Thunder Player Mike Muscala aka "Mike Jawz." He was a supporting actor in two feature films, "Malicious Motives" and "God's Not Dead: We the People." 

 In his 18 years in the industry, Victor has modeled in various print campaigns & acted in multiple short films, some of which he has written, produced, and/or directed. This includes the award-winning short films “Defiants”, "Sky", and "Anniversary." His latest film “Seeker” has won Best Thriller at Venice Shorts, Arrow Festival, and Best Directing at the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival. One of his greatest passions is teaching others the art of filmmaking through the OKCine Latino Film Institute.

Jena Nelson

EDUCATION COORDINATOR

Jena Nelson has been an award-winning educator for 17 years, and in 2020, won the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. In 2021, she was named one of the top 45 educators in the nation with the Award for Teaching Excellence. She has been selected twice to direct at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland and was chosen as a presenter for the International Music Festival in Campina Grande Brazil. She serves on many state and national committees such as the Oklahoma Governor’s Workforce Council Subcommittee, Educator Quality & Diversity Advisory Committee for the Oklahoma State Department of Education, Oklahoma ELA Standards Committee, Oklahoma Teacher Table Initiative, ICAP Teacher Representative, Healthy Kids Coalition, Northwestern State University Louisiana Teacher Education Advisory Committee, and the American High School Theatre Festival Nomination Committee. Most recently, Jena was chosen to speak at the National Academy for Science, Engineering, and Medicine, and was honored by the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy as the Lauren Choate Resilience Award winner.

Krystal Yoseph

DIRECTOR OF PR & MARKETING

Krystal Yoseph owns Konjo Concepts, created in January 2018 as a media/public relations, marketing and events agency: focused on celebrating community-based and lifestyle-oriented partners in Oklahoma City and beyond. Born and raised in OKC, Krystal moved to Washington D.C. after graduating from The University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism/Public Relations. The transient nature of a typical spell in D.C. eluded Krystal for a while, keeping her busy, happy and involved in the fabric of downtown life in the Nation’s Capitol for eight years.

After moving back to OKC and spending three years with a local PR firm, falling in love with her hometown and learning “How to deadCenter,” Krystal very happily accepted an opportunity to work directly with the festival and has been managing PR/marketing for dCF since 2018.

Krystal is an avid connector and supporter of community, culture and progress throughout Oklahoma... and does not like to sit still for too long.

STEFFIE CORCORAN

DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Steffie has had a multifaceted professional life woven together by a liberal arts degree and a love of words. A former teacher, editor, and communications director who is now semi-retired, she works part-time as a development coordinator for deadCenter and writes and copyedits for a handful of freelance clients. She lives in Yukon.

JOSH WHITE

DIGITAL STRATEGIST

Josh is a Communications professional with over a decade of experience managing the marketing efforts of independent concert venues, festivals and live events. He lives in Norman with his partner and their son, and enjoys gardening, camping, and songwriting.

Kevin Ely

SENIOR FEATURES PROGRAMMER

Kevin has served as a features programmer for the past several years, helping deadCenter curate a slate of films that represent the best of independent film. Kevin directed the film Rainbow Around the Sun. Kevin edits the opening bumpers for our festival and selects the local band whose song is featured each year.

During the day, Kevin works as the Creative Director at LifeChurch.tv and comes home to the two cutest daughters in the world and his wife, Holly

Sunrise Tippeconnie

FEATURES PROGRAMMER

Sunrise Tippeconnie has freelanced in independent film production for over a decade, working for directors such as Michael Winterbottom, Nick Cassavetes, William H. Macy, David Lowery, Sophie Goodhart, Todd Lincoln, Heather Rae, Yen Tan, Paul Harrill, Sterlin Harjo, and Blackhorse Lowe. Tippeconnie has also festival programmed through Nextframe Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand’s short’s market, Native Crossroads Film Festival and is currently a shorts programmer for deadCenter Film Festival.

Tippeconnie currently develops, produces, and directs fictional work with filmmaker David Burkhart through their Oklahoma City company Out of Print. Tippeconnie’s American Indian-focused works including Leave Durov to the Dogs (2011) and Anticipation for Land in 2089 (2008), which have shown worldwide, including the Heard Museum, imagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival, and the National Museum of the American Indian. Tippeconnie also teaches production courses in the Film and Media Studies department at the University of Oklahoma.