The A2F Team
Shiloh Strong
Founder and CEO
Shiloh Strong is a filmmaker, writer, and photographer who has worked in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. His career spans directing award-winning short films, writing, producing and selling projects and to studios like Amazon and Lionsgate. He is a proud member of the DGA, WGA, and SAG-AFTRA.
In 2009, Shiloh lost his home in a wildfire. That experience stayed with him—not just the physical loss, but the creative paralysis that followed. Years later, after watching fires tear through Southern California again, he realized that what artists often need most isn’t just housing or insurance—it’s the chance to create again.
That realization led to Ashes to Films, a nonprofit film fund and festival designed to help filmmakers and creatives turn disaster into opportunity. Shiloh’s mission is to make sure no artist feels alone in the aftermath of crisis, and to help spark a creative renaissance in Los Angeles and beyond.
Alyssa Dudek
Executive Director
Alyssa Dudek is the Senior Director of Programs and Festival for Ashes to Films. As a member of the founding executive leadership team, Alyssa is instrumental in building the program and festival infrastructure, co-leads development efforts, and helps oversee operations of the program and the upcoming inaugural Ashes to Films Festival.
Dudek brings years of experience in social impact and advocacy. As a nonprofit professional, she has worked in the fields of mental health, domestic violence, food insecurity and nutrition, and the arts. Alyssa has also worked in local and national politics, focusing on advocacy efforts around major policy and voting issues and assisting with multimillion dollar-fundraisers.
In her most recent role leading programming at the national arts nonprofit The Creative Coalition, Alyssa produced events at the Sundance, Cannes, Tribeca, and Toronto International Film Festivals, during the White House Correspondents' Dinner weekend in Washington, D.C., and at both national political conventions in Milwaukee and Chicago in 2024. She also routinely organized and prepared cohorts of leading executives and celebrities to advocate for public funding for and public access to the arts during meetings on Capitol Hill and at The White House.
Dudek graduated Cum Laude with Honors from the University of Oklahoma and has called Los Angeles home since 2014.
Dylan Keeffe
Head of Social Media
Dylan Keeffe is a filmmaker and creative producer based in Los Angeles, currently pursuing his B.F.A. in Film & Television Production at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. As Head of Social Media for Ashes to Films, he crafts the visual and editorial tone of the organization—designing campaigns, building engagement, and helping shape the public face of ATF across platforms.
He is the founder of Keeffe Films, a creative studio focused on boundary-pushing short-form work across film, fashion, and experimental media. His work has screened at festivals and is marked by a distinct blend of psychological tension, visual boldness, and surreal world-building. In addition to his work as a director and producer, Dylan brings years of experience in high fashion and visual branding to his creative practice.
Through his role at Ashes to Films, Dylan is committed to empowering artists to tell stories that challenge, resonate, and endure.
Evan Sloan
Story Ambassador
Evan Sloan is a Los Angeles–based actor, writer, director, producer, and digital creative. After launching his career in the commercial world, he expanded into film, television, and original digital storytelling. In addition to his work on camera, Evan has produced multiple crowdfunded feature films, reflecting a hands-on, entrepreneurial approach to bringing independent projects to life. His work centers on character-driven stories across both traditional and digital platforms.
Kinder Labatt
Festival Program Producer
Kinder Labatt is a Canadian producer, writer, and filmmaker based in Toronto. An avid fan of satire and comedy, she often incorporates topics relating to gender and politics into her work.
She has produced a wide variety of films including narrative shorts and features, documentaries, and stop-motion animation, which have been featured in film festivals around the world.
Her most recent project, You Had To Be There, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025, where it was voted 2nd Runner-Up Best Documentary.
Matt Harbicht
Director of Young Filmmakers Program
Matt Harbicht is a Photographer and Cinematographer with over 20+ years of commercial industry experience. Matt spent his formative years fixing broken cameras, frequenting art house cinemas, and working backstage at local theatrical productions. He holds a BA in Advertising Photography from Brooks Institute of Photography and an MFA in Film, Television, & Photography at Mount Saint Mary’s University.
He spent the 1990’s honing his craft in high school and college darkrooms, before spending the early 2000’s embracing the film to digital switchover happening within the industry. This foundation in analog shooting and lighting established a “fix it on set rather than in post” approach to projects. He’s photographed Academy Award winners, the Mars lander team at JPL, and has produced commercial content for clients like: UCLA, JP Morgan Chase, and Warner Bros - Discovery.
Matt has developed mentorship programs at colleges and has connected local visual arts students with industry mentorships, giving them access to on set experience along with connections to industry resources. Constantly inspired by the wonder within new artists, Matt considers educating and fostering the next generation of artists as a responsibility within our industry. He is thrilled to help with student and emerging artist outreach within the Ashes to Films family.
Kate Mayfield
Content Director
Kate leads storytelling efforts for Ashes to Films, shaping narratives that amplify its mission and connect audiences to the human experiences at the heart of its work. She also supports brand strategy and communications, ensuring Ashes to Films’ message is both authentic and impactful.
For over a decade in corporate America, Kate specialized in developing content strategies for Fortune 500 companies and national brands. Her expertise spans finance, legal services, and education technology, with a consistent focus on translating complex ideas into accessible and engaging stories.
In her most recent role as Content Director for a national financial company, she oversaw the launch of digital publications, brand storytelling campaigns, and editorial initiatives. She has also led cross-functional teams, guided messaging for product launches, and crafted narratives designed to inspire trust, connection, and action.
A published writer with a deep belief in the power of story, Mayfield brings both creative vision and strategic expertise to Ashes to Films. She lives in Los Angeles with her family.
Todd Flournoy
Senior Advisor
For the last 25 years, Todd has been at the center of the entertainment industry and creative community public policy, philanthropy and advocacy and a pioneer in social impact entertainment much of which aimed at supporting the greater Los Angeles community.
As an advocate, Todd served as the sole outside federal lobbyist for SAG-AFTRA, 2010-2018 handling all of the union’s issues in Washington DC. Prior to that, he served as both a federal and state government affairs executive and counsel with the MPAA.
In his social impact work, Todd has served as the lead on creative community engagement for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, where he co-created Why We Rise, one of the first youth mental health campaigns to incorporate cultural influence aimed at moving from awareness to action and the inaugural Mental Health Film Festival at Paramount Studios. Earlier, he helped stand up the inaugural LA based Global Summit on Mental Health Culture Change and worked with the Entertainment Industries Council on pioneering work to provide accurate mental health storylines to the industry. Todd also regularly facilitates social impact screenings and events in DC to forge cross-cutting coalitions and communities of awareness and support.
Todd also support veterans through his work with various nonprofits, including Modern Warrior LIVE, Fisher House Foundation, NMFA, PVA, GI Film Festival and the LA based Warrior Heritage Foundation.
Todd, a native of Richmond, Virginia, holds both a B.A. and J.D. from the University of Virginia.
Noah Witlin
Creative Director • Brand Marketer • Key Art Designer
A native Angeleno, Noah Witlin is an award-winning creative director and strategist with more than 20 years shaping visual storytelling for feature films, television, and global entertainment brands. Inspired by the mission of Ashes to Films, Noah felt called to help filmmakers continue their craft and ensure their stories remain seen, heard, and celebrated. As one of the festival’s creative leads—overseeing brand development, key art, and marketing strategy—he helps amplify narratives born from resilience and creative rebirth.
Noah’s career spans senior creative roles at top entertainment agencies including Art Machine, Midnight Oil, and BusterINK, along with extensive work through his own studio, Witlin Creative. He has developed campaigns and key art for major studios and networks such as Netflix, HBO, Amazon, Sony, Warner Bros., TBS, and NBC—building visual identities for feature films, documentaries, television series, and both theatrical and streaming premieres. With deep expertise in concept development, brand identity, key art, and integrated marketing—enhanced by his MBA—Noah brings a distinct blend of creative craftsmanship and strategic leadership to every project.
Through his work with the Ashes to Films Festival, Noah channels his Los Angeles roots and lifelong passion for storytelling into a mission close to home: supporting filmmakers as they rebuild, create, and continue sharing their stories with the world. Explore more at www.witlincreative.com.