NW Film Camp crew
Kanani Koster | Creative Director
Kanani Koster, a Kanaka Maoli director based in Los Angeles, is a ‘24 American Film Institute Directing Fellow and is a finalist in the Tribeca Film Festival - AT&T Untold Stories competition for her film “Shoots”. Kanani has spoken on numerous panels about race, diversity, and representation in film. Additionally, she served as a judge for the 2022 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. Kanani won the 2020 Oregon Made Film Grant for her docu-short "Any Oregon Sunday" and was a 2020 Portland Art Museum Re:Imagined Artist recipient. She also works with Collective Eye Film distribution as a films acquisitions manager.
Travis Koster |
Executive Director
Travis is a graduate of Antioch University, an educator, and a film producer living in Los Angeles. Originally from Seattle, WA, Travis loves music, traveling, cooking, and spending time with his wife, son, and brindle boxer. His favorite film is “The Shining.” Travis co-founded Cherry Street Films nine years ago with his wife Kanani. Their mission is to bring equitable digital storytelling curriculum to classrooms in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Currently, Travis is working as the Executive Producer on the upcoming film "Lucky Cat," which is being produced in Taiwan.
Journey Morrison | Program Director
Journey Morrison is Cherry Street Films' Program Manager and Registrar, and hails from North Bend, Washington. He is a graduate of Western Washington University with a BA in History and a minor in Film Studies. Journey has worked as at NW Film Camp since its infancy, with a passion for inspiring youth to use creativity as a medium for change in the world. Since his university graduation he has also worked on a variety of different short film and music video projects in the greater Seattle area.
Willow Voves |
Program Manager - Portland
Hi! I’m Willow. I’m a graduate of Western Washington University where I worked as the head video production coordinator. I’ve been a freelance editor for over ten years and have work on national commercials and television productions. Currently I work in broadcasting for the Portland Timbers. I love every aspect of film production, but my favorite has to be editing, especially VFX and compositing. I’m so excited to foster students’ creativity and hopefully inspire the next generation of filmmakers!
Anna Morris | Seattle Lead Instructor
Anna Morris (she/her) grew up attending youth film programs in the Bay Area, leading to a passion for filmmaking, media literacy, and youth empowerment. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Film Studies and Spanish and has worked in nonprofit marketing and fundraising in Seattle since 2022. Anna is a big believer in creativity and storytelling as a powerful tool for youth to engage with their inner selves and the world around them. She is excited to help campers develop their creative voices and have lots of fun in the process! Outside of work she can be found playing guitar, bouldering, or singing.
Isaac Wade | Portland
Instructor
My name is Isaac Wade, I’m from southwest Missouri. I have some background in live sports production but nothing beats making movies.
Filmmaking has been apart of my life since I was a kid. I began making short films for 48 hour film competitions when I was little, and now I study Digital Film and Television Production at Missouri State University. I’ve done pretty much everything from editing to lighting, but my passion is in producing and helping others tell stories they are enthusiastic about.
Natalie Scholer | Seattle Instructor
Natalie Scholer is a current student at the University of Washington pursuing her BA in Cinema & Media Studies and English. Originally from Indiana, Natalie grew up around the stage with a love for both performing and behind-the-scenes production. She has two years of experience working at a performing arts center, and has been involved in several productions which have taken place on both the screen and the stage. Natalie is often out exploring the world with friends in her free time, but spends her time alone writing and editing. Her love for filmmaking is rooted in a genuine passion for storytelling and a fascination for seeing life through so many unique perspectives. She is so excited to bring a fun, positive attitude into the classroom while helping foster creativity in the minds of our future visionaries!
Gracie Cole | Seattle Instructor
Gracie Cole is a Film & Media student at Seattle University who is passionate about filmmaking and is excited to share this passion with others. While she has worked in many roles on set, Gracie is most proficient in video and audio editing. She is inspired by counter-culture and experimental methods of storytelling and hopes to encourage young filmmakers to think outside the box. In her free time, Gracie can be found playing guitar, watching movies, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with her cat, Junie.
Benny Flora | Seattle Instructor
Hi I’m Benny, I’m an LA based filmmaker. After graduating from Loyola Marymount University film school, I started working as a freelance editor. In my free time, you'll find me making films with my close friends. I work on Documentaries, Reality Shows, Commercials, Short Films - pretty much anything under the sun! I am most drawn to quirky stories that approach common themes from a new perspective; one of my favorite films from this past year was “No Other Choice”. I love teaching and have been working at film camps for the past couple summers. I’m passionate about giving kids the tools they need to make awesome films!
Olivia Near | Seattle Instructor
Olivia is currently studying Creative Producing in Film and Television at Chapman University after attending NW Film Camp in 2022. Her experience at the camp sparked her passion for filmmaking, and she has worked with the camp since 2023, contributing to both the summer programs and year-round programs, including Teen Lab. She is excited to return this year as an instructor.
Outside of her producing major, Olivia has worked in the Seattle film industry for a year as an assistant camera and has also worked professionally as a production assistant. She looks forward to teaching in the same community that inspired her and helping young filmmakers grow in both confidence and creativity.
Gabi Ricciardi | Portland Instructor
Gabi is a filmmaker and photographer born and raised in Portland, OR. She is a rising senior at Scripps College in California pursuing a degree in media studies and film production. This past semester she studied in Prague at FAMU and directed a short film on 16mm! Taking photography in high school sparked her passion for visual storytelling and she hopes to pursue cinematography or documentary in the future.Gabi has worked on student films, produced video content for Portland non-profits, and camera operated at Pickathon music festival! In her free time she enjoys hiking and swimming in Oregon’s mountains and lakes and photographing the world around her. She is excited to continue learning and creating by helping other young filmmakers make inspiring work.
Dantae Gelsomino | Portland Instructor
Dantae Gelsomino is an experienced writer, director, and teacher currently studying for degrees in film and philosophy at Portland State University. With prior experience as a water polo coach, he believes in an intersection between art and learning -- understanding that creativity is a trait that can be nurtured into a skill applicable to everyday life. When he's not drowning in schoolwork or screenplays, he can usually be found either curled up with a good book, or leaning back with a gaming controller. More than anything, he feels privileged to live in the heart of a state with so much natural beauty, which is why you'll also often find him out with friends, exploring and experiencing the world on walks, hikes, climbs, and everything in between! Dantae is excited to be joining a team responsible for helping guide youth as they explore their own personal creative journeys.
Maia Kesler | Portland Instructor
Maia Kesler is a Media Studies student at Lewis and Clark College. With prior experience filming and editing promotional videos, her passion projects all lie within narrative work. She is most inspired by weird surrealist movies but also enjoys a good romantic comedy from time to time. When she’s not nerding out over movies or creating videos, she enjoys drawing, rock climbing, playing guitar, and going on long hikes. She also worked as a camp counselor for five years at a day camp so she’s excited to bring her passion of filmmaking to her work!
Tori Norlie | San Diego Instructor
Tori Norlie is a Film and Digital Media student at the University of California, Santa Cruz from Sacramento, California. She enjoys incorporating whimsical, symbolic elements to tell personal stories in her filmmaking. Tori has worked on a very variety of films over her highschool and college years, including many films created by UC Santa Cruz’s Film Production Coalition. Outside of filmmaking, Tori enjoys playing guitar, crafting, and being in nature.
Livia Davis | San Diego Instructor
Livia is a Film Studies and Production undergrad at Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland. She loves travelling, unique culinary experiences, and watching films of course! Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she has been living in Northern Ireland for the past two years for her education and hopes to officially settle down in Europe after she graduates. With a strong foundation in filmmaking and a love for creative expression, she is looking forward to a future in the film and media industry and cannot wait to support young filmmakers in achieving their creative goals at the camp.
Zoe Rogan | Kirkland Instructor
Zoe is a graduate of Seattle University, majoring in Creative Writing with a minor in Film. Her writing spans several mediums, including short stories, plays, scripts, and longform fiction. Her passions are film history and analysis, along with writing fiction. Other than watching and writing about movies, she likes to spend her free time hanging out with dogs and cats, reading, and debating the subtext of whatever film she's most recently watched. She is so excited to help young filmmakers bring their ideas to fruition!
Cupid Hale | Portland Instructor
Cupid is a PDX/NYC based costume design student who has been making short films for most of their life. That interest is now mainly channeled into the making of puppet shows with their best friend, which they craft all the props and puppets for. They are going to be an instructor at NW film camp, and are incredibly excited to help kids make films like the ones they used to as a kid!
Ava Capps | San Diego Instructor
Ava Capps is a current student at Laguna College of Art and Design pursuing a BFA in experimental animation. Ava has lots of passion for character design, illustration, animation, sewing, costume making, and video games. One of her current favorite films is "Ponyo." Ava is looking forward to helping students create wonderful films within their unique artistic visions as well as fostering love for film making in all forms!
Ellie Nishino | Seattle Teaching Assistant
Ellie is a filmmaker from Seattle who will be attending Chapman University to study Film and Television Production with an emphasis in directing. She was a 2026 YoungArts award winner and the director of NFFTY’s best high school film in 2025, “Punch-Drunk.” Writing and directing are her biggest passions, and she deeply believes in the power that film holds to make people feel like they belong. Her mission is to tell stories that bring comfort and connection. In her free time, she loves coffee shop hopping, reading sci-fi books, and cuddling with her cats and dog. As someone who started her filmmaking journey as a NW Film Camp student, she is very excited to help foster a learning environment that uplifts young voices like this program did for her!