Mission Statement
- Present films that explore spiritual traditions from around the world, as well as films that cherish the human spirit.
- Encourage the production of new films and documentaries, by providing an event in which these films can be screened.
- Promote discussion among recognized leaders in the fields of arts and spirituality, by presenting interactive discussion panels.
- Offer the public an opportunity to engage with film-makers and spiritual leaders.
- Enhance the public's understanding of, and respect for, diverse spiritual traditions from around the world.
Executive Director
Dr. Mary Gervase
Mary is balancing her film festival director responsibilities with providing school leadership consulting through Boise State University's Center for School Improvement and Policy Studies and Idaho State University's Intermountain Center for Education Effectiveness. She is an adjunct professor for Northwest Nazarene University, Idaho State University and the College of Southern Idaho. Dr. Gervase's most recent professional experiences include Education Director for the for the Idaho 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games, as well as Assistant Superintendent of the Blaine County School District, in Hailey, Idaho. She has worked as a K-8 elementary teacher, a school guidance counselor, an assistant principal and principal, and as a State Department of Education consultant in locations spanning Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, and with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools System (DODDS) in both Scotland and Germany. Her education includes a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education, a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration. For Mary, the Festival is a labor of love, and a most incredible gift she and her fellow Board members can offer to foster a more peaceful, compassionate world. Board of Directors
Kathy Carson
Kathy Carson is the owner and President of Carson International Inc, a national special events and television company based in Ketchum, Idaho. She has been involved in the event business for 20 years and has helped create, produce and televise some of the most successful projects in the country and the world. Most notably, her company specializes in creative ways to achieve their clients goals and direction, through the projects they produce. Her most satisfying and enjoyable career thus far, has been being a mother to her son Cassidy (15), and a hockey and soccer mom. She is married to Paul Carson, a former international ski racer and professional athlete, who now is CEO of Carson International, Inc. Kathy, Paul and Cassidy have a home in Hulen Meadows in Ketchum, Idaho. She is also on the Sun Valley Youth Hockey Board of Directors and is on the Advisory Board of CASA."Being a part of the Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival has allowed me to meet so many people that share a vision for this amazing film event. To be able to work with the Board of Directors to grow this property so that more people will be able to enjoy it and be inspired is my reason for being involved!"
Mary-Ann Chubb
Mary Ann Chubb has been a Wood River Valley resident for 30 years. She is married with two lovely children, two dogs and an incredibly warm hearted husband.
She is a ceramic artist and teaches Buddhist meditation. "The Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival is another one of my personal passions. It has always been my desire to align my energies with community groups that benefit people both spiritually and artistically. Over the years, I've seen how the festival has taken root in our community. Film is an artistic, educational, and social medium, bringing us together, like the global family we truly are."
Bob Dix
In 1996, Bob Dix relocated to the Wood River Valley from San Francisco. While living in San Francisco he worked as the facilitlies director for the non-profit gallery, Artspace. Prior to Artspace he worked as the assistant gallery supervisor for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Bob received his BA in art from San Francisco State University and his MFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. Bob is an artist and has exhibited extensively in California and Idaho.
Since his move to the valley, Bob has been the 7th grade math teacher at Wood River Middle School. He is now currently the art teacher as well as the upper level math teacher at Hailey Elementary School. Bob is also actively involved in the Sun Valley Center for the Arts.
Being raised in a multi cultural household has had an open-minded effect on Bob. He's half Japanese, his mother raised a Buddhist and his father raised a Quaker. Although religion was something his parents never forced, Bob believes that hate grows when hope dies. Following his belief, the Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival fosters hope for a more compassionate and tolerant world.
Anita McCann
Anita McCann was born in Santa Barbara, Ca.lifornia. She considers herself a domestic engineer and fundraiser for non-profits. She moved to Idaho in 1970 from California. At this time she became very interested in the idea of meditation through Alan Watts, a friend of her uncle's and became a teacher of Transcendental Meditation in Mallorca, Spain, Dec. 1972, studying under the Marharishi Mahesh Yogi. She spent the next three years teaching TM in Boise and Ketchum, Idaho and Northern California. Anita moved to Ketchum full time in 1976. Marrying her true love Mike McCann in 1984, she has two sons, Luc and Austin. Her family is her most important connection. Anita has served on the boards of the Snake River Alliance (a nuclear watchdog group for Idaho) and Idaho Public Television, both for 10 years and continues to help them with fundraising. She helped with the Idaho Special Olympics, one as head of volunteers and one as a co-chair for two winter competitions from participants from all over Idaho held here in Sun Valley in the 90's. She learned a lot about unconditional love here! She has helped with fundraising for the YMCA in the Wood River Valley for over 8 years. She continues to meditate, using her TM practice, but has explored the Buddhist path for many years. "I was raised a Catholic and look at my background here as the word really means, "universal". It is through meditation that one becomes more connected with the universal well that brings us all together. I am honored to work with the SVSFF, as with knowledge of and education about different spiritual beliefs, we become more tolerant, more compassionate and more united in our goals for a better, more peaceful world."Scott McLean
Dr. Scott McLean, a doctor of internal medicine, was born in Manhattan and raised on Long Island. He attended high school, college and medical school in Indiana, having been accepted to medical school after three years of undergraduate work. He interned and completed his residency in Tucson, Arizona. He has been in private practice for 31 years, the last 21 of which have been in the Wood River Valley, Idaho.
Scott serves on multiple boards including the Sun Valley Wellness Festival, St Luke's Hospital, and St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center Foundation, of which he is President.
Scott considers the Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival a pure good that serves to increase awareness of all those it touches and feels honored to participate.
Terry Tischer
The key ingredients in my life have always included a strong dose of art and spirituality. Having a mother who was an artist and an aunt who was an actress, I grew up being nourished on culture. Combine that with a need for finding a connection in life and a passion for understanding what makes us tick, being a Board Member for the Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival feels like "Old Home Week!"
My most recent qualifications include 9 years of serving on the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley Board, creating and marketing nationally the product Fortunate Dog Cookies, and conceiving and promoting the Sun Valley Labs event which has raised $100,000 for various animal charities.